April 29, 2009 9:00 AM

Grading Obama's First 100 Days

Topics
100 Days Analysis
(AP)


Today is President Obama's 100th day in office, and we asked The Atlantic's Marc Ambinder, CBS News' chief political consultant, to grade the president's performance on a variety of policy areas. Read what he has to say, and then give the president your own grades.

The Economy: B

The government created several trillion dollars and bailed out the economy. We're stable now, but a debt crisis in, say, China, could throw the world into a depression. A work in progress.

World Affairs: A

The main foreign policy communications goal of the administration: take anti-Americanism off the table. They've done that, and quickly, in Europe and South America.

Iraq: B+

Mr. Obama got the principals to agree on a strategy and no-one resigned over it. But violence has flared up, and it's not clear whether benchmarks will be met.

Afghanistan: C+

A muddled strategy for a muddled country. It's the deep chasm over which the administration hangs.

Health Care: B+

By letting Congress fill in the details, Mr. Obama's incentivizing the committee chairs to get things done. And they probably will.

Energy And The Environment: B

The administration doesn't want the House to pass cap-and-trade this year – they've budgeted it for the future – and so they've lost control of the agenda a bit. Still, Mr. Obama's spending a lot more money on clean energy, green jobs and renewable resource research.

Social Issues: A

Very well finessed. The administration doesn't want to give the Republicans any social issue with which they can juice up their base.

Here's where you can provide your own grades on the topics above:
The Economy
 A
 B
 C
 D
 F
World Affairs
 A
 B
 C
 D
 F
Iraq
 A
 B
 C
 D
 F
Afghanistan
 A
 B
 C
 D
 F
Health Care
 A
 B
 C
 D
 F
Energy And The Environment
 A
 B
 C
 D
 F
Social Issues
 A
 B
 C
 D
 F



Obama's First 100 Days


Add a Comment See all 54 Comments
by Aldymac May 2, 2009 12:18 AM EDT
The thinking that republicans are all people who don't know what it is like to sacrifice, or are priviledged and have a sense of entitlement, or have no idea what it is like to work hard ( I am a roofer ) or spend summers without a vacation is thinking put out by liberal hate blogs. What is really sad is the fact that a lot of people are so decieved by them that they actually believe what the liberals say.
Truth stands on its own, but truth is also a revealer.
Manufactured truth can stand as long as more is manufactured to build the props up. But when the props fail revelation will happen and nothing will stop the truth from that revelation.
I was told by the liberals about all the bad things that would happen if I voted for McCain, well,,, I voted for McCain, and all the bad things happened the liberals told me about, only it was the liberals who did what they said would be done.
Reply to this comment
by RepubsSuck April 30, 2009 7:25 AM EDT
The GOP and its follow Kool-Aid drinkers are finally irrelevant....and we must work very hard to keep it that way so we as a nation don't have to come down this road ever again!
Reply to this comment
by realnews12 April 30, 2009 12:25 AM EDT
He's a hateful MORON living in some kind of idiotic identity crisis promoting hatred for Americans and projecting it from himself to us.

Posted by Rowdy108 at 8:38 AM : Apr 29, 2009

The truth is, he is the most unhateful man in American public life! He listens to everyone and respects everyone. He is also one of the most INTELLIGENT Presidents this country has ever had. He has a deep and nuanced understanding of the many complex issues facing our country and he is working all out to try to restore America to greatness and prosperity. He has the confidence of a man who knows exactly who he is, which is a joy to behold.

