Obama's First 100 Days

Maps of Iraq can be seen on the wall as President Barack Obama meets with Gen. Ray Odierno at Camp Victory in Baghdad, Iraq, on April 7, 2009. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Millions of people jobless. Billions of dollars in bailouts. Trillions of dollars in U.S. debt. And yet, for the first time in years, more Americans than not say the country is on the right track.

In a sign that Barack Obama has inspired hopes for a brighter future in the first 100 days of his presidency, an Associated Press-GfK poll shows that 48 percent of Americans believe the United States is headed in the right direction - compared with 44 percent who disagree.

The "right direction" number is up 8 points since February and a remarkable 31 points since October, the month before Obama's election. [READ MORE]

How do you think Obama is doing?

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The big issues 100 days later.
Track Obama's global travel since becoming president.
First lady Michelle Obama's fashion debut.

First lady Michelle Obama speaks to children of executive office employees at the White House's annual Take Your Child to Work Day in the East Room of the White House on April 23, 2009. (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)

Comments

[Jimmy Conway]

Wow! I think everybody should stop listening to Rush, Beck, and Lou Dobbs! You know Hitler used fear to encourage ignorant Germans to kill innocent people for his own sick cause. He used language like I see here today. Wait...Aren't most people here in Findlay of German descent?

[Dave Malone]

Part two....

These are dire times indeed and yes, Mr. President, you inherited it. However, and I know you are a very smart man but, untill you recognize that YOUR political party actually picked up that first handfull of snow, neatly packed it into a tight little ball, and gently nudged it down the mountainside, and you start admitting that instead of blaming everything completely and totally on W, I find it hard to believe that YOU are going to fix anything. But, as I love this country, have fought for this country, and want this country to survive, I will pray for you just as I did for W. Yes, I pray. I pray to God. So I guess that is another reason for Janet N. to put me on that list.

During the Press Conference, Obama said that his Stimulus Package had created 150,000 new jobs. That's great! But how many of the 29 million who watched that night (down from the 49 million who watched the last one) watched the news the next morning when it was announced that 631,000 people were laid-off in the prior week? And that for many weeks previous the number of laid-off people had been over 600,000, EVERY WEEK! 150,000 new jobs? That's great, keep up the good work.

I got laid off in Dec. I worked there for 12 years and had never been laid off before. I was a Teamster and had pretty good benefits. But unlike the UAW and contrary to the widely held belief that Union employees are lazy and don't work as hard as regular people, I worked 55-70 hours a week. My pay was good too but all of it (including my the medical coverage my wife and I had) stopped on the day I was laid off. Sure, I could have bought Cobra but it would have cost 85% of my unemployment to pay it and we couldn't do that. So there we were. Two 55 year old adults who have worked all of their lives to keep a home and raise their kids, left to start all over yet again.
So Okay, I've always done what I had to do to support my family and that hasn't changed. So far it hasn't. But I have no idea how much longer my health will allow me to do this. And this situation had me realizing that I am only one catastrophic illness away from becoming a burden on the State instead of a contributing member of society. I have never felt this much stress before in my life. Not even when I was in combat!

So I've given up on being called back to work and taken another job while my health still holds up. I am back on the road again. This is a huge step back in History for me. 20 years back, in fact, to a time when I was just starting out in this field and had to actually live in a semi for weeks at a time. Living in a truck and taking showers in truckstops. Only seeing my home for two days at a time every two or three weeks. It's not easy, but I'm doing it. I'll keep doing it as long as I can. And, even though I don't particularly like living like this, I thank God on a daily basis for giving me the means to continue to survive and ask him to keep me healthy so I can keep going till retirement age when I can start collecting on the years I have in the Teamsters even though it's starting to look like I'll never see the thirty years I was shooting for. Right now I have 21 years locked in which will pay much less than 30 years, but it's better than nothing.

In closing, Mr. President, let me make a couple of small requests. I know that you have never been in charge of anything in your life. Not a City or a State, nor even a business be it a large Company or a Convenient Store, but now you are the leader of the most powerful country in the World. Stop apologizing for us. Maybe blaming America was cool when you were running for President and wanted all of the America haters onboard, but it isn't at all cool now. The people you were talking to, when you called America 'Arrogant', wouldn't have been speaking English, if it weren't for America. Also, you didn't approve of the war in Afghanistan or Iraq, but we still liberated 50 million oppressed people in those countries and at least gave them the opportunity to live free if they can make it work. Even you admit they need our continued help.

Stop campaigning, star Leading!

[Dave Malone]

My comments were too lengthy to post, so I will post them in parts...part one...

Yes, Obama did inherit this crisis, but, from whom?

