Obama's Accomplishments in 2014

[Kitty]

The truth is, conversing with you is like conversing with a turnip.

And so you have conversed with a turnip before? How did that go? Well, I expect? You and turnip I bet have the same brain mass.

*FYI: turnips don't have brains.

 

[IrezumiKiss]

Go ahead and list them mother fucker. I'll wait.

Here you go, beeyotch:

Updated! A List of 276 Accomplishments by President Obama so far… With Citations

Returned The Executive Branch To Fiscal Responsibility

Within his first week, he signed an Executive Order ordering an audit of government contracts, and combating waste and abuse. http://1.usa.gov/dUvbu5

Created the post of Chief Performance Officer, whose job it is to make operations more efficient to save the federal government money. http://n.pr/hcgBn1

On his first full day, he froze White House salaries. http://on.msnbc.com/ewJUIx

He appointed the first Federal Chief Information Officer to oversee federal IT spending.http://www.cio.gov

He committed to phasing out unnecessary and outdated weapons systems. To that end, he also signed the Democratic-sponsored Weapons Systems Acquisition Reform Act, which attempted to put a stop to waste, fraud and abuse in the defense procurement and contracting system. http://******/hOw1t1http://******/fz8GAd

Through an executive order, he created the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform. http://******/hwKhKa

Prevented a Bush Depression and Improved the Economy

Pushed through and signed the Democratic-sponsored American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, otherwise known as “the stimulus package.” The bill passed, even though only three Republicans voted for it. In a major departure from the previous administration, he launched recovery.gov, a website that allows taxpayers to track spending from the Act. http://1.usa.gov/ibiFSshttp://1.usa.gov/e3BJMk

The Bush-led Great Recession was costing the economy nearly 800,000 jobs per month by the time President Obama took office. But by the end of his first year, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act created and sustained 2.1 million jobs and stimulated the economy by 3.5%. http://reut.rs/i46CEE

Not only did he completed the massive TARP financial and banking rescue plan, he also leaned on the banks and others, and recovered virtually all of the bail-out money. http://1.usa.gov/eA5jVShttp://******/eCNrD6

He created the Making Home Affordable home refinancing plan. http://1.usa.gov/goy6zl

Oversaw the creation of more jobs in 2010 alone than Bush did in eight years. http://******/hrrnjY

Along with Democrats, and almost no Republicans, implemented an auto industry rescue plan, and saved as many as 1 million jobs. http://******/ibhpxr Many are of the opinion that he saved the entire auto industry, and even the economy of the entire Midwest. http://******/gj7mt5This resulted in GM returning to its place as the top car company in the world. http://lat.ms/zIJuQx

Doubled funding for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership, which is designed to improve manufacturing efficiency. http://******/eYD4nf

Signed the Democratic-sponsored Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act giving the federal government more tools to investigate and prosecute fraud in every corner of the financial system, and create a bipartisan Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission to investigate the financial fraud that led to the economic meltdown. http://abcn.ws/g18Fe7

Signed the Democratic-sponsored Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure (CARD) Act, which was designed to to protect consumers from unfair and deceptive credit card practices. http://1.usa.gov/gIaNcS

Increased infrastructure spending after years of neglect. http://******/f77aOw

Signed the Democratic-sponsored and passed Helping Families Save Their Homes Act, expanding on the Making Home Affordable Program to help millions of Americans avoid preventable foreclosures. The bill also provided $2.2 billion to help combat homelessness, and to stabilize the housing market. http://******/eEpLFn

Through the Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009, he and Congressional Democrats provided tax credits to first-time home buyers, which helped the U.S. housing market recovery. http://******/dZgXXwhttp://******/gORYfL

Initiated a $15 billion plan designed to encourage increased lending to small businesses. http://1.usa.gov/eu0u0b

Created business.gov, which allows for online collaboration between small businesses and experts re managing a business. (The program has since merged with SBA.gov.) http://www.business.gov

Played a lead role in getting the G-20 Summit to commit to a $1.1 trillion deal to combat the global financial crisis. http://nyti.ms/gHlgp5

Took steps to improve minority access to capital. http://******/f9xVE7

Signed an Executive Order instructing federal agencies to review all federal regulations and remove any unnecessary and/or burdensome regulations from the books. http://1.usa.gov/Lpo5bd

Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, saved at least 300,000 education jobs, such as teachers, principals, librarians, and counselors that would have otherwise been lost. http://1.usa.gov/ez30D

Dismantled the Minerals Management Service, thereby cutting ties between energy companies and the government. http://nyti.ms/bw1MLu

Along with Congressional Democrats, provided funding to states and the Department of Homeland Security to save thousands of police and firefighter jobs from being cut during the recession. http://******/g0IKWR

Used recovered TARP money to fund programs at local housing finance agencies in California, Florida, Nevada, Arizona and Michigan. http://on.msnbc.com/i1i8eV

Crafted and signed an executive order establishing the President’s Advisory Council on Financial Capability to assist in financial education for all Americans. http://******/eyqsNE

China’s largest manufacturer, Foxconn, is building a large plant in Pennsylvania http://cnnmon.ie/1k7LT4S

Worked with Apple Computer to get them to build more product here, and thecompany is building two large plants to manufacture products here; one in Texas http://zd.net/1nkpt2O and one in Arizona http://******/1mXY5Vg

Oversaw increase of manufacturing jobs by more than 500,000 since 2010, and created an institute to invest in more manufacturing jobs in the technology fields of the future. http://nyti.ms/1egyXrV

Ordered all federal contractors to pay a minimum wage of $10.10 per hour, leading the way to a national increase. http://wapo.st/1iaU5kd

Ordered the completion of the International Trade Data System, a digital trade record book, by 2016. This move will streamline and simplify the process through which small- and medium-sized businesses set up the export of US goods. http://******/1nwSRF4

Created a climate in which there have been 55 consecutive months of job growth, totaling more than 10 million jobs, which is roughly 10,000,000 more jobs than Bush created in eight years. http://1.usa.gov/1vBDeyCThis is also the longest stretch of private-sector job growth in US history. http://wapo.st/1w3J8Zy

Led the country to 64 consecutive months of economic expansion, eclipsing Saint Reagan’s record, by far. http://onforb.es/1sxJ2by

Oversaw a reduction in the dollar amount of the federal budget deficit by two-thirds since taking office. http://******/1xKMmjY

Reduced the federal budget deficit from 9.8% of GDP in Fiscal Year 2009 under Bush, to 2.9% of GDP in FY 2014. http://www.cbo.gov/publication/45653

Under Obama, the stock market has reached record highs, restoring most of the economic losses felt during the Bush Recession, when it reached record lows, adjusted for inflation. http://******/1z4FAtL

Brought Much-Improved Transparency and Better Government

Signed an order banning gifts from lobbyists to anyone in the Executive Branch. http://******/fsBACN

Signed an order banning anyone from working in an agency they had lobbied in previous years, and put strict limits on lobbyists’ access to the White House. http://nyti.ms/gOrznV

