BuzzFlash Readers, Give President Obama a Grade: It's July 20th and Barack Obama Has Been President for 6 Months.

Observations of the President's 1st 100
> > Days
> >
> > 1. Offended the Queen of England.
> >
> > 2. Bowed to the King of Saudi Arabia.
> >
> > 3. Praised the Marxist Daniel Ortega.
> >
> > 4. Kissed Hugo Chavez on the cheek.
> >
> > 5. Endorsed the Socialist Evo
> > Morales of Bolivia.
> >
> > 6. Announced we would meet with
> > Iranians with no pre-conditions.
> >
> > 7. Gave away billions to AIG. Also
> > without pre-conditions.
> >
> > 8. Expanded the bailouts.
> >
> > 9. Insulted everyone
> > who has ever loved a Special Olympian.
> >
> > 10. Doubled our national debt.
> >
> > 11. Announced a termination of the space defense
> > system the day after the North Koreans launched an ICBM.
> >
> > 12. Despite the urgings of his own CIA director and
> > the prior 4 CIA directors, released information on
> > intelligence gathering.
> >
> > 13. Accepted without public comment the fact that
> > five of his cabinet members cheated on their taxes and two
> > others withdrew after they couldn't take the heat.
> >
> > 14. Appointed a Homeland Security Chief who
> > quickly identified as "dangers to the
> > nation", groups including veterans of the
> > military, and opponents to abortion on demand, and who
> > ordered that the word "terrorism" no longer
> > be used but instead referred to such acts as "man
> > made disasters".
> >
> > 15. Circled the globe so he could openly apologize
> > for America's greatness.
> >
> > 16. Told
> > Mexicans the violence in their country was because of us.
> >
> > 17. Politicized the census by moving it into
> > the White House from its Department of Commerce origins.
> >
> > 18. Appointed as Attorney General the man who
> > orchestrated the forced removal and expulsion from America
> > to Cuba of a nine-year old whose mother died trying to bring
> > him to a life of freedom in the United States.
> >
> > 19. Salutes as heroes three Navy SEALS who
> > took down three terrorists who threatened one American life
> > and the next day announces members of the Bush
> > administration will likely stand trial for
> > "torturing" a terrorist who had played a
> > part in killing 3000 Americans by pouring water up
> > their nose.
> >
> > 20. Flew Air Force One over New York City causing
> > panic at a cost of $400,000 to get a photo
> > you can make with Photo Shop for less than a
> > dollar.
> >
> > 21. Sent his National Defense Advisor to Europe to
> > assure Europe that the US will no longer treat Israel in a
> > special manner and they might be on their own with the
> > Muslims
> >
> > 22. Began the process of nationalizing the Auto Industry
> > and the Insurance industry.
> >
> > 23. Announced that for intent and purposes the Health
> > Insurance Industry will be nationalized.

24. Just recently without any knowledge of the case, proclaimed that the Cambrige police dept. acted "stupidly" by arresting his friend Gates, who is a community activist, & brought race into his comments. He has inflamed most of the nation with his comments. The President needs to understand Americans want a President that is a President for "all" Americans & not for a chosen few. The Rose colored glasses are
off. The Kool-aid glass is empty. Obama is a one term President.
> >
> > And just think - only 1360 days to go, if we have anything
> > left.

Although there have been issues that I disagree with, such as the handling of his inherited Wall Street mess,I have a gut feeling that despite my disagreements, Pres. Obama may in fact, may be teaching America a great civics lesson. Perhaps he is inviting citizens to organize, prioritize, and voice their needs for change via the many avenues that we have available. Something tells me that he wants us to become pro active. Rather than a top down approach. Regardless of what's come out of the Oval Office, between the courts, committees, and coalitions, people have become more involved in politics and We The People have made great leaps from being mere passive spectators to active participants. This Administration has allowed for dissent, whereas the prior adm. held the firm belief that we did not exist at all. There was no debate. If Pres. Obama dictated all of what we want, then he would be no different from the last Adm. Result and goals may be differ, but the process of the top down would still exist. I would have to say that while Obama has not responded the way I would like on all issues, he at least has placed citizens back into the arena of politics and we are more socially and politically active and will continue to demand that We the People are the force behind DC. Now if we could only out law lobbying,DC would be a much better place from which to govern. I only give out pass fail grades and I must say that Pres. Obama has indeed passed. We must also be continually aware of what his Adm. has created vs what was created and thus inherited from the Bush Adm...and like the man said, this is not going to be easy. However, after 8 years of neoconservative craziness and the continued present day loopy RW attacks, we the people still have a long ways to go after being held down for too long.I think he's certainly helped to wake us up and that progress does not always happen at the speed we want. But things are definitely turning. I think the lesson is that we are the vehicle for change...I know it sounds like campaign slogan-ese, but there may be some truth to it. We are right now formulating, prioritizing and voicing our needs as a majority. Besides, after 8 years of hell, I did not expect Obama to ride in as Sir Gallhad or a Wizard of Politics and turn back the hands of time, just with a wave of his wand. But at least he is reinforcing the notion that We the People get involved in order to make the changes.So it's really up to us and that way, there will not be one single individual responsible for good or bad decisions coming out of DC.It will be We the People. (Then again, there will be those that will think I'm just an idealist)

