We were way before our time

The Times Tuesday April 28th 2009

Obama Bounce

Barack Obama's election has prompted a rise in applications for American studies courses, according to George Lewis of the University of Leicester. Dr. Lewis said that there was a 22% increase nationally and a 60% increase at Leicester.






With Obama's 100 days reaching us tomorrow, he has been busy and certainly more successful than Regan who was the target of an assasin on his 100th day and has certainly fared much better than the 9th president who only lived to see his 32nd day in office before 'man flu' killed him.

I have just chosen a few significant events from his last 99 days, although Obama has been much busier than the list below represents. He has also travelled to Europe, revoked at least five orders of the previous government, taken presidency during a time of conflict on at least three fronts, not to mention keeping an eye on North Korea and Iran and their nuclear ambitions and taken on a role that the world will be watching to lead the way out of a global economic crisis.

Obama has come into office it would seem as just man, a man who wants to do the right thing but has shown that he is not a soft touch and although would appear as a man who would rather seek alternatives to conflict will not baulk at the idea of sending in the troops.

I was initially concerned when he won the presidential election, not for what he would do but for what that would be done to him. I still have my fears but would like to see Obama live to prove me wrong.

The biggest challenge and most pressurised decision was to fulfill his promise to his family to get a new dog. Obama fulfilled his promise and Bo, the 'first dog' moved into the White House on April 14th.

Day one of presidency saw Obama freeze the pay of senior White House officials earning $100,000 or more per year.

3rd day he signs executive order announcing the closure of Guantanamo bay within a year.

on day 4, Obama orders and airstrike on Pakistani territory, targetting insurgents using the border to cross between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

29th January sees Obama sign a bill promoting fair pay within the workplace regardless of sex or age.

4th February - Caps pay of senior executives at financial institutions that have been bailed out by the Federal government.

6th February - creates 'Presidents economic recover advisory board' to give economists outside of Washington a voice.

17th February - signs $787 billion into the economy with the 'Recovery and reinvestment Act'

He also approves the deployment of 17,000 troops to Afghanistan.

10th March - He meets for the first time the UN secretary.

12th March - renews sanctions on Iran

13th March - Outlines a new legal standard for detaining the suspected terrorists held at Guantanamo. Suspects are now detained under international law.

26th March - Holds online town hall meeting at the White House for the first time.

12th April - Approves Navy SEALS to rescue ship captain from Somalian pirates.