Held the first-ever first online town hall from the White House, and took questions from the public. http://******/gVNSgX

Became the first to stream every White House event, live. http://1.usa.gov/kAgOP5

Established a central portal for Americans to find service opportunities. http://www.serve.gov

Issued an Executive Order on Presidential Records, which restored the 30-day time frame for former presidents to review records, and eliminated the right for the vice president or family members of former presidents to do the reviews. Provides the public with greater access to historic White House documents, and severely curtails the ability to use executive privilege to shield them. http://1.usa.gov/gUetLb

Improved aspects of the Freedom of Information Act, and issued new guidelines to make FOIA more open and transparent when processing FOIA requests. http://1.usa.gov/gjrnp2

Proposed rules that would streamline the Department of Education’s procurement policies and make them more transparent. http://******/1r9oQvh

Provided the first voluntary disclosure of the White House Visitors Log in history. http://1.usa.gov/hQ7ttV

Wall Street Reforms and Consumer Protection

Ordered 65 executives who took bailout money to cut their own pay until they paid back all bailout money. http://huff.to/eAi9Qq

Along with Congressional Democrats, pushed through and got passed Dodd-Frank, one of the largest and most comprehensive Wall Street reforms since the Great Depression. http://******/hWCPg0http://******/geHpcD

By signing Dodd-Frank legislation, created the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau http://1.usa.gov/j5onG

Created rules that reduce the influence of speculators in the oil market. http://******/MDnA1t

Fashioned rules so that banks can no longer use YOUR money to invest in high-risk financial instruments that work against their own customers’ interests. http://******/fnTayj

Supported the concept of allowing stockholders to vote on executive compensation. http://******/fnTayj

Endorsed and supported the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act of 2009 that would close offshore tax avoidance loopholes. http://******/esOdfBhttp://******/eG4DPM

Negotiated a deal with Swiss banks that now permits the US government to gain access to the records of criminals and tax evaders. http://******/htfDgw

Signed the American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act, which closed many of the loopholes that allowed companies to send jobs overseas, and avoid paying US taxes by moving money offshore.http://1.usa.gov/bd1RTq

Established a Consumer Protection Financial Bureau designed to protect consumers from financial sector excesses. http://******/fnTayj

Oversaw and then signed a Democratic bill constituting the most sweeping food safety legislation since the Great Depression. http://thedc.com/gxkCtP

Through the Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act, extended the False Claims Act to combat fraud by companies and individuals usingmoney from the TARP and Stimulus programs. http://******/SLTcSa

Set up rules for banks in handling legal marijuana money. http://nyti.ms/1b80o2K

Signed Executive Order to add a number of further protections to consumer financial transactions, to further limit instances of identity theft. http://1.usa.gov/1pjfUFq

Took steps to prevent pirate fishing and protect fish populations, and ordered stricter labeling requirements on labeling of seafood products in stores. http://1.usa.gov/1BYhTUn

Enhanced Civil Rights and Anti-Discrimination

Along with Congressional Democrats, advocated for and signed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which made it a federal crime to assault anyone based on his or her sexual orientation or gender identity. http://******/gsMSJ7

Pushed through, signed and demanded the Pentagon enact a repeal of the discriminatory “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy that forced soldiers to lie in order to be eligible to fight for their country, and put our troops at risk by disqualifying many qualified soldiers from helping. http://******/fdahuHhttp://******/mZV4Pz

Extended benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees. http://1.usa.gov/g2RLCj

Appointed more openly gay officials than anyone in history. http://******/g1lA7D

Appointed first openly transgender Cabinet Official in History. http://******/58zUp7

Changed HUD rules to prohibit gender and sexual orientation-based discrimination in housing ******/9RxEnP

Changed his mind and publicly expressed support for same-sex marriage. http://******/JsiFKp

Issued a Presidential Memorandum reaffirming the rights of gay couples to make medical decisions for each other. http://1.usa.gov/aUueGT

Wrote and signed an Executive Order establishing a White House Council on Women and Girls to ensure that all Cabinet and Cabinet-level agencies evaluate the effect of their policies and programs on women and families. http://******/e1puTkhttp://1.usa.gov/rFfqMM

Signed the Democratic-sponsored Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which restored basic protections against pay discrimination for women and other workers. This was after the GOP blocked the bill in 2007. Only 5 Republican Senators voted for the bill. http://******/fT3Cxg

Signed two executive orders that mirror provisions of the Paycheck Fairness Act, because the GOP Congress refuses to pass it. It makes is possible for employees to talk about their salaries without retaliation, and orders salary data collection. These measures will make it harder for employers to pay women less. http://huff.to/1nwVOWf

Expanded funding for the Violence Against Women Act. http://1.usa.gov/dSbI0x

Under his guidance, National Labor Relations Board issued final rules that require all employers to prominently post employees’ rights where all employees or prospective employees can see it, including all websites and intranets. http://1.usa.gov/qu2EhQ

Advocated that United Nations adopt a policy supporting gay rights worldwide. http://lat.ms/pQe1RS

Issued an order requiring hospitals to allow visitation by same-sex couples. http://reut.rs/llNJek

Appointed Kareem Dale as the first ever Special Assistant to the President for Disability Policy. http://1.usa.gov/fi5IY0

Helped Democrats in Congress pass and signed the Civil Rights History Act. http://******/th0JC8

Established the White House Council of Native American Affairs, to improve government-to-government relations with Native American nations. http://1.usa.gov/1cIEeEv

Formed a commission to examine and make recommendations for fixing the broken voting system. http://wapo.st/16K0D

As soon as the Supreme Court invalidated the Defense of Marriage Act, he moved to extend federal benefits to same-sex couples. http://wapo.st/1avDjue

At a press conference August 9, 2013, gave up a small measure of executive power, promising to create adversarial process in FISA regarding NSA surveillance. http://1.usa.gov/1dQmnyQ

Proposed new HUD rules that would enhance Fair Housing Laws, to give HUD and other enforcement agencies more teeth in enforcing them. http://******/1qkz4uQ

Shattered another glass ceiling by naming Janet Yellen chair of the Federal Reserve beginning Feb. 1, 2014. http://usat.ly/1gqMBfk

Appointed several prominent gay athletes and others, and plans to show US government’s commitment to gay rights to anti-gay Russia. http://on.cpsj.com/1fckN9h

Ordered a review of capital punishment policies after several botched executions. http://nyti.ms/RDJp58

Obama’s Department of Agriculture propagated new rules designed to better enforce nondiscrimination when it comes to USDA investigations. These rules also extended nondiscrimination to gender identity. http://******/1yChJhi

Obama’s Equal Employment Opportunity Commission clarified and strengthened rules prohibiting discrimination against pregnant workers. http://alj.am/1mo0kjV

Banned all federal contractors from discriminating against gay workers. http://1.usa.gov/1ok1gfH

