Losing the way!

[FONT=&quot]Improved Conditions for Women[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Establishing the White House Council on Women and Girls to ensure that all Cabinet and Cabinet-level agencies consider the effect of their policies and programs on women and families. http://bit.ly/e1puTk http://1.usa.gov/rFfqMM[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Implemented the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which restored basic protections against pay discrimination for women and other workers. http://bit.ly/fT3Cxg[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Eliminated federal funding for abstinence-only education, and rescinded the global gag rule. http://bit.ly/eCFAI1 http://bit.ly/f92drF[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Improved the Paycheck Fairness Act, making it possible for employees to talk about their salaries without retaliation, and ordering salary data collection, so as to make it harder for employers to pay women less. http://huff.to/1nwVOWf[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Signed an Executive Order pledging support for efforts to end the global problem of violence against women and girls. http://1.usa.gov/MHTRVU[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Shattered another glass ceiling by naming Janet Yellen chair of the Federal Reserve beginning Feb. 1, 2014. http://usat.ly/1gqMBfk[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Expanded funding for the Violence Against Women Act. http://1.usa.gov/dSbI0x[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Ordered companies with 100 employees or more to disclose pay data based on race and gender, to address the pay gap. http://theatln.tc/1Q04XPL[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Signs law restoring Arlington Cemetery burial rights for women pilots in World War II. http://bit.ly/293rmjb[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Addressed Criminal Justice Failings and the Gun Culture[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Made significant reductions in drug sentencing guidelines for current prisoners. http://n.pr/1mWBLkM[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Oversaw the first drop in the federal prison population in 32 years. http://bit.ly/1B5h8rW[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Increased his use of clemency to release thousands of non-violent drug offenders from prison. http://nyti.ms/1KE8DJG[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Ordered a ban on solitary confinement for juvenile offenders in federal prisons. http://bit.ly/20ObRzA[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Took executive action to promote smart gun technology, to make them safer. http://1.usa.gov/1RhK1tU[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]After a failure by Congress to act, proposed executive orders to create more background checks and to fully staff the background check system. http://cnn.it/1JXmUg6[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Relaxed HIPAA rules enough to allow for more information to be available to the background check system. http://on.wsj.com/SX9xaZ[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Ordered the tracing of guns as part of criminal investigations to provide data to researchers. http://on.wsj.com/SX9xaZ[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Order the Justice Department to look at the categories of mental health problems prohibited from owning guns to make sure people aren’t falling through the cracks, getting guns. http://onforb.es/1nUAGw3[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Expanded the definitions of gun dealers and expanded the information available and required in background checks for firearm purchases. http://bit.ly/1K5aXee[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Set up a task force to figure out what other measures can be taken to limit gun violence in the wake of Congressional inaction. http://1.usa.gov/1QjYMGJ[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Signed bill to improve protections for correctional officers and their families. http://bit.ly/1SMCi4W[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Changed the playing field on criminal justice reform by commuting sentences of low-level criminals and signaling a more practical footing. http://1.usa.gov/1YclW7f[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Signaled major shift away from the failed “Drug War” by promising to commit more than $1 billion to combat addiction. http://2wsb.tv/1SMBQUv[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Improved Treatment of Soldiers and Veterans[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Provided active combat troops with better body armor. http://bit.ly/hzSv2h[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Created a Joint Virtual Lifetime Electronic Record program for military personnel, in order http://abcn.ws/1ghLrEshttp://abcn.ws/1ghLrEs to improve the quality of their medical care. http://1.usa.gov/f4yaxW[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Put an end to the Bush-era stop-loss policy that kept soldiers in Iraq/Afghanistan beyond their enlistment date. http://nyti.ms/e2YQ7Q[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Signed and implemented Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act, making more money available to enable better medical care for veterans. http://1.usa.gov/fN4ur1[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]With Congressional Democrats, oversaw largest spending increase in 30 years for Department of Veterans Affairs, for improved medical and extended care facilities for veterans. http://1.usa.gov/gY8O3x[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Implemented the Green Vet Initiative, which provides special funding to provide veterans with training in green jobs. http://bit.ly/epwUQY[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Initiated and signed a recruitment and employment plan to get more veterans into government jobs. http://bit.ly/b48coi[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Oversaw a $4.6 billion expansion of the Veterans Administration budget to pay for more mental health professionals. http://bit.ly/gjzTxX[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]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 can avoid state taxes in their temporary residence. http://bit.ly/1Gh0NX[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Ordered improvements to access to mental health care for veterans, military personnel and their families. http://1.usa.gov/TP7PVZ[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Got Syria to dismantle its chemical