Obama's First Year: By the Numbers

[babylonsister]

Obama's First Year: By the Numbers

Posted by Mark Knoller

snip//

It's just a date on the calendar "that denotes you've been here a year," Gibbs said of the occasion.

But it is a milestone, the most important so far on Mr. Obama's watch and a natural moment for taking stock – or in the case of this report: number crunching.

So quickly – before year-in-review fatigue sets in, see if any of these numbers and annotations offer insight into how the president spent his first year.

SPEECHES, COMMENTS & REMARKS: 411
• Includes 52 addresses or statements specifically on his health care proposals.
• He used a TelePrompTer at least 178 times. (Technically, it was 177 ½ . On July 13, 2009, one of the teleprompter screens on the left side of his lectern fell to the ground and broke shortly after he began speaking. So he was left with half a TelePrompTer.)

NEWS CONFERENCES: 42
• Of which 5 were formal, solo White House Q&A sessions. Four were in prime time. His last one was July 22, 2009. (seen at left)
• Nearly all of the other press availabilities were joint appearances with foreign leaders at which as few as 1 question was taken by Mr. Obama.
• Predecessor George W. Bush did 21 news conferences his first year of which 4 were formal, solo White House sessions. Only 1 was in prime time.

INTERVIEWS: 158.
• This is a striking number of interviews and far more than any of his recent predecessors in their first year. Ninety of the sessions were TV interviews. Eleven were radio. The rest were newspaper and magazine. The number reflects the White House media strategy that Mr. Obama can best respond to questions in an interview setting.

snip//

VACATIONS: All or part of 26 days over 4 trips
• George W. Bush spent 69 days at his Texas ranch over 9 trips to his ranch his 1st year.

more...

http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2010/01/20/politics/politicalhotsheet/entry6119525.shtml

[mstinamotorcity]

1. Our President needs

a hot shower,a cocktail,and a nap.:boring: :boring: :boring: In the words of MJ "they got me working day and night"

[vaberella]

2. Ain't that the truth. n/t

[HopeOverFear]

5. Indeed.

[ShortnFiery]

3. Yet, President Obama continues BushCo's American Crusade 2001+ by

feeing HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS of dollars more to the CORPORATIONS comprising the Military Industrial Complex (MIC). His Administration has also been remiss at repealing The Patriot Act and closing GITMO. Recently there is evidence of suspicious "actions" surrounding the supposed *suicide* of three GITMO detainees. :(



Appointing a conservative Bush holdover like Robert Gates as Secretary of Defense.

Appointing an establishment centrist like Leon Panetta at CIA.

Appointing a hard-ass like Stanley McChrystal to head up our military forces in Afghanistan, despite McChrystal's dubious involvement in torture and the cover-up of Pat Tillman's death.

Increasing the number of drone attacks on Al Qaeda — more in the last year than all the Bush years combined.

Reinstating, with tweaks, Bush's military tribunal system for Guantánamo prisoners.

Fighting, in another unexpected defense of a controversial Bush policy, lawsuits against the "warrantless wiretapping" program — as recently as this weekend with a decision that a leading civil liberties group called "extremely disappointing."

Sending, way back in February, seventeen thousand more soldiers to Afghanistan. As Fareed Zakaira recently pointed out, this was just three thousand fewer soldiers than Bush sent to Iraq for his famous "surge."



http://www.esquire.com/the-side/richardson-report/obama-timeline-110309#ixzz0dFcs81BJ

[mstinamotorcity]

6. Well Shortnfiery

Lets put your name on the ballot and elect you as President of the United States of America.Then it shouldn't be hard to do all the things that you want done.I got your back.:P :P :P

[Clio the Leo]

4. and 0 pardons....

.... (save two turkeys.)

That was my favorite one.

[mopinko]

7. change has to go through congress

can i get that on a tshirt, ya suppose?