Proposal 1 Rejected And Voted Down

[AbominableDro-Man]

http://www.9and10news.com/story/28988322/michigan-voters-resoundingly-reject-proposal-one

 

Michigan Voters Resoundingly Reject Proposal One Posted: May 06, 2015 1:51 AM EDTUpdated: May 06, 2015 1:51 AM EDT

By Cody Boyer, Reporter

 

It appears Proposal One failed in spectacular fashion. 

It wasn't the way voters wanted to pay for road repairs. 

Now, agencies like local road commissions and M-DOT are looking at where to go from here. 

"Throughout the campaign, we heard that most people agreed that more funding needs to go to our roads, but it seems that agreement wasn't on how to pay for it," said M-DOT Communications Representative, James Lake. 

Michigan's roads are in bad shape. 

Tuesday, the people of Michigan rejected the only plan out there to fix them. 

"Governor Snyder has said all along that there is no Plan B, there seems to be a universal acknowledgement that more investment needs to be made in the roads and bridges in Michigan so I would anticipate the legislature will get to work on that and we'll continue to work with state legislatures to help identify a viable funding solution."

For road commission managers, like Alan Cooper in Wexford County, the failure is one that hurts. 

"This is a good start. It's the best that we've seen in 10 years and to expect them to not pass this in their legislature, to come out and to have something that will be long lasting in time to help us with our roads... that doesn't look very good, in my opinion."

Governor Snyder said Tuesday, infrastructure is a top priority and he knows people want to fix roads, despite Proposal One's defeat. He supports finding another long term solution. 

Meanwhile, those who maintain roads will have to work with the resources they have. 

"Business as usual. Right now, we are in band aid mode. The roads that we can fix, where we get funding from the federal government for our primary roads, we'll still do those, but our local road system in Michigan is what's really hurting and I don't see where we can make any progress at all on our local roads without additional funding," said Alan Cooper. 

Edited May 6, 2015 by AbominableDro-Man

[AbominableDro-Man]

I see that they're playing the "WOE is me!"  for the states card here...Maybe if they took away from their own 6 digit paygrades they'd be able to raise the funds.

Edited May 6, 2015 by AbominableDro-Man

[pic book]

from the start the thing, proposal 1, was received negatively.  it was never viewed favorably in any poll.  so now we get to plan B, that does win a majority in polling; pot treated like alcohol with taxation and a limited number of grow licenses and sales thru dedicated outlets.  this is how legalized recreational pot comes in the back door. pot for potholes, it's your turn.

[t-pain]

the milegalize people should take note and rename the campaign pot for potholes

[AbominableDro-Man]

It'd sure as hell get people on board. All of that recirculating currency would be going to roads, schools, etc, just like it is in CO.  Nevermind, we live in Michigan, our state gov will do their damndest to line their own pockets.

Edited May 6, 2015 by AbominableDro-Man

[trichcycler]

so what happened to all the previous monies taxed to fix the roads, lottery to save schools, etc? Why give up more? Detroit has the worst roads and we hear year after year of all the fleecing of the city funds by mayors and players. The citizens love it, they keep voting in the same people who keep ripping them off?  umm, okeeedokeee.

 

Never be so blind to think government will allow us to vote their wealth away.

[beourbud]

This shows how out of touch the fknrepublicans are with We the People.  They cant lead, they can only steal and hope they dont get caught.

 

The emperor Has No Clothes and doesnt care much for us commoners.

 

We Need a Bill to Fill Potholes with Politicians

[Chauncy Gardner]

I have thought all along that the Republicans are letting the economy and the infrastructure go to hell to the point that people will cry "Uncle!" and let the Republicans do whatever they want just so that there is some relief for the common folk. They are literally holding us hostage until they get their way.

 

The Democrats (and most respectable economists) have been saying for years that the best way to jump start the economy is to invest a Trillion dollars in infrastructure - infrastructure HERE IN AMERICA, not in the Middle East. But the fknRepublicans do not want anything positive or good to come out of the Obama presidency, soooo... they make excuses for not fixing things. The best part is that they blame Obama for not doing anything! Holy shiite. How can people be so deaf, dumb, and blind?

[trichcycler]

the president does exactly what he is paid to do.

when politicians do not do what they are paid to do, they are removed. Who is doing the paying is the right concern.

[AbominableDro-Man]

I generally view the "president" as an elected fall guy.

[Norby]

I was just talking to my wife about this.  If Mi were to legalize there would be a huge boom to tourism, so we could even get roads paid for by NYers' pennsylvanians, ohioans and people from all over.  The UP would be the next rockies.

Talk about self serving politicians with their head completely bound up their donkey!!!!!

Your right, they don't want ANYTHING good to happen in an Obama presidency or they don't want anything good to happen if it gives up even an inch of control.  They are trying for total domination or damnnation.

[trichcycler]

They lied. Fact is, when good people use cannabis responsibly they think. We're getting smarter by the day you know, and that has them scared.  The jig is up though.

We're only one apology away -for the lifetime of suppression and oppression, hang in there, our children will thank you.

[outsideinthecold]

Just curious but did Chauncey's Democrats and the respectable economists mention how they planned on paying for the infrastructure repairs those dratted Republicans avoided so the voters would elect more republicans.

 

As if electing Democrats would change anything.

 

Didn't do much good in 2008, did it? Maybe next time it will be different but I wouldn't count on that.

 

Sort of like immigration. Just what this country's impoverished poor needs is another ten million suddenly legal immigrants added to the dependency roles. I wonder if those respected economists can explain who pays for that?

 

Impossible unless they first overturn the Law of Supply and Demand.

 

Rather like the minimum wage. Raising the minimum wage might be good politics for someone courting uninformed voters but maybe not so good for the economy as a whole. And if ten bucks an hour is good and fifteen is better, why not make it twenty, thirty, or what the heck, let's think big and go for fifty. Or a hundred.

 

It is all sewage.

 

Chauncey is right about one thing; we're in deep kim chi and no one seems to have a clue why starting with those who naively think one party or the other has all the answers. In truth both are one-and-the-same.

 

Bad enough routine audits find government employees charging porn and casino visits to their government credit cards without any disciplinary action but bonuses? Bonuses for government employees? Government employees who already get pay and benefits way better than similar private sector jobs with unmatched job security.

 

I respect many here for their wisdom and opinions even though we often disagree philosophically. But any MMJ patient who would support Sander Levin over Fred Upton simply because Levin is a (Prohibitionist) Democrat (one-per enter) and Upton, a (compassionate) Republican (one-percenter and grandson of one of Whirlpool's three founders) has other priorities.

Edited May 7, 2015 by outsideinthecold

[Wild Bill]

Rather like the minimum wage. Raising the minimum wage might be good politics for someone courting uninformed voters but maybe not so good for the economy as a whole. And if ten bucks an hour is good and fifteen is better, why not make it twenty, thirty, or what the heck, let's think big and go for fifty. Or a hundred.

 

The minimum wage of $1.60 an hour in 1968 would be $10.90 today when adjusted for inflation.

 

Why not index all wages and prices according to inflation so we could all easily see how worthless our currency has become.

