A Failing Presidency?

Is Obama a failing president. Here’s some facts from a non-partisan blog titled: whathasobamadone.org. The information listed here represents about one third of the total on the site. The sad thing is that some people will read this and say, “so what, my mind is made up. He’s failing.”

·       Acted to remove registered lobbyists from federal advisory committees.

·       Imposed tariffs on tires imported from China

·       Expanded retirement savings options through IRS changes

·       Announced $12 billion initiative to reform community colleges

·       Signed bill appropriating $7.65 billion to respond to H1N1 flu epidemic

·       Reached agreement with American Hospital Association to cut Medicare reimbursements and payments by $155 billion over 10 years

·       Announced regulatory changes underway to improve food safety standards resulting from Cabinet-level working group

·       Issued Department of Energy rule for increased energy efficiency standards

·       Signed supplemental appropriations bill and signing statement including funding for wars in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as for preparation for a HINI flu pandemic

·       Signed act granting FDA regulatory authority over tobacco products and mandating addition tobacco regulation

·       Announced plan for regulatory reform of financial system and creation of new Consumer Financial Protection Agency

·       Recommended Medicare and Medicare changes intended to save $300 billion over 10 years

·       Proposed to Congress that future non-emergency tax cuts or entitlement expansions be offset by revenue increases or spending reductions ("PAYGO")

·       Negotiated new agreement with Russia to reduce and limit offensive weapons

·       Signed mortgage reform legislation intended to prevent fraud and enable homeowners unable to pay their mortgages to refinance

·       Signed bill to permit Pentagon to abandon projects when costs significantly exceed projections

·       Signed credit card bill of rights to benefit consumers

·       Announced national policy on fuel economy and greenhouse gas emission for cars and trucks for 2012-2016 model years

·       Encouraged legislation to direct credit card issuers to provide clear disclosure of lending terms and limit penalties and fees

·       Dedicated $75 billion in funding to a Treasury Department program to prevent mortgage foreclosures

·       Issued memorandum directing development of a strategy for restoring scientific integrity to government decision-making.

·       Revoked restrictions on stem cell research imposed by the Bush administration 

·       Committed administration to budget requests that will reduce annual deficits by half by end of current presidential term

·       Ordered the Department of Energy to expedite energy efficiency standards for appliances

·       In signing ARRA bill, fulfilled campaign promise to extend and index fix for Alternative Minimum Tax inflation inequity

·       Shepherded and signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (aka: "economic stimulus package")

·       Signed S-CHIP bill authorizing expanded health care coverage for children

·       Withdrew troops from Iraq

·       Placed limits on activities that may be funded with Federal funding

·       Reinforced compliance with Federal labor laws in procurement

·       Appointed task force on middle-class working families

·       Signed bill expanding time frame during which workers can sue for discrimination

·       Issued order mandating presumption of openness in responding to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests

·       Reversed a Bush policy to block release of presidential papers

·       Instituted new limits on lobbyists in White House

·       Froze salaries of White House employees earning over $100k

·       Issued freeze on last-minute Bush administration regulations

·       Committed to publishing all non-emergency legislation to the White House website for public review for five days before signing.

At this point you might be thinking that this column is about re-electing Obama. It’s not. It’s about how a cultural meme can convince people of something that isn’t real. For instance, I could repeat that we’ve added 24 months of job growth under his administration but people will still believe that he’s a “job-killing president.” Unfortunately, even facts don’t penetrate the impermeable membrane that protects our beliefs. Could this be why we never really solve problems?

Robert DeFilippis