Future of the Republican Party... - Page 8

On September 27 2010 08:05 thedeadhaji wrote:
To me, the polls are indicative of the public being tired of the current Obama administration - one of nonaction.

So far, this administration has been mostly talk and very little substance. Their actions taken against unemployment have been unsuccessful, and the gulf oil spill definitely did not help their PR. The economy is slugging, young people in record numbers remain unemployed. No one knows wtf is up with the new health insurance system.

If someone asks me, "what has this administration accomplished in the last 2 years?", I can only really respond with ... 'nothing?'

On the environment:

Included funding for "green" jobs in the stimulus bill

Initiated first steps to develop a legally-binding treaty to reduce mercury emissions worldwide

Dedicated more than $60 billion for clean energy

Instituted "cash for clunkers," getting more fuel efficient cars on the street

Acknowledges reality of climate change and his desire to work on an international policy like Kyoto

Emphasized the value of science (not political opinion) within the EPA

Allocated $2 billion in stimulus cash for advanced batteries systems (for automobiles)

Declared (via EPA) carbon dioxide a threat to health, the first step towards regulating greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act

Funded Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant, which gives $2.8 billion to cities

Put over 2 million acres of wilderness, thousands of miles of river and a host of national trails and parks under federal protection, the largest conservation effort in 15 years
Funding a $475 million initiative to restore and clean the Great Lakes

On healthcare:

Overturned the federal funding ban for stem cell research

Instituted better standards for comparative research in medicine and an agency to handle this

Added staff to the FDA and brought back emphasis on science

Allocated over $1 billion to the National Institutes of Health, whose budget Bush let stagnate

Eliminated funding for abstinence-only education

Signed an executive order repealing the "Mexico City policy" or "global gag rule" that withheld U.S. funds from organizations that discuss or provide family planning services abroad

Announced US would resume contributions to the UN population fund for family planning and more than double the previous contribution made in 2001

Appropriated $19 billion in the stimulus package to help implement an electronic medical record system

Set aside billions in budget to overhaul the health care system

Enacted Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization, providing healthcare to 11 million children

Established 65% COBRA subsidy for 7 million unemployed Americans

Allocated $1 billion for prevention and wellness programs

Provided $87 billion to states to bolster their Medicaid programs during the downturn

Increased funding for urban HIV/AIDS Prevention and Awareness

On Education, Equality, Public Safety, Families, etc.:

Expressed a desire to overturn Don't Ask Don't Tell

Described the Defense of Marriage Act as "unfair" and "discriminatory" and said they supported it being overturned

Includes atheists in his definition of Americans

Extended tax credits for mothers to return to college, for tuition, and for college textbook purchases

Has agreed to make the visitors' lists to the White House public

Signed executive order requiring Guantanamo to be closed within 1 year and allocated funds/personnel for that purpose

Included provision in stimulus legislation that, for the first time, supported the ideas of Net Neutrality-like non-discrimination and openness for the Internet

The administration demonstrated a new commitment to fighting for change on the UN Human Rights Council by announcing it will run for a seat next year, reversing the Bush administration boycott

Announced that the U.S. will support a United Nations declaration urging nations to decriminalize homosexuality

Created office of Urban Policy

Gave Department of Justice $2 billion for Byrne Grants, which funds anti-gang and anti-gun task forces (cut during Bush years)

Allocated $5 billion for early learning programs, including Head Start, Early Head Start, child care, and programs for children with special needs

Signed the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility, and Disclosure (CARD) Act to protect Americans from unfair and deceptive credit card practices

Enacted the Making Homes Affordable Program

Boosted credit flow to small businesses

Increased focus on funding for high speed rail

Funded the Community Oriented Police program (COPS)
Appointed first Hispanic justice to the Supreme Court and most qualified Supreme Court candidate in decades

On foreign affairs (see link for more complete list):

Secured $5 billion in aid commitments "to bolster [Pakistan's] economy and help it fight terror and Islamic radicalism"

Foreign affairs experts insist that Obama's engagement with the Muslim world has been at once remarkable and under-appreciated..."He has been able to dramatically change America's image in that region"

Led global response to the economic crisis through the G20, obtaining commitments of $1.1 trillion to safeguard the world’s most vulnerable economies

Established major agenda to protect Americans from spread/use of deadly weapons, negotiating new nuclear weapon cuts with Russia and committing to the elimination of nuclear weapons

Signed an executive order banning torture and requiring interrogations to conform to Army Field Manual Standards and Geneva Conventions

Signed an executive order to close CIA secret prisons

Cut ineffective, unnecessary and outdated weapons programs such as the F-22, the DDG -1000 destroyer, and Future Combat Systems

Vowed to bring the costs of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq into the regular budget by 2010

Largest increase for veterans funding in 30 years

Restored the UN Ambassador to a cabinet level position

Signed Weapons Systems Acquisition Reform Act to stop fraud and wasteful spending in defense procurement and contracting
Helped free 2 American journalists from a North Korea prison
Led the UN Security Council in voting for strong sanctions against North Korea
Negotiated with Russia to allow overflights over their territory to establish a supply route into Northern Afghanistan

On workers:

OSHA announced it was moving to protect workers from...popcorn long; last-minute Bush rules would have added 2 years before it could be considered

Revoked Bush administration executive order on regulatory review that enabled political appointees at the White House's OMB to override agencies' rulemaking, undermining everything from worker safety to environmental protection

Signed 3 executive orders, including one reversing a Bush order to limit union representation on federal contracts

Moved to prevent federal contractors from being reimbursed for unionbusting propganda compaigns during collective bargaining

Signed executive order overturning Bush administration's ban on project labor agreements (PLAs) on federally funded construction (PLAs set wages and establish work rules and methods of settling grievances on large multi-contractor construction projects)

Signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, guaranteeing the right to sue for wage discrimination based on gender, race, disability, etc.

Extended unemployment benefits for struggling Americans

Obama's Department of Transportation has approved 2,500 highway projects

Cut taxes for 95% of all working families

Provided over $500 million in funding for vocational rehabilitation services to help with job training, education and placement