No OPINIONS, Just The Facts, Please

[Cracker]

I found this list of Obama Accomplishments.

Can you prove or disprove the positive value of them? Please quote the specific accomplishment you disapprove of or support:

The 244 ACCOMPLISHMENTS of PRESIDENT OBAMA

MILITARY & VETERANS

• Ordered the Pentagon to cover expenses of families of fallen soldiers if they wish to be on site when the body arrives back in the US (2009)

• Ended the Bush-era “blackout” imposed on media coverage of the return of fallen US soldiers (2009) * Note: The media is now permitted to cover the story pending adherence to respectful rules and with the approval of the fallen soldier’s family

• Ended the Bush-era “black out” policy on media coverage of war casualties (2009) * Note: Full information is now released for the first time in the War on Terror

• Ordered better body armor to be procured for US troops (2009)

• Funding new Mine Resistant Ambush Vehicles (2009) * Note: The old Hummers were very vulnerable to roadside explosives and an alarming percentage of our soldiers lost in Iraq were on account of IEDs

• Working to increase pay and benefits for military personnel (2009)

• Improving housing for military personnel (2009)

• Initiating a new policy to promote federal hiring of military spouses (2009)

• Ordered that conditions at Walter Reed Military Hospital and other neglected military hospitals be improved (2009)

• Beginning the process of reforming and restructuring the military to a post-Cold War, modern fighting force (2009) * Note: Bush announced in 2001 his intention to do this but backed off the reforms after 9/11, which include: new procurement policies; increasing the size of Special Ops units; deploying new technologies; creating new cyber security units; etc.

• Ended the Bush-era practice of awarding “no-bid” defense contracts (2009)

• Improving benefits for veterans as well as VA staffing, information systems, etc. (2009)

• Authorized construction of additional health centers to care for veterans (2009)

• Suspended the Bush-era decision to purchase a fleet of Marine One helicopters from suppliers in favor of American made helicopters (2009)

• Ordered a review of the existing “Don’t ask, don’t tell” policy on gays in the military (2010)

• New GI Bill for returning veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan (2009)

• Signed bill providing assistance for caregivers of veterans wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan (2010) * Note: The omnibus bill does the following: Training, funding, and counseling for caregivers; promoting pilot childcare programs for women vets under treatment at the VA; independent oversight to prevent abuse; readjustment counseling for National Guard and reservist units; etc.

• Eliminated co-payments for veterans who are catastrophically disabled (2010)

• Fulfilled campaign promise to have combat troops (90,000) out of Iraq by August 31, 2010 (2010)

• Established a new interagency task force to assist veterans owning small businesses (2010) * Note: The efforts include promoting federal contract opportunities, improve access to loans and capital, mentor assistance programs, etc.

• Signed The Families of Fallen Heroes Act, which covers the moving costs of immediate family members of those lost in service (military, intelligence, and security personnel) (2010)



RIGHTS

• Instituted enforcements for equal pay for women (Lilly Ledbetter Bill) (2009)

• Appointed Sonia Sotomayor, the first Latina, to the Supreme Court (2009)

• Held the first Seder in White House (2009)

• Appointed a diverse Cabinet and diverse White House staff (2009)

• Spoke at the annual dinner of the Human Rights Campaign, a gay rights organization (2009)

• Signed the first major piece of federal gay rights legislation that includes acts of violence against gays under the list of federal hate crimes (2009)

• Reversed the Bush-era practice of politicizing Justice Department investigations and prosecutions against political opponents (2009)

• Pushing for some of the ⁹⁄₁₁ perpetrators to be tried in federal court (2009) * Note: The process has moved at a snail’s pace and, in the face of opposition, Obama has remained quiet

• Signed an extension of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Bill to provide federal research and support for treating the disease (2009)

• Allowed the State Department of offer same-sex benefits for employees (2009)

• Proposed that the Pentagon repeal the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy; placed a “freeze” on current efforts to remove alleged homosexuals from the military (2009)

• After eight years of neglect, the Justice Department and EEOC are again enforcing employment discrimination laws (2009)

• Convened the White House Tribal Nations Conference, inviting representatives from 564 federally-recognized Indian tribes (2009)

• Provided increased school projects for Indian lands and increased funds for the Indian Health Service (2009)

• Signed an Executive Order mandating that his Cabinet develop plans to work with and consult Indian tribes on issues impacting Indian lands (2009)

• Commissioned a study to develop alternatives to “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (2010)

• Called for federal agencies to look into recognizing gay partnerships in terms of benefits (2010)

• Signed an Executive Order for the President’s Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (2010)

• Increased funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (2010)

• Signed Executive Order to promote the federal government as a “model employer” when it comes to hiring the disabled (2010) * Note: This includes new efforts to increase the recruitment, hiring, and training for the disabled

