Hundred days on, is Barack Obama steering the United States in the right direction? America's new president remains wildly popular both domestically and abroad, but not everyone is convinced he is doing such a good job. Radio Netherlands Worldwide asked two critics how they think President Obama is handling his new job.
Perhaps only President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who faced the Great Depression and the rapid spread of fascism, stepped into office under more challenging circumstances than the ones facing Barack Obama on 20 January of this year.
The US looked set to lose its role as leader of the Western world. Barack Obama stepped into the presidency, promising change and a better future:
"Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real, they are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this America: They will be met."
Impressive number of proposals
The most important task facing President Obama was undoubtedly the economic crisis. In his first hundred days in office he rolled out an impressive number of proposals, including: a plan to help borrowers maintain their mortgage payments, a programme to get credit flowing to small businesses and an effort to help rid banks of their toxic assets.
The administration also tackled other issues, such as economic ties with Cuba and the skyrocketing cost of healthcare in the US. President Obama argues that the nature of the economic crisis demands so many initiatives, but George Yates, European Chairman of Republicans Abroad, says that the president is doing too much: "I see him a little bit too scattered. I think that he's taking, quite frankly, too many initiatives in too many areas and this is risky because there's only one that he really needs to get right and that's the economy. And there, I'm not sure he has the answers. I'm not sure anyone does, but it certainly deserves, I think, even more of his attention than he seems to be giving it."
Massive spending
The cornerstone of President Obama's efforts is the 787 billion US dollars economic stimulus package he was able to push through Congress. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act consists of billions of US dollars in government spending and proponents of the plan claim that it is the only way to increase demand in the faltering economy. Nevertheless, says Dutch MP Hans van Baalen, of the conservative VVD party, there is a downside to massive government spending: "If you put so much money in the economy which you don't have, so you increase your budget deficits, you will enter, anyhow, into problems and I'm very concerned whether all those billions of dollars will make a real difference. In the Netherlands, of course we are an economy of a very different size, we see that the economy has to recover itself."
Foreign policy
During his first hundred days, President Obama has set about trying to improve the standing of the US internationally. Many abroad felt that the Bush administration had a "go-it-alone" mentality that led to strategic errors such as the war in Iraq and the opening of the Guantanamo Bay detention centre in Cuba. One of Mr Obama's goals was to convince the world that America is once again willing to work with other countries, a point he emphasised during his recent travels to Europe and the Middle East.
In particular , America's "War on Terror" has alienated many people in the Islamic world and President Obama made a clear effort to ease tensions in his speech to the Turkish parliament. On the whole, the Obama administration's new foreign policy stance has been well received, but during that speech in Turkey, Mr Obama said he supported Turkey's efforts to join the European Union, a move that angered a number of European politicians, including Mr van Baalen: "President Obama and the American Congress may decide whether Turkey will join as a member state of the United States. That's for them to decide. But whether Turkey can become - and under which conditions - a member of the European Union, that's only for the member states and parliaments of the European Union to decide. So I say, Mr Obama mind your own business."
The new Obama administration has been highly active. The president has already travelled extensively and has launched a mind-numbing number of new programmes. Most experts agree that it is too early to say whether Mr Obama is an effective president or not, but it is clear that he has not pleased everyone.
Tags:
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Harry,
14-05-2009
- USA
Francois,
You obviously know as much about American politics and history as I do about the Netherlands. Obama a great president -not in a million years. He will prove to be a puppet for ACORN. Wow he was a guest Lecturer, that qualifies him to be, let me see….. a "guest lecturer" As to where McCain was born, he is the son of a US Navy Admiral. There was never any question as to his lineage. As to Obama, who was his father -first or second one who knows? Obama has about as much qualification to be president of the United Sates as you do. His first 100 days proves that. He changes his mind about as much as John Kerry did. The thing that galls me most is his apologetic attitude toward France and Germany. Yes, some Americans are arrogant, about as many as the arrogant Europeans who vacation in the USA or take advantage of our "horrible" health care system. History will judge the Bush presidency as it will the new Messiah’s. I hope I am around to witness it.
Rick,
02-05-2009
- USA
Great article! You're effin right about the point you made .... Here's one more article about Obama's lame policies:
http://www.foreignpolicyjournal.com/2009/05/02/100-days-101-hopes/
-Source:
http://digg.com/political_opinion/Obama_100_Days_101_Hopes_Foreign_Policy_Journal
Steve,
29-04-2009
- USA
François, no one is saying that Bush spent money wisely. Obama's main platform in the election was the fact that he was going to eliminate earmark spending and go through the budget "line by line". His first few days in office he pushed through a 1300 page bill with countless earmarks. Of course the amount of money he spent so far would not bother you as much because you and your children (and probably grandchildren) will not be the ones paying it back. We are the ones spending the money, and everyone else is benefiting. Notice how when he asked for a unified response to this crisis from European governments they stuck their nose up at him. They figure the trillions of dollars we are throwing around will eventually make their way into the European economies. If I didn't live in the US I would think Obama is doing a great job too. I voted for Obama purely because I believed he was going to "consult the best and the brightest" about the economy as he stated in his campaign. I realize now that McCain's "ignorance is bliss" view of the economy would have done far less harm than the rampant industry specific spending we have seen so far.