 

As far as fixing the roads how about a simple increase in the fuel tax? Why the byzantine proposal that was presented to us?

 

Here is the official reason for not having money to fix the roads.

http://www.senate.michigan.gov/sfa/Publications/Notes/2015Notes/NotesWin15gs.pdf

 

. . . the primary reason for decreased revenue lies within diminishing fuel tax receipts. This is caused by increases in vehicle fuel economy, which result in lower consumption, and inflation.The gasoline tax rate of 19 cents per gallon was set in 1997. Accounting for inflation, 19 cents in 1997 would equal roughly 28 cents today. Looked at another way, today's 19-cent gas tax would equal 13.5 cents in 1997 – meaning that the gas tax burden has effectively decreased since the last rate increase 18 years ago. As to fuel economy, the average fuel economy for a model 1997 vehicle was 24.6 miles per gallon, while the average fuel economy for a model 2014 vehicle was 31.6 miles

per gallon. This increase in fuel economy affects the amount of fuel consumed, and fewer gallons of gasoline consumed directly translate to less revenue for roads. The combination of inflation and decreasing fuel consumption has resulted in a significant drop in fuel tax revenue and buying power.

 

They don't have the money because they are taxing money that is not worth what it was when they set the tax rate. If everything was indexed for inflation we would have none of these problems.

 

Only riots because everyone would be so pissed about the economy.

[beourbud]

Off the top of my head, here are a few things We accomplished in spite of Racist, Bigoted, islamaphobic, homophobic opposition by the fknrepublicans

 

Returned The Executive Branch To Fiscal Responsibility

 

Within his first week, he signed an Executive Order ordering an audit of government contracts, and combating waste and abuse. http://1.usa.gov/dUvbu5

 

Created the post of Chief Performance Officer, whose job it is to make operations more efficient to save the federal government money. http://n.pr/hcgBn1

 

On his first full day, he froze White House salaries. http://on.msnbc.com/ewJUIx

 

He appointed the first Federal Chief Information Officer to oversee federal IT spending.http://www.cio.gov

 

He committed to phasing out unnecessary and outdated weapons systems. To that end, he also signed the Democratic-sponsored Weapons Systems Acquisition Reform Act, which attempted to put a stop to waste, fraud and abuse in the defense procurement and contracting system. http://bit.ly/hOw1t1http://bit.ly/fz8GAd

 

Through an executive order, he created the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform. http://bit.ly/hwKhKa

 

Prevented a Bush Depression and Improved the Economy

 

Pushed through and signed the Democratic-sponsored American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, otherwise known as “the stimulus package.” The bill passed, even though only three Republicans voted for it. In a major departure from the previous administration, he launched recovery.gov, a website that allows taxpayers to track spending from the Act. http://1.usa.gov/ibiFSshttp://1.usa.gov/e3BJMk

 

The Bush-led Great Recession was costing the economy nearly 800,000 jobs per month by the time President Obama took office. But by the end of his first year, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act created and sustained 2.1 million jobs and stimulated the economy by 3.5%. http://reut.rs/i46CEE

 

Not only did he completed the massive TARP financial and banking rescue plan, he also leaned on the banks and others, and recovered virtually all of the bail-out money. http://1.usa.gov/eA5jVShttp://bit.ly/eCNrD6

 

He created the Making Home Affordable home refinancing plan. http://1.usa.gov/goy6zl

 

Oversaw the creation of more jobs in 2010 alone than Bush did in eight years. http://bit.ly/hrrnjY

 

Along with Democrats, and almost no Republicans, implemented an auto industry rescue plan, and saved as many as 1 million jobs. http://bit.ly/ibhpxr Many are ofthe opinion that he saved the entire auto industry, and even the economy of the entire Midwest. http://bit.ly/gj7mt5This resulted in GM returning to its place as the top car company in the world. http://lat.ms/zIJuQx

 

Doubled funding for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership, which is designed to improve manufacturing efficiency. http://bit.ly/eYD4nf

 

Signed the Democratic-sponsored Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act giving the federal government more tools to investigate and prosecute fraud in every corner of the financial system, and create a bipartisan Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission to investigate the financial fraud that led to the economic meltdown. http://abcn.ws/g18Fe7

 

Signed the Democratic-sponsored Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure (CARD) Act, which was designed to to protect consumers from unfair and deceptive credit card practices. http://1.usa.gov/gIaNcS

 

Increased infrastructure spending after years of neglect. http://bit.ly/f77aOw

 

Signed the Democratic-sponsored and passed Helping Families Save Their Homes Act, expanding on the Making Home Affordable Program to help millions of Americans avoid preventable foreclosures. The bill also provided $2.2 billion to help combat homelessness, and to stabilize the housing market. http://bit.ly/eEpLFn

 

Through the Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009, he and Congressional Democrats provided tax credits to first-time home buyers, which helped the U.S. housing market recovery. http://bit.ly/dZgXXwhttp://bit.ly/gORYfL

 

Initiated a $15 billion plan designed to encourage increased lending to small businesses. http://1.usa.gov/eu0u0b

 

Created business.gov, which allows for online collaboration between small businesses and experts re managing a business. (The program has since merged with SBA.gov.) http://www.business.gov

 

Played a lead role in getting the G-20 Summit to commit to a $1.1 trillion deal to combat the global financial crisis. http://nyti.ms/gHlgp5

 

Took steps to improve minority access to capital. http://bit.ly/f9xVE7

 

Signed an Executive Order instructing federal agencies to review all federal regulations and remove any unnecessary and/or burdensome regulations from the books. http://1.usa.gov/Lpo5bd

 

Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, saved at least 300,000 education jobs, such as teachers, principals, librarians, and counselors that would have otherwise been lost. http://1.usa.gov/ez30D

 

Dismantled the Minerals Management Service, thereby cutting ties between energy companies and the government. http://nyti.ms/bw1MLu

 

Along with Congressional Democrats, provided funding to states and the Department of Homeland Security to save thousands of police and firefighter jobs from being cut during the recession. http://bit.ly/g0IKWR

 

Used recovered TARP money to fund programs at local housing finance agencies in California, Florida, Nevada, Arizona and Michigan. http://on.msnbc.com/i1i8eV

 

Crafted and signed an executive order establishing the President’s Advisory Council on Financial Capability to assist in financial education for all Americans. http://bit.ly/eyqsNE

 

China’s largest manufacturer, Foxconn, is building a large plant in Pennsylvania http://cnnmon.ie/1k7LT4S

 

Worked with Apple Computer to get them to build more product here, and thecompany is building two large plants to manufacture products here; one in Texas http://zd.net/1nkpt2O andone in Arizona http://bit.ly/1mXY5Vg

 

Oversaw increase of manufacturing jobs by more than 500,000 since 2010, and created an institute to invest in more manufacturing jobs in the technology fields of the future. http://nyti.ms/1egyXrV

 

Ordered all federal contractors to pay a minimum wage of $10.10 per hour, leading the way to a national increase. http://wapo.st/1iaU5kd

 

Ordered the completion of the International Trade Data System, a digital trade record book, by 2016. This move will streamline and simplify the process through which small- and medium-sized businesses set up the export of US goods. http://bit.ly/1nwSRF4

