Jack & Jill Politics

Above is the official White House photostream of the Obamas’ 1st 100 Days called Delivering on Change. There are some really amazing pictures in here including a couple where you can see Obama’s reaction to becoming president as it unfolds into reality plus great behind-the-scenes candids. I really so want to add some captions to some of the photos which are often rather revealing, charming, hilarious, poignant, inspiring, etc.

It’s worth taking a quick moment to contrast the new head of the Democratic party image who happens to be black with the new head of the Republican party who happens to be black. Here’s just a few of the things that Obama has accomplished in only 100 days. I mean, a brother has been hustlin’, naw mean? Do you think it’s true what they say — that a black man has to work twice as hard to get the same respect? Head back to My.BarackObama.com to see an interactive map on how exactly :

* Passed the most ambitious economic recovery package in history, providing immediate relief for Americans who have lost their jobs and saving or creating, over the next two years, millions of private sector jobs that will put Americans to work doing the work America needs done.
* Crafted a recovery plan and budget that lays the groundwork for long-term prosperity by dealing with our most pressing needs: the development of alternative energy and the jobs and security a clean energy economy will bring; health care reform to reduce costs and assure quality, affordable health care for all Americans; and unprecedented education investments and reforms aimed at ensuring that, in this global economy, our children are once again the best-educated in the world.
* Followed through on his commitments to the middle class, enacting tax breaks for 95 percent of working Americans and measures to make college more affordable; extending health care coverage to millions more uninsured children of working families and signing the Lily Ledbetter law to guarantee equal pay for equal work for America’s working women.
* Taken action to deal with the crisis in our credit markets with programs to get credit flowing again to small businesses, homeowners and students. And he has set in motion a process to address the legacy of the reckless speculation on Wall Street that has crippled lending, including badly needed financial regulatory reforms.
* Put us on a course to cut the deficit in half in four years, understanding that America’s economic future requires a return to fiscal discipline. In doing so, President Obama has challenged special interest giveaways, targeted tax breaks for companies who ship jobs overseas and ordered a line-by-line review of the federal budget
* Followed through on his commitment to seek a better plan abroad, repair our frayed alliances and build coalitions to deal with global threats. He has engaged people and leaders across the globe with strength, vision and humility in order to make progress possible.
* Rallied the world at the G-20 behind concrete steps to deal with the global financial crisis and won the unanimous support of the UN Security Council, including China and Russia, for enhanced economic sanctions in response to North Korea’s provocative missile launch.
* Launched a multi-pronged initiative effort to reverse the tide of nuclear proliferation, reinvigorated our international effort on Iran’s illicit nuclear program and revived critical arms control talks with the Russians.
* Begun the process of responsibly ending the war in Iraq and united our NATO allies and other partners behind a focused, new strategy in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
* Kept his commitment to upholding America’s values, banning the use of torture and ordering the closure of the Guantanamo Bay detention facility.
* Opened the door to a promising new era in our own hemisphere, breaking down old barriers and challenging failed policies.
* Kept faith with the American people by working to deliver a government that is open and transparent, responsive and accountable to the American people.
* Instituted the toughest ethics rules on record and curbed the influence of special interests and lobbyists in the federal government’s decision-making.
* Launched Recovery.Gov to chart the expenditure of recovery funds so that the American people know where their tax dollars are being spent and conducted the first virtual town hall so that Americans can have access to their President.
* Fulfilled his pledge to restore science to its rightful place and sent a clear signal that evidence and fact will no longer be trumped by ideology.
* Brought a new tone of civility and cooperation to Washington, reaching out to the other party even when it has not always been rewarded with support.

On the other hand, here’s Michael “HNIC @ RNC” Steele’s report card according to Senate Guru:

While most media outlets focus on President Obama’s first 100 days, Senate Guru looks at Michael Steele’s first 100 days as RNC Chair, from boasting about NY-20, to “slum love,” to apologizing to Rush Limbaugh, Steele has had a notorious first 100 days.

Senate Guru concludes the retrospective: “In less than 100 days, Steele led the GOP to defeat in what should have been an easy pick-up in a House special election, lost a Senator to a Party switch, became the subject of no-confidence vote rumors, embarrassed himself over and over again, and convinced America that Rush Limbaugh controls the Republican Party.  I’ll give Steele considerable credit – one must keep extremely busy to fit that many “strategic” gaffes into less than 100 days.”