Created a requirement in which companies who bid on federal contracts of more than $500,000 must publicly disclose all previous violations of labor law, including unpaid claims for back wages. http://1.usa.gov/V54qY3

Made it illegal for federal contractors with more than $1 million in contracts to force employees into arbitration to settle workplace discrimination accusations. http://1.usa.gov/V54qY3

The Obama Department of Justice made significant reductions in drug sentencing guidelines for current prisoners, thus releasing thousands from US prisons. This is the first step in 30 years toward reducing the US prison population, which is the highest in the world. http://n.pr/1mWBLkM

Thanks to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, inflation in the healthcare sector dropped to its lowest point in 50 years. http://on.wsj.com/1E6cYjF

Through a Presidential Memorandum, changed the rules to concentrate immigration enforcement on those who commit crimes, and voed to stop breaking up families. http://1.usa.gov/1uTZ8gV

Through another Presidential memorandum, President Obama streamlined the visa process, to make it more responsive and humane for those who want to be here legally. http://1.usa.gov/1tgDRti

Major Improvements in Foreign Relations, American Status Around the World

Visited more countries and met with more world leaders than any previous president during his first six months in office. http://******/hZycda

As he promised, he gave a speech at a major Islamic forum in Cairo early in his administration.http://nyti.ms/dKvY4g

Helped to restore America’s reputation around the world as a global leader that does the “right thing” in world affairs, at least according to the rest of the world. http://******/h743y7http://******/ho4TCr

Re-established and reinforced our partnership with NATO and other allies on strategic international issues. http://1.usa.gov/e7QuDj

Closed a number of secret detention facilities. http://nyti.ms/rpUc9l

Improved relations with Middle East countries by appointing special envoys. http://1.usa.gov/tiGAGe

Pushed forward the first realistic Middle East peace strategy in more than a decade, without abandoning the two-state solution. http://wapo.st/1avyste

Pushed for military to emphasize devlopment of foreign language skills. http://******/AxUCLV

Offered $400 million to the people living in Gaza, called on both Israel and the Palestinians to stop inciting violence. http://******/9axfWh

Refused to give Israel the green light to attack Iran over their possible nuclear program, and thus avoid another war that Republicans wanted. http://******/xVmSZK

Ordered the closure of the prison at Guantanamo Bay. It was Republicans (and, unfortunately, progressive Democrats) who prevented follow through. http://******/eW6CVF

Ordered a review of our detention and interrogation policy, and prohibited the use of torture, or what Bush called “enhanced interrogation.” He ordered interrogators to limit their actions to the Army Field manual. http://******/g6MTuC

Ordered all secret detention facilities in Eastern Europe and elsewhere to be closed. http://bbc.in/h6N9ax

Released the Bush torture memos. http://******/hWJ5z0

On his second day in office, he signed a detailed Executive Order that banned torture, reversed all Bush torture policies, and put the United States in compliance with the Geneva Convention. http://1.usa.gov/dL6Zvehttp://nyti.ms/hzWWys

In response to the emerging “Arab Spring,” he created a Rapid Response fund, to assist emerging democracies with foreign aid, debt relief, technical assistance and investment packages in order to show that the United States stands with them. http://******/zfmGv9

Ended the F-22 program, saving $4 billion. Though the single-seat, twin-engine, fighter aircraft cost $358 million each, and the military had 187 built, the F-22 never flew a combat mission. http://slate.me/PYzmzT(Just as an aside, that “fiscally conservative” Republican Party fought to keep it.)

Passed the Iran Sanctions Act, to prevent war and encourage the Iranian government to give up their nuclear program. http://1.usa.gov/wLtNjb

Ended the Iraq War. http://tgr.ph/ru0tyS

Worked to keep our withdrawal from Afghanistan on track, despite GOP opposition.http://reut.rs/1cIOsF1Reiterated that commitment in 2014. http://nyti.ms/1exnmRF

Authorized and oversaw a secret mission by SEAL Team Six to rescue two hostages held by Somali pirates. http://******/y8c9Fz

Through United Nations Ambassador Susan Rice, helped negotiate a peaceful split of Sudan into two countries, this allowing for the creation of an independent South Sudan. http://reut.rs/qzE0Tj

Worked with Democratic Congress to make donations to Haiti tax deductible in 2009. http://huff.to/6YkAVY

Established a new U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue. http://1.usa.gov/eX28DP

Issued Executive Order blocking interference and helping to stabilize Somalia. http://1.usa.gov/hxdf8U

Established new, more reasonable policies in our relations with Cuba, such as allowing Cuban-Americans to visit their families and send money to support them. http://n.pr/hY3Kwahttp://nyti.ms/emQBde

A More Realistic Approach to “Defense” and National Security

Created a comprehensive new strategy for dealing with the international nuclear threat. http://1.usa.gov/gDX1nE

Authorized a $1.4 billion reduction in Star Wars program in 2010. http://1.usa.gov/gLFZl2

Restarted nuclear nonproliferation talks and built up the nuclear inspection infrastructure/protocols to where they had been before Bush. http://lat.ms/gkcl3i

Signed and pushed through ratification a new SALT Treaty. http://******/f3JVtw

Negotiated and signed a new START Treaty that will lst until at least 2021. http://1.usa.gov/cI1bC4

Through the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), reversed the Bush Administration and committed to no permanent military bases in Iraq. http://******/hk73OJ

Developed first comprehensive strategy with regard to Afghanistan and Pakistan designed to facilitate the defeat of al Qaeda and the withdrawal of most troops, as well as the rebuilding of Afghanistan. http://wapo.st/ee4Xcs

Returned our focus to Afghanistan, stabilized the country, and began the process of withdrawing our troops from the country. http://******/lNXUna

Negotiated a deal with Afghan govenment, to withdraw troops and military support, while assisting in rebuilding and modernizing of the country. http://******/K362an

Took steps to severely weaken al Qaeda and limited their ability to terrorize the world. http://yhoo.it/n5lXs6

Negotiated and signed a nuclear nonproliferation treaty with India. http://1.usa.gov/aHp0Cn

Took decisive action to use NATO to limit the slaughter of innocents in Libya, so that the Libyan people could topple the despotic Khadaffy government and determine their own fate. http://aje.me/qAh4Sj

Got Egyptian President/dictator Mubarak to leave the Egyptian government to the people, to determine their own fate. http://f24.my/efvgNZ

In 2011, reoriented American focus from the Middle East to the Asian-Pacific region by simultaneouly engaging China and crafting new alliances with Asian countries uncomfortable with Chinese behavior. http://******/RGlMDi

Restored federal agencies such as FEMA to the point that they have been able to manage a huge number of natural disasters successfully. http://******/h8Xj7z

Authorized Navy SEALS to successfully secure the release of a US captain held by Somali pirates and increased patrols off the Somali coast. http://nyti.ms/efBO7B

Has repeatedly beefed up border security http://******/mMYB4i

Ordered and oversaw the Navy SEALS operation that killed Osama bin Laden. http://******/jChpgw

