Monthly Obama Forum Approval - October 2009

[Eraserhead]

Once again, to those who approve, what has he done that is worthy of approval?  I really do want to know.

-Banned CIA torture
-Set strict ethics rules for executive branch employees
-Ended the Mexico City Policy
-Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act
-SCHIP expansion, giving 4 million more children health insurance
-The stimulus bill, which though flawed, has managed to keep unemployment lower than it would have been without government stimulus, and will update and rebuild American infrastructure
-Lifted ban on embryonic stem cell research
-Nominated a smart, qualified, not-insane judge to the Supreme Court
-Began the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq, which will continue through August 2010
-A renewed focus on diplomacy, international institutions, and cooperation and dialogue with allies and adversaries
-Delivered a historic, first of its kind speech in a major Muslim city
-Overturned a Bush administration policy that would have opened up offshore drilling
-Cash for clunkers program, an effective, popular government program
-Increased executive branch transparency

And a health care bill of some sort will be passed in a few weeks. A cap and trade bill has already been passed in the House and is now in the Senate.

He's not perfect, I'll be the first to admit that. But the idea that he hasn't accomplished anything is ridiculous.

Lief, why are you always doing your homework? This isn't the place for that!

[Torie]

The "Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act" sounds ominous. Typically, using the word "fair" in the same sentence with "pay" is all about using government power to pay folks more than they are worth on the market, and is more often than not directed to certain favored interests. Am I on the right track with this one Lief?  

Addenum: Upon doing a Google, apparently not; in fact I actually favor this bill. Damn! 

[Lunar]

Was Bush threatening to veto that bill when he was in office, by the way?

edit: GOP actually did shut it down in 2007.  I know, hard to believe the Republicans would make stupid political miscalculations in 2007 , isn't it?

It's a very sane bill, I take women's rights very seriously as well.  Obama in his first month in office is someone I generally approved of very much.  Him being "Not Bush" allowed him to pass a lot of common-sense, progressive policies in his opening weeks.

[TheresNoMoney]

Somewhat approve, he's done well given that he has a Democratic Congress that is scared to do anything and has many Corporate, DLC members

[Eraserhead]

Wow, all of the options are getting some love this time.

[Хahar 🤔]

Strongly disapprove.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

Strongly disapprove.

Not socialist enough for you yet? 

[Хahar 🤔]

Strongly disapprove.

Not socialist enough for you yet? 

Basically.