 

Created a climate in which there have been 55 consecutive months of job growth, totaling more than 10 million jobs, which is roughly 10,000,000 more jobs than Bush created in eight years. http://1.usa.gov/1vBDeyCThisis also the longest stretch of private-sector job growth in US history. http://wapo.st/1w3J8Zy

 

Led the country to 64 consecutive months of economic expansion, eclipsing Saint Reagan’s record, by far. http://onforb.es/1sxJ2by

 

Oversaw a reduction in the dollar amount of the federal budget deficit by two-thirds since taking office. http://bit.ly/1xKMmjY

 

Reduced the federal budget deficit from 9.8% of GDP in Fiscal Year 2009 under Bush, to 2.9% of GDP in FY 2014. http://www.cbo.gov/publication/45653

 

Under Obama, the stock market has reached record highs, restoring most of the economic losses felt during the Bush Recession, when it reached record lows, adjusted for inflation. http://bit.ly/1z4FAtL

 

Brought Much-Improved Transparency and Better Government

 

Signed an order banning gifts from lobbyists to anyone in the Executive Branch. http://bit.ly/fsBACN

 

Signed an order banning anyone from working in an agency they had lobbied in previous years, and put strict limits on lobbyists’ access to the White House. http://nyti.ms/gOrznV

 

Held the first-ever first online town hall from the White House, and took questions from the public. http://bit.ly/gVNSgX

 

Became the first to stream every White House event, live. http://1.usa.gov/kAgOP5

 

Established a central portal for Americans to find service opportunities. http://www.serve.gov

 

Issued an Executive Order on Presidential Records, which restored the 30-day time frame for former presidents to review records, and eliminated the right for the vice president or family members of former presidents to do the reviews. Provides the public with greater access to historic White House documents, and severely curtails the ability to use executive privilege to shield them. http://1.usa.gov/gUetLb

 

Improved aspects of the Freedom of Information Act, and issued new guidelines to make FOIA more open and transparent when processing FOIA requests. http://1.usa.gov/gjrnp2

 

Proposed rules that would streamline the Department of Education’s procurement policies and make them more transparent. http://bit.ly/1r9oQvh

 

Provided the first voluntary disclosure of the White House Visitors Log in history. http://1.usa.gov/hQ7

 

Wall Street Reforms and Consumer Protection

 

Ordered 65 executives who took bailout money to cut their own pay until they paid back all bailout money. http://huff.to/eAi9Qq

 

Along with Congressional Democrats, pushed through and got passed Dodd-Frank, one of the largest and most comprehensive Wall Street reforms since the Great Depression. http://bit.ly/hWCPg0http://bit.ly/geHpcD

 

By signing Dodd-Frank legislation, created the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau http://1.usa.gov/j5onG

 

Created rules that reduce the influence of speculators in the oil market. http://bit.ly/MDnA1t

 

Fashioned rules so that banks can no longer use YOUR money to invest in high-risk financial instruments that work against their own customers’ interests. http://bit.ly/fnTayj

 

Supported the concept of allowing stockholders to vote on executive compensation. http://bit.ly/fnTayj

 

Endorsed and supported the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act of 2009 that would close offshore tax avoidance loopholes. http://bit.ly/esOdfBhttp://bit.ly/eG4DPM

 

Negotiated a deal with Swiss banks that now permits the US government to gain access to the records of criminals and tax evaders. http://bit.ly/htfDgw

 

Signed the American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act, which closed many of the loopholes that allowed companies to send jobs overseas, and avoid paying US taxes by moving money offshore.http://1.usa.gov/bd1RTq

 

Established a Consumer Protection Financial Bureau designed to protect consumers from financial sector excesses. http://bit.ly/fnTayj

 

Oversaw and then signed a Democratic bill constituting the most sweeping food safety legislation since the Great Depression. http://thedc.com/gxkCtP

 

Through the Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act, extended the False Claims Act to combat fraud by companies and individuals using money from the TARP and Stimulus programs. http://bit.ly/SLTcSa

 

Set up rules for banks in handling legal marijuana money. http://nyti.ms/1b80o2K

 

Signed Executive Order to add a number of further protections to consumer financial transactions, to further limit instances of identity theft. http://1.usa.gov/1pjfUFq

 

Took steps to prevent pirate fishing and protect fish populations, and ordered stricter labeling requirements on labeling of seafood products in stores. http://1.usa.gov/1BYhTUn

 

Enhanced Civil Rights and Anti-Discrimination

 

Along with Congressional Democrats, advocated for and signed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which made it a federal crime to assault anyone based on his or her sexual orientation or gender identity. http://bit.ly/gsMSJ7

 

Pushed through, signed and demanded the Pentagon enact a repeal of the discriminatory “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy that forced soldiers to lie in order to be eligible to fight for their country, and put our troops at risk by disqualifying many qualified soldiers from helping. http://bit.ly/fdahuHhttp://bit.ly/mZV4Pz

 

Extended benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees. http://1.usa.gov/g2RLCj

 

Appointed more openly gay officials than anyone in history. http://bit.ly/g1lA7D

 

Appointed first openly transgender Cabinet Official in History. http://bit.ly/58zUp7

 

Changed HUD rules to prohibit gender and sexual orientation-based discrimination in housing bit.ly/9RxEnP

 

Changed his mind and publicly expressed support for same-sex marriage. http://bit.ly/JsiFKp

 

Issued a Presidential Memorandum reaffirming the rights of gay couples to make medical decisions for each other. http://1.usa.gov/aUueGT

 

Wrote and signed an Executive Order establishing a White House Council on Women and Girls to ensure that all Cabinet and Cabinet-level agencies evaluate the effect of their policies and programs on women and families. http://bit.ly/e1puTkhttp://1.usa.gov/rFfqMM

 

Signed the Democratic-sponsored Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which restored basic protections against pay discrimination for women and other workers. This was after the GOP blocked the bill in 2007. Only 5 Republican Senators voted for the bill. http://bit.ly/fT3Cxg

 

Signed two executive orders that mirror provisions of the Paycheck Fairness Act, because the GOP Congress refuses to pass it. It makes is possible for employees to talk about their salaries without retaliation, and orders salary data collection. These measures will make it harder for employers to pay women less. http://huff.to/1nwVOWf

 

Expanded funding for the Violence Against Women Act. http://1.usa.gov/dSbI0x

 

Under his guidance, National Labor Relations Board issued final rules that require all employers to prominently post employees’ rights where all employees or prospective employees can see it, including all websites and intranets. http://1.usa.gov/qu2EhQ

 

Advocated that United Nations adopt a policy supporting gay rights worldwide. http://lat.ms/pQe1RS

 

Issued an order requiring hospitals to allow visitation by same-sex couples. http://reut.rs/llNJek

 

Appointed Kareem Dale as the first ever Special Assistant to the President for Disability Policy. http://1.usa.gov/fi5IY0

 

Helped Democrats in Congress pass and signed the Civil Rights History Act. http://bit.ly/th0JC8

 

