as long as the current tax code allows only half the eligible tax payers to actually pay taxes, it is not fair. The code is dated and needs to be brought into the 21st century and address the current needs of the country.

That would mean upsetting those who currently enjoy tax free benefit, which in turn means an upset voting block, which means true to form to date, nothing will change and continue to remain unfair.

As far as measuring Obama against when "things" go good or go bad, I prefer to measure him against the promises he made. How is he doing against that which he promised the masses to get elected? The last tally I saw indicated 35% promises kept. One would not keep a job in the private sector for very long with that number.

I also look for Obama (or who ever else is POTUS) to create initiatives that provide for this countries future and well being. For example, like his predecessors Obama has failed to deliver on the basics of energy independence. He has not created any emphasis or programs to move the USA away from foreign oil. He has not created any emphasis or programs for alternative energy sources.

Raising the CAFE regulations to 35 miles per gallon does not do it. The potential reduced consumption will only be offset by volume in the future as the population grows.

To push and pass a land mark health care program with cost impacts on the future that are not understood leaves the majority of us who were against it with more concerns than before the new law was passed. There is no drive by Obama or the lawmakers who passed the bill to understand, state the impacts and how it will be paid for.

The real issue is to bring "change" as promised to some of these things requires stepping on political toes whether elected or constituents.

As long as it remains business as usual in Washington, there will be no real change to the things that matter...like fair taxation...health care costs...energy independence....to name a few.

btk

According to the Pulitzer Prize winning Tampa Bay Times PolitiFact, President Obama's promises kept are 35% plus 27% in the works, which comes to 62% which is good considering the do-nothing congress he has to work with. Another 11% were compromises, 12% are stalled and 13% were broken.

The biggest promises were killing Bin Laden, ending the war in Iraq, and passing the health care bill - done, done, and done.


PolitiFact | The Obameter: Tracking Obama's Campaign Promises

Sounds pretty successful to me, considering the do-nothing Congress.

I wonder what Junior Bush's record was?

Bush's record was pretty good if his promises were; get US into two unfunded wars, pass unpaid for Medicare prescription drug plan, give tax cuts costing the treasury 4.4 trillion, lose 4.4 million jobs, and take the economy right to the brink of destruction with fewer regulations. And BTW, take a surplus and turn it into a deficit. Done, done, done, done, done, done and done.

OK, OK, these are the facts, but did you have to make it sound so negative? There are some folks here who thought Mr. W Bush was a nice guy who's now getting a bad rap, and suffering by inappropriate comparison to Mr Obama. I'm not sure it's polite to keep reminding them of things they are determined to minimize or ignore. I'm sure you've read their many posts and it's obvious how sensitive they are about this. Now somebody's even asked about numerically comparing Presidents' kept promises. Talk about deliberately hurting peoples' feelings!!

Amazing!
 

That record of accomplishment is kind of amazing actually, given the obstruction and consistent resistance practiced by his political opponents.

The people that liked George W Bush are going to love President Romney. His plans for the economy are identical to Bush's; more and bigger tax cuts for the millionaires and billionaires (additional $265,000 per year) and less or zero regulations for Wall Street, the exact same policies that got us in this ditch in the first place.

Nearly a dozen Romney advisers have urged the US to consider an attack on Iran. Judging by his advisers, Romney would embrace Bush's unilateral interventionism and massive military budgets.


Mitt Romney's Neocon War Cabinet | The Nation

I suggest rather than getting into one of those debates on here that simply become name calling exercises that those who have a interest in this kind of stuff...visit the site.....go through each of what the Times calls promises kept....and see how impressed you are.

I live in Tampa....I know the Times quite well...I am a subscriber...they have these meters for locals as well. Great gimmick....very subjective is how I will leave it.

One of his accomplishments listed is the extension of the Bush tax cuts....and most are part of the Health care bill...codification of Economic Substance Doctrine which may or may not be good but it gives the US a bit more say in disputed tax returns....been that way for centuries but the Health care bill codifies it.

If it makes you feel good...great.

Just read them.....I certainly never said he did nothing but the Times meter is surely no way to measure anything.

But you read them and be your own judge