Obama should look forward to second year

January 28, 2010  
Filed under An Eagle's View

 Sweeping into the Oval Office on a wave of proposed changes, Barack Obama promised to change Washington and turn the United States around in a midst of a recession. One year later, not much has changed. Many of the reforms pledged in his campaign never came to fruition in his first year, much to the avail of the electorate who paved his path to office.

During his first 180 days, Obama wasted no time setting out his agenda for his term in office. Making executive orders for plans to withdraw the combat troops from Iraq and close Guantanamo Bay, Obama lived up to the hype early. After signing the controversial stimulus bill aimed to relieve Americans of financial difficulties through the banking industry in February, This endeavor eventually backfired, as these institutions hoarded the appropriated funds or distributed it to high ranking executives through salary bonuses.

Following the stimulus incident, Obama’s administration hit a quiet spring season that saw little of his agenda get brought to the floors of Congress. 

It was no secret that Obama was a major supporter of universal health care that would ensure that all Americans received health treatment. Obama and his Democratic supporters in Congress began the push for universal health care in June. Soon, a nationwide debate erupted over the subject, and popular opinion turned against the proposed health care bill. After an initial stall, the health care bill made tremendous strides in November and December. The bill currently rests in Congress, but is still active.

Towards the end of Obama’s first year in office, a major earthquake struck Haiti. Obama and the United States quickly reacted to the crisis, and aid has poured into the Caribbean island nation.

The last major event that struck Obama’s first year was the special Senate election for the late Democrat Edward Kennedy’s seat. Kennedy, perhaps the original proponent of universal health care in the Senate, was a major of ally of Obama in his run to the White House. Republican Scott Brown, a major underdog in a Democratic stronghold, defeated the heir apparent Martha Coakley, and ended the Democratic filibuster proof majority that Obama enjoyed in his first year in office.

Overall, Obama’s performance, while not disastrous, has not solved many of the issues that face America today. Obama’s signature issue, health care, has fallen behind the economy, job creation and retention, and education in priority in the eyes of most Americans. The first year is over. Obama can no longer enjoy the excuse he had last year. The time for action is now, and he has the tools to be one of the most successful Presidents in the history of the United States, or join the growing list of ineffective American Presidents.

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