Established the Homeland Security Partnership Council, which will attempt to enhance the nation’s ability to “address homeland security priorities, from responding to natural disasters to preventing terrorism, by utilizing diverse perspectives, skills, tools, and resources.” http://1.usa.gov/VJjLXO

Signed agreement with Afghanistan to end war, turn security over to Afghans. http://nyti.ms/1xSjgBd

Breaking with presidential tradition, especially recent tradition, instead of just attacking Syria in the wake of chemical weapons attacks on Syrians, Obama ordered a full report on the decision-making process, should he decide to order one. http://cbsn.ws/184RFgu

Instead of holding hearings and trying to create a political football, quietly captured a suspect who actually committed the Benghazi terrorist attack. http://wapo.st/1jFlmzv He is also getting a lot of useful information from the suspect. http://nyti.ms/UfE2Ka

Returned Government to Treating Soldiers and Veterans with Dignity and Respect

Provided active combat troops with better body armor. http://******/hzSv2h

Created Joint Virtual Lifetime Electronic Record program for military personnel, in order to improve the quality of their medical care. http://1.usa.gov/f4yaxW

Put an end to the Bush-era stop-loss policy that kept soldiers in Iraq/Afghanistan beyond their enlistment date. (personal note: my son will be in harm’s way for six fewer months with Obama as president, so you know I love this one.) http://nyti.ms/e2YQ7Q

Along with Congressional Democrats, supported and signed Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act, which made more money available to enable better medical care for veterans. http://1.usa.gov/fN4ur1

Along with Congressional Democrats, ushered through largest spending increase in 30 years for Department of Veterans Affairs, with money to go to improved medical facilities, and to assist states in acquiring or constructing state nursing homes and extended care facilities. http://1.usa.gov/gY8O3x

Created the Green Vet Initiative, which provided special funding to the Labor Department to provide veterans with training in green jobs. http://******/epwUQY

Initiated and signed a recruitment and employment plan to get more veterans into government jobs. http://******/b48coi

Oversaw a $4.6 billion expansion of the Veterans Administration budget to pay for more mental health professionals. http://******/gjzTxX

Signed the Military Spouses Residency Relief Act, which ensures that spouses of military personnel who are forced to move because their spouse is posted for military duty will be able to avoid state taxes in their temporary residence. http://******/1Gh0NX

Issued an Executive Order to improve access to mental health care for veterans, military personnel and their families. http://1.usa.gov/TP7PVZ

Was able to get Syria to dismantle its chemical weapons without military firing a single shot or dropping a single bomb. http://nyti.ms/1lVEkU7

Along with Congressional Democrats, not only reauthorized families of fallen soldiers to be able to visit when the body arrives at Dover AFB, but also provided funding for it. Ended the media blackout on coverage of the return of fallen soldiers. http://nyti.ms/glqN66 http://bbc.in/gWSSkA

Funded Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) with an extra $1.4 billion to improve veterans’ services. http://1.usa.gov/huhqfo

Refocused the Federal Government on Education, Made Rational Reforms

Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act , invested heavily in elementary, secondary and post-secondary education. http://1.usa.gov/gGRIAr

Created the Race to the Top program, which encouraged states to come up with effective school reforms and rewards the best of them. http://******/NHtZ7L

Oversaw major expansion of broadband availability in K-12 schools nationwide. http://******/fNDcj3

Oversaw major expansion in school construction. http://******/fYwNrV

Also through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, he put $5 billion into early education, including Head Start. http://1.usa.gov/tzT2Rr

Signed the Democratic-sponsored Post-9/11 GI Bill, also known as GI Bill 2.0 http://******/hPhG7J

Oversaw expansion of the Pell Grants program, to expand opportunity for low and middle income students to go to college. http://******/hI6tXz

Along with Democratic Congress, passed and signed Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, which provided an extra $12.2 billion in funds. http://1.usa.gov/dQvtUe

Took major new steps to protect students from ineffective for-profit colleges through “gainful employment” measures, whereby schools have to demonstrate that its students actually find work to get federal aid. http://1.usa.gov/jkzQe2

Repeatedly increased funding for student financial aid, and at the same time cut the banks completely out of the process, thus us creating greater accountability. http://******/gYWd30 http://******/e9c7Dr http://******/eEzTNq

Reformed student loan program, to make it possible for students to refinance at a lower rate. http://nyti.ms/dMvHOt

Created a rating system for colleges, so that those applying for student financial aid know better what they’re paying for. http://******/14Dn7UL

An Adult View on Science, Technology and Health Care

Created a Presidential Memorandum to restore scientific integrity in government decision-making. http://1.usa.gov/g2SDuw

Opened up process for fast-tracking patent approval for green energy projects. http://******/j0KV2U

Eliminated Bush-era restrictions on embryonic stem cell research, and provided increased federal support for biomedical and stem cell research. http://******/h36SSOhttp://ti.me/edezge

Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, committed more federal funding, about $18 billion, to support non-defense science and research labs. http://nyti.ms/fTs9t7

Signed Democratic-sponsored Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act, the first comprehensive attempt to improve the lives of Americans living with paralysis. http://******/fOi2rb

Expanded the Nurse-Family Partnership program, which provides home visits by trained registered nurses to low-income expectant mothers and their families, to cover more first-time mothers.http://******/jRRRJc

Obama EPA reversed research ethics standards which allowed humans to be used as “guinea pigs” in tests of the effects of chemicals, to comply with numerous codes of medical ethics. http://******/bKgqdS

Conducted a cyberspace policy review. http://1.usa.gov/gmbdvC

Provided financial support for private sector space programs. http://******/fn8ucr

Oversaw enhanced earth mapping, to provide valuable data for agricultural, educational, scientific, and government use. http://******/dNTRyP

Along with Democrats in Congress, ushered through and signed a bill authorizing FDA to regulate tobacco. http://on.msnbc.com/fiKViB As a result, the FDA has Ordered Tobacco Companies to Disclose Cigarette Ingredients and banned sale of cigarettes falsely labeled as “light.”