François,
28-04-2009
- Netherlands.
Obama has a more than 64% approval rating. His electoral college win was a landslide as opposed to G.W. Bush who won by going to the supreme court. Who asked Bush and Cheney for their birthday certificates and other personal papers? McCain was not even born in the USA but in Panama. Obama has held various posts which he carried out successfully. He was a lecturer at Harvard, a community organizer and an Illinois state legislator. Regarding the money borrowed from China that was G.W. Bush. Bush inherited a surplus from Bill Clinton and turned it into a massive deficit by distributing it to Enron, Halliburton, Iraq, Guantanamo and torture contractors. Obama has achieved more in his first 100 days than George Bush achieved in his entire 8yrs. Showing respect to muslims, latin Americans, Russians and Chinese is a very smart strategy that will result in a brighter future for all of us. The racist orientation that Thomas and others of his ilk exhibit should never be allowed to flourish because it is just as dangerous to our democracy as Islamic radicalism. In other words WHITE SUPREMACIST = ISLAMIC RADICAL. The trillions proposed in the stimulus and the budget are based on Keynesian economics. During a recession or depression when consumer demand is low there is need for a fiscal stimulus to stimulate demand to ensure that industries continue production and keep jobs. Already there are glimmers of hope. The economic crisis we find ourselves with was a creation of the neo-cons with their warped anti poor, anti black policies. Obama is quickly emerging as one of the greatest Presidents America has ever seen. When his investments in education, healthcare and green energy begin to produce results the Thomases and others of his ilk will be flabbergasted. Obama is a true 21Century President welcome to the 21century and stop your inquisition based torture methods to get your way. Thomas (USA) if you are not happy with Obama you can always leave the USA and go back to Eastern Europe.
Thomas,
27-04-2009
- USA
Thomas2, - NL
Failed oil companies and baseball teams...?
Oh the evil Bush! Why does it matter to you what he did or didn't do ... as a young man long time ago?
How does it help the "Messiah" whose all personal documents like birth certificate, school records, legal papers are OFFICIALLY SEALED and prohibited to ask about by the people.
His " public service on behalf of Illinois" - really? Supporting a Commie terrorist Bill Ayers (google it) and a scumbag preacher who loudly bellowed "God Damn America! God Damn America!' - these people are his friends and the Muslim king he genuflected at the encounter.
48 years old and held no responsible jobs not even at a "failed" oil company; he organized black street people (ACORN) using tax money to push others to vote for Leftist.
Google the people immediately around him before you say nonsense: all of them coming from the Chicago moneyed Marxist Jewish community plus including SOROS!
Only 100 days passed and people are protesting at "Tea Parties" because we don't know who are the beneficiaries of the trillions of $$$$ he borrowed from China.
Watch as N. Korea, Iran, the Taliban etc. are laughing at him because now the "Messiah" destroys the CIA, the Military, the Air force (F-22) ....In mere 100 days!
Steve,
27-04-2009
- USA
Thomas2, I can not see any of the effects of community building here in Chicago. I was hopeful about Obama too, but so far all he has done was spend trillions of dollars and tell Turkey they have a green light for EU membership. He has increased deficit spending at a rate we have never seen before. Hopefully we never have another economic downturn because we wont be able to afford the interest payments on this debt.
Thomas2,
27-04-2009
- NL
@Thomas
Would you rather his resume include failed oil companies, failed baseball teams, and dodging of military service? I suspect you'd respect that much more than Obama's resume of community building in Chicago and public service on behalf of Illinois.
Thomas,
26-04-2009
- USA
Wherever this nobody, Chicago's "community organizer" - who has no resume, achievements, executive background - goes, immediately starts America bashing speeches, genuflecting and bowing to Muslim king, cozying up with Commie dictators and all enemies of the USA.
Yes, he won by plus 6% of the votes but you EU lefties don't get carried away by joy: when the trillions and trillions of $ debt he engendered in mere 100 days will have hit the fan and payback will be due, the air will turn pretty sour at once.
Ask A. Merkel and Sarko about it.
Newsline interview with Dutch MP Hans van Baalen