weapons without military firing a single shot or dropping a single bomb. http://nyti.ms/1lVEkU7[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]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[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Funded Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) with an extra $1.4 billion to improve veterans’ services. http://1.usa.gov/huhqfo[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]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[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Signed into law a bill that makes it easier for military dogs to retire at home with their handlers. http://bit.ly/1J78Y2U[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Improved America’s Reputation Around the World[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Visited more countries and met with more world leaders than any previous president during his first six months in office. http://bit.ly/hZycda[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]As he promised, he gave a speech at a major Islamic forum in Cairo early in his administration. http://nyti.ms/dKvY4g[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Made a speech at a US mosque to demonstrate his commitment to religious rights and send a message to Muslims around the world. http://cnn.it/1PGU1uI[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Restored America’s reputation around the world as a global leader. http://bit.ly/h743y7http://bit.ly/ho4TCr[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Re-established and reinforced our partnership with NATO and other allies on strategic international issues. http://1.usa.gov/e7QuDj[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Closed a number of secret detention facilities. http://nyti.ms/rpUc9l[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Improved relations with Middle East countries by appointing special envoys. http://1.usa.gov/tiGAGe[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Pushed forward the first realistic Middle East peace strategy in more than a decade, without abandoning the two-state solution. http://wapo.st/1avyste[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Pushed for military to emphasize greater development of foreign language skills. http://bit.ly/AxUCLV[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Offered $400 million to the people living in Gaza, while calling on both Israel and the Palestinians to stop inciting violence. http://bit.ly/9axfWh[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Refused to give Israel the green light to attack Iran over their possible nuclear program. http://bit.ly/xVmSZK[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Ordered the closure of the prison at Guantanamo Bay, although blocked by Congress. http://bit.ly/eW6CVF[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Ordered a review of our detention and interrogation policy and prohibited the use of “enhanced interrogation.” http://bit.ly/g6MTuC[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Ordered all secret detention facilities in Eastern Europe and elsewhere to be closed. http://bbc.in/h6N9ax[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Released the Bush torture memos. http://bit.ly/hWJ5z0[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]On his second day in office, banned torture, reversed all Bush torture policies and put the US in full compliance with the Geneva Convention. http://1.usa.gov/dL6Zvehttp://nyti.ms/hzWWys[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]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[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Ended the F-22 program, saving $4 billion. Though the 187 aircraft cost $358 million each to build, it had never flown a combat mission. http://slate.me/PYzmzT[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Passed the Iran Sanctions Act, to prevent war and encourage the Iranian government to give up their nuclear program. http://1.usa.gov/wLtNjb[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Ended the Iraq War. http://tgr.ph/ru0tyS[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Worked to keep our withdrawal from Afghanistan on track, despite GOP opposition. http://reut.rs/1cIOsF1 Reiterated that commitment in 2014. http://nyti.ms/1exnmRF[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Conducted a secret mission by SEAL Team Six to rescue two hostages held by Somali pirates. http://bit.ly/y8c9Fz[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Through United Nations Ambassador Susan Rice, helped negotiate a peaceful split of Sudan into two countries, creating an independent South Sudan. http://reut.rs/qzE0Tj[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Helped make donations to Haiti tax deductible in 2009. http://huff.to/6YkAVY[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Established a new U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue. http://1.usa.gov/eX28DP[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Issued Executive Order blocking interference and helping to stabilize Somalia. http://1.usa.gov/hxdf8U[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]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[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]The new policies in Cuba led to thawed relations and the first US Embassy in Cuba in more than 55 years. http://abcn.ws/1ghLrEs[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Became the first U.S. President to visit Cuba in more than 80 years. http://bit.ly/1qlKwbi[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Negotiated a deal with Iran that will prevent them from getting a nuclear weapon anytime soon, without firing a shot or invading the country. http://cnn.it/1M3Hpvv[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]As a result of the Iran agreement, Iran shipped pretty much all of it nuclear material to Russia. http://nyti.ms/1PrzLty[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Became the first US President to visit Jamaica in more than 30 years, worked to restore relations with the country and signed a natural gas distribution agreement with the country. http://bit.ly/1JtpFqi[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Signs law extending some privacy protections to US allies, a reversal of the Bush practice of spying on people like Angela Merkel and the like. http://bit.ly/1VZza6w[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Instituted Power Africa, an initiative to bring electrical generation to greater parts of the African continent. http://bbc.in/1QtYVud[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Changed US Approach to “Defense” and