A good first year, despite the pundits

In contrast to what some right-wing pundits will tell you, President Barack Obama has scored an impressive number of achievements during his first year in office, which will be complete next Wednesday, Jan. 20. If the first year is any indicator, Obama’s slogan “Yes we can� will ultimately be transformed into “Yes we did.�

Obama immediately moved to close the Guantanamo Bay dentention facility upon being sworn in last January, announced a timetable for removing troops from Iraq and lifted a ban on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research, to the cheers of doctors and scientists. The president expanded children’s health insurance, diminished the role of lobbyists in the White House, nominated and secured the appointment of the first Hispanic — Justice Sonia Sotomayor — to the Supreme Court and set a new tone for engaging the Muslim world in a productive dialogue.

Oh yes, and Obama came through on a promise to deliver health-care legislation.

So while political pundits like Sarah Palin, Karl Rove and Dick Cheney can keep barking that Obama is not doing a good job, the proof is in the pudding. One also might note that Palin and Cheney no longer serve in government roles and are merely sources of partisan attacks, cloaked under the guise of political analysis.

In fact, the only major problem for the Obama administration has been its willingness to listen to these narrow-minded critics and incorporate some of their views into his agenda.

As President Obama prepares for his first State of the Union speech, it will be interesting to watch mean-spirited Republicans refusing to applaud him for his accomplishments. Perhaps one of them will take the opportunity to shout “You lie!� or some other ridiculous assertion. When the speech is over, plan on hearing the pundits tell you how unsuccessful the oratory was and how Obama has not performed as well as he says.

Then, when you go back to the record, you will see that Obama has completely changed the tone of the White House, from a knee-jerk, unilaterally hostile operation to a calm, thoughtful and well-reasoned branch of American government that cares about ordinary people. From health care to transportation to education and the environment, this president has made significant strides and he deserves congratulations. Three more years of the same can only help to silence the attack dogs.