In a summer of apparently no love for President Obama, some birthday love is in order, as he reverses the ills of the Bush Administration. President Obama campaigned on a promise of change for America. Change has come to America. My birthday wish for President Obama is that Americans will come to realize we are better off now than we were before he took the oath of office. Before he took the oath of office, the economy was on the brink of economic depression and disaster. Eight years of President George Bush and Vice President Cheney sunk us in a deep hole. Climbing out of that hole will not be swift. Yet, change is reversing the ills of the past Bush Administration. Democrats and Republicans disagree on the measure of change.
Banks and financial institutions were failing in 2008. A bail out for Wall Street and big banks to prevent a complete collapse of our system was necessary albeit distasteful to most of us. General Motors and Chrysler also received bail out help. The automobile industry which employs directly and indirectly hundreds of thousands of persons is on the road to recovery. The Obama Administration counts the auto industry bail out as saving 1 million jobs. Preventing the collapse of the automobile, bank and financial systems was necessary relief.
Health care reform came to America in 2010. Health care reform ensures that 33 million uninsured Americans will now be insured. I think those who will now be receiving health care benefits will agree that change has come to America. Conservatives hated the health care reform and the Stimulus Package. President Obama promised to end the war in Iraq. He has kept his promise. The ill contrived Bush weapons of mass destruction Iraq war is coming to an end soon. The face of the Supreme Court is changing. President Obama nominatated two women in one year to the Supreme Court. Justice Sonia Sotomayor was confirmed last year. Solicitor General Elena Kagan is awaiting her confirmation this year.
Unfortunately, unemployment is still looming large. People are still struggling with the loss of jobs, unemployment, foreclosure of their homes and overall dissatisfaction with our system. We want immediate change to overcome the past injustices committed by the eight years of the former Bush administration. Ironically, some people never complained during the George Bush era when the wrongs were being committed. There is no quick fix. Change is ongoing. It will take more time to fix and fill the huge sink hole that President George Bush’s policies set in action. But to quote you, Mr. President, make no mistake, change has come to America. Happy Birthday, President Obama.
Debbie Hines blogs on race, law, women and politics @ Legalspeaks.com
Editorial photo courtesy of Acclaim Image by Pete Souza
Marie says
Mr. Obama would have had to be a combination of Mother Teresa, Ghandi and Jesus Christ to make everyone happy. Even then there would have been complainers.
As you observe Debbie, there is a huge mess to clean up and it cannot be done overnight.
I am still thrilled to have Barack Obama as our Commander in Chief. Happy Birthday, Mr. President!