Established the White House Council of Native American Affairs, to improve government-to-government relations with Native American nations. http://1.usa.gov/1cIEeEv

 

Formed a commission to examine and make recommendations for fixing the broken voting system. http://wapo.st/16K0D

 

As soon as the Supreme Court invalidated the Defense of Marriage Act, he moved to extend federal benefits to same-sex couples. http://wapo.st/1avDjue

 

At a press conference August 9, 2013, gave up a small measure of executive power, promising to create adversarial process in FISA regarding NSA surveillance. http://1.usa.gov/1dQmnyQ

 

Proposed new HUD rules that would enhance Fair Housing Laws, to give HUD and other enforcement agencies more teeth in enforcing them. http://bit.ly/1qkz4uQ

 

Shattered another glass ceiling by naming Janet Yellen chair of the Federal Reserve beginning Feb. 1, 2014. http://usat.ly/1gqMBfk

 

Appointed several prominent gay athletes and others, and plans to show US government’s commitment to gay rights to anti-gay Russia. http://on.cpsj.com/1fckN9h

 

Ordered a review of capital punishment policies after several botched executions. http://nyti.ms/RDJp58

 

Obama’s Department of Agriculture propagated new rules designed to better enforce nondiscrimination when it comes to USDA investigations. These rules also extended nondiscrimination to gender identity. http://bit.ly/1yChJhi

 

Obama’s Equal Employment Opportunity Commission clarified and strengthened rules prohibiting discrimination against pregnant workers. http://alj.am/1mo0kjV

 

Banned all federal contractors from discriminating against gay workers. http://1.usa.gov/1ok1gfH

 

Created a requirement in which companies who bid on federal contracts of more than $500,000 must publicly disclose all previous violations of labor law, including unpaid claims for back wages. http://1.usa.gov/V54qY3

 

Made it illegal for federal contractors with more than $1 million in contracts to force employees into arbitration to settle workplace discrimination accusations. http://1.usa.gov/V54qY3

 

The Obama Department of Justice made significant reductions in drug sentencing guidelines for current prisoners, thus releasing thousands from US prisons. This is the first step in 30 years toward reducing the US prison population, which is the highest in the world. http://n.pr/1mWBLkM

 

Thanks to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, inflation in the healthcare sector dropped to its lowest point in 50 years. http://on.wsj.com/1E6cYjF

 

Through a Presidential Memorandum, changed the rules to concentrate immigration enforcement on those who commit crimes, and voed to stop breaking up families. http://1.usa.gov/1uTZ8gV

 

Through another Presidential memorandum, President Obama streamlined the visa process, to make it more responsive and humane for those who want to be here legally. http://1.usa.gov/1tgDRti

 

Took steps to tighten the reins when it comes to providing local law enforcement agencies with military-style equipment and exercising more control over the equipment they receive. http://1.usa.gov/1ATWV3K

 

Oversaw the first drop in the federal prison population in 32 years. http://bit.ly/1B5h8rW

 

Vetoed Republican bill that would have blocked new NLRB rules that were designed to speed up the time it takes workers to unionize. http://reut.rs/1agujMO Healso added a Memorandum of Disagreement to make his reasons for the veto clear and made a major statement in support of unions. http://1.usa.gov/1NG7RuA

 

Major Improvements in Foreign Relations, American Status Around the World

 

Visited more countries and met with more world leaders than any previous president during his first six months in office. http://bit.ly/hZycda

 

As he promised, he gave a speech at a major Islamic forum in Cairo early in his administration.http://nyti.ms/dKvY4g

 

Helped to restore America’s reputation around the world as a global leader that does the “right thing” in world affairs, at least according to the rest of the world. http://bit.ly/h743y7http://bit.ly/ho4TCr

 

Re-established and reinforced our partnership with NATO and other allies on strategic international issues. http://1.usa.gov/e7QuDj

 

Closed a number of secret detention facilities. http://nyti.ms/rpUc9l

 

Improved relations with Middle East countries by appointing special envoys. http://1.usa.gov/tiGAGe

 

Pushed forward the first realistic Middle East peace strategy in more than a decade, without abandoning the two-state solution. http://wapo.st/1avyste

 

Pushed for military to emphasize devlopment of foreign language skills. http://bit.ly/AxUCLV

 

Offered $400 million to the people living in Gaza, called on both Israel and the Palestinians to stop inciting violence. http://bit.ly/9axfWh

 

Refused to give Israel the green light to attack Iran over their possible nuclear program, and thus avoid another war that Republicans wanted. http://bit.ly/xVmSZK

 

Ordered the closure of the prison at Guantanamo Bay. It was Republicans (and, unfortunately, progressive Democrats) who prevented follow through. http://bit.ly/eW6CVF

 

Ordered a review of our detention and interrogation policy, and prohibited the use of torture, or what Bush called “enhanced interrogation.” He ordered interrogators to limit their actions to the Army Field manual. http://bit.ly/g6MTuC

 

Ordered all secret detention facilities in Eastern Europe and elsewhere to be closed. http://bbc.in/h6N9ax

 

Released the Bush torture memos. http://bit.ly/hWJ5z0

 

On his second day in office, he signed a detailed Executive Order that banned torture, reversed all Bush torture policies, and put the United States in compliance with the Geneva Convention. http://1.usa.gov/dL6Zvehttp://nyti.ms/hzWWys

 

In response to the emerging “Arab Spring,” he created a Rapid Response fund, to assist emerging democracies with foreign aid, debt relief, technical assistance and investment packages in order to show that the United States stands with them. http://bit.ly/zfmGv9

 

Ended the F-22 program, saving $4 billion. Though the single-seat, twin-engine, fighter aircraft cost $358 million each, and the military had 187 built, the F-22 never flew a combat mission. http://slate.me/PYzmzT(Justas an aside, that “fiscally conservative” Republican Party fought to keep it.)

 

Passed the Iran Sanctions Act, to prevent war and encourage the Iranian government to give up their nuclear program. http://1.usa.gov/wLtNjb

 

Ended the Iraq War. http://tgr.ph/ru0tyS

 

Worked to keep our withdrawal from Afghanistan on track, despite GOP opposition.http://reut.rs/1cIOsF1Reiteratedthat commitment in 2014. http://nyti.ms/1exnmRF

 

Authorized and oversaw a secret mission by SEAL Team Six to rescue two hostages held by Somali pirates. http://bit.ly/y8c9Fz

 

Through United Nations Ambassador Susan Rice, helped negotiate a peaceful split of Sudan into two countries, this allowing for the creation of an independent South Sudan. http://reut.rs/qzE0Tj

 

Worked with Democratic Congress to make donations to Haiti tax deductible in 2009. http://huff.to/6YkAVY

 

Established a new U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue. http://1.usa.gov/eX28DP

 

Issued Executive Order blocking interference and helping to stabilize Somalia. http://1.usa.gov/hxdf8U

 

Established new, more reasonable policies in our relations with Cuba, such as allowing Cuban-Americans to visit their families and send money to support them. http://n.pr/hY3Kwa http://nyti.ms/emQBde

 

Negotiated the framework for an agreement with Iran that would end their nuclear weapons program. http://bit.ly/1y5aD97