National Security[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Created a comprehensive new strategy for dealing with the international nuclear threat. http://1.usa.gov/gDX1nE[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Authorized a $1.4 billion reduction in Star Wars program in 2010. http://1.usa.gov/gLFZl2[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Restarted nuclear nonproliferation talks and built up the nuclear inspection infrastructure/protocols to where they had been before Bush. http://lat.ms/gkcl3i[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Signed and got ratification of a new SALT Treaty. http://bit.ly/f3JVtw[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Negotiated and signed a new START Treaty that will stay in force until at least 2021. http://1.usa.gov/cI1bC4[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Committed the US to no permanent military bases in Iraq. http://bit.ly/hk73OJ[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Developed a comprehensive strategy with regard to Afghanistan and Pakistan designed to facilitate the defeat of al Qaeda, the withdrawal of most troops and the rebuilding of Afghanistan. http://wapo.st/ee4Xcs[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Re-focused on Afghanistan, stabilized the country, and began the process of withdrawing troops from the country. http://bit.ly/lNXUna[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Negotiated a deal with Afghan government, to withdraw troops and military support, while assisting in rebuilding and modernizing of the country. http://bit.ly/K362an[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Took steps to severely weaken al Qaeda and limited their ability to terrorize the world. http://yhoo.it/n5lXs6[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Negotiated and signed a nuclear nonproliferation treaty with India. http://1.usa.gov/aHp0Cn[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Worked with NATO to limit the slaughter of innocents in Libya, so that Libyans could topple the despotic Khadaffy government and determine their own fate. http://aje.me/qAh4Sj[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Got Egyptian President/dictator Mubarak to leave the Egyptian government to the people, to determine their own fate. http://f24.my/efvgNZ[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]In 2011, reoriented American focus from the Middle East to the Asian-Pacific region by simultaneously engaging China and crafting new alliances with Asian countries uncomfortable with Chinese behavior. http://bit.ly/RGlMDi[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]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[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Increased border security http://bit.ly/1JQDGz9[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Ordered and oversaw the Navy SEALS operation that killed Osama bin Laden. http://bit.ly/jChpgw[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Established the Homeland Security Partnership Council, 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[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Signed agreement with Afghanistan to end war, turn security over to Afghans. http://nyti.ms/1xSjgBd[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Breaking with recent presidential 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. http://cbsn.ws/184RFgu[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Instead of holding hearings and creating a political football, he quietly captured a suspect who actually committed the Benghazi terrorist attack. http://wapo.st/1jFlmzv He is also getting a lot of useful information from the suspect. http://nyti.ms/UfE2Ka[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Instituted rules to order sanctions against individuals and groups that threaten national cybersecurity. http://1.usa.gov/1HWcGMG[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Instituted tougher new sanctions against North Korea after threats of nuclear attack and several tests. http://cbsn.ws/1L8L5hW[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Took concrete steps to improve our counter-terrorism efforts. http://bit.ly/1RATjAh[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Making great strides in defeating the Islamic State without committing hundreds of thousands of troops or carpet bombing civilians, against Republican objections. http://bit.ly/1TxBK5e[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Improved Education and Educational Opportunities[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, invested heavily in elementary, secondary and post-secondary education. http://1.usa.gov/gGRIAr[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]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[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Oversaw major expansion of broadband availability in K-12 schools nationwide. http://bit.ly/fNDcj3[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Oversaw major expansion in school construction. http://bit.ly/fYwNrV[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Signed an executive order that expanded recognition and funding for historically black colleges and universities. http://on.thegrio.com/1rD50gc[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, put $5 billion into early education, including Head Start. http://1.usa.gov/tzT2Rr[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Signed the Democratic-sponsored Post-9/11 GI Bill, also known as GI Bill 2.0, to improve veterans’ access to education. http://bit.ly/hPhG7J[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Oversaw expansion of the Pell Grants program, to expand opportunity for low and middle income students to go to college. http://bit.ly/hI6tXz[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Signed and implemented the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, which provided an extra $12.2 billion in funds. http://1.usa.gov/dQvtUe[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]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[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]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[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Reformed student loan program, to make it possible for students to refinance at a lower rate. http://nyti.ms/dMvHOt[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]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[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Led a bipartisan effort to reform the federal approach to education and essentially repeal “No Child Left Behind.” http://cbsn.ws/2780qXu[/FONT]
 