I don't think that anyone who actually pays attention to what's been going on in the world and America (not just the last 100 days but the last 35 years)will deny that our current economic crisis (Recession? Depression? Fall of the Empire?) started with the sub-prime mortgage crisis. Thank you so very much, Jimmy Carter, for starting us down this path way back in 1975 with the passage of the Community Re-investment Act (CRA). And thank you Bill Clinton, for re-invigorating the CRA in the 90's. And a very special thaks to Barney Frank, Chris Dodd, and all of the other 'progressives' who have supported and expanded on this and other entitlement programs which so greatly expanded the size and power of our bloated Government. Fannie May and Freddie Mac? What outstanding and helpful institutions!
Wow, I should probably stop right there because once Janet N. (new head of DHS) gets wind of this, I'll probably end up on a CIA 'Domestic Terrorist Watch List'. But I must go on, there are more people to thank...

Thank you, G.W. Bush and Republican members of the House and Senate, for not doing anything, during your tenure as majority, to stop the madness from leading us to where we are today. Oh sure, back in '05 McCain made a feeble effort to reign in Fannie and Freddie but (Republicans already having lost the majority) it was way too little, way too late. Even W tried to raise the alarm in '03 but no action was taken.
So, what happened? As was inevitable, Americans who never should have been given mortgages in the first place started to default as soon as their 'Balloon Payments' kicked in. Like a snowball rolling down a mountain, the defaults grew exponentially untill finally the big financial houses started to fall. Credit dried up for private persons as well as commercial enterprises and voila! Here we are.

[Thomas]

Stating that he inherited the financial crisis isn't stating opinion...it's stating a fact. I honestly belive that if McCain had won...somehow all the problems our country is facing today would only be attributed to Clinton and those "no-good Democrats in the Senate" with no mention of Former President George W. Bush and a Republican Senate. (but that can be debated somewhere else. This forum isn't for that purpose)

Personally...I think Obama is doing an alright job given everything that he's had to deal with so far. I can only hope that he continues the trend.

The polls indicate that people are more hopefull now about the future since right before he was elected, a 31 point jump since October. Amazing! Isn't this an excellent baromoter of how well Obama is doing as OUR President?

I didn't really care for the auto-industry bailout...or Wall Streets as well. But I could imagine the domino effect it would have on society and businesses in general if it didn't happen...and sometimes you have to do something very un-popular like indebting our childrens future to keep the house of cards we've built from collapsing into chaos and ruin.

Sometimes the end does justify the means....

Only time will tell if the actions of Obama and Former President George W. Bush (who gave us TARP) will have the desired effects on our Nation.

I'm willing to give him time...the next 1,360 days or so...and decide then what grade he deserves.

[P]

To be quite honest Noah, I don't care to hear anyone lay blame. What good does that do? Its unproductive and merely stating opinion and not taking responsiblity for issues that need dealt with now. I agree with Bart and Andrew, 100 days really isn't enough time to turn this country around. Yes...it did take longer than 100 days to put us where we are now, no one would argue that point. I am just not impressed with Obama in the least. From what I've seen, anyone that can read a teleprompter (or not) can do the same job he's been doing since he's been in office.

[Noah Little]

I would like to respond to P who asked when Obama was going to start taking responsibility for the current problems that he inherited and stop blaming others. Funny, because I know of no republicans willing to take the blame for their part. Most still blame Clinton for all our current troubles. Republicans held the presidency 8 of the past 10 years. They held the House 8 of the past 10 years and the Senate 7 of the past 10 years and yet I've read or heard little about their part in our economic woes.

[Rev. David Sisco]

In his first 100 days, Obama has:

• Signed an executive order allowing taxpayer funding to go to international groups that promote or provide abortions. The “Mexico City Policy,” as it’s known, also was rescinded by President Bill Clinton and then reinstated by President George W. Bush.

• Opened the door for more human embryos to be destroyed for unethical stem-cell research despite science showing that adult stem cells provide cures; to date, embryonic stem cells have not.

• Begun the process of rescinding the Bush health care provider conscience regulations. This move comes at a time when the U.S. is experiencing a shortage of practicing physicians, a drop one senator described as reaching "crisis proportions." Making it easier for hospitals and medical schools to discriminate against physicians based on their moral or religious beliefs will only drive more of them out of the profession.

• Lifted a seven-year ban on taxpayer funding of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), which is linked to forced abortion programs.

• Nominated Hillary Clinton as secretary of State. Clinton is an ardent pro-abortion politician who recently accepted Planned Parenthood’s Margaret Sanger award. During her acceptance speech, Clinton praised the eugenicist Sanger as a great American.

• Nominated Kathleen Sebelius as secretary of Health and Human Services. She has accepted campaign contributions from notorious late-term abortionist George Tiller and welcomed him into the governor’s mansion. Sebelius is one of the most pro-abortion governors in the country.

•Nominated Dawn Johnsen, former legal director of NARAL Pro-Choice America, to head the Office of Legal Counsel at the Department of Justice. Johnsen has called motherhood “involuntary servitude” and has said that restrictions on abortion make women nothing more than “fetal containers."

• Attacked charitable giving by proposing a reduced tax deduction for gifts to nonprofits. If it becomes law, it will have a major impact on faith-based ministry giving and other nonprofits.