So Far, a B-/C+ sounds about right. He's "caved" on so many of the issues that he promised to deliver in his campaign.

I give him a b even though he has gone back on many of his campagin pledges, he has restored the image of the us president and to me that was very important. and all you people here who post loooooon comments do you think anyone takes the time to read them. I don't.

I'm giving him a B-. There's always room for improvement and I'm so disappointed over the upsurge into Afghanistan where we will lose massive amounts of $ and waaay too many lives for nothing. War is soooo not the way! When will we ever learn that?

I didn't realize that I was voting for Barack W Bush. He is already establishing his credentials as a war criminal, continuing to escalate war in A while pretending to cut back in I by renaming the troops as advisors. He criticized Bush's giveaway to the wealthy, but has already, in 6 months, surpassed Bush's transfer of wealth to the rich many times over. He has stacked his administration with republicans and right leaning democrats. He has turned his back on the GLBT community. And he has shown complete disregard for cruelty to animals and set a terrible example by publicly dining on veal and foie de gras. Obama is proof that neither major party will never nominate a candidate who has not completely sold his soul to the international corporations. The right vs. left thing is a total hoax with the goal of distracting us from the real issue of the day - unchecked corporate ownership of every government in the world.

It is difficult for me to give Mr. Obama a letter grade that would be objective for the following reasons. 1) He inherited a major MESS from the financial sector that has been about 30 years in the making. There were two recessions during Bush's tenure, but in reality that recession started in 2001 and very slowly and quietly spiraled downward. Very few citizens paid any attention. 2) Health care has not only declined in quality and quantity over the last 35 years, but has become oppresively expensive. Insurance companies run America and they are NOT going to give up those huge profit margins just because we, the average citizens, are screaming our heads off for reform. 3) Mr. Obama inherited two on-going wars; one, if not both, should have never been started in the first place due to the enormous expenditure of monies and personnel that are required to run any war. As I recall, Bush and the corporate media, whipped the blood lust for revenge among Americans, into a shark feeding frenzy due to 9/ll. With the onset of these wars brought Gitmo, torture, those weird extra renditions by the CIA, and on and on and on. 4)'No child left behind' legislation that basically doesn't gives students an education, but teaches them how to pass standardized tests. Public education is not only taking a huge hit in this country due to the recession, but very well may be heading for extinction. 5)Equal rights for all citizens regardless of sexual orientation, gender, race, religion, creed, ethnicity, etc. 6) Every time I read a newspaper, listen to the radio, read news on the internet, there seems to be another mess rearing its ugly head. Too many problems to enumerate. And then along comes Mr. Obama with some very good ideas on how to fix some of them, but which ones get priority. It seems a number of people who have submitted a comment feel his/her priority should be the one fixed first, and it just isn't possible. The American public suffers from an almost incurable disease - a cancer - that has taken 30 years to develop called instant gratification. We need to develop a lot of patience, because everything can't be fixed immediately. And one of the things which all of us seem to forget from time to time is that while Mr. Obama can put forth his ideas about how each of the problems can be fixed, it is still up to Congress to write the legislation to fix the problem. And, as we all know, those legislative gears grind excruciatingly slowly, particularly, when the loyal opposition (not only republicans, but also blue dogs) is opposed to any fix that would favor the public who keeps them in office and pays their salaries. Put pressure on your Senators and your house representative by calling, emailing, writing letters, sending telegrams, etc., on whatever you feel should be a priority. And don't stop. I send some of the same emails to both Senators and my district representative every day. I call their offices and express my opinion when a crucial vote is expected on something about which I feel strongly. Rather than let the insurance companies and rest of the corporate parasites write legistlation and run the country, which happened under the last administration, take a stand, fight back and take back of the people, by the people, and for the people.