[FONT=&quot]Restored the Adult View on Science and Technology[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Created a Presidential Memorandum to restore scientific integrity in government decision-making. http://1.usa.gov/g2SDuw[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Opened up the process for fast-tracking patent approval for green energy projects. http://bit.ly/j0KV2U[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]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[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]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[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Conducted a cyberspace policy review. http://1.usa.gov/gmbdvC[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Provided financial support for private sector space programs. http://bit.ly/fn8ucr[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Oversaw enhanced earth mapping, to provide valuable data for agricultural, educational, scientific, and government use. http://bit.ly/dNTRyP[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Through American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, provided $500 million for Health Professions Training Programs. http://bit.ly/ecQSgA[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Increased funding for community-based prevention programs. http://bit.ly/frMPG3[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Expanded space exploration and discovery options to include more players. http://1.usa.gov/13qmZpm[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]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[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]In the wake of the West Fertilizer tragedy, formed the Chemical Safety and Security Working Group, to work on measures to prevent another such events. http://1.usa.gov/18kHSlA[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]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[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]The Obama FCC, with his leadership, adopted strong net neutrality rules, to keep the Internet open and equal for everyone. http://fcc.us/1MhTlIA[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Ordered rules to speed up deployment of a more comprehensive broadband infrastructure. http://1.usa.gov/M7rVpe[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Set up a National Strategic Computing Initiative, to “maximize benefits of high-performance computing (HPC) research, development, and deployment.” http://1.usa.gov/1IN3FZa[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Ordered a federal level change in national earthquake standards. http://1.usa.gov/1T5wGoR[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Signed executive orders designed to strengthen government cybersecurity and prevent hackers from getting in. http://usat.ly/1R0saIt[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Took steps to combat the effects of climate change by committing the U.S. to developing long-term drought resilience measures. http://1.usa.gov/1SMCuRY[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Started the road to greater exploration of space by signing bill to encourage mining on asteroids and clarifying property rights in space. http://bit.ly/1RV2la9[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Improved Our Health[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]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[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]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[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]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[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Along with Democrats in Congress, ushered through and signed a bill authorizing FDA to regulate tobacco and order tobacco companies to disclose their ingredients and to ban cigarettes falsely labeled as “light.” http://on.msnbc.com/fiKViB[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Has overseen a 50% decrease in cost of prescription drugs for seniors. http://bit.ly/e5b1iq http://1.usa.gov/fVNkt9[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Eliminated the Bush-era practice of forbidding Medicare from negotiating with drug companies on price. http://bit.ly/fOkG5b[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]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[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Urged Congress to investigate Anthem Blue Cross for raising premiums 39% without explanation. http://yhoo.it/e8Tj9C[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Pushed through and signed Affordable Care Act, which expanded health insurance coverage greatly and ended many detrimental insurance company practices. He also established healthcare.gov. http://www.healthcare.gov/[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Through ACA, allowed children to be covered under their parents’ policy until they turned 26. http://nyti.ms/fNB26V[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Through the ACA, provided tax breaks to allow 3.5 million small businesses to provide health insurance to their employees. http://nyti.ms/fNB26V[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Through the ACA, millions of people receive help in paying their health insurance company premiums. http://nyti.ms/fNB26V[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Through the ACA, expanded Medicaid to those making up to 133% of the federal poverty level. http://nyti.ms/ekMWpo (Note: except for those states whose Republicans refused to take the extra money.)[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]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[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]The Affordable Care Act has increased the life expectancy of Medicare greatly. http://on.wsj.com/1yuNco6[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]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[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Medicare costs actually declined slightly, for the first time in decades in 2011, according to the Congressional Budget Office. http://1.usa.gov/oMxpTh[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Since passage of the ACA, health care inflation is at its lowest level since 1960. http://1.usa.gov/1vXR0Ld[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]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[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Signed bill that will provide health insurance premium support to workers who lose their health insurance due to foreign