• Signed a bill that kills the District of Columbia’s successful school-choice program. The program benefits low-income families by providing private-school scholarships. Approximately 3,500 students have benefited from this program.

• Nominated David Hamilton to the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Hamilton has been a board member for the ACLU and a fundraiser for ACORN. He has ordered the Indiana legislature to end its historic practice of beginning each session with a prayer, and has written an opinion in opposition to abortion clinics providing information to women about alternatives.

• Appointed Ellen Moran to a major communications post at the White House. Moran is the former executive director of the pro-abortion EMILY’s List.

• Nominated David Ogden, Tom Perrelli, Elena Kagan and Harold Koh to top Department of Justice and State Department posts. Ogden has been a legal advocate for pornography producers; Perelli helped lead the legal fight to remove the feeding tube from Terri Schiavo; Kagan supported denying military recruiters access to law schools; and Koh strongly advocates mixing foreign law into important U.S. constitutional debates.

• Expressed support for hate-crimes legislation and will sign if it reaches his desk. The House will vote on the measure April 29. The legislation creates a special class of crime based on the victim’s sexual orientation. Those accused of “inducing” a federal hate crime could be held responsible for the actions of another person. For example, pastors preaching against homosexuality could be charged with a crime if someone listening committed a “hate crime” against a gay individual.

• Ordered a legal review of hiring-and-firing standards instituted by faith-based groups that receive federal funding.

• Released a Department of Homeland Security “watch list” that included pro-life Americans.

In short, Obama has greatly undermined life and families who honor it!

[P]

Anyone else notice how Obama repeatedly makes a point of saying "problems we inherited" etc...so as to point the blame somewhere other than himself? Notice how he had no idea that Air Force One was going to do its "photo shoot" wasting thousands and thousands of taxpayers dollars. Look at all the new members of his administration that can't seem to pay their taxes etc. Lord have mercy...its only been 100 days...what must we have to look forward to. Lots of finger pointing in every direction but himself and butt kissing of the very people that hate America and everything we stand for.

[adam]

its a obamanation "yes we can" put thousands out of jobs, time for change u got that right under obama this nation will fall

[Andrew Young]

The Roman Empire did not fix itself, Mr. T. It was destroyed by greed and corruption in the senate, the general society throwing aside its virtues that separated it from the rest of the world and the dismantling of its military. Then some simple barbarians sacked the city and razed it to the ground. Many of these reasons for the fall of Rome, I see in our society today and I believe they are being hastened by the current President. Tina, I do not think that Obama is responsible for your companies increased orders, unless he personally signed the purchase orders, then I would be incorrect.

[Tina Smith]

One hundred days is hardly enough time to turn around a nation that is in the worst shape it has been in for decades, yet the President is slowly making strides. We need to give him more time to do what he set out to do the day he took oath. He has a hard road ahead of him and his first 100 days hasn't been easy. I feel he is doing a great job and I can see improvments in the economy. As for me and my place of employment, we are working overtime to meet customer demands and needs. One hundred and one days ago....not so much.

[Chuck]

The guy is a habitual liar and wouldn't tell the truth even if it sounded better. I'm not trying to be an alarmist but check out the "Ten Planks" that Karl Marx wrote and see for yourselves if it doesn't parrallel Obama's agenda.

[Andrew Young]

I think it is too early to gage the Presidents performance, but you can judge his and the Democratic party's intentions. I would give them an F- on dragging the country as far away from the original values and thoughts that these United States were founded on.

[Bart]

100 days isn't even enough time to judge how someone is doing their job. Not to mention that we are not even seeing the effects of Obama's decisions. I just think he is writing alot of checks out and is going to need to find a place to get the money.

[Andy]

While I do agree that what is going on is mostly from what is left over from the past few years, the "right direction" poll will start to go downward. People want to think that the country is headed in the right direction because they do not want to admit that after only 100 days they might have been wrong. Walk (carefully) down the streets of Detroit and ask them if they approve what is going on in Washington. He also said he would not tax the middle and lower class citizens, but the two main items that have gone up are cigarettes and ammunition. Most sales of cagarettes and ammunition are to the middle and lower class citizens, making Mr. Obama no different than the liars and crooks that he's put into office with him.

[Mr. T]

What was this great plan that would have worked?? Deregulating everything and letting things take care of themselves?? That turned out to work out great. Let the man do his job. If everything was fixed the first 100 days he was in the office, then he would be the greatest american ever to live. Have some patience. Rome wasn't built in a day and this country can't be fixed in 100. It took Bush and his crew 8 years to get into this mess it will take some time to get out of it.

[jeanne]

I believe the President wants to do the right thing, but he is being pressured by so many special interest groups. I have heard many well thought out ways that would have boost the economy, but those ways did not include putting a lot of money into the big businesses. The plans I heard would have saved this country billions and worked better than anything that is going on with all of the bail-outs.

[Wayne Crum]

I fear we soon will face bankruptsy and become a socialist country like Russia did after the revolution.