Aside from continuing to spy on us, and attempting to maintain the Military Commissions Act which can be used to criminalize the innocent ( American, or otherwise), and seeking unlimited detention with no charges, and reducing transparency of visitors to the White House and giving our money to the very people who robbed us and scripting questions for reporters at press meetings, and trying to export 22,000 more human bodies to Afghanistan to kill many more human bodies than that, and not seeking any charges against the most egregious political criminals in our history, and being the oligarchy's new kiss ass, he's doing great! I give him a "D" for just not being Bush, but he doesn't seem to have one democracy-restoring bone is his body. It is not "whining" to protest a president who is upholding the most terrifying policies of George Bush. Nor is it "whining" to expect a president to return our Constitutional form of government. It is not even "whining" to expect some justice where an enormous amount of wrong has been committed. And it is not pragmatism when presidential actions could have at least begun the reversal of Bush's most egregious policies. He had choices, and so far, on issues of civil liberties, he is continuing Bushworld.

A++++++++. Reports are coming in that the recession is easing. President Barack Obama is the best thing since sliced bread. I also applaud the nomination of Judge Sotomayor for the Supreme Court!

He promised so much... he's delivered so little. He's supporting Bush's illegal wiretapping and torture secrecy. Is he leading on healthcare? Hard to tell. We expected more. We expected a revolution from the way things have been done... forever. We wanted more. When will we get it? I give him a B- so far.

I give Obama and A+++++++++++, and I give the so called "progressives" and "liberal" and F- - - - - for all their whining over and over. "Oh, Obama has not done this FIRST FOR ME! Oh, whoa is me. Do you think he can work miracles? The idiots in this country elected bush/cheney again in 2004 to further destroy our country and YOU want Obama to wave a magic wand and fix it all in six months. You all need to grow up, get busy in your communities and stop your whining and support this man!!!!

I give President Obama an A+. He hit the ground running and has done so much more than expected to stop the downward spiral that our country is in. Considering how serious a mess he was left with to fix, he and his team have been omcredible. No, I don't think everything that has been done is perfect or that it couldn't be done better. The fact that something IS being done is a beginning. I have every confidence that he will re-evaluate the situation and make changes as necessary along the way. It is amazing how much has been done with almost no cooperation from the Conservatives. They appear to want to destroy our country. Them I give a resounding F++.

I give Obama a "D". While he is a brilliant orator, he fails to deliver on his promises.

Obama has proven himself to be just more of the same.

He allowed over ELEVEN TRILLION DOLLARS to be stolen by Wall Street and the upper 1% plutocracy.

He won't prosecute any of the Dubya/dick war criminals, thus making himself a war criminal.

Worse yet, he continues to prop up two illegal wars, continues to torture, continues to use unconstitutional signing statements, and continues to be nothing more than change you can believe in that remains the same!

I give him a solid B+. If he could have fixed the mess left by bush and his stooges in six months I would nominate him for sainthood. As it stands he has to keep the majority of the country behind him, not just us left-wingers. He needs the support of everyone when trying to right the wrongs inflicted by the repugs. Besides, even at his very worst he is a thousand times better than any bush, Palin or McCain.

Obama is merely Bush with a suntan. NOTHING has changed. He, along with Congress get an F with the exceptions of Feingold, Paul and Kucinich who get a D

Pres. Obama: Courage, Breadth of Issues tackled, Vision, Leadership, Inclusion of ALL Americans / ALL citizens of the world, Focus, Intelligence, Preparedness, Team Excellence and Competence, Tireless Effort, Brilliant Communication.... Progressives: Tunnel vision ("MY" issue); Cowardice; Lip Service; Blindness; Narrowness; Lack of Sense of Urgency; LACK OF SUPPORT OF / DEDICATION TO RAISING POLITICAL WILL AMONG THE ELECTORATE.... "Ask not what Pres. Obama can do for your country. Ask what YOU can do for your country, and the world." SL

He's a major disappointment. Just another conservative democrat positioning himself oh-so-slightly to the left of the far right republican neo-fascists. We need a Lyndon Johnson. We got another Clinton.

mostly because it is too early to see the results of his efforts, and also because he beats the Repug alternatives. I am very disappointed that he has not prosecuted the Bush torturers. But, what can we expect from the modern Dems. They have no backbone to stand up against the Repug noise machine. I think if they had such, the Repugs would still fight them but they would respect them more. Likewise, he has not stood up to the big banks. I think is afraid of being assasinated, literally and politically. Lots of disappointment ... but I'll give him more time. Maybe he will pull something progressive out of his hat, but the curtain is about the drop.

