US President Obama marks 100th day in office

[Netto Azure]

US President Obama marks 100th day in office

US President Barack Obama has been sketching out the future direction of his administration, as he marks his first 100 days in office.

Mr Obama is addressing a town hall meeting in St Louis and will hold a primetime news conference, which will be broadcast live on most TV networks.
Traditionally, commentators have used the milestone to assess presidents' early successes and failures.
Latest polls suggest Mr Obama continues to enjoy a high level of popularity.
"I'm pleased with the progress we've made but I'm not satisfied," Mr Obama told the audience in St Louis.
"I'm confident with the future but I'm not content with the present."

So many things have happened over the past 100 days... G-20...eh here:

100-DAY MILESTONES

Guantanamo closure ordered
Ban on abortion funds lifted
Obama unveils executive pay cap
Stimulus plan signed into law
Obama outlines Iraq pullout plan
Obama ends stem cell funding ban
Iran offered a 'new beginning'
Obama promotes nuclear-free world
Obama publishes 'torture' memos
Cuba offered 'new beginning'

So What do you think? I know that the "100 Days" thing isn't a good way to gauge a Presidency (Especially since things have changed a bit in the World) but as per tradition I had to make a thread. XD
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[Snake Bandage]

I've seen several "100 days" polls that gave Obama a 68-69% approval rating. That's kind of insane. In a good way.

 

[P N N K]

He doesn't know what he's doing. He's a fraud. And most importantly, he's a communist. I'm fed up with him and have been since day 1.

 

[GrnMarvl14]

He doesn't know what he's doing. He's a fraud. And most importantly, he's a communist. I'm fed up with him and have been since day 1.

God, I hope that's sarcasm.

 

[JB88]

Here we go again, with these comments. Are these people brainwashed or something?

 

[Nicoleta01]

I say no, the economy can't be fixed in 100 days, and I think all this spending on it (by both Obama and Bush) is making it worse.
100-DAY MILESTONES- My thoughts

Guantanamo closure ordered/Cuba offered 'new beginning' - There's a reason why Guantanamo is there, to keep an eye on Cuba. Especially after the Missile Crisis.

Ban on abortion funds lifted- I don't want MY tax dollars funding abortions.

Obama unveils executive pay cap- This is a blow to the free market, what will stop the government now from regulating ALL pay in the private sector? (Not just the ones that have taken fed. dollars)
Stimulus plan signed into law

Obama outlines Iraq pullout plan- Pulling out of Iraq and sending 17,000+ more to Afganistan. This is a mountainous country, as such those who wish us to fail can just wait it out. American troops have cleared areas of terrorists, but every time the soliders leave, the terrorists return.

Obama ends stem cell funding ban- I do not want MYYYY tax dollars funding this, if the scientists think it's such a big thing, then they can get the funding elsewhere. The tax dollars can be better spent in other areas, such as education, health, and infrastructure.

Iran offered a 'new beginning'- No opinion, didn't read up on this.

Obama promotes nuclear-free world- Same week North Korea goes bonkers...slapping the N.Koreans on the wrist won't solve anything.

Obama publishes 'torture' memos- Most polls suggest that this is a risk to security. I believe so as well, especially seeing how Congress was informed (So was Pelosi), there's nothing to prove here except party-picking on each other.

And then Bailout money and a $1 Trillion deficit, the debt is being pushed to unsustainable levels (The ceiling for debt this year is at 85% of GDP @ $12.104 trillion dollars)With an "hopeful" $750 billion left for banks for bailing out, this spending within 100 days is just sad.

 

[Zeta]

He doesn't know what he's doing. He's a fraud. And most importantly, he's a communist. I'm fed up with him and have been since day 1.

lulz. Several Republicans have had higher tax rates than Obama in the past.

 

[Zephy]

Overall I think he's done quite well. I was disappointed with the amount of tax cuts in his plan (about 42%) but still he's been pretty decent. He's only had 100 days though and the debt is ridiculously large. Clearing it in 10 years would be near miraculous.

 

[DCM]

He doesn't know what he's doing. He's a fraud. And most importantly, he's a communist. I'm fed up with him and have been since day 1.

Actually, people call him a socialist, a step up from Capitalism.



I approve of him whole heartedly. I approve of the job he is doing so far.

 

[Covet]

I voted Neutral because I don't think 100 days is enough time to determine how these actions have impacted the US and the world. I want to see the long-term benefits/consequences.

 

[Hector]

I voted Neutral because I don't think 100 days is enough time to determine how these actions have impacted the US and the world. I want to see the long-term benefits/consequences.

I agree with this. I do think Obama has done a good job thus far, but not a perfect one. I like the stem cell decision because I am a major supporter of stem cell research.

But the one thing I'm not a fan of is his increase of taxes to people earning over $200,000 and the fact that itemized deductions are now worth less than they were in the past.

 

[the gadfly]

But the one thing I'm not a fan of is his increase of taxes to people earning over $200,000...

I pity you. I never earned that much.

...and the fact that itemized deductions are now worth less than they were in the past.

How so?

 

[evkl]

So far, so good.

 

[Hector]

How so?

Itemized deductions will be taken based on a 28% tax rate (if I remember the number correctly) rather than based on the actual tax rate you may be paying. This means that if your tax rate is above 28% you get less back from any deductions than you did before.

 

[Mitchman]

Hmm he is doing good in the long run. But one thing. Why are people against stem cells? Sure it might be controversial but all that hype of it being evil and super maximum risky is just media is it not?
Anyway He wants Guantanamo Bay closed? So where would all the baddest of the bad go?

