General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsSo, what are the actual concrete accomplishments of the Obama administration?
I'm not taunting, or even being sarcastic - I'm just beginning to wonder what there is to cheer about, especially in light of the latest delay in yet another component of Obamacare.
Here's what comes to mind:
1) The stimulus package - sure it mostly bailed out the banks, and the stock market, but it also stopped the economy from hurtling toward a full-fledged depression. For that, Obama gets major props. Sadly, it wasn't enough to really revitalize the job market.
2) Obamacare - even though it was practically penned by the insurance companies and is basically Romneycare writ large, extending coverage to millions of previously uninsured individuals is obviously a good thing, provided it is ever implemented.
3) Tax increases - after fighting tooth and nail with the Repugs, Obama & the Dems were able to extract a minimal increase in the income tax. Even though it's not nearly enough, and we now have the effects of the sequester to consider, overall I'll count that as a win, and a big change in momentum.
OK, those are some of the more obvious ones, but it's a short list - maybe others can remind me of what else Obama has actually accomplished over the past 4 1/2 years.
riqster
(13,986 posts)Oh, and the stimulus created a shitload of jobs until the House killed it.
tularetom
(23,664 posts)Although they missed an opportunity to declare victory in the war on terror after snuffing him.
riqster
(13,986 posts)riqster
(13,986 posts)reformist2
(9,841 posts)riqster
(13,986 posts)Can you refute the specific items?
"Agreement" means very little unless one has factual evidence to rebut the list.
reformist2
(9,841 posts)"Presided over democratic revolutions in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, and Bahrain" is just one of these.
CakeGrrl
(10,611 posts)whatthefuckhasobamadonesofar.com
That has actual stuff in it despite the link title.
If you're looking for anything in the MSM, it should be clear that they're not going to tout accomplishments of a Dem president, which should be a clear indicator to those who are convinced that he's a Republican Trojan Horse.
reformist2
(9,841 posts)The Link
(757 posts)Growing the upper class. Making the rich even richer.
reformist2
(9,841 posts)NCTraveler
(30,481 posts)As for your list, I am not sure how the stimulus package mostly bailed out the banks. Are you confusing it with tarp?
I don't know how it was a big win with taxes. There has been little to no momentum shift towards a more progressive tax code.
Stuck his neck out to help the auto industry against strong opposition.
Repealed DADT.
Removed banks from the Federal Student Loan programs.
Increased fuel efficiency standards.
Helped to pass and signed credit card reform. While it could have gone further, many forget how big of a deal what passed is.
Signed Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act.
Sotomayor and Kagan.
Signed Hate Crimes Prevention Act.
Signed 2009 Childrens Health Insurance Authorization Act.
I am a big critic of the President. I also know he has fought for and done some really good things. My problem is that I thought he was going to try to be a transformative figure. On that I was wrong. He has done many good things helping people.
CakeGrrl
(10,611 posts)isn't happening as fast or as obviously as some would like. He's laying the groundwork for things to pay off in the long term, when a lot of people want instant, tangible results. The challenge is that time will tell, and that's exactly what some have no patience for.
NCTraveler
(30,481 posts)Don't even think he is laying minimal ground work. That doesn't mean I don't think he has accomplished some really positive things within the current system. I am not hating on him. <-not saying you said I was.
Response to reformist2 (Original post)
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nevergiveup
(4,744 posts)50 years to find a president with as big an accomplishment as your 1). Sure, the stimulus was not big enough but the economy was in a death spiral and the Stimulus allowed enough pull-back to save it. I also think that Obamacare may eventually evolve into single-payer health care. If it does Obama will get credit for getting the ball rolling. If Obama does nothing else for the remaining 3 years these two accomplishments will still likely earn him a decent presidential legacy.
Egalitarian Thug
(12,448 posts)Marriage equality
Forcing some of the ugliest aspects of the American personality into the spotlight, front and center.
Teaching a small segment of the population how to better use their minds by having to stretch and be really creative in inventing ways to justify his actions.
Ha! I found three!
JoePhilly
(27,787 posts)Ending the Afghanistan war.
quinnox
(20,600 posts)"Obama care" is not an accomplishment. It is a gift to the greedy for profit insurance companies. So his "greatest" accomplishment, well, I'm not exactly thrilled by.
Those tax increases were lackluster. The rich ended up paying a lot less than even Obama had been saying and pushing for months in terms of their top rate. They basically dodged a bullet, when they should have had their rates jacked up a lot higher.
Obama has not been good on the environment either. He has not been as bad as Bush was on this front, but nothing sterling either.
I'm struggling to think of more real accomplishments. Oh yea, he killed bin Laden.
MineralMan
(146,192 posts)which has already been answered hundreds of times here? In addition, anyone who visits DU regularly has seen the discussions on this many times. Some people will post a list of accomplishments, and another group will say they aren't real accomplishments.
Asked, answered, and argued about over and over again.
Response to reformist2 (Original post)
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Lancero
(2,979 posts)Lists some of his accomplishments.
http://whatthefuckhasobamadonesofar.com/