Thank you, Mr. President With all the nastiness from the media and the rightwingers, I thought you might be interested in what our President has truly accomplished. Luvya, Barbara
The author is Professor Robert Watson of Lynn University
Professor Watson writes:
I am always being asked to grade Obama's presidency. In place of offering him a grade, I put together a list of his accomplishments thus far. Ithink you would agree that it is very impressive. His first six months havebeen even more active than FDRs or LBJs the two standards for suchassessments. Yet, there is little media attention given to much of what he has done. Of late, the media is focusing almost exclusively on Obama's critics, without holding them responsible for the uncivil, unconstructive tone of their disagreements or without holding the previous administration responsiblefor getting us in such a deep hole. The misinformation and venom that nowpasses for political reporting and civic debate is beyond description. As such, there is a need to set the record straight. What most impresses me is the fact that Obama has accomplished so much not from aheavy-handed or top-down approach but from a style that has institutionalized effortsto reach across the aisle, encourage vigorous debate, and utilize town halls and panels of experts in the policy-making process. Beyond the accomplishments, the process is good for democracy and our democratic processes have been battered and bruised in recent years.
Let me know if I missed anything in the list (surely I did). Robert 1. Ordered all federal agencies to undertake a study and make recommendations for ways to cut spending 2. Ordered a review of all federal operations to identify and cut wasteful spending and practices
3. Instituted enforcement for equal pay for women 4. Beginning the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq 5. Families of fallen soldiers have expenses covered to be on hand when the body arrives at Dover AFB 6. Ended media blackout on war casualties; reporting full information
7. Ended media blackout on covering the return of fallen soldiers to Dover AFB; the media is now permitted to do so pending adherence to respectful rules and approval of fallen soldier's family 8. The White House and federal government are respecting the Freedom of Information Act 9. Instructed all federal agencies to promote openness and transparency as much as possible 10. Limits on lobbyist's access to the White House 11. Limits on White House aides working for lobbyists after their tenure in the administration 12. Ended the previous stop-loss policy that kept soldiers in Iraq/Afghanistan longer than their enlistment date 13. Phasing out the expensive F-22 war plane and other outdated weapons systems, which weren't even used or needed in Iraq/Afghanistan
14. Removed restrictions on embryonic stem-cell research 15. Federal support for stem-cell and new biomedical research 16. New federal funding for science and research labs 17. States are permitted to enact federal fuel efficiency standards above federal standards 18. Increased infrastructure spending (roads, bridges, power plants) after years of neglect 19. Funds for high-speed, broadband Internet access to K-12 schools 20. New funds for school construction 21. The prison at Guantanamo Bay is being phased out 22. US Auto industry rescue plan 23. Housing rescue plan 24. $789 billion economic stimulus plan 25. 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 26. US financial and banking rescue plan 27. The secret detention facilities in Eastern Europe and elsewhere are being closed 28. Ended the previous policy; the US now has a no torture policy and is in compliance with the Geneva Convention standards 29. Better body armor is now being provided to our troops 30. The missile defense program is being cut by $1.4 billion in 2010 31. Restarted the nuclear nonproliferation talks and building back up the nuclear inspection infrastructure/protocols 32. Reengaged in the treaties/agreements to protect the Antarctic 33. Reengaged in the agreements/talks on global warming and greenhouse gas emissions 34. Visited more countries and met with more world leaders than any president in his first six months in office
35. Successful release of US captain held by Somali pirates; authorized the SEALS to do their job 36. US Navy increasing patrols off Somali coast 37. Attractive tax write-offs for those who buy hybrid automobiles 38. Cash for clunkers program offers vouchers to trade in fuel inefficient, polluting old cars for new cars; stimulated auto sales 39. Announced plans to purchase fuel efficient American-made fleet for the federal government
40. Expanded the SCHIP program to cover health care for 4 million more children 41. Signed national service legislation; expanded national youth service program 42. Instituted a new policy on Cuba, allowing Cuban families to return home to visit loved ones 43. Ended the previous policy of not regulating and labeling carbon dioxide emissions 44. Expanding vaccination programs 45. Immediate and efficient response to the floods in North Dakota and other natural disasters 46. Closed offshore tax safe havens 47. Negotiated deal with Swiss banks to permit US government to gain access to records of tax evaders and criminals 48. Ended the previous policy of offering tax benefits to corporations who outsource American jobs; the new policy is to promote in-sourcing to bring jobs back 49. Ended the previous practice of protecting credit card companies; in place of it are new consumer protections from credit card industry's predatory practices 50. Energy producing plants must begin preparing to produce 15% of their energy from renewable sources 51. Lower drug costs for seniors 52. Ended the previous practice of forbidding Medicare from negotiating with drug manufacturers for cheaper drugs; the federal government is now realizing hundreds of millions in savings 53. Increasing pay and benefits for military personnel 54. Improved housing for military personnel 55. Initiating a new policy to promote federal hiring of military spouses 56. Improved conditions at Walter Reed Military Hospital and other military hospitals 57. Increasing student loans 58. Increasing opportunities in AmeriCorps program 59. 