 

[the gadfly]

Itemized deductions will be taken based on a 28% tax rate (if I remember the number correctly) rather than based on the actual tax rate you may be paying. This means that if your tax rate is above 28% you get less back from any deductions than you did before.

Have you ever done your tax return yourself?

If you have, you'd know the tax is calculated on your gross taxable income less deductions. In some cases, the deductions are limited by income. For example, medical expenses are deductible if they exceed 7.5 percent of your gross income.

But getting back to your argument, the tax rate doesn't really matter as far as deductions are concerned. If the tax rate is 28%, if the deductible expense is $100, the taxable income is reduced by $28. If the tax rate is 30%, the taxable income is reduced by $30. The higher the tax rate, the more you can deduct from your taxable income.

 

[Hector]

Have you ever done your tax return yourself?

If you have, you'd know the tax is calculated on your gross taxable income less deductions. In some cases, the deductions are limited by income. For example, medical expenses are deductible if they exceed 7.5 percent of your gross income.

But getting back to your argument, the tax rate doesn't really matter as far as deductions are concerned. If the tax rate is 28%, if the deductible expense is $100, the taxable income is reduced by $28. If the tax rate is 30%, the taxable income is reduced by $30. The higher the tax rate, the more you can deduct from your taxable income.

The answer to that question is no, I haven't filled out a tax return (I'm only 18 after all). I've only learned a bit about the tax system from my father and a bit from economics at school. But as I understand it (with help from your example above), the deductible expense doesn't change (the $100) in your example, but the amount you pay is affected ($28 / $30).

My father was complaining about this particular change when it was announced, so I thought I might bring it up and see what people thought about it.

 

[TTEchidna]

I say no, the economy can't be fixed in 100 days, and I think all this spending on it (by both Obama and Bush) is making it worse.
100-DAY MILESTONES- My thoughts

Guantanamo closure ordered/Cuba offered 'new beginning' - There's a reason why Guantanamo is there, to keep an eye on Cuba. Especially after the Missile Crisis.

Oh noes, they're commies. Sovier Union fell completely and we didn't have a base in Russia. All we gotta do is wait for Castro's inner circle to die, fall out of favor, whatever, and stop being complete assholes as if they're gonna nuke us.

Ban on abortion funds lifted- I don't want MY tax dollars funding abortions.

I don't want my tax dollars funding a pointless war in the Middle East that just jacked the price of oil up over the past six years. Funny how that works.

Obama unveils executive pay cap- This is a blow to the free market, what will stop the government now from regulating ALL pay in the private sector? (Not just the ones that have taken fed. dollars)

When you're not paying your workers shit, you don't deserve five bajillion dollars a second.

Stimulus plan signed into law

Obama outlines Iraq pullout plan- Pulling out of Iraq and sending 17,000+ more to Afganistan. This is a mountainous country, as such those who wish us to fail can just wait it out. American troops have cleared areas of terrorists, but every time the soliders leave, the terrorists return.

Because we've caused them. Why do you think they hate us? We go over there like we fucking OWN the place, don't you think we'd be pissed if people came over here like that?

Obama ends stem cell funding ban- I do not want MYYYY tax dollars funding this, if the scientists think it's such a big thing, then they can get the funding elsewhere. The tax dollars can be better spent in other areas, such as education, health, and infrastructure.

Too bad. I don't want my tax dollars going to the inflated salaries of 538 old farts that sit in a building in Washington all day and barely listen to their 300 million constituents because they don't have the time to.

Iran offered a 'new beginning'- No opinion, didn't read up on this.

Obama promotes nuclear-free world- Same week North Korea goes bonkers...slapping the N.Koreans on the wrist won't solve anything.

Well obviously. But hey, why not instead promote nuking everyone to shit. I'm sure everyone'll love that.

Obama publishes 'torture' memos- Most polls suggest that this is a risk to security. I believe so as well, especially seeing how Congress was informed (So was Pelosi), there's nothing to prove here except party-picking on each other.

And then Bailout money and a $1 Trillion deficit, the debt is being pushed to unsustainable levels (The ceiling for debt this year is at 85% of GDP @ $12.104 trillion dollars)With an "hopeful" $750 billion left for banks for bailing out, this spending within 100 days is just sad.

Wouldn't be that high if we hadn't cleaned ourselves out by pushing for more oil, er, I mean freedom, with the war. Wars don't expand the economy when you've had them set up for years, nor do they get you any good points with your friends. Picking fights with every country in the Middle East because there are terrorist organizations is like blaming Canada for everything the US has done because it's in North America.

No magic wand's gonna fix things, but I wouldn't doubt that had we had McCain in here it wouldn't exactly be better (not that I'd say it'd be worse... that'd be only if he died somehow).

 

[Hector]

No magic wand's gonna fix things, but I wouldn't doubt that had we had McCain in here it wouldn't exactly be better (not that I'd say it'd be worse... that'd be only if he died somehow).

If that occured (McCain winning the election then dying, giving the presidency to Sarah Palin), I would drop out of college, renounce my American citizenship, and hop on the next plane to Heathrow.

If Sarah Palin ever took office, the USA would be considered a third world nation in less than a month.

 

[Legacy]

Yup its too soon to say how good or bad of a job Obama is doing at this point. He inherited a terrible situation, that's for sure.

The huge amount of spending right off the bat is a little scary, but we'll have to wait and see how things work out. I hope to god they improve in terms of the economy though, a lot of people are struggling out there.