 

Became the first US President to visit Jamaica in more than 30 years and worked to restore relations with the country, and signed a natural gas distribution agreement with the country. http://bit.ly/1JtpFqi

 

A More Realistic Approach to “Defense” and National Security

 

Created a comprehensive new strategy for dealing with the international nuclear threat. http://1.usa.gov/gDX1nE

 

Authorized a $1.4 billion reduction in Star Wars program in 2010. http://1.usa.gov/gLFZl2

 

Restarted nuclear nonproliferation talks and built up the nuclear inspection infrastructure/protocols to where they had been before Bush. http://lat.ms/gkcl3i

 

Signed and pushed through ratification a new SALT Treaty. http://bit.ly/f3JVtw

 

Negotiated and signed a new START Treaty that will lst until at least 2021. http://1.usa.gov/cI1bC4

 

Through the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), reversed the Bush Administration and committed to no permanent military bases in Iraq. http://bit.ly/hk73OJ

 

Developed first comprehensive strategy with regard to Afghanistan and Pakistan designed to facilitate the defeat of al Qaeda and the withdrawal of most troops, as well as the rebuilding of Afghanistan. http://wapo.st/ee4Xcs

 

Returned our focus to Afghanistan, stabilized the country, and began the process of withdrawing our troops from the country. http://bit.ly/lNXUna

 

Negotiated a deal with Afghan govenment, to withdraw troops and military support, while assisting in rebuilding and modernizing of the country. http://bit.ly/K362an

 

Took steps to severely weaken al Qaeda and limited their ability to terrorize the world. http://yhoo.it/n5lXs6

 

Negotiated and signed a nuclear nonproliferation treaty with India. http://1.usa.gov/aHp0Cn

 

Took decisive action to use NATO to limit the slaughter of innocents in Libya, so that the Libyan people could topple the despotic Khadaffy government and determine their own fate. http://aje.me/qAh4Sj

 

Got Egyptian President/dictator Mubarak to leave the Egyptian government to the people, to determine their own fate. http://f24.my/efvgNZ

 

In 2011, reoriented American focus from the Middle East to the Asian-Pacific region by simultaneouly engaging China and crafting new alliances with Asian countries uncomfortable with Chinese behavior. http://bit.ly/RGlMDi

 

Restored federal agencies such as FEMA to the point that they have been able to manage a huge number of natural disasters successfully. http://bit.ly/h8Xj7z

 

Authorized Navy SEALS to successfully secure the release of a US captain held by Somali pirates and increased patrols off the Somali coast. http://nyti.ms/efBO7B

 

Has repeatedly beefed up border security http://bit.ly/mMYB4i

 

Ordered and oversaw the Navy SEALS operation that killed Osama bin Laden. http://bit.ly/jChpgw

 

Established the Homeland Security Partnership Council, which will attempt to enhance the nation’s ability to “address homeland security priorities, from responding to natural disasters to preventing terrorism, by utilizing diverse perspectives, skills, tools, and resources.” http://1.usa.gov/VJjLXO

 

Signed agreement with Afghanistan to end war, turn security over to Afghans. http://nyti.ms/1xSjgBd

 

Breaking with presidential tradition, especially recent tradition, instead of just attacking Syria in the wake of chemical weapons attacks on Syrians, Obama ordered a full report on the decision-making process, should he decide to order one. http://cbsn.ws/184RFgu

 

Instead of holding hearings and trying to create a political football, quietly captured a suspect who actually committed the Benghazi terrorist attack. http://wapo.st/1jFlmzv Heis also getting a lot of useful information from the suspect. http://nyti.ms/UfE2Ka

 

Signed an executive order allowing sanctions against individuals and groups that threaten national cybersecurity. http://1.usa.gov/1HWcGMG

 

Returned Government to Treating Soldiers and Veterans with Dignity and Respect

 

Provided active combat troops with better body armor. http://bit.ly/hzSv2h

 

Created Joint Virtual Lifetime Electronic Record program for military personnel, in order to improve the quality of their medical care. http://1.usa.gov/f4yaxW

 

Put an end to the Bush-era stop-loss policy that kept soldiers in Iraq/Afghanistan beyond their enlistment date. (personal note: my son will be in harm’s way for six fewer months with Obama as president, so you know I love this one.) http://nyti.ms/e2YQ7Q

 

Along with Congressional Democrats, supported and signed Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act, which made more money available to enable better medical care for veterans. http://1.usa.gov/fN4ur1

 

Along with Congressional Democrats, ushered through largest spending increase in 30 years for Department of Veterans Affairs, with money to go to improved medical facilities, and to assist states in acquiring or constructing state nursing homes and extended care facilities. http://1.usa.gov/gY8O3x

 

Created the Green Vet Initiative, which provided special funding to the Labor Department to provide veterans with training in green jobs. http://bit.ly/epwUQY

 

Initiated and signed a recruitment and employment plan to get more veterans into government jobs. http://bit.ly/b48coi

 

Oversaw a $4.6 billion expansion of the Veterans Administration budget to pay for more mental health professionals. http://bit.ly/gjzTxX

 

Signed the Military Spouses Residency Relief Act, which ensures that spouses of military personnel who are forced to move because their spouse is posted for military duty will be able to avoid state taxes in their temporary residence. http://bit.ly/1Gh0NX

 

Issued an Executive Order to improve access to mental health care for veterans, military personnel and their families. http://1.usa.gov/TP7PVZ

 

was able to get Syria to dismantle its chemical weapons without military firing a single shot or dropping a single bomb. http://nyti.ms/1lVEkU7

 

Along with Congressional Democrats, not only reauthorized families of fallen soldiers to be able to visit when the body arrives at Dover AFB, but also provided funding for it. Ended the media blackout on coverage of the return of fallen soldiers. http://nyti.ms/glqN66 http://bbc.in/gWSSkA

 

Funded Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) with an extra $1.4 billion to improve veterans’ services. http://1.usa.gov/huhqfo

 

Signed into law a bill that provides support, counseling, and breastfeeding supplies to military moms who are covered under TRICARE, the health insurance provided to veterans. http://bit.ly/1yNxL8O

 

Refocused the Federal Government on Education, Made Rational Reforms

 

Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act , invested heavily in elementary, secondary and post-secondary education. http://1.usa.gov/gGRIAr

 

Created the Race to the Top program, which encouraged states to come up with effective school reforms and rewards the best of them. http://bit.ly/NHtZ7L

 

Oversaw major expansion of broadband availability in K-12 schools nationwide. http://bit.ly/fNDcj3

 

Oversaw major expansion in school construction. http://bit.ly/fYwNrV

 

Also through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, he put $5 billion into early education, including Head Start. http://1.usa.gov/tzT2Rr

 

Signed the Democratic-sponsored Post-9/11 GI Bill, also known as GI Bill 2.0 http://bit.ly/hPhG7J

 

Oversaw expansion of the Pell Grants program, to expand opportunity for low and middle income students to go to college. http://bit.ly/hI6tXz

 

Along with Democratic Congress, passed and signed Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, which provided an extra $12.2 billion in funds. http://1.usa.gov/dQvtUe

