100 days in.
Here are some random achievements of Obama's first 100 days, with a focus on spending and the wars.
- 22 Jan - Executive Order issued ordering closure of Guantanamo Bay
- 4 Feb - Obama signs into law S-CHIP reauthorization act. $32.8 billion to extend coverage to an additional 4 million children.
- 17 Feb - Obama signs into law the "American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009". Provides $787 billion to stimulate the US economy.
Obama also commits an additional 17 000 troops to the ailing War in Afghanistan. - 24 Feb - Obama addresses a joint session of Congress
- 26 Feb - Obama announces a 3.6 trillion budget, entitled 'A New Era of Responsibility'.
- 27 Feb - Obama announces US will end its combat mission in Iraq by August 31, 2010.
- 9 March - Reverses Bush stem cell order.
- 24 March - OMB issues a memo saying that the Global War on Terror has ended - Overseas Contingency Operations begins.
- 26 March - Obama outlines new strategy for Afghanistan and Iraq. Afghanistan president, Hamid Karzai issues a statement of support.
- 30 March - Obama lays down terms of auto-bailout. White House asks GM CEO to resign.
- 2 April - Obama & world leaders attend the G-20 summit. Leaders pledge 1.1 trillion in financing the IMF.
- 15 April - Major economy speech given at Georgetown University. "..by no means are we out of the woods..."
- 18 April - Handshake with Hugo Chavez, president of Venezuela signals new approach to foreign relations.
Smackdown
Here's a few zingers from the left. What's the common theme? A naive/stupid-sounding Republican questions a senior member of the Obama administration (and in Gore's case, a former Vice President) as part of a committee hearing.
Steven Chu (Secretary of Energy) is asked - "How did the oil get underneath Alaska?" 6 seconds to respond. The Representative from Texas simplifies it to '..so it just drifted there'.
Hillary Clinton (Secretary of State) is quizzed by Representative Pence (Indiana) on Obama's meeting with Hugo Chavez, president of Venezuela.
Al Gore is asked if his advocacy for climate change over the last 30 years was done all for personal financial interest. Congresswoman Blackburn doesn't seem to get it.
Obama’s administration = Carter’s 2nd term?
The piracy incident off the coast of Somalia brings some sharp comparisons from Republicans. Republicans continually compare Obama's rhetoric and discourse to that of Carter. Trying to 'sweet talk' the baddies out of doing more harm. Compare and contrast to the 1978 Iranian Hostage Crisis and failed rescue attempt.
Stuff to look out - the affect of the UN resolution on North Korea's missile launch, and the US' attempts to have the Security Council enforce tougher sanctions, as well as Obama's handling of the fragile US-Iran relationship.
See also
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=103055832