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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The Sitting President

The past few days the news and talk shows have been featuring three stories: bonuses, the tragedy of Natasha Richardson and how history will be made on Thursday night.

What history will be made on Thursday night that the media outlets are so heavily promoting? Barak Obama, a "sitting President" will be on a talk show.

I have incredible respect for the host (and his wife) of this talk show. He has the true gift of humour. It is intelligent, witty and not at the expense of others.

He is very charitable, yet hides from the kudos which is associated with donations whether it be financial or public appearances. If there was a choice to be given, as to who deserves and should receive the honour of the President as a guest on their show, I would chose him. He leads, not by his chin but by example.

Yet, there is a very serious question which appears not to have been asked. Is it fair for a "sitting President" to go on one talk show and not another? How does he decide and what criteria supports that decision? Millions of people will be tuning in.

There are tangible financial benefits resulting from the President’s appearance, to the show and the television network. These benefits will be both immediate and long term.

It would be interesting to know if the advertisers on tonight's show are paying a premium. The only way one might consider this equitable would be if there is no advertising before and during the show. Otherwise, one might question the motivation.


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The First 365 Days

The day after the inauguration, both the pundits and the public start the customary countdown. The First Hundred Days. Historically, the President and his administration hit the ground running. Judgment is rendered on day 101.

Commitments which were made during the campaign are front and center in the minds of all and the implementation process commences.

But these are not normal times The veneer no longer shields the harsh reality of what is happening in the United States today. That hypothetical aura which prevails in the storybook world where promises translate into certainties ceased to exist.

President Obama has inherited a Pandora’s box of troubles: The debacle of the TARP bailout, banks camouflaging reddened balance sheets - reticent to lend to zombie companies, high unemployment, states who cannot meet payroll, insolvent car manufacturers with outstretched hands heading a potential line up for future bailouts from other industries, a health care system which doesn’t work, under funded social security, statistically too low a percentage of University graduates as compared to other countries in the developed world, a road and bridge infrastructure which is literally falling apart and two wars, (not to mention the on going Israeli Palestinian problem and a potential situation in Pakistan).

We won’t discuss America’s sullied reputation now.

We should give him 265 days grace and not pass judgment until January 21st, 2010. The previous administration made several dubious decisions without thinking through the consequences. Hundreds of billions of dollars was spent with little positive impact on the economy.

Perhaps President Obama might consider dividing his stimulus package into three tiers with well defined goals. Short-term (as defined by 6 months), where tax cuts would give ownership of their spending power to the average American, address the health care system with an eye to government funding as opposed to business and facilitate the ability of the average student to get a University education, mid term (6 months to 2 years) where the infrastructure of the country is concentrated on, and long term (2 to 4 years) where social security is the focus.

I am willing to wait for 365 days before judging, are you?

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