 

Took major new steps to protect students from ineffective for-profit colleges through “gainful employment” measures, whereby schools have to demonstrate that its students actually find work to get federal aid. http://1.usa.gov/jkzQe2

 

Repeatedly increased funding for student financial aid, and at the same time cut the banks completely out of the process, thus us creating greater accountability. http://bit.ly/gYWd30 http://bit.ly/e9c7Dr http://bit.ly/eEzTNq

 

Reformed student loan program, to make it possible for students to refinance at a lower rate. http://nyti.ms/dMvHOt

 

Created a rating system for colleges, so that those applying for student financial aid know better what they’re paying for. http://bit.ly/14Dn7UL

 

An Adult View on Science, Technology and Health Care

 

Created a Presidential Memorandum to restore scientific integrity in government decision-making. http://1.usa.gov/g2SDuw

 

Opened up process for fast-tracking patent approval for green energy projects. http://bit.ly/j0KV2U

 

Eliminated Bush-era restrictions on embryonic stem cell research, and provided increased federal support for biomedical and stem cell research. http://bit.ly/h36SSOhttp://ti.me/edezge

 

Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, committed more federal funding, about $18 billion, to support non-defense science and research labs. http://nyti.ms/fTs9t7

 

Signed Democratic-sponsored Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act, the first comprehensive attempt to improve the lives of Americans living with paralysis. http://bit.ly/fOi2rb

 

Expanded the Nurse-Family Partnership program, which provides home visits by trained registered nurses to low-income expectant mothers and their families, to cover more first-time mothers.http://bit.ly/jRRRJc

 

Obama EPA reversed research ethics standards which allowed humans to be used as “guinea pigs” in tests of the effects of chemicals, to comply with numerous codes of medical ethics. http://bit.ly/bKgqdS

 

Conducted a cyberspace policy review. http://1.usa.gov/gmbdvC

 

Provided financial support for private sector space programs. http://bit.ly/fn8ucr

 

Oversaw enhanced earth mapping, to provide valuable data for agricultural, educational, scientific, and government use. http://bit.ly/dNTRyP

 

Along with Democrats in Congress, ushered through and signed a bill authorizing FDA to regulate tobacco. http://on.msnbc.com/fiKViB Asa result, the FDA has Ordered Tobacco Companies to Disclose Cigarette Ingredients and banned sale of cigarettes falsely labeled as “light.”

 

Through American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, provided $500 million for Health Professions Training Programs. http://bit.ly/ecQSgA

 

Increased funding for community-based prevention programs. http://bit.ly/frMPG3

 

Oversaw a 50% decrease in cost of prescription drugs for seniors. http://bit.ly/e5b1iqhttp://1.usa.gov/fVNkt9

 

Eliminated the Bush-era practice of forbidding Medicare from negotiating with drug companies on price. http://bit.ly/fOkG5b

 

Two weeks after taking office, signed Democratic-sponsored Children’s Health Insurance Reauthorization Act, which increased the number of children covered by health insurance by 4 million. http://bit.ly/fDEzGv

 

Urged Congress to investigate Anthem Blue Cross for raising premiums 39% without explanation. Democratic Rep. Waxman responded by launching a probe, and Anthem Blue Cross put increase on hold for two months. http://yhoo.it/e8Tj9C

 

Ushered through and signed Affordable Care Act, which expanded health insurance coverage to at least 30 million more people, ended many common insurance company practices that are often detrimental to those with coverage. He also established healthcare.gov, so that taxpayers could keep up with developments. http://www.healthcare.gov/

 

Through ACA, allowed children to be covered under their parents’ policy until they turned 26. http://nyti.ms/fNB26V

 

Through the ACA, provided tax breaks to allow 3.5 million small business to provide health insurance to their employees, and 29 million people will receive tax breaks to help them afford health insurance. http://nyti.ms/fNB26V

 

Through the ACA, expanded Medicaid to those making up to 133% of the federal poverty level. http://nyti.ms/ekMWpo

 

Through the ACA, health insurance companies now have to disclose how much of your premium actually goes to pay for patient care. http://nyti.ms/fNB26V

 

Provisions in the ACA have already resulted in Medicare costs actually declining slightly this fiscal year, for the first time in many years, according to the Congressional Budget Office. The increase in 2011 was 4%, which is very low compared to the average 12% annual inflation rate during previous 40 years. http://1.usa.gov/oMxpTh

 

Since passage of the ACA, health care inflation is at its lowest level since 1960. http://1.usa.gov/1vXR0Ld

 

Created the HIV Care Continuum Initiative, to strengthen the government’s ability to respond to the continuing domestic HIV epidemic, after years of Republicans weakening the government’s ability to deal with the crisis. http://1.usa.gov/1iLED0t

 

Expanded space exploration and discovery options to include more players. http://1.usa.gov/13qmZpm

 

Through the Connect America Fund, pushed through and received FCC approval for a move of $8 billion in subsidies away from telephone landlines to assist lower-income rural families in accessing broadband. http://lat.ms/vhRUEs http://bit.ly/129V3SY

 

In the wake of the West Fertilizer tragedy, in which an entire small town was devastated by an explosion at a fertilizer plant, in part because Republican negligence let the company do whatever it wanted, formed the Chemical Safety and Security Working Group, to work on measures to prevent another such event. http://1.usa.gov/18kHSlA

 

By 2014, the Affordable Care Act dropped the number of uninsured Americans by 22.3%, which amounts to more than 10.3 million people with insurance who didn’t have it before. Only 13.9% of Americans are uninsured, a drop from 18.9% in 2013. http://on.msnbc.com/1r4kjGn

 

The Affordable Care Act has increased the life expectancy of Medicare greatly. http://on.wsj.com/1yuNco6

 

Established a Cyber Threat Intelligence Integration Center, a recommendation made by the 9/11 Commission, to coordinate efforts to fight cyber crime and terrorism. http://1.usa.gov/1A0aEoS

 

The Obama FCC, with his leadership, adopted strong net neutrality rules, to keep the Internet open and equal for everyone. http://fcc.us/1MhTlIA

 

Strengthened the Middle Class and Families, and Fought Poverty

 

Worked to provide affordable, high-quality child care to working families. http://bit.ly/fNfidS

 

Cracked down on companies that were previously denying sick pay, vacation and health insurance, and Social Security and Medicare tax payments through abuse of the employee classification of independent contractor. http://nyti.ms/fOGLcj

 

Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act , cut taxes for 95% of America’s working families. http://bit.ly/eSEI4F

 

Tax rates for average working families are the lowest since 1950. http://bit.ly/f74pD8

 

Extended and fully funded the patch for the Alternative Minimum Tax for 10 years. http://bit.ly/eFeSdP

 

Extended discounted health coverage under the COBRA health insurance law for the unemployed from 9 months to 15 months, and he’s also extended unemployment benefits more than a few times. http://aol.it/evtVxDhttp://nyti.ms/emrqKJ http://bit.ly/hOtIpg http://bit.ly/fTT7kz

 

Provided a $20 billion increase for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Food Stamps). http://nyti.ms/gfLqyM

 

