The First 365 Days

Before continuing, it would only be fair to engage in full disclosure. I am not an Obama fan. Although I have tried to be objective in previous posts, I am sure that I gave myself away.


That being said, I was a strong Hillary supporter . I would have preferred that she had dropped Bill along the way, but I would imagine she was advised that would be committing political suicide. I wasn't always one of her advocates but following her during her run for the Dem. nomination and listening to her in the debates and on various interviews, my respect for her grew not only for her acumen as a politician, but as an individual. She was and has been a professional in every aspect of her recent life and especially in the public arena. She understands “Politics”.

Back in Jan 2009, after his first “100 Days”, I felt it premature to pass judgment. Obama truly inherited a mess, so, in all fairness, I deferred until now.

In his interview with Oprah in December, she asked him how he would grade his first year. It was obvious, that he knew the questions in advance of the interview. He gave himself a B+ , qualifying it by saying, “an A- if healthcare is passed” When Charlie Gibson of ABC was asked what he thought of Obama’s grade of himself, he responded. “…I would have given myself an incomplete…” Very astute of Charlie.

Regrettably, Obama came across to the nation and the world as an egocentric narcissist.

He did do a few things that I liked. Unfortunately, he did so much more that I didn’t.


What I liked:

• Engaged Hillary to be Secretary of State.

• Brought Paul Volcker in as an advisor on the economic council (even though he was shelved for a full year until last Thursday)

• Legislature that he instituted bringing down the fees that credit card companies were charging.


What I didn’t like:

• He allocated the same priority to everything, accomplishing little.

• His priorities didn’t mesh with the those of the people who elected him.

• It’s the economy S_____!  Larry Summers shares the final grade. 

• Please do not get me started on the GM/Chrysler/GMAC bailouts.

• He stressed bipartisanship in his campaign, yet made it too difficult for the Rep to participate.

• The deplorable administration of the TARP (Case in point AIG, bonuses etc)

• Did not address the housing crisis


• Allowed the creation of a 2,000 page healthcare bill full of pork and special interest give aways, that was too complicated and long to read.

• Showed his brilliance as an orator in Cairo, without any follow through.

• He promised transparency yet hid from C Span.

• Ineffectiveness of the stimulus- favouring more liberal union oriented projects and not creating long term employment

• Completely misunderstanding the concept of stimulus. Getting the money out ASAP to areas which would create the most jobs

• Adding over $1 trillion to the deficit

• Inability to comprehend the consequences and slowness in reacting to the Christmas Day Bomber

• Acts like a manager and not a leader being reactive in lieu of proactive

• Too dependant on Pelosi and Reid (who hopefully will be only a bad memory in November)

• Still blaming the Bush administration

I would like to be a fan of Obama. I wish he gave me just reason to be one. He went to Washington with an incredible agenda, a Dem. House and Senate and accomplished very little. He promised hope and change but did not follow through. The Audacity.

What I would like to see in the next year is tangible substance and not a pretty image.

With the above in mind, my grade for his first year is  D-

I would really like to believe in President Obama, and overcome my cynicism but he has to prove to me that he is more than a proficient orator and demonstrate  that his words translate into meaningful actions. 


 I am sincerely hopimg that next January, I have reason to raise his grade.
 
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