[BuckyThreadkiller]

...continued -

Now there a bunch of these that are simply a function of throwing money at things. Money we are borrowing from the Chinese. He has tripled the national debt in less than 18 months and here's how:

New federal funding for science and research labs;
Increased infrastructure spending (roads, bridges, power plants...) after years of neglect;
Funds for high-speed, broadband Internet access to K-12 schools;
New funds for school construction;
US Auto industry rescue plan;
Housing rescue plan;
$789 billion economic stimulus plan;
The public can meet with federal housing insurers to refinance (the new plan can be completed in one day) a mortgage if they are having trouble paying;
US financial and banking rescue plan;
Visited more countries and met with more world leaders than any president in his first six months in office;
Attractive tax write-offs for those who buy hybrid automobiles;
"Cash for clunkers" program offers vouchers to trade in fuel inefficient, polluting old cars for new cars; stimulates auto sales;
Announced plans to purchase fuel efficient American-made fleet for the federal government;
Expanded the SCHIP program to cover health care for 4 million more children;
Signed national service legislation; expanded national youth service program;
Increasing student loans;
Students struggling to make college loan payments can have their loans refinanced;
Increasing opportunities in AmeriCorps program;
Instituted a new focus on mortgage fraud;
Making more loans available to small businesses;

States are permitted to enact federal fuel efficiency standards above federal standards;
Helping the auto industry and then doing this is so counter-productive I can't even believe it. Anyone who thinks this wouldn't lead to 30-50 different sets of regs for fuel efficiency is nuts.

The prison at Guantanamo Bay is being phased out;
I thought it would be closed the day he took office? What happened there?

The "secret detention" facilities in Eastern Europe and elsewhere are being closed;
Ended the previous policy; the US now has a no torture policy and is in compliance with the Geneva Convention standards;
The missile defense program is being cut by $1.4 billion in 2010;
Restarted the nuclear non-proliferation talks and building back up the nuclear inspection infrastructure/protocols;
These strike me as supremely naive. Right up there with publishing the number of nuclear weapons we have. Some secrets should remain secret.

Instituted a new policy on Cuba, allowing Cuban families to return "home" to visit loved ones;
Terrific. when can I get a real Cohiba?

Successful release of US captain held by Somali pirates; authorized the SEALS to do their job;
US Navy increasing patrols off Somali coast;
OK. See Roosevelt, T. R. - Pirates are one reason why we have a Navy.

Reengaged in the treaties/agreements to protect the Antarctic;
Reengaged in the agreements/talks on global warming and greenhouse gas emissions;
Ended the previous policy of not regulating and labeling carbon dioxide emissions;
Announced the long-term development of a national energy grid with renewable sources and cleaner, efficient energy production;
Some of these are totally ridiculous. How can we be green and regulate CO2 which plants need to survive?

Immediate and efficient response to the floods in North Dakota and other natural disasters;
Ordered a review of hurricane and natural disaster preparedness;
Really? Really? Two weeks to see if the DoD had anything to take to the Gulf to contain the BP Explosion? Seen ANY federal response other than a disaster declaration in Tennessee?

Closed offshore tax safe havens;
Negotiated deal with Swiss banks to permit US government to gain access to records of tax evaders and criminals;
Ended the previous policy of offering tax benefits to corporations who outsource American jobs; the new policy is to promote in-sourcing to bring jobs back;
Ended the previous practice of protecting credit card companies; in place of it are new consumer protections from credit card industry's predatory practices;
Energy producing plants must begin preparing to produce 15% of their energy from renewable sources;
Many of these are good ideas. Truthfully, 20+ of deregulation of the financial, airline and energy industry has shown that a certain level of regulation and public oversight is very necessary.

Lower drug costs for seniors;
Expanding vaccination programs;
Ended the previous practice of forbidding Medicare from negotiating with drug manufacturers for cheaper drugs; the federal government is now realizing hundreds of millions in savings;
Established independent commission to make recommendations on slowing the costs of Medicare;
Attempting to reform the nation's healthcare system which is the most expensive in the world yet leaves almost 50 million without health insurance and millions more underinsured;
Medicare - touch it and die a quick policitical death. Throw other people's money at it and you're a hero.

Increasing pay and benefits for military personnel;
Beginning the process of reforming and restructuring the military 20 years after the Cold War to a more modern fighting force... this includes new procurement policies, increasing size of military, new technology and cyber units and operations, etc.;
Improved housing for military personnel;
Improving benefits for veterans;
Authorized construction/opening of additional health centers to care for veterans;
Ended previous policy of awarding no-bid defense contracts;
Initiating a new policy to promote federal hiring of military spouses;
Improved conditions at Walter Reed Military Hospital and other military hospitals;
While the Walter Reed issue is an apparent boondoggle, The military is one area we should always support and rarely have - going back to Valley Forge.

Sent envoys to Middle East and other parts of the world that had been neglected for years;
reengaging in multilateral and bilateral talks and diplomacy;
Even those parts where they bomb our Embassys?

Established a new cyber security office;
Good and necessary

Many more press conferences and town halls and much more media access than previous administration;
If it's a friendly crowd and not Fox News. I don't watch Fox, but there's no reason the Administration should restrict them. The adversarial relationship between the press and the White House goes back to Adams

The FDA is now regulating tobacco;
Stupid. Either make it illegal or legal, this middle of the road crap is a waste of time, money, and policy hours.

Ended previous policy of cutting the FDA and circumventing FDA rules;
Ended previous practice of having White House aides rewrite scientific and environmental rules, regulations, and reports;
See my comments about a necessary level of regulation. But it should pertain to any and all imports as well.

Authorized discussions with North Korea and private mission by Pres. Bill Clinton to secure the release of two Americans held in prisons;
Authorized discussions with Myanmar and mission by Sen. Jim Webb to secure the release of an American held captive;
These are accomplishments? How much did ransoming these three people cost? Did it cost as much money as was saved by:
Returned money authorized for refurbishment of White House offices and private living quarters;
Paid for redecorations of White House living quarters out of his own pocket;
Grandstanding. We, the people, provide the President's living quarters - it doesn't belong to the occupant. If anything, it should have been covered by private donations dealt with in a public campaign like the Statue of Liberty.

Appointment of first Latina to the Supreme Court;
Limited salaries of senior White House aides; cut to $100,000;
These are actual Executive functions - that what he's supposed to do.

Changed the failing/status quo military command in Afghanistan;
Deployed additional troops to Afghanistan;
New Afghan War policy that limits aerial bombing and prioritizes aid, development of infrastructure, diplomacy, and good government practices by Afghans;
Haven't we tried this "Win the hearts and minds" thing before?

Has put the ball in play for comprehensive immigration reform;
Has announced his intention to push for energy reform; and
Has announced his intention to push for education reform.
Writing memos and launching trial balloons is not governing nor it is leadership.

Renewed loan guarantees for Israel;
Held first Seder in White House;
This should buy a lot of goodwill if an Iranian nuke makes Tel Aviv a glowing hole in the sand.