Paul Revere by Cyrus Dallin, North End, Boston

~~~

~~~

Friday, February 22, 2008

Barack Obama's Accomplishments as Illinois State and US Senator



UPDATE, Feb. 25, 2008

The redoubtable Neponset from Atrios' comments at Eschaton has this to add:

"What's Obama done? Just this:As a member of the Democratic minority in the 109th Congress, he co-sponsored bipartisan legislation for controlling conventional weapons and for promoting greater public accountability in the use of federal funds. He also made official trips to Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. In the current 110th Congress, he has sponsored legislation on lobbying and electoral fraud, climate change, nuclear terrorism, and care for returned U.S. military personnel. As of February 21, 2008, Obama had sponsored or co-sponsored 570 bills in the 109th and 110th Congress, of which 15 have become lawEnough. --Neponset 02.25.08 - 12:32 pm"


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Original post:

I'm tired of hearing the lazies ask what has Barack Obama accomplished.

Even the melon-headed Tweety of Hardball is too lazy to find out for himself, so he played "gotcha" with an unsuspecting Texas state legislator.

What has Barack Obama accomplished? For those of you too busy to look for yourselves, see below.

From Democratic Underground:

What has Barack Obama ever accomplished?

"Some Say" that those who support Obama do so without a clue, and do so because of a "Svengali" effect his has on his "cult".I say that it is unfortunate, in this age of the Internet, that folks aren’t able to inform themselves, yet are able to post on a Political blog to have a say.I have done my research on Sen. Obama, and so have many of the others who support him. Maybe that is why he is attracting the most educated progressives in this nation; maybe it is because they do their homework, and do not rely on name recognition to determine whom to vote for.So to inform you, please note the following articles that sum up some of what Barack has “done” in his last 11 years in public office.

Considering that Obama may be the Democratic Nominee, I believe that it is important for you, as a public voice, to be informed:His bold legislative work on the Illinois Death Penalty, and how he made a difference between life and death:
http://www.icadp.org/page236.html http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/11/12/obama.death.penalty.ap /

His sponsorship of a bill that brought health insurance to 150,000, including 70,000 uninsured Children, again, during his time serving in the Illinois Statehouse:
http://factcheck.barackobama.com/factcheck/2007/12/14/fact_check_on_milbanks_claim_t.php http://mediamatters.org/items/200712170003

His work on both the Immigration bill during his time in the US senate and his sponsorship of Ethics legislation (something he did both while in the State House, and in the Senate) that called for some of the most impactful reform regarding lobbyists since Watergate (as he likes to term it):
http://factcheck.barackobama.com/factcheck/2007/12/14/fact_check_on_milbanks_claim_t.php http://feingold.senate.gov/~feingold/releases/07/01/200...

And the rest is here:

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hey, Shaw -- equally great post, my old friend. Good to hear from you again and to see we are both supporting Barack! Keep up the great work!

Handsome B. Wonderful said...

Exactly. I like what he said in the Texas debate with the Hillary's "get real" stump phrase. Suggesting that somehow every one of the millions of Barack supporters are delusional. And so to would be all the papers who have endorsed him. She made her look ridiculous. He so won that debate.

Patrick M said...

I'm glad to see someone did some research on Obama's accomplishments.

The problem you face is that most of your candidate's supporters seem to have no clue.

But it was interesting being able to find out the answer.

Shaw Kenawe said...

Patrick M,

I'm guessing most supporters for ANY candidate for the presidency would not know what that candidate's accomplishments in Congress were.

I'd love to see a survey on how many McCain supporters can name any of his legislative initiatives.

Or Hillary's.

Most Americans do not pay attention to those things.

Chris Matthews did not do that to a McCain supporter, did he.

Patrick M said...

Not that McCain is my candidate, but I can name his accomplishments. Especially the ones that make him not my candidate.

But you have a point. I don't know anyone else who got grilled that way.

Shaw Kenawe said...

Patrick,

Did you get my email?

Patrick M said...

yes i did.

It should give you a laugh or two.

And if for some reason you don't get it, ship me another and I'll get back to you asap.

Anonymous said...

I can't wait for Obama to mess up this beautiful democracy! Taxing companies and individuals in an economic crisis is the right answer!! HA! He also believes that people who make over $150k are middle class?!? Who is out of touch? I make over 150K a year and by the end of that year after paying my mortgage, insurance, car payment, groceries, gas, utilities, and taxes at the current rate, have just enough to buy a few christmas gifts for my daughter. 150k a year ain't shit!!!

Anonymous said...

fgaugh,

You're joking, right?

We're fighting two wars, an American city drowned 2 years ago, and our economy is in the shitcan, and YOU think Sen. Obama's going to hurt us?

Please.

Patrick M said...

We're fighting two wars, an American city drowned 2 years ago, and our economy is in the shitcan...,

Considering the source of the problems were terrorists, Democrats, and Washington (in that order), sticking a Dem like The Marxist (Obmam) is definitely adding insult to injury.

Anonymous said...

Who here lives in Illinois???? I do and it sucks. I could care less about healthcare for welfare babies. Paying taxes while I cannot afford healthcare for myself. That is just wrong. He was a CHICAGO Senator, not an Illinois senator. Illinois has cut thousands of jobs in numerous departments over the last couple years. Do some research on Illinois unemployment rates and the number of people on welfare!!!!! It will only get worse.

Shaw Kenawe said...

Illinois has cut thousands of jobs in numerous departments over the last couple years. Do some research on Illinois unemployment rates and the number of people on welfare!!!!! It will only get worse. --anonymous

Yes. Painful, indeed. And all this happened during 8 ruinous Republican Bush years.

You can't blame President-elect Obama for spending $10 BILLION A MONTH on Iraq. TEN BILLION DOLLARS.

Do you have any idea how some of that would have helped your state?

Thank Bush for your problems, don't blame President-elect Obama.

Anonymous said...

i very adore all your writing choice, very helpful.
don't quit and keep creating mainly because it simply that is worth to follow it,
impatient to view more and more of your current content pieces, have a good day!