Through American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, provided $500 million for Health Professions Training Programs. http://******/ecQSgA

Increased funding for community-based prevention programs. http://******/frMPG3

Oversaw a 50% decrease in cost of prescription drugs for seniors. http://******/e5b1iqhttp://1.usa.gov/fVNkt9

Eliminated the Bush-era practice of forbidding Medicare from negotiating with drug companies on price. http://******/fOkG5b

Two weeks after taking office, signed Democratic-sponsored Children’s Health Insurance Reauthorization Act, which increased the number of children covered by health insurance by 4 million. http://******/fDEzGv

Urged Congress to investigate Anthem Blue Cross for raising premiums 39% without explanation. Democratic Rep. Waxman responded by launching a probe, and Anthem Blue Cross put increase on hold for two months. http://yhoo.it/e8Tj9C

Ushered through and signed Affordable Care Act, which expanded health insurance coverage to at least 30 million more people, ended many common insurance company practices that are often detrimental to those with coverage. He also established healthcare.gov, so that taxpayers could keep up with developments. http://www.healthcare.gov/

Through ACA, allowed children to be covered under their parents’ policy until they turned 26. http://nyti.ms/fNB26V

Through the ACA, provided tax breaks to allow 3.5 million small business to provide health insurance to their employees, and 29 million people will receive tax breaks to help them afford health insurance. http://nyti.ms/fNB26V

Through the ACA, expanded Medicaid to those making up to 133% of the federal poverty level. http://nyti.ms/ekMWpo

Through the ACA, health insurance companies now have to disclose how much of your premium actually goes to pay for patient care. http://nyti.ms/fNB26V

Provisions in the ACA have already resulted in Medicare costs actually declining slightly this fiscal year, for the first time in many years, according to the Congressional Budget Office. The increase in 2011 was 4%, which is very low compared to the average 12% annual inflation rate during previous 40 years. http://1.usa.gov/oMxpTh

Since passage of the ACA, health care inflation is at its lowest level since 1960. http://1.usa.gov/1vXR0Ld

Created the HIV Care Continuum Initiative, to strengthen the government’s ability to respond to the continuing domestic HIV epidemic, after years of Republicans weakening the government’s ability to deal with the crisis. http://1.usa.gov/1iLED0t

Expanded space exploration and discovery options to include more players. http://1.usa.gov/13qmZpm

Through the Connect America Fund, pushed through and received FCC approval for a move of $8 billion in subsidies away from telephone landlines to assist lower-income rural families in accessing broadband. http://lat.ms/vhRUEs http://******/129V3SY

In the wake of the West Fertilizer tragedy, in which an entire small town was devastated by an explosion at a fertilizer plant, in part because Republican negligence let the company do whatever it wanted, formed the Chemical Safety and Security Working Group, to work on measures to prevent another such event. http://1.usa.gov/18kHSlA

By 2014, the Affordable Care Act dropped the number of uninsured Americans by 22.3%, which amounts to more than 10.3 million people with insurance who didn’t have it before. Only 13.9% of Americans are uninsured, a drop from 18.9% in 2013. http://on.msnbc.com/1r4kjGn

The Affordable Care Act has increased the life expectancy of Medicare greatly. http://on.wsj.com/1yuNco6

Strengthened the Middle Class and Families, and Fought Poverty

Worked to provide affordable, high-quality child care to working families. http://******/fNfidS

Cracked down on companies that were previously denying sick pay, vacation and health insurance, and Social Security and Medicare tax payments through abuse of the employee classification of independent contractor. http://nyti.ms/fOGLcj

Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act , cut taxes for 95% of America’s working families. http://******/eSEI4F

Tax rates for average working families are the lowest since 1950. http://******/f74pD8

Extended and fully funded the patch for the Alternative Minimum Tax for 10 years. http://******/eFeSdP

Extended discounted health coverage under the COBRA health insurance law for the unemployed from 9 months to 15 months, and he’s also extended unemployment benefits more than a few times. http://aol.it/evtVxDhttp://nyti.ms/emrqKJ http://******/hOtIpg http://******/fTT7kz

Provided a $20 billion increase for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Food Stamps). http://nyti.ms/gfLqyM

Signed an Executive Order that established the White House Office of Urban Affairs. http://wapo.st/eWECA8

Included the Buffet Rule in his 2014 budget proposal, thus trying to fulfill a campaign promise, to make sure tax rates are fair between the rich and the middle class. http://1.usa.gov/19PkdQo

Used the fiscal cliff negotiations to extend for five additional years the American Opportunity Tax Credit, which provides tax credits to families for college-related expenses, thus saving those families up to $10,000. http://onforb.es/17zYg3u

Increased protections for those who are unemployed and are seeking a government job. http://1.usa.gov/1jgXATu

Updated and modernized overtime regulations under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) http://1.usa.gov/1iGDO8e

With First Lady Michelle Obama, passed the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act, which will improve nutrition in schools and make children healthier. http://1.usa.gov/GAXkSk

In his continuing effort to make college more affordable and accountable, will begin rating colleges with regard to affordability and value. http://******/14Dn7UL

Initiated a reform of federal job training programs, to make them more relevant to the current economy and the job market. http://1.usa.gov/1kZLQHG

Under Obama, the bottom 95% of taxpayers are paying lower federal income taxes than at any time in the last 50 years, including under Reagan, Bush 41 and Bush 43. http://******/1w1W8Ns

Concrete Steps to Improve The Environment and Address Our Energy Needs

Doubling federal spending on clean energy research. http://******/iN0sCE

Pushed through a tax credit to help people buy plug-in hybrid cars. http://******/j8UP5Y

Created a program to develop renewable energy projects on the waters of our Outer Continental Shelf that will produce electricity from wind, wave, and ocean currents. http://1.usa.gov/fgfRWq

Reengaged in the climate change and greenhouse gas emissions agreements talks, and proposed one himself. He also addressed the U.N. Climate Change Conference, officially reversing the Bush era stance that climate change was a “hoax.” http://******/dX6Vj3 http://******/fE2PxKhttp://nyti.ms/hfeqvv

Fully supported the initial phase of the creation of a legally-binding treaty to reduce mercury emissions worldwide. http://******/eJ6QOO

Required states to provide incentives to utilities to reduce their energy consumption. http://******/lBhk7P

Under Obama, our dependence on foreign oil has dropped to its lowest rate since 1985, and continues to drop. http://1.usa.gov/1p6kTUy Meanwhile, consumption is way down because of reduced driving and higher mileage standards. http://ti.me/1z4HFG8

Improved siting, review and permitting stations for power plants, in an attempt to seriously improve the nation’s electric grid. http://1.usa.gov/1l8zNqn

Following the neglect of Bush’s eight year reign, he reengaged in a number of treaties and agreements designed to protect the Antarctic. http://******/fzQUFO

Created tax write-offs for purchases of hybrid automobiles, and later he and Democrats morphed that program into one that includes electric cars. http://******/glCukV

Established a quadrennial review of our energy infrastructure, to encourage a modernization of the grid, and to encourage the transition away from fossil fuel use. http://1.usa.gov/1nx2oMo

Mandated that federal government fleet purchases be for fuel-efficient American vehicles, and encouraged that federal agencies support experimental, fuel-efficient vehicles. http://******/h5KZqyhttp://1.usa.gov/fLWq5chttp://1.usa.gov/hmUSbk

Got BP to cough up $20 billion to establish Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund, to reduce the need for taxpayer funds to be used for compensation and clean up. http://wapo.st/ds2BxT (Note: it took 20 years to get $1.3 billion for the Exxon Valdez spill. )

Oversaw and pushed through an amendment to the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 authorizing advances from Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. http://1.usa.gov/yTRYVo

Actively tried to amend the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 to eliminate the liability limits for those companies responsible for large oil spills. http://nyti.ms/bxjDi3