A solid C--for average. No surprises here. I knew we were not going to see much change when announcements of adviser appointments were being made, especially the thieving crew who continue to have Obama's ear with respect to finance (Summers, Rubin, et al.) There has been some good coverage regarding how Goldman Sachs positioned itself to continue its own enrichment at the expense of everyone else (see current issue of Rolling Stone), yet they are permitted to get away with more, and richer, bonuses. I don't see much happening that promises to change any of that. These bloodsuckers will continue to drain us dry.

Given that Goldman Sachs supported Obama big-time in the last election, I believe what we will see is a few scraps thrown to quiet the restless mob (e.g., watered-down healthcare 'reform,' a useless version of the Employee Free Choice Act, minus card check which has already hit the chopping block) but otherwise no big change from BUSINESS As Usual.

At this point I don't believe that our system of government has (if indeed it ever had) any mechanism that will allow true democracy to overcome the corrupt 'pay for play' arrangement we have now.

Renard

"When their lips are moving, they are lying. When they are silent, they are stealing."

I think president Obama should receive a grade of "D" - I haven't seen one single ex-Bush administration official put on trial for felony charges yet. This country will get rolled over again, just like we did after Nixon/Watergate and after Reagan/Iran-Contra unless the criminals are prosecuted to the fullest extent of U.S. law. KLindsey "War is a cowardly escape from the problems of peace." Thomas Mann

For everyone that's giving Obama bad grades for the last six months, does that mean you thought Bush did better?

..... the unprecedented pile of crap left by the Bush cabal?

Obama gets a solid B+ for at least attempting to deal with the ginormous economic meltdown. It will take decades to undo Bush's damage, but at least O has made a decent start. He further gets points for pushing for a public option in health care. If health care is not taken out of the hands of insurance companies, the ecomomy will never rebound. He also gets points for wiping away the Bush sputem from the faces of our long-time worldwide allies and reaching out, honestly and forcefully, to the Muslim world.

The reason he does not score an A is twofold: his push into Afghanistan seems ill-advised, and his refusal to call Cheney et al on torture is extremely disappointing. The law is the law, and the cabal clearly thumbed its nose at the law.

Obama needs more time; not months, years. It is not humanly possible to reverse all the damage begun by Reagan and continued by Bushco in months. Obama is our best hope for restoring this country to even a semblance of its original noble intentions.
.

For some (like my mother who thought he was the best things next to sliced bread when he was campaigning), his lack of action and policies over the past six months may have come as a bit of a surprise. He certainly speaks a good line, but his actions are lacking. For anyone who observed his voting record and lack of action when he was in congress, it certainly wasn't a surprise. Obama is not one to shake things up - even when they so desperately NEED to be shaken up. That's his downfall. His other downfall was allowing some of the key people in Bush's DOD to remain and advise him. What the heck was he thinking? That we would actually obtain peace through the same people who brought us the illegal war? His lack of appointing anyone who was further left than the middle was a crucial mistake as well. We're basically left with a "ho-hum" administration who doesn't have the desire, nor the ideas to take this country where it needs to go. Thus, I give him a D for his first six months of office. His handling of the banking situation was dismal. Though I'm glad that he took action against the credit card companies for racking up their rates, he's allowed them a year grace period. Would you allow a robber to continue to rob for another year or put your foot down and say, "You're not getting another dime starting NOW"? She chose the former. His handling of the Iraq War by appointing a psychopath general is bad news too. As is his refusal to change the outragious policies of Bush Jr. Though I am happy that he wants to do something about our healthcare system, I am angry that he was taken Single-Payer option off the table. I am also angry at his sending un-manned weapons into Pakestan. Not cool and certainly not a way to end the war - nor help our economy. They claim that the first year in office sets the tone for the remainder of the administration. So far, I am not impressed one bit. He had the nation in the palm of his hand and could have led us towards a nation of greatness, posssibilites and equality on so many levels. Instead, it will continue to be a nation of medeocracy. I am so disappointed in Obama.

