by Peter Nicholas and Christi Parsons
As President Obama prepares to mark his 100th day in the White House, he is acknowledging that the nation might not reach one of his major environmental goals for a while longer: 15,000 days, or 41 years.
That's how long it could take for the nation to cut its carbon emissions by 80%, Obama said during an appearance at the National Academy of Sciences yesterday.
His caution plays into the administration's efforts to deflate expectations about what he reasonably could have solved by Wednesday.
The White House initially downplayed the 100-day benchmark -- one of his senior advisors, David Axelrod, called it the "journalistic equivalent of a Hallmark holiday."
But now, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs says, the administration is "playing along."
On Wednesday, Obama will take part in a town-hall-style event in St. Louis and a prime-time news conference from the East Room of the White House. Every major broadcast network but Fox will air the news conference live.
The president is certain to get a question on what he's accomplished in his first 100 days -- and he's certain to have a ready answer. But Obama also wants to discourage the idea that progress will be quick.
"It's an arbitrary demarcation of time created by some conglomeration of reporters and historians," Dan Pfeiffer, Obama's deputy communications director, said Monday. "Any suggestion we could do more than make a down payment on the change the president promised in 100 days is unrealistic."
Obama is grappling with issues that don't easily comport with a 100-day timeline, as the last couple of weeks have demonstrated.
For example, the president's top economic advisor, Lawrence H. Summers, cautioned over the weekend that economic recovery was "going to be a very long road." Although "there are going to be steps forward, there are also going to be steps backward," he said.
Amid reports of a swine flu outbreak, the White House has been working to reassure Americans that it is prepared for a pandemic.
Beyond that, the administration is feeling its way through an uproar after releasing memos detailing the harsh interrogation methods approved by lawyers for President George W. Bush; instituting a regulatory regimen for the financial sector; and preparing for perhaps the biggest domestic policy battle in nearly 20 years, a healthcare overhaul.
The 100-day window traditionally used to measure new administrations has its roots in Franklin D. Roosevelt's presidency.
By the time the 100 days had elapsed in 1933, Roosevelt had launched a slew of legislation and relief programs aimed at rescuing the economy from the Great Depression.
That fertile period has been hard for successive presidents to match.
On Monday, Gibbs gave the administration a grade for the first 100 days: "B-plus."
"I think there's always room for improvement," Gibbs told reporters. "But I think . . . the president and the administration are pleased with what has been done in the first 100 days if you look at restarting credit flowing, increased financial stability, the passage of a recovery and reinvestment plan.
"But as I've also said, I think the American people are less likely to spend a lot of time sitting around Wednesday judging what we've done in our first 100 days, and are more concerned with what we're going to do each and every day going forward."
Supporting the White House effort, the Democratic National Committee announced Monday it was airing a 60-second cable TV spot today and Wednesday. Viewers will see text reading: "The First 100 Days. Laying a Foundation for Change."
For all the attention to the calendar, history shows the first 100 days are not the best predictor of what's to come.
"Look back in time and you don't find an enormous amount of foreshadowing in those first 100 days," said presidential historian Fred I. Greenstein, whose new book is "The Presidential Difference: Leadership Style from FDR to Barack Obama."
"George W. Bush's presidency really began with 9/11, for example, and that of course wasn't evident in his first 100 days," Greenstein said.
For Obama, the test is not the first 100 days but the next 100 days -- and the 1,000 days after that.
"His place in the history books depends on how all this comes out," Greenstein said. "The jury is still out."
Comments
One small statemen in advance ;-
IF THIS NATION IS HIT AGAIN AFTER THE WEAKENING OF OUR NATIONAL DEFENSE SYSTEM AND SECUCURITY-REALTED FACTORS ,...AS ONGOING DOWN BY THIS ADMINISTRATION ,...OBAMA AND HIS GANG CAN KISS GOOD-BYE 'OBAMALAND ADMINSTRATION DAYS'
Does anyone feels any better ( as 'in grandeour' we should be as promised by Obama ) ...does anyone feels we are better than three months ago ?,....OR... OUR COUNTRY IS IN A WORST SHAPE ?
