Former Vice President Dick Cheney accused President Obama of 'dithering'. My view is that our president is more active in more areas than any other president in my lifetime. Soulclap to Robert Watson, Ph.D., coordinator of American Studies at Lynn University for documenting some of President Obama's accomplishments between January-August 2009.
- $789 billion economic stimulus plan
- Announced his intention to push for energy reform
- Announced his intention to push for education reform
- Announced plans to purchase fuel efficient American-made fleet for the federal government
- Announced the long-term development of a national energy grid with renewable sources and cleaner, efficient energy production
- Appointment of first Latina to the Supreme Court
- Attempting to reform the nation's healthcare system which is the most expensive in the world yet leaves almost 50 million without health insurance and millions more underinsured
- Attractive tax write-offs for those who buy hybrid automobiles
- Authorized construction/opening of additional health centers to care for veterans
- Authorized discussions with Myanmar and mission by Sen. Jim Webb to secure the release of an American held captive
- Authorized discussions with North Korea and private mission by Pres. Bill Clinton to secure the release of two Americans held in prisons
- Beginning the process of reforming and restructuring the military 20 years after the Cold War to
a more modern fighting force... this includes new procurement policies, increasing size of military, new technology and cyber units and operations, etc. - Beginning the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq
- Better body armor is now being provided to our troops
- "Cash for clunkers" program offers vouchers to trade in fuel inefficient, polluting old cars for new cars; stimulates auto sales
- Changed the failing/status quo military command in Afghanistan
- Closed offshore tax safe havens
- Deployed additional troops to Afghanistan
- Ended media "blackout" on war casualties; reporting full information
- Ended media "blackout" on covering the return of fallen soldiers to Dover A.F.B.; the media is now permitted to do so pending adherence to respectful rules and approval of fallen soldier's family
- Ended previous policy of awarding no-bid defense contracts
- Ended previous policy of cutting the FDA and circumventing FDA rules
- Ended previous practice of forbidding Medicare from negotiating with drug manufacturers for cheaper drugs; the federal government is now realizing hundreds of millions in savings
- Ended previous practice of having White House aides rewrite scientific and environmental rules, regulations, and reports
- Ended previous policy of not regulating and labeling carbon dioxide emissions
- Ended previous policy of offering tax benefits to corporations who outsource American jobs; the new policy is to promote in-sourcing to bring jobs back
- Ended previous policy on torture; the US now has a no torture policy and is in compliance with the Geneva Convention standards
- Ended previous practice of protecting credit card companies; in place of it are new consumer protections from credit card industry's predatory practices
- Ended previous "stop-loss" policy that kept soldiers in Iraq/Afghanistan longer than their enlistment date
- Energy producing plants must begin preparing to produce 15% of their energy from renewable sources
- Established a National Performance Officer charged with saving the federal government money and making federal operations more efficient
- Established a new cyber security office
- Established independent commission to make recommendations on slowing the costs of Medicare
- Expanded the SCHIP program to cover health care for 4 million more children
- Expanding vaccination programs
- Families of fallen soldiers have expenses covered to be on hand when the body arrives at Dover A.F.B.
- Federal support for stem-cell and new biomedical research
- Funds for high-speed, broadband Internet access to K-12 schools
- Held first Seder in White House
- Housing rescue plan
- Immediate and efficient response to the floods in North Dakota and other natural disasters
- Improved housing for military personnel
- Improved conditions at Walter Reed Military Hospital and
other military hospitals - Improving benefits for veterans
- Increased infrastructure spending (roads, bridges, power plants...) after years of neglect
- Increasing opportunities in AmeriCorps program
- Increasing pay and benefits for military personnel
- Increasing student loans
- Initiating a new policy to promote federal hiring of military spouses
- Instituted a new focus on mortgage fraud
- Instituted a new policy on Cuba, allowing Cuban families to return "home" to visit loved ones
- Instituted enforcements for equal pay for women
- Instructed all federal agencies to promote openness and transparency as much as possible
- Limited salaries of senior White House aides; cut to $100,000
- Limits on lobbyists' access to the White House
- Limits on White House aides working for lobbyists after their tenure in the administration
- Lower drug costs for seniors
- Making more loans available to small businesses
- Many more press conferences and town halls and much more media access than previous administration
- Negotiated deal with Swiss banks to permit US government to gain access to records of tax evaders and criminals
- New Afghan War policy that limits aerial bombing and prioritizes aid, development of infrastructure, diplomacy, and good government practices by Afghans
- New federal funding for science and research labs
- New funds for school construction
- Ordered all federal agencies to undertake a study and make recommendations for ways to cut spending
- Ordered a review of all federal operations to identify and cut wasteful spending and practices
- Ordered a review of hurricane and natural disaster preparedness
- Paid for redecorations of White House living quarters out of his own pocket
- Phasing out the expensive F-22 war plane and ot
her outdated weapons systems, which weren't even used or needed in Iraq/Afghanistan - Put the ball in play for comprehensive immigration reform
- Reengaged in the agreements/talks on global warming and greenhouse gas emissions
- Reengaged in the treaties/agreements to protect the Antarctic
- Removed restrictions on embryonic stem-cell research
- Renewed loan guarantees for Israel
- Restarted the nuclear non-proliferation talks and building back up the nuclear inspection infrastructure/protocols
- Returned money authorized for refurbishment of White House offices and private living quarters
- Sent envoys to Middle East and other parts of the world that had been neglected for years; reengaging in multilateral and bilateral talks and diplomacy
- Signed national service legislation; expanded national youth service program
- States are permitted to enact federal fuel efficiency standards above federal standards
- Students struggling to make college loan payments can have their loans refinanced
- Successful release of US captain held by Somali pirates; authorized the SEALS to do their job
- The FDA is now regulating tobacco
- The missile defense program is being cut by $1.4 billion in 2010
- The prison at Guantanamo Bay is being phased out
- The public can meet with federal housing insurers to refinance (the new plan can be completed in one day) a mortgage if they are having trouble paying
- The "secret detention" facilities in Eastern Europe and elsewhere are being closed
- The White House and federal government are respecting the Freedom of Information Act
- US Auto industry rescue plan
- US financial and banking rescue plan
- US Navy increasing patrols off Somali coast
- Visited more countries and met with more world leaders than any president in his first six months in office
