World Newser: Last Day To Rate Obama’s First Week
EmailOne more day to rank the president — in our survey of "Week One". Care to grade the new President? Inaugural Address Too partisan? Was it appropriate to criticize (even obliquely) the former President? Was the language "soaring" enough? Too "abstract" — and "not enough" for the challenges we face (that’s the view of Nobel-Prize winning economist Paul Krugman)? Or just the right tone — sober, serious, yet hopeful? Click here to watch his speech. Inaugural Parties O.K. to celebrate? Wrong tone, in these difficult times? And the dress (actually, we don’t care about that stuff — but if you do, weigh in…) Click here to watch their first dance. Day One It was a mix of ceremony (National Cathedral; the "Open House") and gravity (calls to Mideast leaders; meetings with top economic and national security teams). A good mix? Sea Change On Fighting Terrorism This seems the most contentious business thus far — even if Obama had signaled such changes during the campaign: Guantanamo Bay’s prison to be closed; interrogation techniques regulated; and those "black hole" secret CIA prisons shut down. Was this the correct thing to do, to bring U.S. tactics more clearly in line with the constitution — and remove a recruiting tool of the terrorists? Or was it shortsighted — even dangerous — because cases may now be heard in U.S. courts? Or because dangerous men may be more likely to go free? The Press Secretary Were you able to catch any of Robert Gibbs’ first briefings? What’d you think? Click here for a clip. Overall A through F. What’s your grade for President Obama? We’ll post the utterly unscientific results tomorrow…
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I give him an A+
Posted by: Phil | January 26, 2009, 3:54 pm 3:54 pm
Promises made, promises kept already. I give him a clear grade of A.
Posted by: William J. LePetomane | January 26, 2009, 4:05 pm 4:05 pm
I GIVE HIM A B
Posted by: natale from mass. | January 26, 2009, 4:06 pm 4:06 pm
I approved and was invigorated by Obama’s inaugural address. We needed to hear the “Collective We” employed rather than the “Arrogant I”, thereby emphasizing it will take a cumulative effort by all Americans to dig us out of the hole we’re in, economically, diplomatically, militarily (fighting two wars at the same time) and confidence in ourselves and our government.
It was right to put the blame for most of our current plight where it belongs — on the Bush administration.
It was right to emphasize the need to polish our diplomatic skills instead of shooting first and asking questions later.
If we want to regain the position of world leader, we have to erase the stains of deliberately ignoring the tenets of the Geneva Convention; as well as to walk the walk, not just talk the talk about human and constitutional rights.
All in all, in my opinion Obama’s first week has shown a lot of preparation before he assumed the office of POTUS and he hit the ground running, not in circles, but straight at specific targets.
Posted by: nanameow | January 26, 2009, 4:09 pm 4:09 pm
Well, I guess it depends on which America you want. The triditional America or the New People’s Republic of America! I am not a socialist or a communist so all and all I had a bad week. Yes commrads!
Good by Capitolism and freedom to live how you want. Those days are gone. As indicated buy the sales of guns and ammo up 66%!!!
Posted by: Marine | January 26, 2009, 4:17 pm 4:17 pm
a big and honest F ,he had more misteps than any president in history,richardson,kennedy,blago,treasury sec.,guatonomo,and many more,
just because he is black does not give him a free ride,dummies!
Posted by: beach | January 26, 2009, 4:18 pm 4:18 pm
Well I was going to mod my grade and move NoBo from a D+ to a C- while listening to him talk about energy independence on the radio today but by the end of the speech I was back to a D+.
Too much talk that sounded like the government was going to direct the Utility Companies and the Auto Industry. The Big 3 haven’t been shinning stars of Capitalism lately but the Government has proven time and time again that it can hardly do anything well. I was left thinking the government had better put it’s own engineers and management to work at GM to ensure the “right cars” get built, a sure disaster.
Then there was the bit about following facts from science instead of ignoring them when making policy. A clear reference to Global Warming.
The trouble is, the science on that is unclear.
How much the CO2 emissions are warming the earth is under debate.
It could easily be negligible and the warming is due to sun activity or as some scientists in, I think it’s Norway or Sweden say Cosmic Rays which effect Cloud Development.
So if NoBo is going to make policy changes based on CO2 he isn’t doing what he says, following the facts from science.
And then there’s that nagging Gitmo thingy.
More on that in a few.
Posted by: Noz | January 26, 2009, 4:21 pm 4:21 pm
He is doing a terrible job. His decisions are very bad for the country but good for his Marxist ideals.
Posted by: Sluggo | January 26, 2009, 4:22 pm 4:22 pm
A+ Great speech, great first week, followed through on his campaign promises. (PS – I loved both dresses and the JCrew coats. :)
Posted by: Nichole | January 26, 2009, 4:26 pm 4:26 pm
My grade is B-. More action please on Iraq war ending and alternative energy.
