Obama: Two years In

“We know that government can't solve all our problems - and it shouldn't try. But it should work for us, not against us. It should ensure opportunity not just for those with the most money and influence, but for every American willing to work.”

--Barack Obama, September 2008

Barack Obama is halfway through his first term, and it was a difficult time to judge. Obama inherited a tough situation, amid in the middle of two wars, a recession, and the United States’ foreign policy in shambles.

In his 2008 campaign to win the general election, Obama promised change and hope that would unite America, and bring back better bi-partisan politics. Due to his strong campaign, Obama easily won the 2008 election, in part becoming the country’s first black president.

However, it has not all been smooth sailing as the recession has lasted longer than expected. Jobs in this country are being lost more than ever since the Great Depression, and Obama’s approval rating has suffered in his first two years. The last two years will prove to be critical in his bid to be re-elected for a second term.

Here is a summary of Obama’s first two years:

In the first year of his presidency, Obama held a strong enough majority in the House and Senate, to pass bills without needing the support of any Republicans. However, after Scott Brown’s surprising win in the Massachusetts Senate after Ted Kennedy’s death, Obama suffered non-partisan politics, which made public support for Capitol Hill suffer and people grimace for the future, where Republicans hold the majority in the House.

Economy

• Obama’s Recovery Act represented large changes in the infastructure, education, and clean-energy. Democrats claim it has saved or created as many as 3.7 million jobs across America, and a setting stone for the future, once the economy turns around.
• Also, the Recovery Act has reduced taxes for 95% of the middle class, and kept tax breaks for the next couple of years.
• Obama’s Administration has shed more light on the shadowy Wall Street, and their gigantic lending practices.
• Obama has reformed the credit card industry, as the implemented new protections for over-drafting, banned sudden APR increases, and helped college students understand credit better.
• Possibly most importantly, Obama saved the American auto industry, after huge losses early in his presidency. This prevented hundreds of thousands of job losses across the country, especially the Midwest. Also, after saving the industry, Obama is forcing the them to make cars that are more fuel efficient and green.

National Security

• Obama shifted the focus from Iraq to Afghanistan to focus on al Qaeda. Combat fighting in Iraq has ended, effectively bringing about 100,000 troops home.
• Obama has reached some of the best arm control agreements in United States history with START. START will reduce nuclear weapons across the world, and be able to hold other countries more accountable.
• The Obama administration has gone on the offensive against terrorists, including most of the U.S. allies.

Civil Rights

• Recently, Obama repealed “Don’t Ask, Don’t tell”, which is strong support for the LGBT community.
• The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act will help women earn equal pay as men in the same positions.

Healthcare

• In the largest reform of healthcare in the history of the United States, Obama will make healthcare more affordable to lower-income families, and ending the health insurance industry tricks.
• 30 million Americans will be able to have healthcare, after they have been without it before.
• Children can stay on the parents’ insurance until they are 26 instead of 23, which helps tremendously for tons of students in college.

JUDGEMENT
Overall, I believe that Obama has been doing a great job as President in his first two years. Obama had the opportunity to reform healthcare, which he may never gain again as President, and it should benefit Americans for the future. Also, if the economy changes, his approval ratings will jump up dramatically and give him a strong shot to be re-elected. The only way I can see Obama not being the President in 2013, is a terrorist attack on American soil, or the economy souring worse than it is now.
Although the hope and change that Obama promised hasn’t happened as quickly as everyone would like; Obama is still doing a fantastic job as President.
Grade: B+

“And I will do everything that I can as long as I am President of the United States to remind the American people that we are one nation under God, and we may call that God different names but we remain one nation."