Obama’s report card: Not a B Plus
One year after Mr. Obama’s inauguration, it is hard not to provide a year in review. Unlike Mr. Obama’s delusional self-reflection, reality shows that Mr. Obama’s first year is far from a “good solid B+“.
In order to grade Mr. Obama, we will use the definitions he established for himself in 2008.
Foreign Policy: D-
- D War on Terror
- C- Iraq
- F Iran
- F Chicago 2012
- D- Haiti
Mr. Obama led his inaugural address with a focus on foreign policy. The diaper bomber broke through the security nets in place to protect American aviation. Instead of the American government it was a Dutch tourist that saved hundreds of lives. Luck, not policy, saved the terrorism issue from being an F. Instead, Mr. Obama’s inability to catch any significant Al Qai’da leaders leaves the executive’s grade just above a complete failure.
Mr. Obama’s Iraq conflict policy is mediocre at best. By approving a timetable of withdrawal, however, Mr. Obama all but ensures symbolic victory for anti-American agents in Iraq. As long as our enemies execute a series of attacks immediately before American departure, then they can claim victory. At least Mr. Obama is giving some time for our troops to win the hearts and minds of the Iraqi people.
Mr. Obama consistently promised to change the tone of American foreign policy. Obama planned to set an example by shifting the American policy towards Iran. Instead of the idealist expectation of open meetings with Mr. Ahmadinejad, Iranian leadership slammed the door on Mr. Obama’s face. Worse yet, when lobbying for an Olympic bid for his hometown, the IOC rebuked Mr. Obama’s cause — even when Mr. Obama played the Oprah card. Even worse, after a devastating earthquake in the land within Monroe’s Doctrine, Mr. Obama continues to verbally promise relief but deliver Katrina-Bush quality results.
Domestic Policy: D+
- F Healthcare
- C+ Economy, re: Wall Street
- C+ Economy, re: Automobile Industry
- D- Economy, re: Main Street
- F Transparency
The healthcare debate has dominated Mr. Obama’s first year in office. As far as progress made, the issue is a definite loss for the executive. Started in 2009 as a quick, under-the-rug summertime issue, healthcare reform blew up on the Democrats, resulting in a series of ugly deals made behind closed doors. From the cornhusker kickback to just plain bad legislation, Obamacare inspired thousands of Americans in Nixon’s old silent majority to take to the streets.
Meanwhile, Mr. Obama placed a gigantic Keynesian bandage on the economy. The inherited Bush bank bailouts seemed to have worked temporarily. Mr. Obama’s policies for bailing the automobile industry appear to have revitalized the old American staple. This temporary solution will hopefully lead to internal changes within the struggling manufacturing factories. Maybe even the labor unions will hop a grenade for the team. Main street, unfortunately, continued to hemorrhage through much of Obama’s first year. Mr. Obama promised nothing worse than 8% unemployment, while the executive delivered over 10% unemployment and millions more of underemployed and discouraged workers.
One of Mr. Obama’s most attractive promises was that of transparency. The healthcare debate sadly proved that these promises were here election day, gone tomorrow. Rush-jobbing legislation, getting a “bill, any bill” is unacceptable. Rush-jobbing legislation without providing the people a chance to voice their opinion is a political atrocity.
Political Implications: F
- F 2009 Gubernatorial – New Jersey
- F 2009 Gubernatorial – Virginia
- F 2010 Senate – Massachusetts
For a man whose rise to power can be compared on only a few leaders like Andrew Jackson, the complete implosion of Mr. Obama’s political popularity is astounding. In the wake of effectively no Republican leadership, Mr. Obama’s failures to deliver home-field victories is even more apparent. Worse yet, the threat of losing Senator Kennedy’s old seat in Massachusetts, let alone actually losing the 60th vote in the Senate, is a shot across the bow of the sinking Democratic ironclad. 1994 is happening again.
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