The Obama Presidency

[Warren 4 Secretary of Everything]

"Today I say to you the challenges we face are real. They are many, and they are great. They will not be met easily, nor in a short span of time. But know this America, they will be met."- President Barack Obama

Cabinet of The 44th President of The United States, Barack Obama

Secretary of State - Hillary Clinton
Secretary of Treasury - Warren Buffett
Secretary of Defense - Robert Gates
Attorney General - Eric Holder
Secretary of Interior - Ken Salazar
Secretary of Agriculture - Tom Vilsack
Secretary of Commerce - John Bryson
Secretary of Labor - Paul Krugman
Secretary of Health and Human Services - Mitt Romney
Secretary of Housing and Urban Developement - Shaun Donovan
Secretary of Transportation - Ray LaHood
Secretary of Energy - Steven Chu
Secretary of Education - Arne Duncan
Secretary of Veterans Affairs - Max Cleland
Secretary of Homeland Security - Janet Napolitano

[Warren 4 Secretary of Everything]

On his first day in office, the President signed an executive order closing Guantanamo Bay and outlawing any forms of torture. Then he turned his attention towards the economy and called a Joint Session of Congress to present his plans to alleviate the crisis.

"Our nation is in crisis. So, I am sending a bill to congress that shall pump money into the economy. It shall include things that both parties can agree on. The Reinvestment and Recovery Act should stop the free fall. So Madam Speaker, let's get this done."- President Obama

The American Reinvestment and Recovery Act included a lot of measures, including about 300 billion dollars in middle income tax cuts, an extension of unemployment benefits, and about 600 billion in direct government spending on infrastructure projects. Originally, the plan would have included more tax cuts and less spending, but at the urging of Labor Secretary Krugman, the government would take a more Keynsian approach.

Gallup Poll
Do You Approve Or Dissaprove Of The Job Barack Obama Is Doing As President?
Yes-68
No-29
No Answer-3

[Warren 4 Secretary of Everything]

The First 100 Days or the Obama Administration were marked by something that both progressives and albeit reluctantly, conservatives, could agree on: success. From the Housing and Student Loan Debt Program and Auto Bailout to the repeal of the PATRIOT Act and closure of Gitmo, the President had achieved much. But there was one thing campaign promise he'd fell to deliver on. The environment in Washington was extremely partisan. The Democrats had gained the White House and Congressional supermajorities; and the GOP was itching for a comeback.

"Our top political priority over the next two years should be to deny President Obama a second term in office"- Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell

"Today I'm announcing my plan to fundamentally alter the Health Care system that has refused to provide coverage to millions of Americans. The Affordable Care Act will open Medicare to all Americans. Americans have the most expensive health insurance system in the modernized world, and it provides some of the worst care. This is something that I hope the public will support, and something that has bee a goal for the county, going back a century."- President Obama

The Republicans saw their opportunity and pounced. Taking to the Sunday talkshows, congressional floors and streets. Cries of socialism afoul.

"My constituents don't want a bill that will make them give up the family doctor for some beurocrat. Nor do they want some Washington Beuracracy to tell them what care they deserve. We can't let socialism corrupt our great nation"- House Minority Whip Eric Cantor on NBC's Meet The Press

"This administration is following policies that this country has long railed against.the American People have a message Madam Speaker: Vote No. No Obamacare. No new Beuracracy. No new taxes. And No socialism."- House Minority Leader John Boehner

Public support for the Affordable Care Act was at best 50-50, but the administration pushed on. Focusing more on legislating than messaging and afraid of making Bill Clinton's mistakes, the President took a back-seat to the debate over the bill, instead optimg to focus on jobs and the economy.

Gallup Poll
Do You Support The Affordable Care Act, Better Known As ObamaCare?
Yes-36
No-43
Don't Know-21

[Warren 4 Secretary of Everything]

"It's Done"- President Barack Obama

With the narrow passing of Obamacare, by one vote in the House of Representatives,The President set out to close the chapter on a goal that Presidents have had going back a century before to Theodore Roosevelt. He saw it as more than just a check mark on his record, but something he'd be remembered for long after his Administration ended. It was his legacy, and one he would be proud of. If only the public agreed.

For Which Party's Candidate Do You Intend To Vote For In The 2010 Midterm Elections?

Republican- 56%
Democratic-39%
Neither/DK- 5%

By November, the GOP had won the messaging war, and were headed towards historic rout. The Democrats couldn't get their act together and string together a coherent vision, and they would pay dearly for their failures.

2010 Midterm Election Results

Senate
Republicans- 44, +3     Incoming Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R) Kentucky
Democrats- 56, -3         Incoming Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D) Illinois
US Senate, 2010 Freshman Class
John Hoeven (R) North Dakota
Ron Johnson (R) Wisconsin
Mark Kirk (R) Illinois
John Boozeman (R) Arkansas
Jerry Moran (R) Kansas
Roy Blunt (R) Missouri
Kelly Ayotte (R) New Hampshire
Rob Portman (R) Ohio
Marco Rubio (R) Florida
Mike Les (R) Utah
Richard Blumenthal (D) Connecticut
Joe Sestak (D) Pennsylvania
Adam Edelen (D) Kentucky

House of Representatives
Incoming Speaker of The House- John Boehner (R), Ohio's 8th District
Republicans- 236, +57 Incoming Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R), Virginia's 7th District
Democrats- 199, -57 Incoming Minority Leader Steny Hoyer (D), Maryland's 5th District

The Republicans picked up a historic 57 seats in the House of Representatives, but only a meager 4 in the US Senate, thanks to stunning upsets by Joe Sestak of Pennsylvania and Adam Edelen of Kentucky and the re-election of Evan Bayh of Indiana, which denied the GOP of 3 easy pick-ups. With a divided Congress and a wounded party, times were looking tough for the incumbent President. Lame-Duck negotiations were underway with the Bush Tax Cuts and Unemployment Benefits scheduled to expire at year's end. A standoff was innevetable.

