Obama’s first year

Considering the national and international disasters handed to him, President Obama’s first year is a success. Don’t know how to compare his initial year to other presidents’ first years, but only two other presidents faced anything remotely as devastating as Obama has. Obviously, Lincoln and FDR had the toughest jobs and did the best against such odds.

But, Obama’s job was tougher.

Unlike Lincoln, Obama was saddled with the worst economy since the Great Depression of the 1930s. And, it’s not merely a national problem but a global one. Lincoln was not the leader of world in 1861. Obama is clearly the leader of the world today. Obama not only stabilized this terrible economy, he has it poised to rebound. On the international front, Obama has restored respect for America that was wiped away by the previous incompetent administration.

And unlike FDR, Obama was given the command of two unconventional wars that have no easy answers. On the war front, Obama has not found his footing. Yes, he is winding down the catastrophe of Iraq, but he has expanded the effort in Afghanistan where success cannot be measured and will likely bring us into neighboring Pakistan’s problems. What is needed to end our occupations of these foreign lands is utilizing our technology in disrupting terrorists’ networks from the ground and from the sky. Unmanned drones are essential in this fight. We need to get our troops out of these countries and into other areas, like Haiti, where progress can be measured.

Unlike all previous presidents, Obama has endured more death threats, by far. His predecessor faced roughly 3,000 threats a year, while Obama has seen more 18,000. There are many right wingnuts who are hoping and praying that Obama is assassinated. Hate radio and Fox News are doing their best to destroy Obama. After today’s projected loss of the Democratic senate seat in Massachusetts, the anti-Obama crowd will be emboldened. Obama will never be able to unify a nation where so many want him dead. In that way, he is like Lincoln. Terrorism will never defeat the United States, but right-wing hatred has a good shot at it.

Obama’s presidency won’t get any easier and here’s hoping he becomes more combative with his adversaries here at home and comes out swinging in his second year.