President Barack Obama's prime-time conference marked the end of his 100th day in office. (Photo by Charles Dharapak / AP)
by Mike Dorning
President Barack Obama marked the 100th day of his presidency today with a rosy assessment of the start of his administration, asserting that his policies would "lay a new foundation for growth" and sounding a note of optimism on the prospects for beleaguered American automakers.
In a prime-time news conference, Obama said he was "very hopeful, more hopeful than I was 30 days ago" that Chrysler would avoid bankruptcy and remain "viable" through a merger with the Italian automaker, Fiat.
Obama seized the widely watched 100th day-milestone in office to promote the image of an activist president who has made early progress in the face of an myriad economic and military crises and remains determined to press on with an ambitious agenda.
"We are off to a good start. But it is just a start," Obama said. "I am proud of what we have achieved, but I am not content. I am pleased with our progress, but I am not satisfied."
In the hour-long news conference, Obama presented himself as a president leading the nation at an unusually difficult moment. "The typical president," he said, takes office facing "two or three big problems. We've got seven or eight big problems."
The newest problem: A swine flu outbreak. Obama said he saw no reason to close the border with Mexico because of the flu outbreak.
He backtracked a bit on the timing of a campaign promise to win passage of immigration reform by the end of the year, setting that only as a deadline for beginning "the process." He also addressed his new role of an American "shareholder-in-chief" because of the stake that the government has taken in several large banks and automakers.
"I don't think that we should micromanage, but I think that, like any investor, the American taxpayer has the right to scrutinize what's being proposed," he said, suggesting the government would not be a completely passive investor and take a role in some corporate decisions.
"I'm not an auto engineer. I don't know how to create (an) affordable, well-designed, plug-in hybrid," he added. "My job is to ask the auto industry: 'Why is it you guys can't do this?'"
(Obama leaving the East Room. Photo by Ron Edmonds / AP)
He suggested his short time in office has given him a more patient perspective and a new appreciation for the inertia of government, likening the government to a massive battleship.
"If we can move this big battleship a few degrees in a different direction," he said, "we may not see all the consequences of that change a week from now or three months from now, but 10 years from now."
The presidential press conference was scheduled for a prime-time audience, offering maximum exposure to tens of millions of Americans, and followed an Obama trip earlier in the day to the electoral battleground state of Missouri for a town meeting marking his 100th day in office. Senior presidential advisers also fanned out during the day for network television interviews, helping to frame media coverage.
As Obama marked his 100th day, Congress passed his administration's ambitious budget, which offers a blueprint for broad health care reform, expanded aid to education and action to combat global climate change.
He also welcomed into the Democratic party a defecting Republican senator, Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, furthering the portrait of an opposition in disarray.
Obama said in his news conference that he expected Specter's switch in party allegiances would "liberate him to cooperate on critical issues, like health care, like infrastructure and job creation, areas where his inclinations were to work with us but he was feeling pressure not to.''
Polls show public confidence soaring. An ABC News poll conducted just before Obama's 100-day mark found that, despite the recession, the number of Americans who believe the country is moving in the right direction has risen to 50 percent -- the highest level in six years and a stunning advance from the 19 percent who believed so on the eve of his inauguration.
Speaking at a town-hall styled meeting in the St. Louis suburb of Arnold, Mo., Obama said that, despite the hard times, the country is making progress.
"We have begun to pick ourselves up and dust ourselves off, and we've begun the work of remaking America," Obama said, alluding to words from his inaugural address and stirring cheers from the crowd.
Comments
Man the lifeboats.
We're gonna go down quick.
Women and children first.
Posted by: rob | April 29, 2009 10:01 PM
The number of Americans identifying themselves as Republicans has slipped to a quarter-century low of 21 percent.
.
http://www.democracycorps.com/strategy/2009/04/as-specter-leaves-the-gop-new-surveys-show-republicans-in-disarray/
Specter is not the only one who has grown disenchanted with a Repug party that once prided itself as a "big tent" that welcomed divergent views.
Except for the hard core Teabaggers, no one wants to be a Republican anymore.
Posted by: Mission Accomplished! | April 29, 2009 10:25 PM
I'm loving this moment (100 days).
Pretty soon it will only be Rush, Beck and Palin in the lounge at the local Applebee's in Alabama rousing the GOPer base of about 20 teabaggers.