Became the first President to simply say “Climate Change is a fact,” and set up the first federal government protocols for dealing with the impacts of climate change. http://1.usa.gov/1b7V67B

Initiated Criminal and Civil inquiries into the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. http://nyti.ms/bVuB7a

Asserted federal legal supremacy to bar Texas from authorizing new refinery permits on its own.http://******/ww8eMd

Set up new, stricter standards limiting power plant emissions. http://1.usa.gov/1mML2M3

Strengthened the Endangered Species Act. http://******/hscjsH

Strengthened protection for wildlife, and expanded enforcement of laws against wildlife trafficking. http://1.usa.gov/1fce1Ai

Obama EPA improved boiler safety standards to improve air quality, and save 6500 lives per year. http://******/jYH7nt

Through the EPA, attemped to take steps to severely limit the use of antibiotics in livestock feed, to increase their efficacy in humans. http://******/fBuWd2

Through new EPA regulations, he created a pretext for closing the dirtiest power plants in the country, by limiting emissions of mercury and other toxic gasses. http://******/rQCIgA

Increased funding for National Parks and Forests by 10% http://******/fbJPjY

Announced greatly improved commercial fuel efficiency standards. http://1.usa.gov/oQiC1K

Announced a huge increase in average fuel economy standards from 27.5mpg in 2010 to 35.5mpg starting in 2016 and 54.5 starting in 2025 http://1.usa.gov/qtghsW

Issued an Executive Order to facilitate investments in industrial energy efficiency that will help create jobs, while strengthening US manufacturing. Increased efficiency could save businesses $100 billion over the next decade. http://1.usa.gov/WsIgbx

Through an executive order, set up the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council, which will to oversee Gulf Coast restoration efforts in the wake of the 2010 BP oil splll. The money to fund the restoration efforts comes from fines against BP. http://1.usa.gov/Rxjb29

Through executive actions and bypassing the ineffectual Republican Congress, announced the most comprehensive plan to combat climate change in a generation. http://******/13lXhET

Ordered energy plants to prepare to produce at least 15% of all energy through renewable resources like wind and solar, by 2021. http://reut.rs/fV155p (Republicans are trying hard to kill it.)

Oversaw the creation of an initiative that converts old factories and manufacturing centers into new clean technology centers. http://******/mjnq2R

guided the country into a 418% increase in solar power capacity between 2010 and 2014. http://******/1rHkWJC

Bypassed Republican opposition in Congress and ordered EPA to begin regulating and measuring carbon emissions. http://******/froaP5

Oversaw a tripling in the use of wind power to generate electricity. For the third year in row, the United States led the world in increased wind power capacity. http://www.worldwatch.org/node/5448

Ordered the federal government to incorporate climate resilience and climate science into all international development in which the United States engages. http://1.usa.gov/YV1EpW

Fast-tracked regulations to allow states to enact fuel efficiency standards that exceeded federal standards. http://nyti.ms/e8e94x

Fast-tracked increased fuel economy standards for vehicles beginning with the 2011 model year. It was the first time such standards had been increased in a decade. http://politi.co/hiaPKM

Oversaw establishment of an Energy Partnership for the Americas, to create more markets for American-made biofuels and green energy technologies. http://******/lZp73y

Obama EPA reversed a Bush-era decision to allow the largest mountaintop removal project in US history. http://******/lP3yEL

Ordered the Department of Energy to implement more aggressive efficiency standards for common household appliances. http://1.usa.gov/g3MTbu

Obama EPA ruled that excess CO2 is a pollutant. http://******/iQTSNN

Closed a deal with China to limit carbon emissions to perhaps slow down climate change. http://nyti.ms/1xzyS8K

Blocked all oil and gas drilling in Bristol Bay, Alaska, one of the most pristine environments in North America http://lat.ms/13xUVFD

But That’s Not All…

Nominated Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court. Sotomayor is the first Hispanic Justice in the court’s history, and the women represent only the third and fourth women to serve on the court, out of a total of 112 justices. http://huff.to/eOChg6http://******/i02wgP

Appointed the most diverse Cabinet in history, including more women than any other incoming president. http://******/dX6vNB

Eliminated federal funding for abstinence-only education, and rescinded the global gag rule. http://******/eCFAI1 http://******/f92drF

Loosened the rules and allowed the 14 states that legalized medical marijuana to regulate themselves without federal interference. http://huff.to/eQfa7j

Signed national service legislation, increasing funding for national service groups, including triple the size of the Americorps program. http://******/idgQH5

Signed an Executive Order that will speed up deployment of a more comprehensive broadband infrastructure. http://1.usa.gov/M7rVpe

Signed an Executive Order creating jobs immediately by instructing them to reduce the time needed for review and permitting of infrastructure projects. http://1.usa.gov/GHxaYt

Signed a bill that provided $4.3 billion in additional assistance to 9/11 first responders. http://******/o7cWYS

Signed an Executive Order pledging support for efforts to end the global problem of violence against women and girls. http://1.usa.gov/MHTRVU

Signed the Claims Resolution Act, which provided $4.6 billion in funding for a legal settlement with black and Native American farmers who had been cheated out of government loans and natural resource royalties in the past. http://1.usa.gov/dGppUa

To help those communities devastated by Hurricane Sandy, issued an executive order setting up the Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Task Force, and asked Congress to approve $60 billion in supplemental assistance to aid in storm recovery. http://1.usa.gov/134L7hl

Produced 23 Executive actions designed to make it easier for law enforcement to identify those who shouldn’t have guns, thus helping them enforce the law. http://on.wsj.com/SX9xaZ

Expanded trade agreements to include stricter labor and environmental agreements such as NAFTA. http://******/etznpY

Oversaw funding of the design of a new Smithsonian National Museum of African American History, which is scheduled to open on the National Mall in 2015. He protected the funding during the recent budget negotiations. http://on.fb.me/fD0EVO http://******/ff5Luv

Oversaw and passed increased funding for the National Endowment for the Arts.http://******/dFb8qF

And Did You Know?

Despite the characterizations of some, Obama’s success rate in winning congressional votes on issues was an unprecedented 96.7% for his first year in office. Though he is often cited as superior to Obama, President Lyndon Johnson’s success rate in 1965 was only 93%. http://n.pr/i3d7cY

And of course…

Despite the odds, became the first black president and then, was reelected by a wide margin.

http://pleasecutthecrap.com/obama-accomplishments/


If you have issues with any of these — and we know you and your fellow schmucks will — it's not our problem. Take it up with the citations.

http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m9n9zyxd9h1r6izdd.gif

 

[Ulaven_Demorte]

That my friends is the sound of Vetteman slinking off.

But don't worry, he'll be back tomorrow (or after the previous post rolls off the last page) and pretend it never happened.

