The last year has been a whirlwind. From the economic fall to America's lost position on the world stage to the attacks upon those “un-American, bigoted, religious hate mongers who are attempting to keep America in the shadows of progressive accomplishment”.
Time magazine, as every year, has chosen their Person of the Year. Was it someone that has done good for the country, like members of our Armed Forces or Emergency personnel (Firemen, police, EMS, first responders) that place their lives on the line day in and day out? No. They chose the man in charge of the Reserve, Mr. Bernanke. The man who headed the financial sector while our financial institutions were going down the drain. (http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1946375_1947251_1947520,00.html)
In January, President Obama took office. From the start, he began fulfilling the main promise of his campaign. To change the direction of the country. (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/11/04/obama-victory-speech_n_141194.html) Within his first hundred days he had done very little. But in an interview with daytime's queen, Oprah, he gave himself, and his administration a B+. (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/13/president-obama-to-oprah_n_390584.html)
Let's see his record and decide what grade the public gives him. His approval rating, according to Gallup, is at 49% as of the December 17th update. (http://www.gallup.com/home.aspx) In comparison, George W. Bush, at the end of his first year, he was at about 85%. (http://blogs.chron.com/txpotomac/2009/01/george_w_bushs_job_approval_ra.html)
While our soldiers are fighting in a war they didn't ask for, our enemy has regrouped. Not only with members of the people from the Middle East, but with those so angry at their own nation that they became home grown terrorists. And as the support for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have waned, our president has been slow in determining our course.
Since President Bush failed to call the Gitmo prisoners POWs, President Obama has seen fit to try them in US civilian courts. One of the masterminds behind 9/11/01, Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, will be tried just down the road from the site of the World Trade Center (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/14/us/14terror.html), despite protests. (http://rawstory.com/news/afp/Hundreds_protest_New_York_9_11_tria_12052009.html) And more of the Gitmo detainees are headed to the US prisons (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34424834/ns/us_news-security/) despite discouragement.
First Lady, Michelle Obama, has stated that we, as a nation, must change our traditions and history. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afGz0dzVSIU) First, history is history. It can't be changed. The only thing with history that allows change, is the perception. Second. Changing tradition. Ninety-five percent of American's believe in a higher power. The name is dependent upon faith. But here is the result of Obama hysteria in our schools. An 8 year old drew Jesus for a class project about Christmas. He was sent home and his parents were told to get him a psych evaluation. (http://abcnews.go.com/US/christ-cross-childs-drawing/story?id=9344273) While in a school in New Jersey, children were taught pro-Obama songs. (http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/09/24/politics/politicalhotsheet/entry5335819.shtml)
Obama's plan to institute government run healthcare, a promised passing by the end of August, has hit a snag.(http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/12/lawmakers-wont-make-obama_n_230256.html) Republican tactics are stalling the process by arguing over different sections. The latest to be dropped is the single payer section. (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_health_care_overhaul) The Medicare proposal seem dead. (http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-na-health-senate15-2009dec15,0,4148420.story) And there are many protests against the healthcare reform bill. (http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/08/07/health-care-town-halls-turn-violent-tampa-st-louis/)
This administration has brought with it, a renewed interest in a piece of 200 + year old parchment. The Constitution. (http://www.usconstitution.net/const.html) Through little national parties (http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2009/12/16/2154426.aspx), American citizens (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCavKL2zdjM)have become reminded of a party that was held in Boston (http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1209/30628.html).
So, at the end of this small review, how would you grade our President?
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