The party of Limbaugh (GOP) did this to themselves and now all they lack is a crying towel as they tearfully wave goodbye to the few remaining Reagan Democrats. They primaried out nearly all of their moderates and can't win national election with their extremist base - Good riddance you nutjobs!
It will take decades to undo all the damage they've done to themselves.
Posted by: former Republican | April 29, 2009 10:30 PM
A look back at "100 days of NO" from the Republican Party:
No plans
No ideas
No clue
And a small army of drooling extremist Teabaggers as their base. They are the 21st Century Whig Party.
.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18NSjDI6ILk
Posted by: PurpleHaze | April 29, 2009 10:39 PM
"As riches increase and accumulate in few hands, as luxury prevails in society, virtue will be in a greater degree considered as only a graceful appendage of wealth, and the tendency of things will be to depart from the republican standard. This is the real disposition of human nature."
--Alexander Hamilton, speech to the New York Ratifying Convention, June 1788
Posted by: Joe Lunchbox Lawyer | April 29, 2009 11:21 PM
The radical right is using Obama's agenda to promote their Manifesto for American Bloodshed. .............
http://thefiresidepost.com/2009/04/29/the-conservative-manifesto-for-american-bloodshed/
Posted by: Ohg Rea Tone | April 29, 2009 11:34 PM
100 Days of Obamamania
As the Obama administration enters its second hundred day cycle, the internet, the blogosphere, and that other source of news, information, and opinion–the dying mass media–are awash with people voicing their many and varied opinions on the success or failure of those days.
In a way, it’s unfair to pass judgement so soon on a new president since 14+ weeks is hardly sufficient time to draw valid conclusions. Obama himself doesn’t think so, however, and is using the 100-day milestone to toot his own horn in the Midwest, after which he jets back to Washington to do some more tooting on his prime-time special tonight.
Not one to stay home when he could be visiting his subjects somewhere, our Traveller-in-Chief was off on Wednesday to the St. Louis area. Recall that after all of 3 weeks as president, he announced he was already tired of Washington? Well, he’s demonstrated his cure for that initial chief executive fatigue by flying all over the place, hitting 12 states and half a dozen countries in the last 3 months, and burning up tons of jet fuel and befouling the stratosphere in the process.
Rahm Emanuel should remind his boss that the election was over six months ago and this is the time to try governing instead of campaigning. He might remind him too that he owes the planet tons of carbon credits for his needless meandering.
One junket was excusable, at least to the romantics out there. That was when he took his bride to Chicago on Air Force One on St. Valentine’s Day. It can’t really be classified as a campaign stop since he simply wanted to have a nice, enchanting little dinner with the beautiful Michelle at their favorite, cozy little rendezvous. You can’t fault a guy for that. Everyone knows there are no decent restaurants in the D.C. area.
In Missouri, Obama touted the achievements of his first 100 days at his fourth town hall type affair since he took over on January 20th, saying in characteristically lofty diction, “We’ve begun the work of remaking America.” He added that, “We have begun to pick ourselves up and dust ourselves off,” just like that famous ant with the rubber tree.
He also said he is “pleased with the progress we’ve made, but I’m not satisfied. I’m confident in the future, but I’m not content with the present:” http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aEOXy3xJPVoU&refer=worldwide.
That turned out to be such a good line that his trusty teleprompter prompted him to re-use it on prime time.
It was all very reassuring, as contrasted with his gloom and doom ravings of a few months ago when he got so carried away with negativism that Bubba Clinton had to tell him to stifle it. Needless to say, he didn’t dwell on his flubs, fluffs, and screw-ups of his first 100 days.
Although Obama is still enjoying good favorability numbers, they aren’t off the charts and are very comparable to his predecessors’. AOL/Politics Daily poll gives him . . .
(Read the rest at http://genelalor.com/.)
Posted by: Gene Lalor | April 30, 2009 2:06 AM
That quote about why can't the auto industry make an affordable, plug in, electric car just goes to show me that Obama has decided the that is what Americans are going to get, period. Screw the question; will Americans want them or not? He got the auto companies now and they going to do it his way or its the highway. Can't wait for the future NASCAR races with 70 mph top speeds and 30 minute pit stops to recharge the batteries while we listen to great moments of Obama's campaign speeches or his pick-up basketball highlights. Remaking America, enchanting.
Posted by: bubba Porter | April 30, 2009 7:16 AM
Current polling data trumpeted by the left is almost completely irrelevant- a lot of people still don't have any clue what Obama's doing to the country, with his naive diplomacy and reckless print-money spending.