 

[Kitty]

Here you go, beeyotch:


If you have issues with any of these — and we know you and your fellow schmucks will — it's not our problem. Take it up with the citations.

http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m9n9zyxd9h1r6izdd.gif

http://www.troll.me/images/mah-nigga/damn-mah-nigga.jpg

 

[unregistered]

 

[unregistered]

 

[Sean Renaud]

I asked for a list of his accomplishments, not examples of his incompetence or his attacks on the civil society. Tell us how he's benefited America's civil society, not how he's expanded government or wasted the taxpayer's money. Get a grip, toss the folklore.

This Civil Society is a figment of your imagination. We need and demand a bigger and more effective government so you can just stop.

 

[Disgustipated]

I asked for a list of his accomplishments, not examples of his incompetence or his attacks on the civil society. Tell us how he's benefited America's civil society, not how he's expanded government or wasted the taxpayer's money. Get a grip, toss the folklore.

Just apologize like a man, fatboy. Also, your post is a hot mess.

 

[IrezumiKiss]

I asked for a list of his accomplishments, not examples of his incompetence or his attacks on the civil society. Tell us how he's benefited America's civil society, not how he's expanded government or wasted the taxpayer's money. Get a grip, toss the folklore.

Knew you'd pussy out, you pussy.

Verity's right in front of your face complete with citations...and you can't deal with it.

http://awesomelyluvvie.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/tumblr_md42dow0sv1r5x5zu.gif

http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_md4saem99e1rpr1t4.gif

 

[BoyNextDoor]

What were they?

Let's see ...

If the economic news we have today, including the price of gas, stock market boom over 18,000, housing boom, employment, GDP, etc. was under a GOP President then the RWCJ would be blowing each other and have to be renamed the RWCBJ.

My only question is why were the Stupidcrats too dumb to ride that story in 2014. Be assured that if the trend continues 2016 will be very Blue.

I will add that the President should have normalized relations with Cuba, stopped the deportation of 5M illegals and put $3B into climate change science BEFORE the elections.

 

[Sean]

When the attack occurs on American soil, harms American interests, destroys millions of dollars in intellectual capital, and American lives and property are threatened.

Sony's servers were in America? How do you know? How is an attack on a Japanese corporation harming America's interests? And what intellectual capital was destroyed? And you do know that most tech heads believe that the hack had fuck all to do with North Korea anyway?

 

[Kitty]

http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/images/smilies/popout.gif

Oh vetteman?

 

[Disgustipated]

Sony's servers were in America? How do you know? How is an attack on a Japanese corporation harming America's interests? And what intellectual capital was destroyed? And you do know that most tech heads believe that the hack had fuck all to do with North Korea anyway?

I'm guessing since most *celebrity leaks* were American, his dumbass assumes that's where the server farms are.

 

[Que]

If the economic news we have today, including the price of gas, stock market boom over 18,000, housing boom, employment, GDP, etc. was under a GOP President then the RWCJ would be blowing each other and have to be renamed the RWCBJ.

My only question is why were the Stupidcrats too dumb to ride that story in 2014. Be assured that if the trend continues 2016 will be very Blue.

I will add that the President should have normalized relations with Cuba, stopped the deportation of 5M illegals and put $3B into climate change science BEFORE the elections.

The recession officially ended right around the time Obama took office. One of the things that contributed to the Reagan Recovery was a sense of optimism that he imbued. Not a very measurable economic factor, but one that makes sense in terms of consumer confidence and the like. Talking down the economy is not going to help, but overly optimistic forecasting, glossing over problem areas and misstating the situation is the wrong way to build confidence.

I'm currently digesting a paper by the Brookings Institute on their analysis as to why it has been such a weak recovery. The point of the paper is not that it is a weak recovery, but some of the numbers referenced in the report are pretty bleak.

Six years end certain things have to be purchased. Washing machines wear out as do cars. People have to live somewhere so even with all the foreclosures sooner or later those foreclosures become rental properties or you see growth in commercial residential real estate.

The real estate sector is really bad. Especially new home building. That makes sense because the government stated and actual policy of making it progressively easier and easier to own a home with very little reserves, marginal credit, little, to finally towards the collapse no down led to the boom cycle that we were riding when it crashed.

It is helpful to think of the current levels in terms of the fact that one has to discount some of the pre-recession "prosperity" as not real. I've told the story before but halfway between Florence, a prison-industrial-complex town no one wants to live in and Phoenix which is too far a town sprung up. Lots of corrections employees, then a lot of construction workers working on wild-cat subdivisions out that way moved in, then you have schools for the kids, teachers, rural metro fire department people and so on. That is how a town grows. You get enough housing units, you get a grocery-store, a few more and fast-food and like that.

The houses were cheap because the land pre-boom was about $3,000 per lot. Plenty of margin for builders. People would sign a contract. 6-8 months later when the house was built the land under their house is worth closer to $10K-$15K. Instant equity you can borrow against, or sell the house you haven't moved into to someone that doesn't want to wait.

Anway the point to the story is people took that $10k in "profit" and figured the would do it again. People "made" 20-30K a year just signing contracts and putting off moving. Eventually I did an appraisal on one of those houses. Six months later the guy hadn't moved in. I sort of expected that. Why was he going to move farther out of town to a cheaper house when he had a nice house in a better area? It hadn't sold so he was re-financing to pull the equit out. To spend? To buy another house? Doesn't matter. Point is none of it was real.

The value of dirt in real terms in any area only goes up in terms of it becoming scarce as you build out, or overall inflation rate. Real estate should be a hedge against inflation not the driver of it. The stock market is the same way. They are called "equities" for a reason. You on your proportional share of the company and it owns stuff. A factory, a building, some apartments, even some intellectual property, but what you own is a portion of that income stream. The income is the point. As it should have been in real estate. How much will this house generate in by way of income, or how much rent do you avoid paying by becoming a homeowner. Those numbers were out of whack. So is the stock market according to price earnings numbers.

There was such an overbuilding boom that the market still hasn't absorbed it so investors that normally would have more of their holdings in real estate are in the currently booming (and occasional busting) stock market, hence those numbers.

Employment is not rosy. There are more jobs by a small margin than before the recession began, but that number has grown at a slower pace than population growth. On top of population growth we have an unknown number of people in this country. Recent studies show that the growth in those gray market jobs is about the number of jobs grown during the recession. So we essentially have no replacement jobs for the jobs lost. This is why the actual number of people working divided by the population is the worst in decades. No, it is not baby boomers retiring. In fact fewer people are electing to retire with the biggest asset they have their house having taken such a huge hit. In major cities the average of what is owed versus what it is worth is 40% underwater.

I don't know what you are reading but "housing boom" is a gross overstatement. It is better now than the worst ever, but it is not booming. It is not even healthy. The federal reserve has been loaning money at zero percent, and manipulating 40 billion a month. I suspect that number was chosen because at 480 billion doallrs in printing press money a year it is less than 1/2 a trillion. All of that money went somewhere. They by bonds, those sellers by securities or it was hoped invest in real estate. An awful lot of the limited "recovery" we have can be traced to the couple of trillion dollars in fake money. Money men know all this and do not care because they are profiting from all of it, but none of that feeds, houses, or employs anyone.