This’ percentage aproval’ - the classic average at 100 days, 60-63% - this is just a reminicence of what is left from his PERSONAL INJECTED IMAGE AMERICAN-ROCK-N-ROLL-IDOL TYPE thing .
This,however, IS NOT said to attempt to undermine his HISTORICAL MARK as he certainly accomplish so well,..not at all,… but we have to be clear that all we have form him is ‘MARQEE-LIGHT EFFECT’, very well structurated selling to the public - nice and eloquent theater, smiles, poses and gestures , etc,…’.the works’,sort of speak,… - and THAT! ,to THAT !, the populache is very very vulnerable to it.
The OBAMA GANG POLITICAL MACHINERY knew that very well and so,…they invented / created OBAMA THE FRONT-MAN’ ,,,,THE SYMBOL, THE AVATAR. But , however, to all that , SUBSTANCE ? is lack in the mosaic.
Americans are awake and are ’snaping-out’ from the letargic pseudo-hypnotic obamanized phase, once so powerful. Americans ARE NOT UNDER DECEPTION NO LONGER..
The hour of truth is here now…100 days and nothing but UNACOMPLISHLMENTS,… A WEAKER NATIONAL SECURITY,….. ONGOING WEAKER ECONO9MY SPECTRUM AND DETERIORATION OF THE SOCIO-DYNAMICS WHERE FREE SPEECH AND INDIVIDUALITY IS AT RISK TO BE ELIMINATED,…ANCHOR VALUES AND PRINCIPLES DETERIORATING AS WELL .And so, ANARCHY seems to be the norm for ruling,
Quite pathetic but all is for to be just reversed - ‘WE’, THE PEOPLE WILL REMOVE AND REPALACE THE CORRUPTED DESTRUCTIVE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.
OBAMA’S POLITICAL POPULARITY IS FADING
The reason is obvious. is the ‘HISTORICAL FACTOR’ ….evidently and very correctly Pres Obama is one for the books of history, that NEVER CAN BE DENIED. The dynamics brake with the ‘traditionalism’ that characterize the small or virtually no oportunity to minority groups to adquire higer plateau in the scio-multispectrum.
So, with that said is honorable in extreme for this to happen ;….however - BIG HOWEVER - that DOES NOT set basis THE ACEPTANCE TO the poor performance on which this administration, - where he is jus but ‘THE FRONT-MAN’ , a front-face , a messenger, a symbol - on which this CORRUPTED ADMINISTRATION IS TAKING OUR COUNTRY TO.
The destrucion of our nation is quite clear ahead if we tolerate this further more,…BUT AMERICA IS AWAKE NOW AND WE ARE GOING TO REVERSE THIS ASSAULT.
Obama is not going to accomplish ABSOLUTELLY NOTHNING WITH IRAN. or ANY OTHER NATION FOR THAT MATTER; Eventually - AND SOON ! Israel will have to pre-emtp attack to IRAN atomic facilities, and OBAMA AND HIS GANG WILL DO NOTHING TO HELP BUT WILL REPUDIATE ISRAEL ACTIONS - JUST WATCH !
However here in american soil Obama will have another successful shot at the masses for he still have some pulll because his personal popularity - just that.
And so all comes clear;
WHY IT SEEMS THAT OBAMA AND HIS GANG ARE GETING AWAY WITH EVERYTHING THEY WANT?
Because Obama is a ‘history-mark’, that leads the populache to let go EVERYTHING AND ANYTHING on his behalf.Although his symbolism is important, that is not reason much less excuse, to allow HIM AND HIS GANG TO DESTROY OUR COUNTRY.
The public is not blind, but is fooling themselves (SOME OF THEM) pathetically and so our nation is at RISK!
The historical event, of to have a minority-generated president, is already ‘in the books’ but, the PRODUCT OF THAT EVENT - (Obama,…more specific, OBAMA AND HIS GANG OF INEPTS) are with an agenda of NATIONAL DESTRUCTION. The ANTI-CONSTITUTIONALISM IS CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER TO OUR COUNTRY - AND SO, THIS FIRST ‘HISTORICAL ATTEMPT’ IS JUST NOT WORKING AT ALL ON BEHALF OF OUR COUNTRY….WE ARE LOOSING THE NATION TO THIS ‘HISTORICAL PRODUCT’
On that the public is WAKE! already,… AND IS NOW, WELL AWARE OF THE DYNAMICS.
