All that President Obama has accomplished between January 2009 and March 2010:
1. Saved the collapse of the American automotive industry by making GM restructure before bailing them out, and putting incentive money to help the industry
2. Shifted the focus of the war from Iraq to Afghanistan, and putting the emphasis on reducing terrorism where it should have been all along
3. Relaxed Anti-American tensions throughout the world... See More
4. Signed order to close the prisoner “torture camp” at Guantanamo Bay
5. Has made the environment a national priority, and a primary source for job creation
6. Has made education a national priority by putting emphasis and money behind new ideas like charter schools, but speaking directly to school children in telling them they have to do their part.
7. Won the Nobel Peace Prize
8. $789 billion economic stimulus plan
9. Appointment of first Latina to the Supreme Court
10. Attractive tax write-offs for those who buy hybrid automobiles
11. Authorized construction/opening of additional health centers to care for veterans
12. Beginning the process of reforming and restructuring the military 20 years after the Cold War to a more modern fighting force… this includes new procurement policies, increasing size of military, new technology and cyber units and operations, etc.
13. Better body armor is now being provided to our troops
14. “Cash for clunkers” program offers vouchers to trade in fuel inefficient, polluting old cars for new cars; stimulates auto sales
15. Changed the failing/status quo military command in Afghanistan
16. Closed offshore tax safe havens
17. Deployed additional troops to Afghanistan
18. Ended media “blackout” on war casualties; reporting full information
19. Ended previous policy of awarding no-bid defense contracts
20. Ended previous policy of cutting the FDA and circumventing FDA rules
21. Ended previous practice of forbidding Medicare from negotiating with drug manufacturers for cheaper drugs; the federal government is now realizing hundreds of millions in savings
22. Ended previous practice of having White House aides rewrite scientific and environmental rules, regulations, and reports
23. Ended previous policy of not regulating and labeling carbon dioxide emissions
24. Ended previous policy of offering tax benefits to corporations who outsource American jobs; the new policy is to promote in-sourcing to bring jobs back
25. Ended previous policy on torture; the US now has a no torture policy and is in compliance with the Geneva Convention standards
26. Ended previous practice of protecting credit card companies; in place of it are new consumer protections from credit card industry’s predatory practices
27. Ended previous “stop-loss” policy that kept soldiers in Iraq/Afghanistan longer than their enlistment date
28. Energy producing plants must begin preparing to produce 15% of their energy from renewable sources
29. Established a National Performance Officer charged with saving the federal government money and making federal operations more efficient
30. Established a new cyber security office
31. Expanded the SCHIP program to cover health care for 4 million more children
32. Expanding vaccination programs
33. Families of fallen soldiers have expenses
34. Federal support for stem-cell and new biomedical research
35. Funds for high-speed, broadband Internet access to K-12 schools
36. Immediate and efficient response to the floods in North Dakota and other natural disasters
37. Improved housing for military personnel
38. Improved conditions at Walter Reed Military Hospital and other military hospitals
39. Improving benefits for veterans
40. Increased infrastructure spending (roads, bridges, power plants…) after years of neglect
41. Increasing opportunities in AmeriCorps program
42. Increasing pay and benefits for military personnel
43. Increasing student loans
44. Instituted a new policy on Cuba, allowing Cuban families to return “home” to visit loved ones
45. Limited salaries of senior White House aides; cut to $100,000
46. Limits on lobbyists’ access to the White House
47. Limits on White House aides working for lobbyists after their tenure in the administration
48. Lower drug costs for seniors
49. Making more loans available to small businesses
50. Many more press conferences and town halls and much more media access than previous administration
51. Negotiated deal with Swiss banks to permit US government to gain access to records of tax evaders and criminals
52. New Afghan War policy that limits aerial bombing and prioritizes aid, development of infrastructure, diplomacy, and good government practices by Afghans
53. New federal funding for science and research labs
54. New funds for school construction
55. Ordered all federal agencies to undertake a study and make recommendations for ways to cut spending
56. Ordered a review of all federal operations to identify and cut wasteful spending and practices
57. Phasing out the expensive F-22 war plane and other outdated weapons systems, which weren’t even used or needed in Iraq/Afghanistan
58. Reengaged in the agreements/talks on global warming and greenhouse gas emissions
59. Reengaged in the treaties/agreements to protect the Antarctic
60. Removed restrictions on embryonic stem-cell research
61. Renewed loan guarantees for Israel
62. Restarted the nuclear non-proliferation talks and building back up the nuclear inspection infrastructure/protocols
63. Returned money authorized for refurbishment of White House offices and private living quarters
64. Sent envoys to Middle East and other parts of the world that had been neglected for years; reengaging in multilateral and bilateral talks and diplomacy
65. Signed national service legislation; expanded national youth service program
66. States are permitted to enact federal fuel efficiency standards above federal standards
67. Students struggling to make college loan payments can have their loans refinanced
68. Successful release of US captain held by Somali pirates; authorized the SEALS to do their job
69. The FDA is now regulating tobacco
70. The missile defense program is being cut by $1.4 billion in 2010
71. The public can meet with federal housing insurers to refinance (the new plan can be completed in one day) a mortgage if they are having trouble paying
72. The “secret detention” facilities in Eastern Europe and elsewhere are being closed
73. US financial and banking rescue plan
74. US Navy increasing patrols off Somali coast
75. Visited more countries and met with more world leaders than any president in his first six months in office
76. Improved relations with Iran
77. Improved U.S. policy on climate change
78. Set timetable for exiting Iraq (already started removing troops)
79. Improved relations with Russia
80. Improved relations with the Islamic World
81. Made progress towards grater cooperation on limiting nuclear proliferation
82. Drastically slowed down the recession
83. Saved Wall Street
84. Passed the Lilly Ledbetter Act (equal work for equal pay)
85. Heathcare reform
86. Arms agreement with Russia
*Thank-you to Cynthia Casper Roberts for this (list of President Obama's accomplishments) comment on the White House fb post: "Harvesting the Winter Garden," March 28, 2010!
Harvesting the Winter Garden from White House on Vimeo.
