President Obama's First Fourteen Days

It has been 14 days or two weeks since President Obama’s Inauguration. It feels like he has accomplished more in two weeks than Mr. Bush did in eight years. It might be that Mr. Obama has done more that is agreeable in 14 days than Mr. Bush did in all of his 8 years in office.

Now I will concede that Mr. Bush’s legacy will be noted for two good things that he did. One was the appointment of Supreme Court justices John Roberts and Samuel Alito. The other was quietly tripling (by 9 billion dollars) aid to impoverished Africa for direct humanitarian and development aid. However Mr. Bush’s legacy will be dogged by his administration’s use of U.S. military’s power and force in Afghanistan and Iraq. I won’t go into the devastation to the Constitution and the Bill of Rights or the economy for now. You may talk or grumble among yourselves as you plot how to make your house payment and massage your wallet in the hopes of reviving life into it. This is supposed to be a reflection on Mr. Obama’s accomplishments for his first 14 days in office. This is not meant to be a comprehensive list, but a comprehensible one that makes me happy and maybe you, too.

January 21, Day One: Placed limits on lobbyists and froze the salaries of White House employees making more than $100,000 a year. Spent the day planning $800 billion stimulus package and how to get it through the House and Senate.

January 22, Day Two: Signed executive order to close Guantánamo Bay within the year. Ordered the closing of CIA “ghost prisons” and ordered the cessation of “advanced interrogation techniques” (a euphemism for torture). George Mitchell was dispatched to the Middle East to deal with the bitter disagreements in Gaza.

January 23, Day Three: Reversed the Bush Administration’s policy that restricted federal aid to organizations that promote or provide abortions overseas. Nominated William Lynn as Deputy of Defense.

January 24, Day Four: First radio address. Posted an online video.

January 25, Day Five: Rested with family. It was Sunday. Even God rests on Sunday.

January 26, Day Six: Allows states to set their own emissions and fuel standards. (Note: there was a small seismic disturbance in California due to the Govenator’s jumping up and down with shouts of joy and hallelujahs.)

January 27, Day Seven: Met with high-ranking Republicans to discuss his $800 billion stimulus package. Republicans were not receptive and were very skeptical.

January 28th, Day Eight: Visited Pentagon with Defense Secretary Robert Gates regarding US involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan. Gave speech underlining and detailing the immediate need to act upon his stimulus package in order to deal with the economic crisis. Held a cocktail party for ten Senators and twelve Representatives to discuss stimulus package (each group was equally divided by Democrat and Republican parties).

January 29th, Day Nine: Signed the “Ledbetter’s Law” for equal pay for equal work with leaders like House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Mrs. Ledbetter witnessing the signing. Earlier he was also quoted as saying that it was "the height of irresponsibility" for financial corporations to have doled out $18 billion in bonuses to their employees in a year when many banks shed jobs and turned to the government for funds.

January 30th, Day Ten: Created a task force for middle class working families to be headed by Vice President, Joe Biden. He signed many pro-union executive orders that served to reverse many executive orders that were anti-union.

January 31st, Day Eleven: Addressed the latest economic news and urged the passing of an America Recovery and Reinvestment Plan. He also announced that Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner is preparing a new strategy for reviving our financial system -- which will not only ensure that CEOs aren't abusing taxpayer dollars, but also get credit flowing and lower mortgage costs.

February 1st, Day Twelve: Latest version of SCHIPS legislation published for comment. Sunday, day of rest. Watched Super Bowl Game with family.

February 2nd, Day Thirteen: Signed a memorandum directing more than $20 million for "urgent refugee and migration needs" in Gaza. Eric Holder has been confirmed as Attorney General of the United States

February 3rd, Day Fourteen: Called Republican Senator Judd Gregg a "master of reaching across the aisle" in announcing him as his choice to lead the Commerce Department today. Took responsibility for the vetting of Senator Tom Daschle and his withdrawing as Health and Human Services Secretary. And for Nancy Killefer’s withdrawal as Performance Czar.