Signed an Executive Order that established the White House Office of Urban Affairs. http://wapo.st/eWECA8

 

Included the Buffet Rule in his 2014 budget proposal, thus trying to fulfill a campaign promise, to make sure tax rates are fair between the rich and the middle class. http://1.usa.gov/19PkdQo

 

Used the fiscal cliff negotiations to extend for five additional years the American Opportunity Tax Credit, which provides tax credits to families for college-related expenses, thus saving those families up to $10,000. http://onforb.es/17zYg3u

 

Increased protections for those who are unemployed and are seeking a government job. http://1.usa.gov/1jgXATu

 

Updated and modernized overtime regulations under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) http://1.usa.gov/1iGDO8e

 

With First Lady Michelle Obama, passed the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act, which will improve nutrition in schools and make children healthier. http://1.usa.gov/GAXkSk

 

In his continuing effort to make college more affordable and accountable, will begin rating colleges with regard to affordability and value. http://bit.ly/14Dn7UL

 

Initiated a reform of federal job training programs, to make them more relevant to the current economy and the job market. http://1.usa.gov/1kZLQHG

 

Under Obama, the bottom 95% of taxpayers are paying lower federal income taxes than at any time in the last 50 years, including under Reagan, Bush 41 and Bush 43. http://bit.ly/1w1W8Ns

 

Signed a presidential memorandum authorizing six weeks paid leave for all federal employees with a new baby, and encouraged Congress to do the same for all workers. http://bit.ly/18613XA

 

2014 marked the first time since 1984 that unemployment dropped in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. 1.usa.gov/1E25u0C

 

Concrete Steps to Improve The Environment and Address Our Energy Needs

 

Doubling federal spending on clean energy research. http://bit.ly/iN0sCE

 

Pushed through a tax credit to help people buy plug-in hybrid cars. http://bit.ly/j8UP5Y

 

Created a program to develop renewable energy projects on the waters of our Outer Continental Shelf that will produce electricity from wind, wave, and ocean currents. http://1.usa.gov/fgfRWq

 

Reengaged in the climate change and greenhouse gas emissions agreements talks, and proposed one himself. He also addressed the U.N. Climate Change Conference, officially reversing the Bush era stance that climate change was a “hoax.” http://bit.ly/dX6Vj3 http://bit.ly/fE2PxKhttp://nyti.ms/hfeqvv

 

Fully supported the initial phase of the creation of a legally-binding treaty to reduce mercury emissions worldwide. http://bit.ly/eJ6QOO

 

Required states to provide incentives to utilities to reduce their energy consumption. http://bit.ly/lBhk7P

 

Under Obama, our dependence on foreign oil has dropped to its lowest rate since 1985, and continues to drop. http://1.usa.gov/1p6kTUy Meanwhile,consumption is way down because of reduced driving and higher mileage standards. http://ti.me/1z4HFG8

 

Improved siting, review and permitting stations for power plants, in an attempt to seriously improve the nation’s electric grid. http://1.usa.gov/1l8zNqn

 

Following the neglect of Bush’s eight year reign, he reengaged in a number of treaties and agreements designed to protect the Antarctic. http://bit.ly/fzQUFO

 

Created tax write-offs for purchases of hybrid automobiles, and later he and Democrats morphed that program into one that includes electric cars. http://bit.ly/glCukV

 

Established a quadrennial review of our energy infrastructure, to encourage a modernization of the grid, and to encourage the transition away from fossil fuel use. http://1.usa.gov/1nx2oMo

 

Mandated that federal government fleet purchases be for fuel-efficient American vehicles, and encouraged that federal agencies support experimental, fuel-efficient vehicles. http://bit.ly/h5KZqyhttp://1.usa.gov/fLWq5chttp://1.usa.gov/hmUSbk

 

Got BP to cough up $20 billion to establish Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund, to reduce the need for taxpayer funds to be used for compensation and clean up. http://wapo.st/ds2BxT (Note:it took 20 years to get $1.3 billion for the Exxon Valdez spill. )

 

Oversaw and pushed through an amendment to the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 authorizing advances from Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. http://1.usa.gov/yTRYVo

 

Actively tried to amend the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 to eliminate the liability limits for those companies responsible for large oil spills. http://nyti.ms/bxjDi3

 

Became the first President to simply say “Climate Change is a fact,” and set up the first federal government protocols for dealing with the impacts of climate change. http://1.usa.gov/1b7V67B

 

Initiated Criminal and Civil inquiries into the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. http://nyti.ms/bVuB7a

 

Asserted federal legal supremacy to bar Texas from authorizing new refinery permits on its own.http://bit.ly/ww8eMd

 

Set up new, stricter standards limiting power plant emissions. http://1.usa.gov/1mML2M3

 

Strengthened the Endangered Species Act. http://bit.ly/hscjsH

 

Strengthened protection for wildlife, and expanded enforcement of laws against wildlife trafficking. http://1.usa.gov/1fce1Ai

 

Obama EPA improved boiler safety standards to improve air quality, and save 6500 lives per year. http://bit.ly/jYH7nt

 

Through the EPA, attemped to take steps to severely limit the use of antibiotics in livestock feed, to increase their efficacy in humans. http://bit.ly/fBuWd2

 

Through new EPA regulations, he created a pretext for closing the dirtiest power plants in the country, by limiting emissions of mercury and other toxic gasses. http://bit.ly/rQCIgA

 

Increased funding for National Parks and Forests by 10% http://bit.ly/fbJPjY

 

Announced greatly improved commercial fuel efficiency standards. http://1.usa.gov/oQiC1K

 

Announced a huge increase in average fuel economy standards from 27.5mpg in 2010 to 35.5mpg starting in 2016 and 54.5 starting in 2025 http://1.usa.gov/qtghsW

 

Issued an Executive Order to facilitate investments in industrial energy efficiency that will help create jobs, while strengthening US manufacturing. Increased efficiency could save businesses $100 billion over the next decade. http://1.usa.gov/WsIgbx

 

Through an executive order, set up the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council, which will to oversee Gulf Coast restoration efforts in the wake of the 2010 BP oil splll. The money to fund the restoration efforts comes from fines against BP. http://1.usa.gov/Rxjb29

 

Through executive actions and bypassing the ineffectual Republican Congress, announced the most comprehensive plan to combat climate change in a generation. http://bit.ly/13lXhET

 

Ordered energy plants to prepare to produce at least 15% of all energy through renewable resources like wind and solar, by 2021. http://reut.rs/fV155p (Republicansare trying hard to kill it.)

