COMMENTARY

Peter Burgess

Thanks for this question: In my view Obama has done many good things of great importance ... I will refine and expand the list later, but my interim list is as follows:

1. As an African American, Obama got elected to the Presidency of the United States ... thus making a statement to the whole world that almost anything is possible in the great United States of America
2. Early in the Obama Presidency he made an aspirational speach in Cairo about the hope that all people deserve ... that the USA would hold out a helping hand. He took a major step forward to have Islam a perfectly legitimate part of the global religious dialog.
3. Obama stabilized the US and global economy which was in free fall in the 4th quarter of 2008 after the bursting of the housing bubbles and housing related financial derivatives. Recently released documents under the Freedom of Information Laws show that the financial crisis at the end of the Bush Administration was even worse than reported at the time, and the actions of Paulson and Bernanke to address the crisis even more aggessive than we understood at the time. To stabilize the financial sector Obama has worked with a team that had long connections the sector ... in my view a good decision, but also limiting in terms of significant structural reform.
4. Obama addressed the health care mess in the United States. This effort resulted in some reform ... something that has eluded political leadership for more than four decades. This initiative showed the strength and weakness of the Obama spirit of cooperation, and the resulting law is something of a mess, but it is a very big start
5. Obama has moved ahead with significant pieces of legislation and regulation to make a repeat of the financial sector implosion much less likely. This is being aggressively opposed by Republicans and the financial sector. These controls are essential but cannot be imposed unilaterally by the President
6. Obama has listened to the top military leadership and provided much of the support they asked for ... in my view a good decision when there are troops in harms way. Nevertheless, the engagement in Iraq is winding down and the Al Queda that was demonized by the Bust administration after 9/11 has been substantially weakened. Many of the countries involved with the Bush - Cheney = Rumsfeld initiated War on Terror find themselves at odds with the USA, but I like to think that the Obama / Clinton dialog is more nuanced than anything that took place in the prior administration.
7. The role of the USA in the Arab Awakening ... specifically in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya ... has been very good. For a change the role of the US has not been excessive and heavy handed. The US has huge military power, but the hearts and minds of people are won by something very different. In my view Obama (and Secretary Clinton) understand this and it is a huge success for the USA
8. While I hate the whole idea of military might and the military industrial complex, the recently announced military contracts to strengthen the miliary of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Iraq is a US success and will be 'good' for the US economy for several years.
9. The catastrophic job losses in the USA in 2007 and 2008 have stopped under Obama ... but job recovery has been weak, and the housing sector remains in the doldrums. I do not know anyone in academia, in banking, in national, state or community government ... anywhere ... who knows what to do about this. As a onetime Keynesian Economist I would argue for very large government funded infrastructure investment and human capital investment programs, but this has been off the table since the Democrats lost control of the House of Representatives in 2010.
10. According to reports President Obama has been able to raise substantial funds for his Presidential campaign. This is good because it improves his chances of reelection. This is bad because some ... or much ... of this money constrains what he is allowed to do.
11. Last the performance of the Obama himself and his administration should be assessed in the context of all of Washington being 'owned' by the infamous evil powerful 1%

But Occupy should also figure out what needs to be done so that the society and economy of the United States and other countries get off a trajectory that is disastrous to one that has a future for all. This is possible, but requires new thinking that can come from Occupy way more efficiently than it will come from the Establishment

[-] TrevorMnemonic 6 points 1 day ago This is a list I've put together of all the bad things Obama's done. If anyone has more info please share links.

1. Wall Street's takeover of the Obama administration is now complete. 'The mega-banks and their corporate allies control every economic policy position of consequence. Mr. Obama has moved rapidly since the November debacle to install business people where it counts most. Mr.William Daley from JP Morgan Chase as White House Chief of Staff. Mr. Gene Sperling from the Goldman Sachs payroll to be director of the National Economic Council. Eileen Rominger from Goldman Sachs named director of the SEC's Investment Management division. Even the National Security Advisor, Thomas Donilon, was executive vice president for law and policy at the disgraced Fannie Mae after serving as a corporate lobbyist with O'Melveny & Roberts. The keystone of the business friendly team was put in place on Friday. General Electric Chairman and CEO Jeffrey Immelt will serve as chair of the president's Council on Jobs and Competitiveness.'

   http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-brenner/barack-obama-out-of-the-c_b_813027.html

2. He supported the bailouts of a fraudulent financial system that is extracting wealth from our country and stealing people's pensions and homes. The bailout money was used by the federal reserve to create 7.7 trillion dollars out of thin air for their own private interest, and Obama has yet to do anything about it.

   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BXPINPwp4w

3. Obama's new campaign guy his a Wall Street lobbyist

   http://dailycaller.com/2011/10/25/obama-defies-base-hires-wall-street-lobbyist-for-re-election-campaign/#ixzz1cQ6oOt4U

   'Is this the United States congress, or the board of directors of Goldman Sachs?'-Dennis Kucinich

4. The Federal Reserve is not a government agency. It's a private for profit bank ran by frauds. Its a Ponzi scheme where they issue debt created from thin air and then they STEAL your tax money and put it in their wallets and their cronies' pockets. You know those trillions of dollars in government debt? Who do you think pays the interest on it?!?! WE DO! The Federal Reserve has no accountability and create trillions of dollars out of thin air for their own private interests all the while devaluing our US dollar. You don't see Obama trying to correct this fraudulent system.