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 60. Established a new cyber security office 61. Beginning the process of reforming and restructuring the military 20 years after the Cold War to a more modern fighting force; this includesnew procurement policies, increasing size of military, new technology andcyber units and operations, etc. 62. Ended previous policy of awarding no-bid defense contracts 63. Ordered a review of hurricane and natural disaster preparedness 64. Established a National Performance Officer charged with saving the federal government money and making federal operations more efficient 65. Students struggling to make college loan payments can have their loans refinanced
66. Improving benefits for veterans 67. Many more press conferences and town halls and much more media access than previous administration 68. Instituted a new focus on mortgage fraud
69. The FDA is now regulating tobacco 70. Ended previous policy of cutting the FDA and circumventing FDA rules
71. Ended previous practice of having White House aides rewrite scientific and environmental rules, regulations, and reports 72. Authorized discussions with North Korea and private mission by Pres. Bill Clinton to secure the release of two Americans held in prisons 73. Authorized discussions with Myanmar and mission by Sen. Jim Web to secure the release of an American held captive 74. Making more loans available to small businesses 75. Established independent commission to make recommendations on slowing the costs of Medicare 76. Appointment of first Latina to the Supreme Court 77. Authorized construction/opening of additional health centers to care for veterans 78. Limited salaries of senior White House aides; cut to $100,000 79. Renewed loan guarantees for Israel 80. Changed the failing/status quo military command in Afghanistan 81. Deployed additional troops to Afghanistan 82. New Afghan War policy that limits aerial bombing and prioritizes aid, development of infrastructure, diplomacy, and good government practices by Afghans 83. Announced the long-term development of a national energy grid with renewable sources and cleaner, efficient energy production 84. Returned money authorized for refurbishment of White House offices and private living quarters 85. Paid for redecoration of White House living quarters out of his own pocket 86. Held first Seder in White House 87. Attempting to reform the nation's healthcare system which is the most expensive in the world yet leaves almost 50 million without health insurance and millions more under insured 88. Has put the ball in play for comprehensive immigration reform 89. Has announced his intention to push for energy reform 90. Has announced his intention to push for education reform
91. Allows the military to reject weapons they don’t want that Senators push through to benefit their respective states
Oh, and he built a swing set for the girls outside the Oval Office! Robert P. Watson, Ph.D.Coordinator of American Studies Lynn University
For eight long years, the Bush-Cheney Administration politicized the Department of Justice and pursued politically motivated prosecutions all across the country.
It infused the Justice Department with Rove-anointed, Bush-appointed officials who put politics ahead of the law — including many of the 93 U.S. Attorneys — like Leura Canary, the wife of Karl Rove's best friend and business partner who said he got Rove to get the DOJ to come after Gov. Don Siegelman in Alabama.
When President Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder took office, we expected real change. That means ending the Bush-Rove politically motivated prosecutions with no basis in fact and restoring the integrity of the Department of Justice.
Still, after seven months, only a handful of the Bush-Rove DOJ appointees have been replaced. That's unacceptable. It's time to clean house of all the Bush-Rove appointees in the Justice Department, including all 93 U.S. Attorneys, and ensure justice for all.
Blog: Rise up and Speak out aginst the treson in our govenment (2 comments | 0 discussions)— This was sent to me by a freind, and I thought everyone (especially in the U needs to read and do something. Otherwise, our country is doomed. Please take time to read it and learn. N Dear Friends: I read this po...
It's important for everyone (in the USA) to read this. Our country is on the edge of going off the cliff. Nick
This was sent to me by a freind, and I thought everyone (especially in the U needs to read and do something. Otherwise, our country is doomed. Please take time to read it and learn. N
Dear Friends:
I read this post yesterday and thought I'd share it with you all. I am reminded of Gandhi and Civil Disobedience.
This is a message to all the well meaning people out there who try their best to make this world a better place, but in fact have no impact on the world, whatsoever. It is time to take your activism seriously.
The time has come to stop your ineffective tantrums and get serious. There are two ways to effect change when it comes to government: passive resistance and revolution. Our republic is broken and we no longer have representatives in government. Constantly asking our elected representatives to legislate on our behalf is not only a waste of time, but also totally unnecessary being that we have a government that no longer represents us.
