Political Hotsheet
April 29, 2009 9:00 AM

Grading Obama's First 100 Days

(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




Tags:
president obama ,
barack obama ,
100 days ,
grades ,
marc ambinder
Topics:
100 Days Analysis
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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.
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by 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!
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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.
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by wdh3007 April 29, 2009 9:37 PM EDT
Global Warming who really believes in that anyway...
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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?
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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.
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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!!
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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.
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by antoniof123 April 29, 2009 2:28 PM EDT
After what has happened to the Reactionary party formerly known as the Republicans you would think they would moderate.

Guess they want to march into nothingness.
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by Rubeem April 29, 2009 2:25 PM EDT
Interesting that 35.53% was the consistent rating on all categories to be voted on. Hmmmmmmm you don't think maybe Obama supporters are the main contributors/readers of CBS do you?????
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by ABLKMAN2KNOW April 29, 2009 2:22 PM EDT
Given the heavy lifting left behind by the precious administration I give this new President an A+. I can?t imagine where we, as a nation would be, on this day had Mr. McCain secure the Whitehouse. As the President has said on numerous occasions, it will take time to heal the wounds cratered in the heart of our great Country by the likes of Bush and Cheney. They governed like bulls in a china shop.

Unlike those who feel it is their priority to black the President and wish him ill will I believe that the first responsibility of any citizen is to cheer for his country and to want it to succeed. The problem with most of his detractors is that they have never sacrificed for their country. In fact most have never sacrificed for anything. Their lives have been filled with privilege and a sense of entitlement. They have no idea what hard work and a summer without a vacation is. While they are quick to offer their arrogant opinions they bring nothing to the table but empty words. I will never forget the look on Bush?s face when the Supreme awarded him the Presidency. A look of pure shock, like a deer in the headlights. He knew he had not earned it, did not deserve it and worse could not handle it. Contrast that look with Mr. Obama on election night, calm, confident and well deserving.
You can?t deceive truth, it stands on it?s own and it requires no validation!
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by clancy49 April 29, 2009 2:10 PM EDT
What a joke this is. The media says he is wonderful, therefore he is. I live in Florida, his Stimulus money for Florida Food Stamps was given to J.P. Morgan / Chase. They fired the folks in America doing the job and gave it to Bangalore India. That taxpayer paid stimulus money didn't help jobs in America, but it certainly created new jobs in India. There's global economy for you. There's change for you. Unemployment in Florida is worse than 9.7%. Our State government wants to cut wages of State Workers, but we send the unemployment and food stamp jobs to J.P. Morgan and they send the jobs to India. Oh yeah, I'm a thrilled and hopeful Floridian.
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by excoachken April 29, 2009 1:54 PM EDT
I remember a Cowardly Cowboy who could not read a teleprompter. Otherwise, President Obama has made many forget 8 years of Bush fear mongering. That is with the exception of those who are lock step followers of the drug addled radio talk show clowns (Limppaugh, Hannutty, Bill Notreally, and Mike the Savage). What a difference to have a leader who thinks, listens to opposing views, engages enemies in meaningful dialogue, treats people of different cultures with respect, and represents the interest of ALL our people, not just the Corporate Elitists. His grade is A- (even when he has made a mistake, he takes responsibility and adjusts for the correction.
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by blog_fever2 April 29, 2009 1:48 PM EDT
I love listening to the idiots complain about our leader. You could've not done any better, that's why you are not the president. Our leader is doing an excellent revitalizing job our country. Be an adult and claim the mistakes you have made instead of pointing the finger at someone trying to clean us your mess. Hypocrites! That is all.
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by perceptions5 April 29, 2009 1:47 PM EDT
Obama is living in his own make believe world along with the Liberal Fascists in our MSM wolfpack press, fascist Hollywood, and our elite liberal colleges...........

"the one" says we are entering the "Era of Responsibility" as he prepares to spend a $$ TRILLION DOLLARS more than what the US Treasury brings in year after year as far as the eyes can see.

All the debt from George Washington through George Bush will be "doubled", from $10 Trillion to $20 Trillion by Obama.

And the less than 30 year olds who voted for "the one" will have to find a way to pay it long after Obama and the damage is done...........
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by chilenopo April 29, 2009 1:40 PM EDT
I agree with these grades:

Socialism A+
Taxation A+
Destruction of personal freedoms A+
Transparency F-
Keeping campaign promises F-
Maintaining Bush's Wars A+
Dictator Relationships A+
Critcism of homeland A

I would add:
Use of the teleprompter A
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by lovegetpeace April 29, 2009 1:29 PM EDT
2010 will be another loser year for the GOP and they are either too blind to see it or it is simply a matter of arrogance
Posted by melchg at 10:19 AM : Apr 29, 2009

The Republican Party is too far to the right. They need to move to the center to win elections.
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by lovegetpeace April 29, 2009 1:28 PM EDT
555 days left for the Democrat Controlled Congress
Posted by no_obama2012 at 9:56 AM : Apr 29, 2009

Animals never learn after 2006, 2008 and Now Specter.
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