   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YimTs6Q_xD0

5. He's bombed more countries than Bush. Countries like Libya, Pakistan, Yemen, Afghanistan... etc
6. He extended the Bush tax cuts.

   http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20026069-503544.html

7. He never actually closed guantanamo bay.

   http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/guantanamo-bay-how-the-white-house-lost-the-fight-to-close-it/2011/04/14/AFtxR5XE_story.html

8. He lied about ending the wars in Iraq and the current withdrawal was scheduled by the Bush administration. And there is a billion dollar military base in Iraq and I guarantee you that it aint empty. The departure from Iraq was required by the 2008 Iraq-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement signed by Iraq Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and then-President George W. Bush and approved by the Iraqi parliament, giving it the status of law.

   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S.%E2%80%93Iraq_Status_of_Forces_Agreement

   http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/26/obama-iraq_n_1032507.html

   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUTYL8HfCGo

9. Obama also turned his back on whistle blowers even though before his presidency he said they should be praised. A good man in the NSA named Thomas Drake spoke out against a system in the NSA that violates the 4th amendment as well as also speaking out against fraudulent acts, wasted funds, and more... and Obama supported Drake to be imprisoned.

   http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2011/05/23/110523fa_fact_mayer?currentPage=all

10. Obama also supported the patriot act, which essentially deletes the 4th amendment.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqXmQYHV-1I

11. He's started unconstitutional acts of war against Libya, which he spoke out against when Bush did that to Iraq.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pVo7-gOkqo

12. HR 6166 passed in 2006. The difference between this and the provisions in the NDAA is the wording. The wording in the NDAA is much looser as it is 'associated forces' as well as the restrictions are much looser as well. Will you remaining Obama fans just agree on the term George W Obama already?

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CU2_S2pK3bo

13. Obama signed for the indefinite detention of US citizens without trial into law under provisions of the NDAA and 'designates the world as the battlefield and that includes the homeland.' -quote senator Lindsey Graham who supported the bill and argued in it's favor.

    http://www.hrw.org/news/2011/12/14/us-refusal-veto-detainee-bill-historic-tragedy-rights

    http://www.salon.com/2011/12/15/obama_to_sign_indefinite_detention_bill_into_law/

14. “This bill [the NDAA] authorizes permanent warfare anywhere in the world. It gives the president unchecked power to pursue war. It diminishes the role of this Congress. The founders saw Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution, which places in the hands of Congress the war power, as essential to a check and balance against the executive abuse of power. This legislation diminishes Congress' role in that regard.” - Dennis Kucinich
15. In reference to the passing of the new NDAA the Armed Services Committee released this,'the threats posed by al Qaeda cells in Yemen and Africa underscore the evolving and continuing nature of the terrorist threat to the United States. The Conference Report ensures the United States will have the ability to meet this threat and neutralize terrorists from these groups and conduct effective interrogations.' More war for Obama!

    http://armedservices.house.gov/index.cfm/files/serve?File_id=23d194d7-78c9-4c57-b2d9-31bc3bb7daeb

16. List of terrorist organizations our country could start war with and the countries they're in.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_designated_terrorist_organizations

17. 'This [the National Defense Authorization Act of 2011] designates the WORLD as the battlefield... and that includes the homeland.'

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzFygkHgi34

18. Next stop Africa and Yemen!!! Maybe Iran or Syria next? Fulfill that cold war with some Operation Northwoods and go to war with Russia? Who knows? It's the government. It's a threat to national security to tell you the truth all the time.Maybe China a few years from now?

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/obama-heads-to-asia-with-sharp-focus-on-chinas-growing-power/2011/11/10/gIQAOsQkBN_story.html

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/44/post/obama-us-to-send-250-marines-to-australia-in-2012/2011/11/16/gIQAO4AQQN_blog.html

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01-2pNCZiNk

19. “We suggest a distinctive tactic for breaking up the hard core of extremists who supply conspiracy theories: cognitive infiltration of extremist groups, whereby government agents or their allies (acting either virtually or in real space, and either openly or anonymously) will undermine the crippled epistemology of believers by planting doubts about the theories and stylized facts that circulate within such groups, thereby introducing beneficial cognitive diversity.” -Cass R Sunstein, Administrator of the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs in the Obama administration.
20. Oh and don't forget about this Hour long presentation in congress about Al Qaeda members being the Libyan rebels, as well as extremists, rapists, and murderers.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-G0pUEU603Q&list=FLEwSllwonAZBCc7W3e27_dQ&index=42&feature=plpp_video

21. In case any of you don't like the first video because it's a republican here is super Liberal Dennis Kucinich railing against Al Qaeda in the rebels as well.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSUnluGSOdM&list=FLEwSllwonAZBCc7W3e27_dQ&index=43&feature=plpp_video

22. And here is an article on the Libyan rebel leader admitting to having a bunch of Al Qaeda members in his 'rebellion' which is actually just terrorism.