competition. http://bit.ly/1evvVDF[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]In response to the confusion triggered by the asinine Hobby Lobby decision, which essentially declared that corporations could have “religious rights” and lord them over employees, created new rules to give all women with insurance the right to free birth control. http://on.wsj.com/1O44a1t[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Implemented the National HIV/AIDS Strategy for 2015-2020, which is a follow-up to the first such strategy in US history, which he implemented in 2010. http://1.usa.gov/1IXknHm[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Signed and will implement new child safety standards for e-cigarettes. http://bit.ly/1XaFCIS[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Set up a White House Cancer Moonshot Task Force, in order to implement ways to develop a cure for cancer. http://1.usa.gov/20AeKY4[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Took steps to improve detection and treatment of mental health problems. http://1.usa.gov/25HEDp5[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Signed Trevor’s Law, which will allow for better tracking and study of cancer and disease clusters. http://bit.ly/297uFJK[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Signed a memorandum of understanding with Cuba to share healthcare information. http://bit.ly/29mCojf[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Addressed the Environment While Dealing with Energy Needs[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Doubled federal spending on clean energy research. http://bit.ly/iN0sCE[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Pushed through a tax credit to help people buy plug-in hybrid cars. http://bit.ly/j8UP5Y[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]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[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]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/fE2PxK http://nyti.ms/hfeqvv[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Fully supported the initial phase of the creation of a legally-binding treaty to reduce mercury emissions worldwide. http://bit.ly/eJ6QOO[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Required states to provide incentives to utilities to reduce their energy consumption. http://bit.ly/lBhk7P[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Under Obama, our dependence on foreign oil has dropped to its lowest rate since 1985, and continues to drop. http://1.usa.gov/1p6kTUy [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Meanwhile, oil consumption is way down because of reduced driving and higher mileage standards. http://ti.me/1z4HFG8[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]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[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Reengaged in a number of treaties and agreements designed to protect the Antarctic. http://bit.ly/fzQUFO[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Created tax write-offs for purchases of hybrid and electric vehicles. http://bit.ly/glCukV[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]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[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Mandated that federal government fleet purchases be for fuel-efficient American vehicles, and encouraged that federal agencies support experimental, fuel-efficient vehicles. http://1.usa.gov/hmUSbk http://1.usa.gov/fLWq5c http://bit.ly/h5KZqy[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Encouraged BP to pay $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. )[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]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[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]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[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]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[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Initiated Criminal and Civil inquiries into the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. http://nyti.ms/bVuB7a[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Asserted federal legal supremacy to bar Texas from authorizing new refinery permits on its own.http://bit.ly/ww8eMd[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Set up new, stricter standards limiting power plant emissions. http://1.usa.gov/1mML2M3[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Strengthened the Endangered Species Act. http://bit.ly/hscjsH[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Strengthened protection for wildlife, and expanded enforcement of laws against wildlife trafficking. http://1.usa.gov/1fce1Ai[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Obama EPA improved boiler safety standards to improve air quality, and save 6500 lives per year. http://bit.ly/jYH7nt[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]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[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]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[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Increased funding for National Parks and Forests by 10% http://bit.ly/fbJPjY[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Announced greatly improved commercial fuel efficiency standards. http://1.usa.gov/oQiC1K[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Signed a bill that allowed for increased regulations of a large number of chemicals and other toxic materials, allowing the EPA to make the use of certain toxic materials more transparent. http://usat.ly/2911hA4[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]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[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Facilitated investment in industrial energy efficiency to create jobs and strengthen US manufacturing while saving businesses $100 billion over a decade. http://1.usa.gov/WsIgbx[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Set up the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council to oversee Gulf Coast restoration efforts after the 2010 BP oil spill. The money to fund the restoration efforts comes from fines against BP. http://1.usa.gov/Rxjb29[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Engaged in the most comprehensive plan to combat climate change in a generation. http://bit.ly/13lXhET[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]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[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Oversaw the creation of an initiative that converts old factories and manufacturing centers into new clean technology