But they'll come out-of-the-ether quick when we get humiliated overseas, the dollar tanks, inflation hits 10%, and/or a desperate Rezko/Blago sing to prosecutors about their former pal Barack... who's closet is surely chock-full o' bones.
Time is simply on the GOP's side: neither Obama's big-government spending nor his Carter-esque foreign policy based on appeasement have any precedent of success... anywhere.... ever. And the press can't just do stories on his puppy-vetting process and how he likes to play basketball for four years.
Obama hasn't been tested overseas, nor has he yet gotten to the hard part domestically: he's yet to raise taxes, nationalize healthcare, or provide mass amnesty for illegal immigrants. He hasn’t closed down the car companies he now runs and he has not yet forced a 30+ % jump in utility bills and myriad other products with his cap-and-trade stealth-tax schemes. And these are all on the Obama agenda.
Most likely, when all their ill-advised pork-n-welfare spending fails to produce real economic gains, the Democrats face a bloodbath in 2010-
And by 2012? People will wince at the very mention of the name Obama-
http://reaganiterepublicanresistance.blogspot.com/
Posted by: Reaganite Republican Resistance | April 30, 2009 7:22 AM
Although Obama is still enjoying good favorability numbers, they aren’t off the charts and are very comparable to his predecessors’.
Posted by: Gene Lalor | April 30, 2009 2:06 AM
Keep clinging to that little light Gene. Only difference? Ol' Georgie Boy walked in at a time of peace and prosperity, people happy with the direction we were headed. His biggest problem was creating a handicap in his golf game. Then almost a year into his term and 9/11 happened on his watch, it was mistake after mistake. Let me say one last time, the conditions that Obama came into are so mush different than any other of the recent presidents. Only a fool would try to make these similar.
Posted by: bill r. | April 30, 2009 7:53 AM
Nice, Bubba Porter. We have an economy in crisis and you're worried about NASCAR. Give Bubba his jeep and his SUV and the hell with anything else.
Posted by: Flo | April 30, 2009 8:25 AM
What The Swamp will never link to: the NY Post oped, titled "100 Days, 100 Mistakes". See http://www.nypost.com/seven/04252009/postopinion/opedcolumnists/100_days__100_mistakes_166177.htm for more.
Posted by: Party gal | April 30, 2009 8:29 AM
Halcyon days indeed for democrats.
The great Obama remains very popular with the public. Arlen Spector has ripped off his RINO mask. Olympia Snowe is disappointed she was not engaged to remove her RINO mask. It should not be too late for that. Governor Pawlenty is going to have to certify the election of a somewhat talented clown to join the august body of the U.S. Senate. Wingnut Republicans are the real terrorists, Janet Napolitano and Jeanne Garrofalo have so informed. Teabag Wingnuts are just a bunch of blood thirsty secessionists. Pat Leahy is getting his team together to persecute the previous evil Bush-Cheney Regime and “hopefully” throw them into a Cuban styled prison. The Fairness Doctrine may be temporarily on hold but you can still impose a special Radio Tax to shut down all of the back-talk. Who could have ever thought of that approach. democrats, your time is truly here. And this is only the first 100 days. How can it possibly ever get any better than this though? Amerika, what a great country this is.
Posted by: Django - N Exile somewhere in/around the 30th Parallel | April 30, 2009 9:26 AM
Yes indeed, Django; let the good times roll, amigo.
Posted by: Flo | April 30, 2009 10:09 AM
Posted by: bubba Porter | April 30, 2009 7:16 AM
Yee Haw! Bubba's right, we really need to set policies based on what makes a good Nascar race! That's all that matters.
Posted by: Jeff Gordon for President | April 30, 2009 11:20 AM
Hola Flo,
As Ric Ocasek would say: “Let The Good Times Roll”. I had to improve my power chords to get that one down.
My favorite Lincoln biographer is Benjamin Thomas. I will look for the Ron White book the next time that I am in Barnes and Noble, but in the interim, I must finish Mark Levin’s fine book ~ “Liberty and Tyranny”. One of those concepts is good. The other one not nearly as much. Right?
That APatriot Swamp rat was bound and determined to tar me, and Rick Perry too, as special conspiratorial progenys of old Jefferson Davis. Just a little bit hard to imagine. Django, Rick Perry, and a couple of pretty Latinas hanging out with old Jeff Davis, doing nothing but plotting. A young Bob Dylan could make a great song out of that, or maybe Willie. And where the heck is my liberal buddy, Rupert? We got cut off on the Race Thing, but it’s all good. What a remarkable country. Regards.