 

Oversaw the creation of an initiative that converts old factories and manufacturing centers into new clean technology centers. http://bit.ly/mjnq2R

 

guided the country into a 418% increase in solar power capacity between 2010 and 2014. http://bit.ly/1rHkWJC

 

Bypassed Republican opposition in Congress and ordered EPA to begin regulating and measuring carbon emissions. http://bit.ly/froaP5

 

Oversaw a tripling in the use of wind power to generate electricity. For the third year in row, the United States led the world in increased wind power capacity. http://www.worldwatch.org/node/5448

 

Ordered the federal government to incorporate climate resilience and climate science into all international development in which the United States engages. http://1.usa.gov/YV1EpW

 

Fast-tracked regulations to allow states to enact fuel efficiency standards that exceeded federal standards. http://nyti.ms/e8e94x

 

Fast-tracked increased fuel economy standards for vehicles beginning with the 2011 model year. It was the first time such standards had been increased in a decade. http://politi.co/hiaPKM

 

Oversaw establishment of an Energy Partnership for the Americas, to create more markets for American-made biofuels and green energy technologies. http://bit.ly/lZp73y

 

Obama EPA reversed a Bush-era decision to allow the largest mountaintop removal project in US history. http://bit.ly/lP3yEL

 

Ordered the Department of Energy to implement more aggressive efficiency standards for common household appliances. http://1.usa.gov/g3MTbu

 

Obama EPA ruled that excess CO2 is a pollutant. http://bit.ly/iQTSNN

 

Closed a deal with China to limit carbon emissions to perhaps slow down climate change. http://nyti.ms/1xzyS8K

 

Blocked all oil and gas drilling in Bristol Bay, Alaska, one of the most pristine environments in North America http://lat.ms/13xUVFD

 

Signed an Executive Order to improve environmental efforts in the Arctic region and to combat climate change by better coordinating the efforts of the 23 federal agencies operating in the area. http://usat.ly/ZEzLzE

 

Vetoed a bill to fast track construction of the parallel Keystone XL pipeline. http://nbcnews.to/1DVDFo7

 

Signed an Executive Order committing the federal government to lead the way in building a sustainable economy. It’s his fifth doing just that. http://1.usa.gov/1EzO2ne

 

But That’s Not All…

 

Nominated Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court. Sotomayor is the first Hispanic Justice in the court’s history, and the women represent only the third and fourth women to serve on the court, out of a total of 112 justices. http://huff.to/eOChg6http://bit.ly/i02wgP

 

Appointed the most diverse Cabinet in history, including more women than any other incoming president. http://bit.ly/dX6vNB

 

Eliminated federal funding for abstinence-only education, and rescinded the global gag rule. http://bit.ly/eCFAI1 http://bit.ly/f92drF

 

Loosened the rules and allowed the 14 states that legalized medical marijuana to regulate themselves without federal interference. http://huff.to/eQfa7j

 

Signed national service legislation, increasing funding for national service groups, including triple the size of the Americorps program. http://bit.ly/idgQH5

 

Signed an Executive Order that will speed up deployment of a more comprehensive broadband infrastructure. http://1.usa.gov/M7rVpe

 

Signed an Executive Order creating jobs immediately by instructing them to reduce the time needed for review and permitting of infrastructure projects. http://1.usa.gov/GHxaYt

 

Signed a bill that provided $4.3 billion in additional assistance to 9/11 first responders. http://bit.ly/o7cWYS

 

Signed an Executive Order pledging support for efforts to end the global problem of violence against women and girls. http://1.usa.gov/MHTRVU

 

Signed the Claims Resolution Act, which provided $4.6 billion in funding for a legal settlement with black and Native American farmers who had been cheated out of government loans and natural resource royalties in the past. http://1.usa.gov/dGppUa

 

To help those communities devastated by Hurricane Sandy, issued an executive order setting up the Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Task Force, and asked Congress to approve $60 billion in supplemental assistance to aid in storm recovery. http://1.usa.gov/134L7hl

 

Produced 23 Executive actions designed to make it easier for law enforcement to identify those who shouldn’t have guns, thus helping them enforce the law. http://on.wsj.com/SX9xaZ

 

Expanded trade agreements to include stricter labor and environmental agreements such as NAFTA. http://bit.ly/etznpY

 

Oversaw funding of the design of a new Smithsonian National Museum of African American History, which is scheduled to open on the National Mall in 2015. He protected the funding during the recent budget negotiations. http://on.fb.me/fD0EVO http://bit.ly/ff5Luv

 

Oversaw and passed increased funding for the National Endowment for the Arts.http://bit.ly/dFb8qF

 

And Did You Know?

 

Despite the characterizations of some, Obama’s success rate in winning congressional votes on issues was an unprecedented 96.7% for his first year in office. Though he is often cited as superior to Obama, President Lyndon Johnson’s success rate in 1965 was only 93%. http://n.pr/i3d7cY

 

And of course…

 

Despite the odds, became the first black president and then, was reelected.

 

This is a cut and paste from?

Edited May 7, 2015 by beourbud

[beourbud]

What have the repubs/tarty done for us

 

THE GREAT BUSH RECESSION

 

Militearized the Police

 

War. Hate, Bigotry, Patriot act, Citizens united, outsourced the middle class,

 

wasted $$$$$$ on birthed issue, fighting ObamaCare, holding up appointments, shutting down the gov.

 

Those fknrepublicans Ain't the same AT ALL..they appear to be a war mongering subhuman aticompasionate life form.......Take Cruz for example and literally Please!

 

Those repubs is what left you "outsideinthecold"

Edited May 8, 2015 by beourbud

[+Malamute]

Completely untrue outside.

 

 They are not the same at all.

 

I am reading nonsense talking points from you that go on retarded bumper stickers.

 

Are Rick Jones and Jeff Irwin the same?

 

If republicans hadn't killed unions...

 

You assume all immigrants are dependents?

 

Ridiculous argument for opposing minimum wage increases.

 

I didn't realize bigotry was your modus operandi.

 

And Fred Upton?  Comcast Fred?  The guy bought and sold and willing to strangle the freedom of the internet?   The guy who feels he should control my ladies vagina? The guy who is against my sister being married because she is gay?  The guy who has tried to take healthcare away from my family 60 times now,  the guy who wants to cripple medicare and social security, the guy who voted against ROAD FUNDING and infrastructure funding 72 times, voted to allow Comcast to maintain a monopoly and not allow competition,  voted against lowering interest rates on student loans, voted to put the ten commandments in public buildings, voted for mandatory drug testing,  AND VOTED AGAINST MEDICAL MARIJUANA IN D.C.!!,

 

 And.... Sander and Fred never ran against each other for anything.  So there is no supporting one over the other.  Why didn't people support Paul clements who actually ran against Fred Upton and had waaaay better support for mmj patients. Or voted for Mike Obrien over Fred upton? 

 

 

 I simply do not get your comparison ....

 

I don't like Sander either. I think he is a spineless jellyfish.  But Fred Upton? Really?  That is your example ?

[beourbud]

Yeah buddy, two lies from the pit o hell, er the RNC..

 

1. Your vote don't count.

 

2. Dems and Repubs are the same.

Edited May 7, 2015 by beourbud

[slipstar059]

The parties may be aligned similarly, but I doubt Obama will receive the same send-off Bush received.

 

 

Never Forget...

[slipstar059]

I haven't seen a video of Obama boo-ed yet, but Bush seemed to get it a lot.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-knYMTK4AEk

[+Malamute]

The parties may be aligned similarly, but I doubt Obama will receive the same send-off Bush received.

 

 

Never Forget...

 

 

 I was hoping we could have made Bush drive back to texas in the Pope mobile so we could throw rotten tomatoes at him on the way... :-)