centers. http://bit.ly/mjnq2R[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Guided a 418% increase in solar power capacity between 2010 and 2014. http://bit.ly/1rHkWJC[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]As of May 2015, 74% of new electrical capacity was provided by solar and wind power. http://bit.ly/1T5r0LC[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Bypassed Congress and ordered EPA to begin regulating and measuring carbon emissions. http://bit.ly/froaP5[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Oversaw a tripling in the use of wind power to generate electricity. The US now leads the world in increased wind power capacity. http://www.worldwatch.org/node/5448[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]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[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Fast-tracked regulations to allow states to enact fuel efficiency standards that exceeded federal standards. http://nyti.ms/e8e94x[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]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 more than a decade. http://politi.co/hiaPKM[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]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[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Obama EPA reversed a Bush-era decision to allow the largest mountaintop removal project in US history. http://bit.ly/lP3yEL[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Ordered the Department of Energy to implement more aggressive efficiency standards for common household appliances. http://1.usa.gov/g3MTbu[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Obama EPA ruled that excess CO2 is a pollutant. http://bit.ly/iQTSNN[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Closed a deal with China to limit carbon emissions to slow down climate change. http://nyti.ms/1xzyS8K[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Blocked all oil and gas drilling in Bristol Bay, Alaska, one of the most pristine environments in North America http://lat.ms/13xUVFD[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]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[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Vetoed a bill to fast track construction of the parallel Keystone XL pipeline. http://nbcnews.to/1DVDFo7[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Expanded clean water regulations to more stringently protect all of the nation’s waterways, even when states fail in their duty. http://bit.ly/1RdQpTc[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]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[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Banned the use of antibiotics in food served in US Government-run cafeterias and ordered agencies to only use antibiotic-free meat. http://bit.ly/1G1vUxi http://bit.ly/1KHkl4N[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Developed new rules to address climate change and to create a significant boost to clean energy. http://bit.ly/1UnQcuR[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Negotiated and signed a virtually Republican-Proof global agreement on climate change, with 190 countries signing on. http://bit.ly/1RkjVG8[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Became one of 196 countries that signed onto a UN Framework on Climate Change. http://unfccc.int/2860.php[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Ordered a moratorium on new coal leasing on federal land, and they will examine the whole leasing process. http://wapo.st/23Q6en8[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Signed a bill to better protect pipelines and to authorize greater oversight. http://bit.ly/291woja[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Signed into law a measure directing the Department of Transportation to issue guidelines for minimum standards for underground storage of natural gas. http://bit.ly/291AdjL[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]There’s a Lot More![/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]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[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Appointed the most diverse Cabinet in history, including more women than any other incoming president. http://bit.ly/dX6vNB[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Loosened the rules and allowed the 14 states that legalized medical marijuana to regulate themselves without federal interference. http://huff.to/eQfa7j[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Signed national service legislation, increasing funding for national service groups, including triple the size of the Americorps program. http://bit.ly/idgQH5[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Signed a bill that provided $4.3 billion in additional assistance to 9/11 first responders. http://bit.ly/o7cWYS[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Placed major restrictions on the ivory trade in a bid to prevent the wholesale slaughter of elephants in Africa. http://ti.me/292Z4Gg[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Signed a bill that will seriously curb the use of animal testing and establish alternative testing methods. http://bit.ly/28Z5AuS[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]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[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]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[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]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[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Expanded trade agreements to include stricter labor and environmental agreements in trade pacts like NAFTA. http://bit.ly/etznpY[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]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 budget negotiations. http://on.fb.me/fD0EVO http://bit.ly/ff5Luv[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Oversaw and passed increased funding for the National Endowment for the Arts.http://bit.ly/dFb8qF[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Expanded the authority of Customs to improve enforcement of trade and customs laws and to better coordinate said enforcement among various agencies. http://bit.ly/1S5pun7[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]And Did You Know?[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]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[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]And of course…[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Despite the odds, became the first black president and then, was reelected by a wide margin.[/FONT]
 
