 I knew it would come to this when I read that teachers could no longer grade papers with red ink, because that would hurt student self-esteem. It was decided that purple, a gentle mixture of blue and red, is a much more positive way of defining correct and almost correct responses (there is no wrong answer). I was further troubled when I noted my own kid's classes evolved from A through F to Pass/Fail, and finally to "Participated". I am convinced that this is the only grading criteria that could have possibly come into play when President Obama recently awarded himself a B+ for his first year in office. It appears that he stuck with the old fashioned letter grade because "pass/fail" would have been too painful, and "participated" is too similar to voting "present" as a Senator. Under any circumstance he seems to have a rather skewed perception of his accomplishments during this stormy first term.
He couldn't deliver on his key initiative, heath care (insurance) reform. Not that I am disappointed, but a large number of Americans hoped that valuable Congressional time would have been spent on more pressing issues like the economy and jobs. It's not as if he didn't have the resources to accomplish his goals. Few Presidents have the luxury of both House and Senate majorities, and to squander that advantage on a bill that is so pitifully wrong for America is inexcusable. In my grade book that would be an "F".
Two trips to Copenhagen yielded nothing. No Olympics for Chicago, no substantive agreement on the hoax of manmade climate change. Again, I am far from disappointed. The only infuriating thing about these events is that Americans shelled out plenty for transportation, security and accommodations during those trips, while it could be argued that the President would have better spent his time in Washington dealing with more important domestic issues. In my grade book that would be a generous "D" minus.
Close Gitmo, end warrant-less wiretaps and stop rendition of prisoners to other countries. No, no and no. Well past the deadline set by Obama to close Guantanamo Bay, it looks as if it not only will stay open, but will do so for some time to come. The Obama administration also has continued if not expanded the program of warrant-less wire tapping for security reasons, and maintained the so called rendition program, outsourcing interrogation of hostile nationals to countries where constitutional rights don't stand in the way of obtaining useful intel. Thank God I can give him an "F" on these points.
Campaign promises broken are almost too numerous to mention. All that stimulus money to stop increasing job loss did nothing but expand government while at 10%, unemployment has slowed simply because companies are running out of employees to fire and many people have stopped looking for work. Cutting taxes for 95% of Americans is difficult to understand even if you use new math. Increased costs of regulation and business taxes are always passed on the consumer, and credits to people who pay no income tax in the first place is not a tax cut, it is welfare. Openness, transparency and the end of special interests in Washington. Well, you saw the health care fiasco. Need I say more? A big, fat "F" on all counts.
I could continue, but it would just be piling on. The point is, this President is out of touch. His self evaluation exposes a politician completely disconnected from the people. As a group, we have been sending the message loud and clear for months. The polls, the town hall meetings and the marches on Washington couldn't be more eloquent. Democratic losses in Virginia, New Jersey and Massachusetts should be like a blow to the head, and this administration still doesn't get it. The media says the President will now be "feisty" as he pursues his goals. More like "punch drunk".
Obama can delude himself into believing that his performance rates a B+, but until he realizes that he is an employee of the citizens of this Country, and as such answers to us, he is in for a massive attack on his self-esteem, and no amount of purple ink or euphemisms for inadequate performance will save his Presidency.
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