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/8407047/Libyan-rebel-commander-admits-his-fighters-have-al-Qaeda-links.html

23. And to all the remaining Obama fans, please don't try and accuse me of being in favor of Newt Gingrich or tell me some bullshit about McCain Palin. My criticism for Obama is simply based around facts and in no way means I support a GOP agenda. Obama is a fraud and so is Romney.

[-] Perspective 3 points 23 hours ago

1. Created more private sector jobs in 2010 than during entire Bush years
2. Voluntary disclosure of White House visitors for the first time in US history http://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/disclosures/visitor-records
3. Reversed 'global gag rule', allowing US aid to go to organizations regardless of whether they provide abortions
4. Signed the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, giving the FDA the authority to regulate the manufacturing, marketing, and sale of tobacco for the first time
5. Increased average fuel economy standards from 27.5mpg to 35.5mpg, starting in 2016
6. Signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, restoring basic protections against pay discrimination for women and other workers
7. Provided travel expenses to families of fallen soldiers to be on hand when the body arrives at Dover AFB
8. Reversed the policy of barring media coverage during the return of fallen soldiers to Dover Air Force Base
9. Launched recovery.gov to track spending from the Recovery Act, providing transparency and allowing the public to report fraud, waste, or abuse
10. Provided the Department of Veterans Affairs with more than $1.4 billion to improve services to America's Veterans
11. Issued executive order to repeal Bush era restrictions on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research
12. Signed the Weapons Systems Acquisition Reform Act to stop fraud and wasteful spending in the defense procurement and contracting system
13. Established Credit Card Bill of Rights, preventing credit card companies from imposing arbitrary rate increases on customers
14. Tax cuts for up to 3.5 million small businesses to help pay for employee health care coverage
15. Lifted restrictions granting Cuban Americans unrestricted rights to visit family and send remittances to the island
16. Eliminated subsidies to private lender middlemen of student loans and protect student borrowers
17. Provided stimulus funding to boost private sector spaceflight programs
18. Extended Benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees
19. Appointed first Latina to the US Supreme Court

1. [First I'll add in Bin Laden's dead, since you left thatt out]
2. Established Credit Card Bill of Rights, (which sadly even though it was a good bill, the fraudy banksters found loopholes but I'll still give Obama cred but something should be done to tighten restrictions)
3. Tax cuts for up to 3.5 million small businesses (I believe taxes for middle class America is lower too, and the rich too since he signed for the Bush tax cuts too)
4. Extended Benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees (cool equality)
5. Provided the Department of Veterans Affairs with more than $1.4 billion to improve services to America's Veterans (cool)
6. Signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, (hadn't heard of that one before)
7. Provided travel expenses to families of fallen soldiers (that's good)
8. Reversed the policy of barring media coverage during the return of fallen soldiers to Dover Air Force Base (yeah but his administration cracked down on bradley manning and thomas drake for seeking media coverage)
9. I don't really care about abortion related stuff so I didn't include any of that.
10. Refer to my long list of 'wrongs' in the top comment.
11. ↥like ↧dislike reply permalink

*You didn't ask for a list of 'wrongs'. You asked for a list of things that he has done right.

1. Whether or not you care about abortion is not relevant. This was a huge issue internationally. Because you do not care does not make it less relevant.
2. *Established Credit Card Bill of Rights, (which sadly even though it was a good bill, the fraudy banksters found loopholes but I'll still give Obama cred but something should be done to tighten restrictions)
3. Didn't have a lot of room to move, eh?
4. Reversed the policy of barring media coverage during the return of fallen soldiers to Dover Air Force Base (yeah but his administration cracked down on bradley manning and thomas drake for seeking media coverage)
5. *I like Julian Assange. I really, really do. I think what Manning did was brave. That said, I don't care what administration is there Bradley Manning would have gotten nailed. Any administration. I have to ask, what the hell did you think was going to happen?
6. In the case of Thomas Drake, he got royally screwed but they didn't have a case. I am also interested in following up on if anything happens to Peter Van Buren. Silencing public servants occurs on the national scale, state scale and local scale.
7. I would like to remind you that the public also seems to utilize to their advantage when it suits them. Consider that the public is aware that they can say whatever they want about a specific cop or even a nonspecific cop, a teacher or all teachers, or go off half cocked without all information of any situation and sometimes this is done intentionally by elected officials and with the aid of the media. Wisconsin, for example.
8. People have a tendency to only remember the 'servant' part in public servant. You don't want to hear from the public servants when it comes to public unions and then may wish to silence them. You may not want to hear from them unless it suits whatever you like. The point being that silencing seems to be a national past time.*

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1dkZShYP78

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SonHCwpaSKc [-] technoviking 0 points 15 hours ago