Ronkh said:
Obamacare? Oh wait, it`s screwed.
Click to expand...
- Thanks to who?? Oh yeah, the Republicans cutting it down at every turn.
Ronkh said:
Russian reset? Oh wait, they have 30,000 troops next to Ukraine.
Click to expand...
- How is that Obama`s fault?
Ronkh said:
Arab Spring? Oh wait, the middle east is a mess.
Click to expand...
- Again, how is that Obama`s fault?
Ronkh said:
Troop removal from Iraq? Oh wait, that caused isis.
Click to expand...
Oh wait - who sent them in to start with??????

Ronkh said:
Well, he does play a lot of golf................ Oh wait, his game hasn`t gotten any better. (no not gaming the public, I mean his golf game)
Click to expand...
Golf. Eh. I`d rather be detailing.
 
Doing things isnt the same as getting things done.

The debt is about to collapse the dollar, the gdp is stagnant, the workforce unemployment is probably 18%, isis is of coarse an issue, he hates israel.

If he did what he ran on he would have been the greatest uniter for both race and politics the country has ever seen.
 
Angus said:
- Thanks to who?? Oh yeah, the Republicans cutting it down at every turn.
- How is that Obama`s fault?
- Again, how is that Obama`s fault?
Oh wait - who sent them in to start with??????

Golf. Eh. I`d rather be detailing.
Click to expand...

Seriously ?!?!?! Repubs had absolutely NITHING to do w O care. Dems had a super majority, not one repub vote needed..... As far as Repubs cutting it? get real, it`s funded. It was a cluster to start with built on lies!


Russian have troops on border How is that o`s fault?- Simple they know he doesn`t have a spine and no common sense. He didn`t stop em walking into there in the first place.

Arab spring, o`s fault - He did nothing as far as policy to help when he had tons a bad guys rushing in to take over. (look at Libya, Egypt, now Turkey )


Troop removal - o`s fault. Makes no difference. Yes he was handed a mess. He ran away from it with his tail between his legs. Instead of listening to the military, he fired the top staff who didn`t agree with him.
 
I dispute the very notion of a "Gun Culture" that needs to be "addressed". That label sorta lumps responsible gun owners in with criminals IMO.

And anybody advocating "smart guns" has never looked into the (limits of) real-world technology related to that idea, *MUCH LESS* been on a two-way range. Easy to say that [stuff] when some Pro (who`s sure not carrying a "smart gun"!) will be babysitting you for the rest of your life.
 
Accumulator said:
I dispute the very notion of a "Gun Culture" that needs to be "addressed". That label sorta lumps responsible gun owners in with criminals IMO.

And anybody advocating "smart guns" has never looked into the (limits of) real-world technology related to that idea, *MUCH LESS* been on a two-way range. Easy to say that [stuff] when some Pro (who`s sure not carrying a "smart gun"!) will be babysitting you for the rest of your life.
Click to expand...


2nd amendment guarantees all of our other rights.
 
The turmoil continues. It seems they ousted Manafort in Trump`s campaign. Of course, what would you expect with Stephen Bannon, exec at conservative news manipulators Breitbart as Campaign CEO.
 
Bunky said:
The turmoil continues. It seems they ousted Manafort in Trump`s campaign. Of course, what would you expect with Stephen Bannon, exec at conservative news manipulators Breitbart as Campaign CEO.
Click to expand...

Mebbe Hilly will hire him????

Oh wait, he not corrupt enough.. :rockon
 
I`m starting to get Anti-Hillary/Trump fatigue, but if you guys want to expend your resources on it, well....OK, not my business. I can`t help but think how people sure do INVEST in the topic, but I just don`t see any chance of a payoff to justify it; the only desirable outcome I can imagine somebody working for is convincing someone to change how they`ll vote, and that`s never gonna happen at this point. Everybody already knows what they`re gonna do and has for months. IMO it`s now just Preaching to the Choir or Arguing for its own sake.

Ronkh said:
2nd amendment guarantees all of our other rights.
Click to expand...

Shhh....we`re not supposed to bring that up due to the "how" of the matter.

Though honestly, that`s never really gonna be on the table IMO, not today, and thank goodness for that. I can`t buy into any of the [scenarios] where it`ll play out that way, they`re just not remotely realistic despite how [a certain demographic] seems to think it`d somehow be desirable. To me it`s just another case of people investing their resources in something with zero payoff instead of TCB of Real Life.
 
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