Thursday, January 14, 2010

"Obama Has Done Nothing."

Well, perhaps not quite nothing. In one year Obama did overturn a prohibition on federal funding for stem-cell research and let people with HIV travel to the United States. Let's see--he also started closing the prison at Gitmo, banned torture, eased a few restrictions on Cuba, pulled out of combat in Iraq, added troops in Afghanistan, pushed the idea that the government is responsible for health care, pledged to cut American emissions, promoted the first Latina to the Supreme Court, stalled a worldwide Great Depression (we hope), opened dialogues with Russia and the Moslem world, set aside large tracts of wilderness, etc.

1 comment:

Chris O' said...

Also:

Domestic/Economic: Passage of stimulus package

Foreign:
Appts. and Personnel: Key State Department appointments reflect a new outlook

Tone: The tone reflects the outlook. See Ambassador Rice's speech at NYU

Financing the UN: US payments on right track. Objective, congress willing, is to have no arrears by 2010.

Security Council: improved international relations have already seen some modest results.

MDG: Important change. Obama administration supports MDG! objectives.

Climate Change: Another area where a major policy shift has occurred. The extent to which progress can be made will depend to an important extent on congress.

Disrarmament: Major new development is push for nuclear non-proliferation treaty

Treaties: Obama administration positive approach must be met by new position of congress

-- Chris