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; re-engaging 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 includes new procurement policies, increasing size of military, new technology and cyber 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

Oh, and he built a swing set for the girls outside the Oval Office!

b
Robert P. Watson, Ph.D.Coordinator of American Studies
Lynn University

                      Blunt's commutation was an act of grace

In one of his last acts as governor, Matt Blunt commuted Stacey Lannert's sentence of life without the possibility of parole to 20 years' imprisonment. With that act of grace, Ms. Lannert's life began again.

Ms. Lannert was sexually abused by her father from age 8. Although some people claim there was no evidence of the abuse, the facts are clear. Ms. Lannert's cousin saw evidence of the abuse. Ms. Lannert told a babysitter, who told her only to "be strong." She told a school counselor, who did nothing. A psychologist told Ms. Lannert's mother that she showed all the signs of an abused child. Yet no one helped her. She shot her father, her abuser, when she was 18 years old and she feared that he was molesting her sister.

None of this is an excuse for murder. But society saves the sentence of life without parole for the worst of the worst. Only in recent years have we come to realize that victims of domestic violence are living in a war zone. They come to believe that no one can help them and that their abuser has ultimate control over them. When they resort to violence, they truly are acting in self-defense. And it is a tragedy for all of us.

In Ms. Lannert's situation, commutation was her last hope. She had fallen through the cracks of the legal system. Jurors who believed she had been sexually abused also found that she had committed first-degree murder, for which there was no option other than life without parole. A trial judge believed the sentence was too harsh but had no option but to sentence her to life without parole. Courts of review who found her situation sympathetic had no legal options. This is the situation for which commutation and pardon exist.

Commutation is an act of grace. It is an act of forgiveness. Mr. Blunt showed his integrity and courage in granting commutation to Ms. Lannert, and he is to be thanked for that. We don't have to condone, we don't even have to understand. We just have to forgive.

Ellen H. Flottman | St. Louis

Attorney for Stacey Lannert