WE,THE PEOPLE, we have the responsablity of to REMOVE AND REPLACE THE PRESENT CORRUPTED ADMINSTRATION with better leaders,… individuals of GOOD CHARACTER, HONESTY, AND INTEGRITY.
OBAMA AND HIS GANG BROUGHT TO US, DECEPTION !
And as for the next 100 days,....expect, MORE OF THE SAME.....THE 'CHANGE FOR THE GOOD AS HE PROMISED' STILL WILL NOT BE. Sad story.
This is the moment when many who voted for Obama on the past FRAUDULENT ELECTIONS wishes to find a TIME MACHINE to go back in time, and undo the mistake.
Ah!, yes, too science fiction...well, in response,....in the future (should one is to come) forget about emotions, nice pseudo-hypnotic speeches,tv tabloids (CNN, NBC, MSNBC, tabloids publications such as, THE NEW YORK TIMES , THE HUFFINGTON POST, LA TIMES etc ,...you know,, things that clouds reasoning,...but most important - GET KNOWLEDGE, INVESTIGATE, ANALYZE, LISTEN TO THE CANDIDATES THEMSELVES.
Democrats are AFRAID of Limbaugh,Hannity,Steele,Ann Coulter, Glenn Beck, Laura Ingraham, and MONUMENTALLY TERRORIZED BY GOV SARAH PALIN, and EVERYONE KNOWS she could delivers much better presidential leadership than Obama - (after all, Gov Palin has more, BY FAR, MUCH MORE EXECUTIVE / DIRECTORAL / AND LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE THAT OBAMA AND BIDEN TOGETHER ).Palin’s ‘Alaska Formula’, adjusted to nation-wide proportion can implement efficient answers to the economic arena.The public knows this, and so,the electorate are having second thougths about this current administration.
Sincerely,
Daniel Cabrera
Merrillville,Indiana
Posted by: Daniel Cabrera | April 28, 2009 11:34 AM
When I first saw this, I thought this guy was being sarcastical. However, from his comments it seems that isn't the case, sorry to say. Call me a party pooper, but i just find personality cults objectionable.
http://www.artbistro.com/news/articles/8824-painter-unveils-controversial-work-of-obama-on-his-100th-day-in-office?utm_source=nlet&utm_content=ab_r3_20090428_uoba
Posted by: Oy! | April 28, 2009 11:48 AM
Tomorrow night President Obama will address the nation on all major television news channels - Fox News has already announced that they'll ignore the President and run their usual schedule.
Just what you'd expect from the TV channel built from the ground up to support Republicans.
Posted by: BC | April 28, 2009 12:33 PM
Ya got one thing right, Daniel; Ann Coulter IS scary. Other than that, a huge waste of time.
Posted by: Flo | April 28, 2009 1:47 PM
A different look at Obama's first 100 Days, with a point of view that the poll-happy Swamp and other DNC media outlets continue to censor:
"According to Gallup’s April survey, Americans have a lower approval of Mr. Obama at this point than all but one president since Gallup began tracking this in 1969. The only new president less popular was Bill Clinton, who got off to a notoriously bad start after trying to force homosexuals on the military and a federal raid in Waco, Texas, that killed 86. Mr. Obama’s current approval rating of 56 percent is only one tick higher than the 55-percent approval Mr. Clinton had during those crises…
It’s no surprise the liberal media aren’t anxious to point out that their darling is less popular than George W. Bush. But given the Gallup numbers, their hurrahs could be more subdued. USA Today’s front page touted the April poll results as positive, with the headline: “Public thinks highly of Obama.” The current cover of Newsweek magazine ponders “The Secret of His [Mr. Obama's] Success.” The comparison with previous presidents is useful because they are usually popular during their first few months in office - and most presidents have been more popular than Mr. Obama."
(from the Washington Times)
Posted by: Party gal | April 28, 2009 9:07 PM