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What have the Romans done for us?
Sep. 2nd, 2010 07:28 am I've been having Life of Brian moments a fair amount recently in various discussions both online and in the real world which all follow the "what have the Roman's done for us?" script when it relates to President Obama.
We were out for drinks with friends and the boyfriend of one of our friends mentioned how Obama had to be the worst president ever. This came as more of surprise as it's not what you expect to hear from the mouth of a fairly liberal gay guy, albeit one from Tennessee.
The thing is.... Obama seems to have watched the episode of the West Wing where Leo explains to Jimmy Smiits character about your first term as president, that you have about 18 months to execute on your entire agenda. You have a few months to get into the office and get ready to do stuff. You have 18 months to get stuff done and then it's the mid-terms.
So, what did Obama actually get done?
Well, apart from the Healthcare Bill, banking reform, getting formal end of combat operations in Iraq, passing a stimulus bill, rescuing a chunk of the car industry, restoring a degree of faith in the US internationally...
Now, we could argue that the Healthcare Reform was not what was needed, that we're still in Iraq, that the Stimulus Bills and Banking Reform were watered down and less than needed - but I think that ignores the reality of a President taking office during an economic situation that could be charitably called "fucking horrible", and also, a President with a degree of hostility from the right that is beyond anything anybody has ever experienced.
Frankly, I'm shocked he was able to get this much done. And if he is a 1 term president, and I don't think he will be, I think he could leave office with his head held pretty damn high.
We were out for drinks with friends and the boyfriend of one of our friends mentioned how Obama had to be the worst president ever. This came as more of surprise as it's not what you expect to hear from the mouth of a fairly liberal gay guy, albeit one from Tennessee.
The thing is.... Obama seems to have watched the episode of the West Wing where Leo explains to Jimmy Smiits character about your first term as president, that you have about 18 months to execute on your entire agenda. You have a few months to get into the office and get ready to do stuff. You have 18 months to get stuff done and then it's the mid-terms.
So, what did Obama actually get done?
Well, apart from the Healthcare Bill, banking reform, getting formal end of combat operations in Iraq, passing a stimulus bill, rescuing a chunk of the car industry, restoring a degree of faith in the US internationally...
Now, we could argue that the Healthcare Reform was not what was needed, that we're still in Iraq, that the Stimulus Bills and Banking Reform were watered down and less than needed - but I think that ignores the reality of a President taking office during an economic situation that could be charitably called "fucking horrible", and also, a President with a degree of hostility from the right that is beyond anything anybody has ever experienced.
Frankly, I'm shocked he was able to get this much done. And if he is a 1 term president, and I don't think he will be, I think he could leave office with his head held pretty damn high.