Posted by: Django - N Exile somewhere in/around the 30th Parallel | April 30, 2009 11:36 AM
Django, I didn't tar you, your own words did. Sorry if I took your words and Governor Perry's words to be expressions of what you both really mean. In the future I will know that both of you don't actually mean the things you say.
Posted by: A Patriot | April 30, 2009 12:05 PM
I'm worried about you, Django, why are you reading that Mark Levin (Sean Hannity's brain) book? But I'm sure you're smart enough not to let too much sink in.
Posted by: Flo | April 30, 2009 12:10 PM
You calling me Django? You are a much more pleasant conservative than that reaganiteresistance doofus, eh? We'll give you Joe Lieberman for Olympia Snowe. Django, I'm with you on the latinas, si! But rather than hanging out with old Jeff Davis, I'd rather be with Sam Adams.... and another Sam Adams....
Posted by: rupert | April 30, 2009 12:22 PM
Hey, Flo. Check this out. Made my mid-morning getaway to Murphy’s Deli for coffee and cookies. The three Latinas were too busy to mess with me this morning like they usually do, but they had a Harry Connick CD on. He was singing “The Best Is Yet To Come”. I’m going DAAAAAAAAAAM. Obama is even programming the music where the mid-morning Latinas are. But then, the follow-up song was “Call Me Irresponsible”. Now Django b really confused. I then opened up the free underground rag, published by democrats, probably, and I see that Craig Chaquico is lowering himself to come to Rick Perry’s State In Rebellion on June 6th. CC was the lead guitarist for Jefferson Starship / The Starship when he was 19 damn years old. If the other Conspirators are not meeting that night, I shall be studying the fine guitar virtuosity of Craig Chaquico on that date. So, I apparently have some latent democrat left in me. Rebellion or Craig Chaquico. I choose Craig Chaquico and Latinas. America just gets better and better every damn day.
Posted by: Django - N Exile somewhere in/around the 30th Parallel | April 30, 2009 12:57 PM
Flo, Rupert, and A Patriot,
And the Lord sayeth:
The sheep and the lion will lie down together and take a break and no one will get eaten that day
Can’t put that into quotes, because Django, a backsliding Catholic, would never be the Go-To guy for a proper, literal biblical quote.
A Patriot, I can only say (seriously here) that liberty and freedom are so important to me that even marriage would be an impingement on that. I / We have to be free, within reason, to chart our own future, and I do hope that whatever the Lord sayeth about reasonable people will also apply here. Rick Perry may have been very angry, but he probably was, equally, or more, frustrated. Fiscal Responsibility in a state that already commits 65% of every dollar, practically automatically, to education has to be a very serious issue. Every thing else has to be done with whatever is left over. We just see $$$ that we don’t have, and the 10th amendment as very germane to the appropriate resolution of this issue. It is not a Race Thing, certainly for me, it is not. Obama and Django actually seem to have, as best that I can tell, a similar deprecating sense of humor. I am NOT “hoping” that he fails, but I still have to hold onto my core conservative principles.
Rupert, Sam A, and Sam A Lite, and Samuelita, and Adelita, and …. This IS the High Life and this is the America that we absolutely HAVE to maintain. Randy Newman sez we don’t have to do nuthin’, but we gotta do this. Regards, U guyz.
Posted by: Django - N Exile somewhere in/around the 30th Parallel | April 30, 2009 2:01 PM
It's 5 o'clock somewhere, Django.
Posted by: Flo | April 30, 2009 3:05 PM
Another article the Swamp and the White House don't want people to read: "CHECK: Obama disowns deficit he helped shape in Senate in 100th-day appraisal of progress
CALVIN WOODWARD
AP News
Apr 29, 2009 18:08 EST
"That wasn't me," President Barack Obama said on his 100th day in office, disclaiming responsibility for the huge budget deficit waiting for him on Day One. It actually was him — and the other Democrats controlling Congress the previous two years — who shaped a budget so out of balance.
And as a presidential candidate and president-elect, he backed the twilight Bush-era stimulus plan that made the deficit deeper, all before he took over and promoted spending plans that have made it much deeper still."
Read the rest.
Posted by: Party gal | April 30, 2009 5:32 PM