Why you, Rowdy, feel the need to call this smart and humble man a "hateful moron" I have no idea. But it says nothing about Obama and everything about you.
Reply to this comment
by wdh3007 April 29, 2009 9:37 PM EDT
Global Warming who really believes in that anyway...
Reply to this comment
by ToolMangler1 April 29, 2009 7:34 PM EDT
What pathetic nonsense Liberals are.
Posted by CBSisSocialistPropaganda at 1:10 PM : Apr 29,



Troll, troll, troll your boat down every comment stream.
ssssshhhhhheeeeeeeessssshhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!
Reply to this comment
by blog_fever2 April 29, 2009 4:42 PM EDT
What pathetic nonsense Liberals are.
Posted by CBSisSocialistPropaganda at 1:10 PM : Apr 29,
***************************************************************
Jesus was the first liberal. Why is it ok to have Liberty, but not be Liberal? That is so backwards to me....
Reply to this comment
by mattcat25 April 29, 2009 4:01 PM EDT
Another great question is what is wrong with small government? More freedom and less taxes.
Posted by debdew692 at 11:46 AM : Apr 29, 2009

Deb, the question you may ask yourself is:

what are the (many) reasons why the Republican Party failed at completely controlling our Government?
Reply to this comment
by hugomutt1576 April 29, 2009 3:52 PM EDT
What does Obama's mother-in-law say?Her opinion is as significant as anybody's.And there are a huge number of people who will appreciate her insight.
Reply to this comment
by rhmc430 April 29, 2009 2:53 PM EDT
President Obama is getting good grades on his first 100 days in office and Congress is getting poor grades. I heartily agree with those grades. I am a registered Democrat, but I am an American first. I believe the President is doing what he promised. I also believe that the Minority Party in Congress are still playing the old game of "politics". There are some Democrats who are not doing what they should but the Republicans simply have their heads buried in the sand like an ostritsch. They simply feel that their way is the only way and that is that. It is time for all members of Congress realize that the "old days" are over and we have to do what is right for the Nation here and now. In the last 100 days the Republican Party has not come up with one new way to get the economy going again. Sen. Arlen Spector was called a "Maverick" within the Republican Party. He voted for what he felt was right for the citizens he represents. That is the way all of Congress should vote now and forget the "pork barrel" add ons to bills to help a few in the States they represent. As a Democrat I am deeply troubled by facts that are emerging about Senator Thomas Dodd of my state of Connecticut. It appears after all the years he has served he took the wrong turn and decided to help himself first and the citizens he represents second. After the trouble his father had when a senator I have thought for years that he would do the right thing in Congress.
So you see, we have problems on both sides of the "aisles" in Congress. I will simply end this by saying to all members of Congress, "WAKE UP!! SMELL THE TROUBLE THAT THIS COUNTRY OF OURS IS IN AND GET TO WORK FOR THE GOOD OF THE GOOD OLD U.S.A. AND FIX THE PROBLEMS BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE!!
Reply to this comment
by debdew692 April 29, 2009 2:46 PM EDT
The Bush Administration and the Republicans in the house are not the only ones at fault. The Democrats took over in 2007 and that is when the down turn for the economy started. The real problem was not that the Republicans were too right, it was that they tried to ride the middle of the road and they did not listen to the people that put them into office. Not one of the bailouts should have been passed.
being conservative doesn't mean we are money hungry, poor hating, intolerant , bigoted people as we are portrayed by the left. What we are is proponents of self government and responsibility. We believe in the rights of the individuals, not collectivism. We believe that any one can their live anyway they please with little government involvement. I want to be able to raise my family and worship my God as I see fit. I really do not have a problem with any religion or life style. I just think it needs to be left to the individual with no government involvement. If I don't like something or don't believe in it I either don't listen, don't read it, turn the channel, or don't frequent places that support things I don't. It is all up to personal choice. I am tolerant and believe in diversity. The question is do the liberals. They seem to want to indoctrinate all with their beliefs and put down and ridicule all who don't think like them. Another great question is what is wrong with small government? More freedom and less taxes.
Reply to this comment
See all 54 Comments
.

Follow Political Hotsheet

Scroll Left
Scroll Right More »
CBS News on Facebook
  • Building You a Better Morning

  • CBS This Morning

    "CBS This Morning," anchored by Charlie Rose, Gayle King and Erica Hill, airs weekdays from 7 to 9 a.m. ET and at the same time in other time zones.
    Learn more...