I see a lot of projection from the left about how the right would feel if the shoe was on the other foot. Would a Romney administration be putting a positive face on these numbers? Sure. I maintain the numbers would have been stronger because of his energy policy alone. Without the accidental fortune of technology giving iol production a boost when the administration was actively discouraging domestic oil production we would have no recovery at all. The income and support equipment and personnel accounts for a large portion of the recovery we do see.

It is fine to be optimistic for the future. It's naive to pretend this is a recovery yet.

 

[Kitty]

Query must've done really well on his homework.

Well, BoyNextDoor, at least you have something to do. Reading that will keep you quite busy

Good luck

 

[Que]

Following up on my comments about housing.

Housing is the biggest drag on the recovery right now, as I suspected it was. It accounts for more than 1/4 of the missing growth of even a normal economy, let alone a booming Reagan-style recovery

Good, concise rendering of the problem here: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/05/upshot/why-is-the-economy-still-weak-blame-these-five-sectors.html?_r=0&abt=0002&abg=0

Housing is the biggest and least surprising, accounting for $239 billion in missing economic output. We examined this sector’s continued under-performance earlier in the year, but the short version is this: Even years after the housing bust, the United States is building far fewer houses than would be expected given demographic trends. It may be that a broader shift is underway in the desire and ability of young adults to get homes of their own. Regardless, it is holding back construction and home sales activity.

I don't know where you got the idea that housing is booming. It hurts no one to report with a bright style such things as "The National Association of Realtors reports:" and then report that it is double the new housing starts of last ear, or that time on market is finally in a reasonable range, or that one small market (usually where there are a lot of secure, government jobs) has actually risen by such and such amount.

I get the idea that the administration and it's fervent boosters spend so much time denigrating the words of analysts that have concerns about the sluggish recovery that a lot of people think that bad news is somehow just partisan instead of what it is, bad news. We have some. In a lot of areas. I hope it gets better. Hope doesn't make it so.

So no. A Romney administration would not be thrilled with anything right now other than oil, and if the were in charge the share of domestic production two years in would be much higher, given that he would have returned to Bush/Cheney/Halibuton levels of permitting approval or better. Bush had to walk a line there to look like he was not favoring that sector more than he already was. Romney is a turn-around expert. They look for what does this entity have in the way of assets that could perform better? Oil is patently obvious. Cheap energy helps the manufacturing and transportation sectors. I lowers our world vs US trade deficit, oil transported shorter distances saves energy and the environment. The sector despite what is said does pay taxes, billions of it, and the higher the production the higher the taxes paid negate the offsets for exploration and development. Plus royalties. Why not get the royalties into the national treasury instead of leaving it in the ground? This helps with deficits, deficit reduction helps with the price of longer term treasury bills... and finally with all the oil field workers and those building equipment and rigs and importing steel for the rigs have to have housing.

 

[Que]

This is older, but it is hard to find anything but Pollyanna remarks about the economy in the left wing press.

This article is as brutally true in this paragraph as it gets. I wanted to get some of these numbers from a source the left trusts so I searched HuffPo:

From 2007 to 2010, the median net worth of each middle-class American family dropped by nearly 40 percent, wiping out 18 years of accumulated wealth. The housing crash contributed to most of the losses. In that same period, middle-class families went from having on average $126,400 to $77,300. Median income for middle-class families is now about where it was in the mid-1990s. These are stunning losses (not just a number) and not without severe consequences, particularly when one considers the psychosocial impact to families. The 1 percent had big losses, too, during the crash but they were significantly less impacted because their assets were more diversified. Yet consider this. The earnings of the top 1 percent grew a staggering 134 percent between 1979 and 2007 while those in the bottom 90 percent grew just 15 percent.

The last line of the paragraph is typical dribble that then segues into how workers of the world unite, wall-street bad, on and on. I only left it in so some yahoo doesn't ride in to complain I edited it out and that changes everything.

Lets assume that no one here gives a shit what those making over $512K per year make. Bt the wa, that is why it is the "1%" used to be the "2%" until they realized that takes you down to the $150K per ear range and that fucks up the whole aspirational voter group that Lady Funk talks about.

So the 99% still have all of those above problems from a year and a half ago. They have no assets because the asset they had was their house which is now worth nothing above their mortgage. They are in debt. There are no higher paying jobs to move up to, this is why durable goods like washing machines and cars are suffering. People are making do with that machine that makes the racket.

Nothing but an actual booming real estate market fixes this. The administration knows this. That is why there is talk about easing lending requirements, down payments, debt to income ratios and the like all over again. That would give us the same bubble and an even bigger burst.

 

[phrodeau]

I asked for a list of his accomplishments, not examples of his incompetence or his attacks on the civil society. Tell us how he's benefited America's civil society, not how he's expanded government or wasted the taxpayer's money. Get a grip, toss the folklore.

Obama benefitted civil society by breaking the glass ceiling for non-whites.

That may not be a benefit to your society, but then your society isn't civil.

 

[Que]

Obama benefitted civil society by breaking the glass ceiling for non-whites.

That may not be a benefit to your society, but then your society isn't civil.

That is, for once the truth. His one and only positive accomplishment has been the same everywhere he went his whole life. He was "historic."

 

[Que]

Further on oil and it's importance to what little recovery we have had:

From Bloomberg:

“There’s a very strong linkage between oil production growth, economic growth and wage growth across a range of U.S. states,” Blanch said. Annual investment in oil and gas in the country is at a record $200 billion, reaching 20 percent of the country’s total private fixed-structure spending for the first time, he said.

Consider that. $1 out of ever $5 spent for fixed structure spending was for oil industry structures.

Think of a nation of food processing plants, distribution centers, office buildings, saw mills, automotive factories. Everything. 20% of all the money being spent is to go after oil.

An industry Obama and Phrodeaux would like to see die. Even if we eventually don't need to burn any of it (unlikely,) we need the income.

 

[Pandorica117]

Obama benefitted civil society by breaking the glass ceiling for non-whites.

That may not be a benefit to your society, but then your society isn't civil.

Spot.on.....

 

[Que]

Obama benefitted civil society by breaking the glass ceiling for non-whites.

That may not be a benefit to your society, but then your society isn't civil.

Tell us again how civil "your society" is to non-whites that do not subscribe to the prescribed world-view?

Do I need to post pages and pages of bigoted, hateful statements about conservatives that are not white?

 

[RobDownSouth]

Knew you'd pussy out, you pussy.

Verity's right in front of your face complete with citations...and you can't deal with it.

As a highly trained Vietnam-era marine, Vetty reflexively drops both his weapon and a doughy pantload and immediately deserts the battlefield when he hears the first shot fired.

 

[phrodeau]

Tell us again how civil "your society" is to non-whites that do not subscribe to the prescribed world-view?

Do I need to post pages and pages of bigoted, hateful statements about conservatives that are not white?

Ummm... sure.

 

[unregistered]