The First 100 Days: How's Obama Doing?

by Leigh Graham · 2009-04-28 07:58:00 UTC
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NycWeboy thinks:

"for all the talk about bold plans and brave ideas... we have very little to show in the way of actual change, actual reform, or any real action on all those multiple "key issues" that we're told are so crucial."

Not so fast! declares The Annie E. Casey Foundation, a philanthropy devoted to family and child poverty alleviation.  They credit Obama with the stimulus package, S-CHIP, and his homeownership plans.  Beyond Chron Editor Randy Shaw agrees, citing Obama's support for the Employee Free Choice Act, his expansion of AmeriCorps, and his pursuit of healthcare reform.

I'm ambivalent.  I think our expectations are at rock bottom after Bush (I know mine are), and I'm gratified just to have a highly competent, highly intelligent, highly energetic, highly committed President in office for a change.  I'm also aware of Obama's stepping in after 25 years of runaway, ideological economic inequality.  And I appreciate his fundamental commitment to modernize so many of our dated technologies - whether it be in energy consumption or healthcare access.  But frankly, his financial team is bad, devoted, it seems, to upholding an unfair, out-of-control financial system that needs deep reform.  And we can't get out of our own way on the financial/mortgage/economic crisis until we acknowledge that.

So who knows...as NycWeboy also points out, it's a foolish benchmark, the first 100 days.  But here we are, mulling it over.

What do you think of Obama's performance to date?

(Photo by BohPhoto)

Leigh Graham
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