• Programs to assist Spanish speakers with the US Census (2010)

• Elena Kagen appointed to Supreme Court (2010)

• Tasked all federal agencies to develop new strategies to address HIV/AIDS (2010)

• After organizing studies on the topic in 2009, tasked the Pentagon to eliminate “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (2010)

• Signed Fair Sentencing Act (2010) * Note: The Administration continues to deescalate marijuana interdiction and raids; increased dramatically the amount of cocaine one must possess to be sentenced to jail; eliminated mandatory sentencing for first-time drug abusers and simple possession

EDUCATION

• Authorized construction funds for high-speed, broadband Internet access in K-12 public schools (2009)

• Increased funding for school construction (2009)

• Increased funding available for student loans (2009)

• Expanded the national youth service program (2009)

• Streamlined the federal student loan process to save $87 billion over the next 10 years (2009)

• Changed the rule to allow students struggling to make college loan payments to refinance their loans (2009)

• Beginning discussions with Congress for education reform (2009) * Note: Much of Obama’s education reform has been sidelined by opposition in Congress

• Initiated a “Race to the Top” competitive federal grant program for states who develop innovative policies (2009)

• Instituted a “judgment review” allowing families with student loans to petition to have their current financial status determine the loan rather than the previous year’s finances (2009)

• Launched “Educate to Innovate,” a public/private partnership making $236 million available for science, mathematics, and technology education programs (2009)

• Proposed capping the maximum amount students must pay on student loans (as percentage of their income) (2010)

• Proposed reducing student loan obligations for individuals going to work in community and public service jobs (2010)

• The federal government will offer direct student loans, cutting out the cost of private banks (“middle man”) who increase the costs in order to make a profit (2010)

• Increased investment in technologies for schools/education (2010)

DISASTER RESPONSE

• Ordered a review of hurricane and natural disaster preparedness (2009)

• FEMA once again reports directly to the president (2009) * Note: Bush removed FEMA (prior to the Hurricane Katrina disaster) from this status

• Demonstrated an immediate and efficient response to the floods in North Dakota and other natural disasters (2009)

• Ordered that funds be released and red tape be streamlined for the ongoing Hurricane Katrina recovery effort in the Gulf Coast (2009)

• Timely and massive relief effort in response to the January 2010 earthquake and ensuing humanitarian crisis (2010)

Components of the response:

- The FBI’s National Center for Disaster Fraud was tasked to look into possible fraud with organizations soliciting funds for relief

- Announced the Clinton-Bush Haiti Fund

- Established an emergency Haiti Task Force in the State Department

- Established a website with information, resources, and a posting of a “person finder” online to help families and friends to locate loved ones

- Joint aid and relief planning with the U.K.

[Cracker]

Too long for one post. Here's the rest:


- Sponsored a resolution in the UN Security Council for additional security and police forces in Haiti

- Dispatched the US Navy floating hospital (USNS Comfort) and, within 5 days, 9 naval and relief ships, 5 Coast Guard cutters, 8 Coast Guard aircraft, and 12,000 US military personnel

- Initial dispatch of several ships and cargo planes full of humanitarian aid and supplies, 6 search/rescue teams (500 personnel), and 265 Department of Health & Human Services personnel for emergency medical and aid support

- Established a mobile US air traffic control center at the destroyed airport in Port-au-Prince

• After the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, a freeze was placed on new deep water projects (2010)

• Executive Order to establish new security measures to minimize accidental release of bio and chemical agents; new strategies for public health and bioterrorism response (2010)

• Established a national commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon spill to examine facts and report a plan of action; new efforts to prevent offshore spills (2010)

• After a slow start in responding to the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill, the White House is promoting a long-term plan to reconstruct the damaged Gulf and negotiated with BP the establishment of a multi-billion dollar trust fund for victims of the spill (2010)

• Extended national flood insurance program for those in need during current economic crisis (2010)

OTHER INITIATIVES

• New federal funding for science and research labs (2009)

• Signed national service legislation; expanded national youth service program (2009)

• Increasing opportunities in AmeriCorps program (2009)

• Instituted a new focus on mortgage fraud (2009)

• Ordered the DEA to stop raids on medical marijuana usage (2009)

• Ordered a review of existing “mandatory minimum” prison sentencing (2009)

• Signed an order to limit airport tarmac delays and the time passengers had to sit in the plane/on the tarmac during delays (2009)

• Restored the EPA to “Cabinet level” status (2009) * Note: Bush removed the EPA from this status

• Beginning discussions with Congress for comprehensive immigration reform (2010)

* Note: Much of Obama’s immigration reform had been stalled by opposition in Congress

• Commissioned expert panels and reports from NASA; announced a new direction for human space flight that involves funding a new heavy lift-launcher and jettisoning the Ares 1 program; boosting NASA’s budget by $1 billion in 2011 (2010)

• Ordered a ban on text-messaging for all commercial truck and bus drivers (2010)

• Signed bill – FAA Air Transportaiton Modernizatin and Safety Improvement Act (2010)

[Maggot]

I better read this in the bathroom.

