First on the agenda: The virtual withdrawl of US troops from Iraq by 2010. This gets a whopping 0% approval change. 0% because, well...The war is kind of over. Thanks to the surge (which Obama opposed and would still oppose, as a side note) and other military strategies, the Iraqis have come a long way. With any luck at all they will go on to be a viable state for at LEAST a couple years. It's really up to them now. Since this achievement was really an achievement of Bush's that is just a carry over, it doesn't affect my rating for the magic O at all. As an aside, he avoids negative points by not rushing it and apparently listening to commanders on the withdrawl timeline.
Second, the tentative budget as outlined in this article by the Washington post. (Thanks to Hotair for posting this story.) He has proposed to cut the Federal budget deficit in half by the end of his first term...I must point out this article is kind of like watching a beautiful olympian leave the diving board, and execute an amazing set of turns, twists, and feats in midair...Watching them stretch out to meet the water...Only to realize no one filled the pool.
The article states that "In addition to tackling a deficit swollen by the $787 billion stimulus package and other efforts to ease the nation's economic crisis, the budget blueprint will press aggressively for progress on the domestic agenda Obama outlined during the presidential campaign. This would include key changes to environmental policies and a major expansion of health coverage that he hopes to enact later this year." (emphasis mine) Wait a second...He wants to cut spending...And simultaneously provide a major expansion of health coverage? Where on earth is this money going to come from?
Wait, he tells you! The money will come from raising taxes on the wealthy. They can afford it. Their rate will go from "...35 percent to 39.6 percent, the tax on capital gains would jump to 20 percent from 15 percent for wealthy filers and the tax on estates worth more than $3.5 million would be maintained at the current rate of 45 percent" I see.
Oh, and one more thing. Aside from raising taxes on the wealthy, he plans to fund this budget cut by "slashing spending on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan". Iraq I can see. Afghanistan? Not so much. So it turns out I was wrong. The pool actually was filled after all. With acid. And spikes. And zombies! He takes a 7% hit on this monstrosity.
EDIT: Realized I forgot one recent action. $900 million to rebuild Gaza. Sure, compared to the trillions he's spent so far, this bit of pocket change really doesn't seem like it's worth worrying about. I mean, what's another $900 mill between pals? Still, I can't get behind this act of "charity". It's weak and will get nothing accomplished. I'd be very surprised if a majority of the cash managed to stay out of Hamas' hands. Regardless, instead of trying to rebuild the place just to have it blown to smithereens again, why don't we either A) Get out of Israel's way so they can secure they own nation or B) Do something to help Israel accomplish A. Either way, this isn't the answer. He loses 2% for this superficial move.
...in the pool.
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