All in all, a C-. Although I did campaign and organize for Mr. Obama, I never believed for one moment that he represented a shift toward real progressive politics. I am also under the opinion that anyone who DID have such expectations should not be alarmed at their disappointment. Nonetheless, Mr. Obama still enjoys a high approval rating amongst Democrats, and I have to admit I would rather have just about anyone in office than that crotchety old hypocrite John McCain and his paranoid sidekick, the soon-to-be ex-governor of Alaska.

I would be happier if Obama showed a little more sack in dealing with the wheedling, whining Republicans, and stopped worrying about whom he is going to offend by allowing policies like "Don't ask don't tell" and unconstitutional surveillance practices to continue. Obama reminds me more and more of Bill Clinton every day.

Fortunately, this is just the first marking period, so there is plenty of time for him to improve his performance on ridding ourselves of the GWB legal and policy baggage.

If Obama does not fire Mary Beth Buchanan soon, he will be getting a failing grade from me next marking period. You should be reading this for some insight into another gem from the GWB legacy that is still in power in western PA: http://www.reason.com/news/show/130844.html.

I definitely agree with thodges for the most part. It is unfortunate but true that the election of Barack Obama has put us right back to voting for the lesser of two evils come 2012. Unless Obama has been biding his time and has a strategy behind his actions that isn't yet apparent, I will have to do all that I can to convince myself to vote for Obama again in 2012; if only to avoid the total destruction of a Palin or Palinesque presidency. Sad but true, at best a C-.

I give him a A. 6 months is not enought time to fix 8 years of problems that the people who are now complaining about sit back and let happen. He has also repaired our relations around the globe. As for the republicans taking back congress in 2 years, I doubt it. More racist repubs have come out in the last six months to make up for the next 12 years. I'm getting sick of hearing about how big the deficit is going to be. Apparantely the deficit was already to big before he got into office, but of coourse we didn't hear about that. Let's just face it. The last administration cared nothing about healthcare because they were all getting rich. 8 years of getting rich. Now all of a sudden they are worried about the people. Give me a break. They are just stalling in hopes of not getting it done. They are longing for the days of George Bush again.

I'd give him 6 more months then think about it, but it's looking a bit shaky right now. Only the truth will set us free and boy is there a lot of that to come out. How does one man get so many out of denial? AND how did so few rob so many and and get their vehement support? Now that's a question.

thodges said it petty well. D grade. One termer. Going to give us a Repuke House in two years and a Failin' Presiduncy in 2012. Change you can plan on. With dread.

Oldwoman thinks the question and analysis can only be fuzzy because we see and hear so little of what actually is happening. I'm guessing he is doing better than our cable news say; they pervert truth. Same for the networks. I am angry at his handling of the financial houses. However, we must remember he is only one of three of the branches of government. He has far less power to enact than we attribute to him. I do think his talks have become less forceful. Yet he has mighty forces against him, mightier than we realize. He can inspire and suggest, but in few cases can he do the doing. Six months is not enough to grade him. So many advancements can be made only in inches that equate to decades. When President Johnson signed the civil rights legislation, black America didn't suddenly become equal to the white man. This is still being worked on. I give him a B. As to the financial houses I give him a D because he chose advisors who helped to make the problem and who likely can't think beyond that. He should choose men of great purpose, such as Paul Krugman and Dennis Kucinich.

C- For stacking his cabinets with the same corporatist elite that has no qualms about breaking laws, just as long as they profit from their crimes. For refusing to immediately investigate, indict and try the ENTIRE former administration for their crimes. OK, then how about just Cheney, Bush, Rice, Rumsfeld and Wolfowitz, not to mention Perle, et al? For continuing the very, very NON-transparent spying on Americans that was unconstitutional then, and it's unconstitutional now. For refusing to reform health care in a way that benefits the premium-payers instead of the premium-recipients. For moving forward with the most evil and dastardly plan of all: Monsanto corporatists (Taylor) advising legislation on food safety, food scarcity and food security. Monsanto will be the monopoly that dictates what we eat, and not just the dumbed down Americans Faux Noise watchers and Wal Mart shpoppers, but the entire planet. I was had. I won't vote for him again.