[Warren 4 Secretary of Everything]

They got their same opponents ad IRL.
Bozeman faced Blanche Lincoln.
Portman faced Lee Fisher.
Ayotte faced Paul Hodes.
Blunt faced Robin Carnahan.

[Warren 4 Secretary of Everything]

In the Lame-Duck session, Senate Democrats scrambled to finish their work, knowing that the filibuster-proof majority would be over in a matter of weeks. And so, on November 30th, they agreed on the final Democratic bill of the 11th Congress: The Dream Act.
Having passed the HoR the bill moved on to the Senate, where a Democratic Caucus would face a filibuster, unless they could tangle up enough Blue Dogs and Republicans to pass it. With the help of President Obama's harassing of members and Dick Durbin's ranging of votes, the bill was still short two votes. Jon Tester of Montana and Joe Manchin of West Virginia were up for re-election in 2012 in tough states and agreed to skip the vote. Then the unexpected happened, and 3 Republicans switched their votes; Dick Lugar of Indiana, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, and outgoing Bob Bennett of Utah.

DREAM Act Senate Vote
Yea- 62
Nay- 36
Abs- 2

The easy part was over, now on to the Great Compromise of 2010.
"Any word from John yet on that deal?"- President Obama
"No sir, he'll call you later today with the details."- Rahm Emmanuel

[Warren 4 Secretary of Everything]

Liking it so far, but a little curious what the causes behind some of these changes are.  For instance, did Romney just abandon his Presidential ambitions?  Seems like an incredibly risky move to be part of the Obama administration if he was planning to run against him in 2012.  

Also, I love the idea of opening medicare to all Americans as part of the ACA, but how did Obama convince the more conservative Democrats to back him on it?  

Looking forward to the next update.

That makes 2 of us! Perhaps we can get the DISCLOSE Act passed, in addition to DADT and the Missile Treaty in the Lame-Duck session!

He got Reid to threaten primaries for them if they voted no. Update tonight!

[Warren 4 Secretary of Everything]

After much debate and arm twisting between the President, Erskine Bowles, Alan Simpson, Boehner and Jack Lew, a deal was made. The Bush Tax Cuts would be extended for those families making less than a million dollars and unemployment benefits would be extended, but cuts would need to be made to domestic spending programs. And so a Super Comittee would be created to plan out subsequent deficit reduction. It would be comprised of four Senators and four Congressmen, and headed by Bowles and Simpson.

December 23rd, 2010

"I'm not willing to let working families across this country become collateral damage for political warfare here in Washington. And I'm not willing to let our economy slip backwards just as we're pulling ourselves out of this devastating recession. ... So, sympathetic as I am to those who prefer a fight over compromise, as much as the political wisdom may dictate fighting over solving problems, it would be the wrong thing to do. ... As for now, I believe this bipartisan plan is the right thing to do. It’s the right thing to do for jobs. It’s the right thing to do for the middle class. It is the right thing to do for business. And it’s the right thing to do for our economy. It offers us an opportunity that we need to seize."- President Obama

Super Committee Members

Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia

Sen. Patty Murray of Washington

Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa

Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina

Rep. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland

Rep. Heath Shuler of North Carolina

Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin

Rep. Tom Price of Georgia

"Let me finish about this new Super Committee. According to the picks on both sides, the parties seem to be serious. They've chosen a few moderates to represent them, and with Simpson and Bowles at the helm, there should be no BS. But will they be able to come to an agreement by the Ides of March?"- Chris Matthews

Up next in 2011; the State of the Union, budget deals and battles, and the beginning of Republican primaries.

[Warren 4 Secretary of Everything]

Wait for it. Wait for it. It's coming.

[Warren 4 Secretary of Everything]

January 17, 2011
Breaking News: Vice-President Joe Biden Suffers Massive Stroke
After suffering a massive stroke during an arguement at a cabinet meeting, Vice-President Biden was rushed to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. He would recover, but the stroke would leave him tired and less active. Biden has been visited by family, congress members, as well as the President. He's expected to return to work in two days.


January 19, 2011

President Obama Attends Daily Press Briefing With Announcement
"In his four decades, Joe Biden has served America with dignity and excellence. I for one, expected to see Joe bounding around the Capitol at the ripe age of 300. But he sees things differently. And so, Vice-President Biden has decided to retire, effective immediately. I would ask the Senate to confirm my nominee for the Vice-Presidency, Secretary Hillary Clinton."- President Obama


"In a surprise move, Biden resigned his post, and Clinton has been nominated to fill it. This could mean a few things. A different ambassador to Congress. It's no secret that Biden has been an Ace-in-the-Hole for the President in dealing with Congress. And his choice of Hillary might shake that up a bit, this also means a shake-up in the Democratic ticket. Will she stay on for four more years, or will there be 3 VPs in one Administration? I for one, am giddy at either prospect. " -Keith Olbermann, Countdown


January 22, 2011
Texas Governor Rick Perry Becomes The First To Announce Presidential Run

"I do not accept the path that America is on…Because a renewed nation needs a renewed president. It's time to give a pink slip to the current White House. I declare to you today as a candidate for president of the United States of America. The fact is for nearly three years, President Obama has been downgrading American jobs, he's been downgrading our standing in the world, he's been downgrading our financial stability, he's been downgrading confidence and downgrading the hope of a better future for our children.” - Texas Governor Rick Perry

[Warren 4 Secretary of Everything]

Can you please explain in detail what The Affordable Care Act of TTL is like?

It's pretty much the one IRL, but with a Public Option, Tort-Reform, and Medicare Means Testing.