[Cracker]

I better read this in the bathroom.

Is that a fact or an opinion? No opinions, please. Just the facts, sir.

Number one or number two?

[Cracker]

I noticed most of these are broad statements that don't have any legislation attached.

Such as:

• Instituted a new focus on mortgage fraud (2009)
• Joint aid and relief planning with the U.K.
- The FBI’s National Center for Disaster Fraud was tasked to look into possible fraud with organizations soliciting funds for relief

- Announced the Clinton-Bush Haiti Fund

- Established an emergency Haiti Task Force in the State Department

- Established a website with information, resources, and a posting of a “person finder” online to help families and friends to locate loved ones


• Programs to assist Spanish speakers with the US Census (2010)

• Elena Kagen appointed to Supreme Court (2010)

• Tasked all federal agencies to develop new strategies to address HIV/AIDS (2010)

• After organizing studies on the topic in 2009, tasked the Pentagon to eliminate “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (2010)


• Beginning discussions with Congress for comprehensive immigration reform (2010)

* Note: Much of Obama’s immigration reform had been stalled by opposition in Congress

[Cracker]

He did a lot for Haiti, blacks, Hispanics, gays, women, and the military. Of course, now he would like the military to pay more for their insurance to make up for it, but I have to give him props for improving the lot of veterans.

[username]

He did a lot for Haiti, blacks, Hispanics, gays, women, and the military. Of course, now he would like the military to pay more for their insurance to make up for it, but I have to give him props for improving the lot of veterans.

Please quote the specific accomplishment you disapprove of or support.

[Cracker]

There has been no COLA (cost of living allowance) raise for the military for two years even though costs of food, gas, etc has greatly increased, so I don't think he is the friend to the military to the degree listed above on that particular site. I think it is a mixed bag. He didn't ask black students to pay more for their benefits, but he is asking it of the military.

[Cracker]

Then there is this:

"Obama has faced the increasing pressure on him over the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act that has included a bi-partisan letter from all of the Congressmen on the Veterans’ Affairs Committee by still continuing to fail to implement any of the extended veterans’ benefits of the Caregiver Act. However despite this complete inaction, the Obama administration continues to claim that the “VA and veterans are the president’s top priority” as Deputy VA W. Scott Gould did in a high profile speech last week. The Caregiver Act, which Obama signed it into law nearly a year ago, extends veterans of the War on Terror’s benefits and is meant to provide critical support services to those who take care of our nation’s most severely wounded warriors and includes a stipend to be paid to the primary caregiver of a disabled veteran as well as provisions to pay lodging and meals to those caregivers who might accompany injured veterans on trips for VA healthcare evaluations and treatments.

Because of the obvious importance of providing financial stability for these veterans and their caregivers veterans’ support groups like the Wounded Warrior Project claimed the program was a sign of hope when it was first signed into law on May 5^th of last year. However in the intervening 11 months many people’s bright expectation have been tamped into an undiluted pessimism as Obama has failed to get the programs up and running even though months have passed since the January 30^th deadline."

[Maggot]

I hope a new gold vein is discovered in Alaska to pay for all this.

[Cracker]

Regarding historically black colleges:

First, I didn't realize they were PRIVATE colleges. I guess if you are going to have stipulations of that sort, you have to be a private institution.

Second, the improved funding is now fading, so I think we can remove that from the list, as well:


State Funding:

April 21, 2011 -

"Florida’s historically black colleges are facing crippling cuts in funding under budget proposals passed by the House and Senate earlier this month.



Under those budgets, historically black private colleges could see their state funding slashed between $2.2 million under the House proposal and $3 million under the Senate proposal due to the disappearance of federal stimulus dollars. That amounts to a reduction between 23 and 32 percent from the year before.

For the colleges, which rely on state funds for efforts to increase enrollment, and improve graduation and retention rates, a $3 million cut in funding would have a big impact, lawmakers say.

“These are institutions that have been underfunded historically and a cut of that size would mean for many of them that they would have to close their doors,” said Rep. Geraldine Thompson, D-Orlando.

Bethune-Cookman University, for instance, could see a drop of $1.1 million in funding, under the proposed Senate budget. The university’s overall budget is $68 million, according to a Bethune-Cookman spokeswoman.

The school has 3,600 students, which makes it the largest of the state’s private historically black colleges.

“Bethune-Cookman remains attentive as the state budget process unfolds,” Bethune-Cookman President Trudie Kibbe Reed said in an e-mail. “Without grant funding for recruitment and retention, we face a difficult journey ahead.”