Actually it is a Catch-22. We live in a communication age. We have the Internet, e-mail, cell phones, land phones, faxes, postal mail and megaphones with which to contact anyone, anywhere, at any time of the day or night. Still, we are told to get on buses and trains so we can march in Washington DC to tell a handful of government officials who don’t even know we are there to do what they were elected to do.
The only legitimate purpose of such a trip at this point in time should be to remove those ineffective representatives and leaders and replace them with people who would honor their oaths of office and actually represent the people who put them there!
I keep getting e-mail and phone calls from organizations asking me to attend “vigils” to take back the nation. Let me tell you something...vigils are to activism what masturbation is to sex. It might make you feel good but nobody else benefits. At least call it what it is...a whining defeat celebration. Why not use your time effectively, like getting people together to plan real change rather than real noise.
The Vietnam conflict was ended by those who organized sit-ins and takeovers not vigils. The Johnson presidency was brought down by those who shut down schools and colleges all over the nation, not by those who lit candles in quiet little ceremonies.
Why do you think a vile criminal thug like Dick Cheney can get on TV and respond "so what" when asked about the overwhelming opposition to his little war for profit? Cheney knows that the people of this nation are too passive to stop his juggernaut of crime and destruction of this nation. In any country worth its salt Cheney would have been sent to the gallows by the justice department or would have ended up hanging from a tree at the hands of the citizens long ago for the crimes he has committed.
Does the name Gandhi mean anything to you? He defeated an empire, peaceably and permanently when he organized acts of civil disobedience that sparked similar action by millions of Indian activists. Are there any people in history who ever have affected change via a vigil of any sort?
Can you imagine what would have happened if the Founding Fathers had decided to hold a vigil rather than declare their independence from the tyranny of their British rulers? If you truly want change you have to understand that any significant change to the status quo in the US today requires both hard work and risk taking. It requires unity. It requires the participation of masses of people who are informed enough to understand the threats to their lives and their freedoms that are posed by those who would profess to lead them!
Our government is no longer a government of our by the people. Both major political parties are fronts for people behind the scenes who are orchestrating the end of the republic and the establishment of autocratic rule. They are putting into place what can best be described as control mechanisms. The apparatus already is in place whereby all power, wealth, health and freedom is in the hands of the few people at the top; the rest of us be dammed. This is not a theory...just pay attention...it is happening...in public...for all to see...but you have to look in order to see it!
I consider myself an activist. What I do in that capacity is run this website. I spend my time informing other people about what is going on...so that they may become aware off the need for change. And when enough people understand this they can work together to effect change. But that change is not going to happen as a result of another march or a vigil. If I spent this valuable time holding a candle in the park I would not take credit for helping the citizens of this nation or of the world. I would not be having an effect on anything.
Do you have any idea why all sorts of new crowd control technology are being developed? Do you know why there are light and sound weapons being distributed to your local police? It is because the people of this nation may well need riot control if enough of them understand what is going on.
When the people of this nation finally understand how badly they are being betrayed by their so called leaders leaders (and by their worst enemy, the establishment media), they will have no choice but to take to the streets. Our representative government can't help us because it does not exist anymore. Is this not embarrassingly obvious to you at this point? Your real enemies, the people who have the most to fear, are currently taking measures to protect themselves from the citizens. What do you think the Patriot Act is all about? Why do you think the government is spying on Americans and placing surveillance mechanisms in the streets (cameras), on your phone lines, on your Internet communication, and why do you think your peaceful organizations are being infiltrated by your local police and FBI? It is not to protect our citizens from so called terrorists, it is to protect the criminals who have taken over our government from the citizens!
The time is not far off. The orchestrated collapse of the economy is taking place right now. Who do you think is doing this? Do you think it was an accident? Do you know who controls the monetary system? Do you know the people who are controlling the money are doing exactly what they did when they intentionally caused the Great Depression?
Were you aware that the Federal Reserve stopped reporting how much money they print? They did this several years ago...and they were allowed to do this because they don't report to any government. They are printing so much money that each printed drops in value. This way they can buy everything...or just take it away...because you will default on your loans and you won't have the money to eat or house yourself. You will be powerless and you will be a slave to their dollars, or whatever new currency they have waiting for us...such as a world currency.
Wake up people...this is not the 60s, nor is this a sex scandal. We are in huge trouble...and we need to do something. So do something that makes sense. Organize in numbers that mean something, and make plans that make people sit up and take notice. If you cannot do something real then support people or organizations that will. Stop supporting organizations that distract you by taking your time and money and using those resources to make you think you are having an impact while in reality they are simply distracting you from having any real impact. You know, the organizations that sent you on vigils.
So do something real or support those who do. At the very least stop wasting your time and money. The inaction and ineffectiveness of the organized ‘opposition’ to the power brokers who run the show are embarrassing enough. Keep in mind grass roots movements start from the bottom. Huge powerful activist organizations that seem to pop out of nowhere are usually funded by the very people you want to remove from power.
