President Obama's First Two Years in Office
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2011-04-21/president-obamas-first-two-years-office
President Barack Obama passes staff from the White House Military Office as he jogs along the Colonnade of the White House following an event that ran late, March 1, 2011. The military personnel and their families were lined up to take departure pictures with the President in the Oval Office.
Official White House photo by Pete Souza.
Few presidents have faced the expectations that confronted Barack Obama in 2009. Voters sent him to the White House largely based on his vow to change the way Washington works. The realities of governing soon overshadowed ambitious promises made on the campaign trail. His major achievements – landmark health care legislation, a successful stimulus package, and two Supreme Court confirmations – came at a high price. A crushing defeat for Democrats in the midterm elections has already taken a toll on the rest of his agenda. Diane and her guests discuss President Obama’s first two years in office and what he must do to win a second term.
Guests
James Thurber
professor and director of the Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies at American University; author of a forthcoming book, "Obama in Office: The First Two Years."
Susan Page
Washington bureau chief for USA Today.
Ron Elving
Washington editor for NPR.
Ross Douthat
columnist, The New York Times.
Comments
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President Obama has done a good job. He is not perfect but has handled his job well with the many challenges on his plate. He will never be able to please everyone and he should not have to. He still has time to fulfill some of his promises. He will do the best that he can just like every person who sets goals and falls short on some. He will need more help from Congress. The racial attacks on him about his birth certificate is a downer for the nation. He deserves high marks for putting up with this false statement. I can not think of another president who had to endure this. I would like to see more positive balanced bipartisan help on creating more jobs. I do agree that he needs more people in his party communicating more. Keep working at it is my message.
It is clear I think to even a Kindergarten student that President Obama faced challenges that presented themselves much tougher than people give (him and is constituents credit for) the former right wing President Bush (put up barriers nationally) and in my opinion that poses major world wide threat - while President Obama's ability to negotiate with other world leaders "broke down walls & barriers" that had most of the world "despising the USA" and won the NOBEL PEACE PRIZE as a result-for that alone he should be congratulated-also his complete calm demeanor in the face of such cruel criticism that sinks very low--and also to his ability to finally take out Bin Laden - which hasn't been done for over 10 YEARS -- I admire him and I will not tolerate any insults - if you have them - it's America - you're free to display / express them - but those with intelligence and those of us who read will have our OWN opinions of what he is TRYING to do in the face of so many obstacles--we need in my STRONG opinion to STAY and remain UNITED --- after all --- we ARE the "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" - last time I checked.....