What his aides have called the "Hallmark holiday" of politics, the 100-day mark of a presidency, was celebrated by the US media yesterday in roughly the same proportions as the pending pandemic. Obama, playing along, provided the nation with some much-need distraction.
Here are my top five worst and best moments of the Obama presidency so far:
The Worst
5. Allowing the inclusion of pet projects, or earmarks, in the federal government's 2009 emergency budget, breaking a campaign promise and setting a precarious precedent.
4. Mismanaging the appointments of key cabinet posts. Had they been filled, maybe more could have been accomplished in this artificial timeframe.
3. Throwing more troops into Afghanistan without outlining a comprehensive plan including diplomacy, socio-economic incentives and defining the roles and expectations of Pakistan.
2. Not making all federal bailout receivers, banks and otherwise, to restructure their corporate pay systems, as he did with AIG.
1. Boycotting the UN Racism Conference. I just don't understand how he can look himself in the mirror while and after making this decision.
The Best
5. Showing that, yes, the President can simultaneously be intelligent, articulate and popular.
4. Framing a summit on the reform of healthcare and social security as one on "fiscal responsibility," a brilliant dodge of an inevitable Republican punch.
3. Signing the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act aimed at closing the pay gap between men and women. Now it's time to close the gap between all human beings.
2. Committing to all American combat forces being removed from Iraq by August 2010, though he never mentioned the words victory or peace.
1. Affirming that the US will not engage in torture in closing Guantanamo Bay, and indicating the possible prosecution of certain federal agents who authorized torture in the recent past.
Trying to keep the population calm and collected on two fronts now, public health and the economy, Obama is indeed expertly walking the fine line between a) appearing responsible and effective despite uncertain conditions and outcomes, and b) being reasonably hopeful and palatably optimistic despite dire circumstance and outlooks.
This could turn out to be either his greatest achievement, or his greatest setback, so far-- depending on how the health and economic crises work out. With over 11000 days to go, it's still anybody's guess what will happen next and how. Obama, as a current event creating the future, has I believe the country's and the world's scales tipping towards better so far.