Todays problems are not political, they are criminal. This is not about left versus right, it is about right versus wrong. It is about freedom versus tyranny. So think back throughout all of history and see if you can find one example of a tyranny ending after being defeated by vigils.
WHY WOMEN SHOULD VOTE This is the story of our Grandmothers and Great-grandmothers; they lived only 90 years ago.
Remember, it was not until 1920 that women were granted the right to go to the polls and vote. The women were innocent and defenseless, but they were jailed nonetheless for picketing the White House, carrying signs asking for the vote.
And by the end of the night, they were barely alive. Forty prison guards wielding clubs and their warden's blessing went on a rampage against the 33 women wrongly convicted of 'obstructing sidewalk traffic'. They beat Lucy Burns, chained her hands to the cell bars above her head and left her hanging for the night, bleeding and gasping for air.
They hurled Dora Lewis into a dark cell, smashed her head against an iron bed and knocked her out cold. Her cellmate, Alice Cosu, thought Lewis was dead and suffered a heart attack. Additional affidavits describe the guards grabbing, dragging, beating, choking, slamming, pinching, twisting and kicking the women.
Thus unfolded the'Night of Terror' on Nov. 15, 1917, when the warden at the Occoquan Workhouse in Virginia ordered his guards to teach a lesson to the suffragists imprisoned there because they dared to picket Woodrow Wilson's White House for the right to vote. For weeks, the women's only water came from an open pail. Their food--all of it colorless slop--was infested with worms
When one of the leaders, Alice Paul, embarked on a hunger strike, they tied her to a chair, forced a tube down her throat and poured liquid into her until she vomited. She was tortured like this for weeks until word was smuggled out to the press. http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/collections/suffrage/nwp/prisoners.pdf So, refresh my memory. Some women won't vote this year because--why, exactly? We have carpool duties? We have to get to work? Our vote doesn't matter? It's raining?
Last week, I went to a sparsely attended screening of HBO's new movie 'Iron Jawed Angels'. It is a graphic depiction of the battle these women waged so that I could pull the curtain at the polling booth and have my say. I am ashamed to say I needed the reminder. All these years later, voter registration is still my passion. But the actual act of voting had become less personal for me, more rote. Frankly, voting often felt more like an obligation than a privilege. Sometimes it was inconvenient.
My friend Wendy, who is my age and studied women's history, saw the HBO movie, too. When she stopped by my desk to talk about it, she looked angry. She was--with herself. 'One thought kept coming back to me as I watched that movie,' she said. 'What would those women think of the way I use, or don't use, my right to vote? All of us take it for granted now, not just younger women, but those of us who did seek to learn.' The right to vote, she said, had become valuable to her 'all over again.'
HBO released the movie on video and DVD . I wish all history, social studies and government teachers would include the movie in their curriculum I want it shown on Bunco night, too, and anywhere else women gather. I realize this isn't our usual idea of socializing, but we are not voting in the numbers that we should be, and I think a little shock therapy is in order.
It is jarring to watch Woodrow Wilson and his cronies try to persuade a psychiatrist to declare Alice Paul insane so that she could be permanently institutionalized. And it is inspiring to watch the doctor refuse. Alice Paul was strong, he said, and brave. That didn't make her crazy. The doctor admonished the men: 'Courage in women is often mistaken for insanity.'
Please, if you are so inclined, pass this on to all the women you know. We need to get out and vote and use this right that was fought so hard for by these very courageous women. Whether you vote Democratic, Republican or Independent party, Conservative, Liberal or NDP, remember to vote.
History is being made. Listening to our hearts,taking action and exercising our right to vote, we CAN make a difference!
I ordered the DVD, and also the free download. I think all of America needs to see this. Nick
“I thought it’d be a nice way to celebrate my 20th year of doing this,” Moore said. “And also help get out the vote for November. I’ve been thinking about what I want to do to help with the election this year.”
"This is being done entirely as a gift to my fans. The only return any of us are hoping for is the largest turnout of young voters ever at the polls in November." – Michael Moore
Take the time to watch this, and also the I have provided a lin for in the comment thread. Eye-opening. We may have all suspected the truth, but what a stunning validation of what the tunnel-visioned call "paranoia."
It's called American Drug War: The Last White Hope. Thanks to Nicky for alerting me to this horrifying expose.
You can rent this movie. It is on SHOWTIME where I saw it. It was made in 2007, so it's truly current and a must see for anyone who cares about law, medicine, heathcare, our prison system, drugs, etc. Nick
PS: My friend Cate fixed it up for me. Thanks to her for my being able to share this with you.
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