The president's progress

[babylonsister]

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1210/46920.html

The president's progress


Barack Obama signs legislation to repeal 'don't ask, don't tell' in Washington. | AP Photo

The author writes that Obama's list of achievements dwarfs that of many past presidents. | AP Photo Close
By TIM KAINE | 12/31/10 5:36 AM EST Updated: 12/31/10 10:27 AM EST


On Nov. 5, 2008, the day after Election Day, the big story was Barack Obama’s history-making win. Today, the big story is the many historic changes that he has enacted during his first two years in office.

At the halfway point of this term, the president’s list of achievements already dwarfs that of many presidents. He has tackled bread-and-butter issues, working hard to ensure that American families have the support needed to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table in these difficult economic times. At the same time, he has encouraged congressional leaders to take the actions necessary to fulfill America’s promise — that each generation will have more opportunities than the last.

The president’s unique combination of short-term recovery measures and his long-term vision for American greatness have set our country on a new path. He has pointed to a destination — a more prosperous future in which the doors of opportunity are open to all Americans — and he has paved the way.

The president’s work began the moment he took office, when hundreds of thousands of jobs were disappearing monthly, our financial system was in shambles and our nation’s future unclear. His first priority was to stem the tide of job losses, shore up U.S. industry and set the wheels of economic growth turning again.

From his efforts came the first flagstones in the road to recovery. The Recovery Act, which put vital dollars back into the pockets of working families, pumped critical funding into high-growth industries and promoted projects that employed Americans and improved vital infrastructure. Wall Street reform aimed to put a stop to predatory lending practices, unexpected overdraft fees, unfair credit card rate increases and taxpayer-financed bailouts of Wall Street banks. And measures saved the U.S. auto industry; kept teachers, firefighters, police and others on the job; extended middle-class tax cuts and ensured full funding of unemployment benefits.

With those actions, the president eased the crisis caused by a near-decade of reckless Republican economic policies. As a result, our economy has grown throughout 2010, and more than 1.2 million hard-hit Americans have returned to work this year.

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http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1210/46920.html

[jenmito]

1. K&R!!!!