With less than three days remaining in the Presidency of Barack Obama, I feel it's appropriate to re-publish part of a commentary that I wrote for my Saturday, September 3rd, 2016 column. I have edited it down to not include any references to the November 8th election...and updated a couple of numbers...plus added a few photos...but the rest of the column is exactly as it was four-and-a-half months ago. The title of that editorial was Proud Of President Barack Obama, which explains today's title shown above.Friday is January 20th, 2017...so today, I am proud to praise the President who has been our nation's leader since January 20th, 2009.
Unfortunately, I often run in to people who seem to have few compliments for Barack Obama. And it, quite frankly, baffles me when those individuals - mostly who are Republicans, but believe it or not, some Democrats too - are unable to recognize...or don't want to acknowledge...the substantial achievements of our 44th President.
When President Obama took office nearly eight years ago...Americans were
suffering from the worst national financial disaster in 80 years. But thanks to
Mr. Obama...the
economic recession is over...deficits have been reduced...unemployment has
reached its lowest numbers since 2009 - at 4.9 percent...15-million new jobs
have been created...and the U.S. automobile industry has set new records - a
result of the President's plan, which saved General Motors and Chrysler from
demise when the two business giants were in danger of permanently closing its
doors. Yes... President Obama deserves applause for those achievements. (Note: the unemployment rate has dropped to 4.7 percent.)
Personally...President Obama receives a standing ovation from me...for his
efforts to establish health care in our country...not just for the
privileged few, but as a right for everybody. As a two-time cancer survivor
with other pre-existing medical problems...I was
unable to purchase health insurance prior to the Affordable Care Act. I will
forever be grateful to Mr. Obama for his tenacity...his fighting spirit...and
for simply not giving up on his signature piece of legislation. I suppose I
could say...that President
Obama saved my life...as I don't know what I would have done...or what I
would now do...without my health insurance. And I'm
sure 20-million other Americans feel the same way. Thank you, Mr. President. So yes...that too is
another significant achievement for which President Obama is worthy of considerable credit.Despite the Republican naysayers...global warming is real...and the United States is leading the world in the battle against climate change. President Obama joined with nearly 200 nations...to adopt an historic climate agreement...that hopefully will save our planet from destruction...and humanity from extinction. Yes...another important achievement by the President.
President Obama was instrumental in doubling America's clean energy production. Furthermore, the U.S. generates 30 times more solar power than we did in 2009. Plus...through diplomatic means...Mr. Obama and his Administration put an end to the nuclear weapons program in Iran. Yes...those also are major achievements by the President.
There is an exquisite love that Americans observe...every time we see President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama together. And that love carries through to their graceful and charming daughters - 18-year old
Malia and 15-year old Sasha - who have grown up before the eyes of the nation. As such, it was Mr. Obama's
desire for others - all others - to enjoy the beauty of marriage and family
life...in the same fashion as he does. Thus, the President supported same-sex
marriage. And the United States Supreme Court - in its valuable wisdom - came to the
conclusion... with
a majority of the
Justices ruling...that love is love...and that it should not...and does not
matter...who a person loves. Now marriage equality is a reality throughout all
50 of our states. Yes...that too is a momentous achievement by President Obama.It's disappointing to me...that Republicans in Congress...have refused to let President Obama move forward with other plans...that would allow our nation to progress even more. Oh the President has fulfilled numerous other goals...but the GOP-controlled House of Representatives and Senate...blocked Mr. Obama too many times...for no other reasons...than politics...and to limit the President's successes. In other words...Republicans on Capitol Hill rather hurt the country...than make President Obama look good. Shameful. No wonder Congress - according to the most recent Gallup Poll - has a poor 18 percent approval rating...while Gallup says President Obama enjoys a score of 52 percent and climbing. (Note: The January 2017 Gallup update shows a 19 percent approval rating for Congress...up 1 point since this column was originally published in September 2016...which, obviously, is still quite bad. However, President Obama's favorable rating has skyrocketed to an impressive 58 percent, as he exits The White House.)
I am extremely proud of what Barack Obama has accomplished as our President. And I will be forever proud. Given the unhappy and heartbreaking outcome of the 2016 election - (regular readers of The Controversy are well aware of my staunch support for Hillary Clinton) - it's, therefore, so sad... that President Obama can't stick around in The Oval Office...for another four years.And that's The Controversy for today.
I'm Gary B. Duglin.
"We'll talk again."
The Controversy is a publication of
GBD Productions. Founder and Editor-In-Chief of The Controversy is Gary B.
Duglin.
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Now, please express your personal opinions by following the instructions above. And thank you for reading The Controversy.
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