Republicans – the party that wants less government but total control over our lives – hate every breath that President Obama takes, while Democrats – the party that couldn’t unify long enough to oust the worst President in US history – expect Obama to walk on water at any moment.

The truth is somewhere in the middle, of course. But love him or hate him, you have to admit that the guy has been busy. Here’s just some of what he’s managed to do in his first 3 months on the job:

• Economics:
  Obama signed a $787 billion economic stimulus plan to combat the country’s worst recession in generations. He singled out Social Security, health care, and the federal budget as his prime interests, and promoted global economic stimulation and regulation at this year’s G20 summit.
• Mid-East:
  Obama reached out to Arabs and Muslims with interviews and video announcements, specifically citing friendly intentions with Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. He announced the withdrawal of US combat forces from Iraq by mid-2010, promising billions of dollars and thousands of military trainers to Iraq and Afghanistan. Obama states that the “United States is not, and will never be, at war with Islam.”
• Torture:
  Obama ordered the closure of Guantanamo Bay prison within a year, announcing the immediate end to US torture practices. To accentuate his desire for a clean slate, he then released previously secret Bush administration memos that authorized extreme torture, yet promised to not support the prosecution of their architects or executors.
• Global Arms:
  Obama met with Russian and other world leaders to negotiate new arms treaties and to eliminate all nuclear weapons from the world.
• Employee Rights:
  Obama signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, making it easier for employees to sue for pay discrimination.
• Student Loans:
  Obama urged that direct student loans from the government replace the current government-backed private loan system, with the result of lowering interest rates while increasing the amount of loans available.
• Auto Industry:
  Obama rejected the initial applications for bailout money from General Motors and Chrysler, influencing the removal of the GM chief executive.
• Executive Bonuses:
  Obama initiated drastic measures to reclaim tens of millions of taxpayer bailout dollars – most of which went to non-Americans – that were siphoned to the executives of AIG Inc.
• Cuba:
  Obama made several public overtures to seek “a new beginning” with Cuba, asking for their release of political prisoners. He is also allowing Cuban-Americans to freely visit Cuba and transfer unlimited money to Cuban relatives, removing most of the barriers to open commerce to the starving island.
• Abortion Rights:
  Obama ended the ban on federal funding for any organization that performs or provides information on abortions.
• Stem Cell Research:
  Obama reversed his predecessor’s ban on federally funded embryonic stem cell research, promising that all federal scientific research will now be protected from such political influences.
• The Americas:
  Obama promised cooperation with Mexican President Felipe Calderon to fight drug violence along our mutual border. Obama later shook the hand of anti-American Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, swapping books and good will.
• Pirates:
  Obama authorized the successful rescue of American sea Captain Richard Phillips, which resulted in the death of three Somalian pirates and the capture of a fourth.

O.C. DeeDee

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