Barack Obama, for the record

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I’m among those who’ve been disillusioned.

Yes, I was aware that it would be impossible for the man to live up to the hype that brought him into office. I guess I had wanted more, and more quickly, and while it’s true I named my cat after him,  in my own defense, I never once thought he was my new bicycle.

Here’s an opinion-piece, very thinly disguised as journalism, that illustrates one more instance of why we shouldn’t trust the lamestream American media. Let’s note first of all, that whoever wrote it, it doesn’t have his or her name on it. Well, wouldn’t want my name on it, either.

Here is what Obama HAS done in 3 years:

• Ended torture as policy and brought the US back to the Geneva Convention.
• Evacuated MOST of the illegally-detained prisoners at Gitmo, despite having been stonewalled by the GOP in efforts to bring the guilty ones to trial in the US under the constitution.
• Brought the troops out of Iraq on schedule and concentrated efforts against the location that continues to make a home for the Taliban, which is Afghanistan.
• There was this guy named Osama who sent some hijackers to create mayhem on American soil. He ain’t around no more. I personally would have preferred to see OBL on trial at the Hague for crimes against humanity, but let’s note that GWB had seven and a half years and didn’t do diddly with this.
• A month before the last election the economy tanked, largely due to Republican laissez faire policies regarding regulating banks. Most economists will tell you things would have gotten much worse and more quickly without the quick action the situation received under this administration.
• There was a hurricane, and the federal relief agencies did what they were supposed to do. They actually helped people, and saved some lives.
• From what I’m hearing, more Americans have health insurance now than at any time in history. I didn’t think I’d live long enough to see that happen.

To paraphrase Ronald Reagan, “Is America better off than it was 4 years ago?” I say, yes. Tell me I’m wrong.

This was all stuff I was able to pound out off the top of my head. Here are a few more brought to my attention. (source)

• He removed the restrictions on stem-cell research that had been put in place by the GOP to make the religious zealots happy, and he’s funding medical research that will keep the US at the forefront of scientific progress.
• Pay and benefits for military people have increased, and the ‘stop-loss’ policy of extending enlistment times above the original period has been rescinded – proving, by the way, which party really cares more about the people risking their lives for the rest of us.
• The United States is again engaged in multi-lateral diplomacy with our allies around the world, rejecting the “My way or the highway” exceptionalism of the previous years – and a pact with Russia will see both countries reduce their nuclear arsenals by one third.

More can be found at What the Fuck Has Obama Done So Far? and its PG-rated counterpart, What the Heck Has Obama Done So Far?

3ChicsPolitico have a page they keep updating as well.

Also, highly worth your time, Andrew Sullivan writing last week in The Daily Beast: “How Obama’s Long Game Will Outsmart His Critics.”

I am thinking about getting a new bicycle, by the way. Haven’t decided what I’ll name it …

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