If the double-digit budget cuts are approved, Bethune-Cookman would have to rely on fundraising during a time when many alumni and corporate funds are struggling because of the recession, Reed said. “The burden then falls on the institution, the students and their families to support their financial needs,” Reed said.

Historically black colleges have received state funds since 1985. They are the only private colleges to receive money from the state that is not earmarked for a specific program. The money is intended to boost graduation and retention rates."

Federal Funding:

"On March 30, 2010, President Obama signed into law the Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act, 2010 (P.L. 111-152). The act includes, among other things, select provisions of the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act (SAFRA). SAFRA provisions are contained in Title II, and make changes to and extend mandatory appropriations for several Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) programs for HBCUs and other minority serving institutions. The legislation continues two-year funding for HBCUs and minority serving institutions as outlined in the HEOA. HBCUs and other minority serving institutions would be funded at $255.0 million for each of the years FY2010 through FY2019. Estimated support would be approximately $1.1 billion over a 5-year period and approximately $2.1 billion over a 10-year period."

Wow. What this leaves out is that now colleges are in charge of setting tuition and student aid is only increase for low-income people, not smart people. http://www.tvw.org/capitolrecord/index.p...unity-act/

[Cracker]

"The study, done by the Center for Equal Opportunity, shows that OSU admitted African American students with lower ACT scores over white students by a ratio of eight-to-one.

"They look at your skin color and what country your ancestors came from in deciding who gets in and who doesn't get in. And it makes a bid difference," said Roger Clegg, president of the Center for Equal Opportunity.

OSU changed it's admissions practices in 2003 after a Supreme Court ruling on a case in Michigan.

"The Supreme Court ruling enables you to use race as one of the criteria, you just can't use it as the sole deciding factor," said Dolan Evanovich, VP of OSU Strategic Enrollment.

The university says its current admissions are based on individual achievement, not on a numbers game.

At Miami University, the study shows even worse numbers. An admittance rate of ten-to-one for African American students over white students with similar ACT scores."

(Took out my opinion part. You decide if you like this or not when you vote.)

[ZEROSPHERES]

I hope a new gold vein is discovered in Alaska to pay for all this.

Fact....At the rate our national debt is accumulating that vein would have to produce 84 pounds of gold per minute at the current gold price of 1489.00 / ounce or produce 73 ¹⁄₂ tons of gold per day to keep up.

[ZEROSPHERES]

I don't understand how any politician wouldn't see this as a crisis


http://www.defeatthedebt.com/understandi...do-we-owe/

In 2010, the United States accumulated over $3.5 billion in new debt each and every day. That’s more than $2 million per minute.

[Cracker]

• Launched “Educate to Innovate,” a public/private partnership making $236 million available for science, mathematics, and technology education programs (2009)

This is mostly for women and minorities (called "underrepresented groups"), part of the STEM monies.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10101/1049219-109.stm

[Cracker]

• Ordered better body armor to be procured for US troops (2009)

http://www.stripes.com/news/marines-down...07-1.55759

This armor was actually ordered in 2007 when Bush was president. It is the same armor they have now, except they are supposed to be sending Titanium cups (no lie) to the troops in Afghanistan so the can keep the good parts when they step on an IED.

"President George W. Bush’s $87 billion package that Congress approved for ongoing operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, $300 million has been earmarked for body armor, including the ceramic plates, which currently cost about $500 each. A complete Interceptor system costs $1,585."

They are still using the Interceptor Body Armor. I know this for a fact.

I don't think Obama can claim this one...

[Cracker]

FoSho!


Member Since: October 27, 2007Total Points: 26 (Level 1)Points earned this week: -7

Why did they name military housing after Obama?

I visited a relative at a US military base, and the places they live in are called "Baracks". I thought it was just at this base, but he says all military housing is referred to as Baracks, and even state trooper headquarters use his first name. When did this happen? Why did he get the honor?


hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha! You can't make this shit up!

I love trolls!

[Cracker]

• Improving housing for military personnel (2009)

I don't know about this one, I think the baracks are still the baracks and the officers get the good houses, but I do know Marine bases have turned over the management to private companies in the last year or so and now the troops have to pay some utitlities over and above their BAH. Not sure what they mean by "improved" but I know it costs more now...

[Cracker]

• Funding new Mine Resistant Ambush Vehicles (2009) * Note: The old Hummers were very vulnerable to roadside explosives and an alarming percentage of our soldiers lost in Iraq were on account of IEDs

Those things are pretty cool. I posted a pic of one a few days ago. The problem: They were ordered in 2007 (that damn Bush again). http://defense-update.com/products/m/mrap.htm

[Cracker]

• Fulfilled campaign promise to have combat troops (90,000) out of Iraq by August 31, 2010 (2010)


They are in Afghanistan now.