Posted by: nattilyattired | January 26, 2009, 4:37 pm 4:37 pm
Closing Gitmo=slp in the face of all victims/families of 9/11; Executive Order on lobbyists=o.k. but he immediately asked for 3 waivers and as of Friday was granted one; rescinded Bush’s ex. order on international funding of abortions=our country is in the worst financial shape since the 20′s and we are now once again sending tax dollars overseas to fund abortions?; ex order regarding interrogation techniques= Uh, does decapitating someone, filming it and posting it on the web count as “humane treatment” ?; the latest, Lord Obama may indeed sit down face to face with Iranian leaders= I am sure his buddy, Rahseed Khalidi is jumping for joy, not to mention Auchi. His grade for the week….Are you out of your mind?”?
Posted by: laura | January 26, 2009, 4:50 pm 4:50 pm
IM PRO-CHOICE BUT USING ARE MONEY RIGHT NOW IN INTERNATIONAL FUNDING FOR ABORTION NOT GOOD.
Posted by: natale from mass. | January 26, 2009, 4:55 pm 4:55 pm
I give him A+. I do witness and feels it one is doing something. The last 2 weeks of former Pres. Bush, I felt he has already gone back to Texas!
Posted by: Rosie | January 26, 2009, 4:59 pm 4:59 pm
So I’ve been thinking about the upcoming closing of Club Gitmo.
That doesn’t really bother me if we are going to open say Club Johnston Island.
But I doubt NoBo will open a new off shore terrorist clubhouse.
We need to have some place to put current and future terror prisoners.
The mainland USA is a really bad idea because of the change in legal status and it would be much easier to break out a prisoner. Sure is tough to do that on Gitmo. How many sleeper cells do you think AL Qaeda has working in Cuba? LOL
Seems to me the major problem is we can’t send these guys back to the country they were fighting for since they are just terrorists from all over the place.
That’s when it hit me.
Get the UN to make a new country out of a section of Afghanistan and call it the Country of Al Qaeda.
Think of it. We’d have a place then to send all the prisoners to.
They would be happy to have their own country with their own laws or lack there of.
The good will would be amazing. There would be Happy Bunny Hugs everywhere and NoBo would be The Hero of The World™. The happiness would spread like an unchecked STD and Islamic Terrorists around the world would no longer hate the good old USA.
It would be the end of the War on Terror.
Obama political Advisor Noz
: o )
Posted by: Noz | January 26, 2009, 5:03 pm 5:03 pm
It was ABC who brought up the yellow dress: “Michelle Obama’s Yellow Dress – A New Dawn” (The dress must have represented something to you libs)
It looked liked oval office drapes to me.
How about these headlines:
“What is Sarah Palin saying NOW?”
“Cello Gate”
“Obama likes oval office digs”.
How about the “Blackberry” story?
——-
Are dangerous men more likely to go free?
It’s already happened. Don’t you listen to your own news? Or are you busy reporting what Michelle’s dress represents?
Posted by: symbolisms abound | January 26, 2009, 5:31 pm 5:31 pm
A+… Unlike the Rush dittoheads… I am very pleased with all Obama is doing…
Obama can wait out the Congress on the Recovery Stimulus, The public blames prior administrations, Congress, as well as Bush for our current situation… Republicans can drag their feet on the Stimulus but, not without making themselves look badly to a country falling deeper into this Recession by the day.
They won’t be happy until they completely undo themselves.
The Congress put passed the last stimulus in 3days without a thought to accountability. Now Obama has promised accountability, responsibility and transparency. And that works for me. Everybody agrees there is going to be more Stimulus, Republicans and Democrats need to stop being so short-sited, stop talking about being bi-partisan and get the job done. It’s not just the President who need to reach out…Republicans need to walk over to the center of the aisle too.
This President has my full support.
Posted by: braith morgan | January 26, 2009, 6:32 pm 6:32 pm
what’s the matter abc,you don’t like the negative truth,you try to make this guy god and he ain’t.
Posted by: beach | January 26, 2009, 6:45 pm 6:45 pm
That last package passed was forced by the democrats.
Don’t you remember Nancy Pelosi standing on the steps of the senate screaming to pass this turkey?
It was some Republicans that wanted to
‘slow down’. The democrats didn’t want to listen. They’re not listening now.
Some CEO’s have spent some of OUR money
for personal use. Where was Nancy Pelosi at that time? That’s what you get when things are done in a rush.
Thanks, Nancy and followers.
Put the blame on Nancy and people like her.
Posted by: wasted days and wasted nights | January 26, 2009, 9:30 pm 9:30 pm
I believe President Obama is upholding his promises to the best of his ability, within his limits. He cannot do it all. That’s were “We the People” come in. Yes, he has done a superb job thus far. I’d like to make a comment in reference to the Stimulus package the President Obama has imposed. He is right on when he says the issue is not politics, lets make a decision. It was the vote of the people that put each one in office. We the people have a right to expect them to come together on this. It reminds me of children on a playground, playing Tug-a-War, except the rope is the American people. Are these the people we put our trust in? Drop the rope. We depend on you.
Posted by: Cynthia | January 27, 2009, 7:20 pm 7:20 pm