Translated material
Superstart
Americans are happy with Obama's presidency
Since the administration of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the first hundred presidential days have become an important stage in political calculations and fortune-telling in the United States. Thursday, April 30th is Barack Obama's 100th day on the job, and he's coming into it with excellent results. According to just published data from a national poll conducted by the Washington Post and ABC, 69% of Americans approve of the 47-year-old White House's activities. This is the highest figure of any president of the last two decades. 72% have a favorable impression of the country's new leader. In post-war US history, only Ronald Reagan had a slightly better record.Obama also received positive praise for his management of the economy in times of crisis. Most respondents noted that the president, in his first three months in the Oval Hall, “exceeded their expectations” and “fulfilled important promises” made during the election campaign. In addition, two-thirds of those surveyed approve of his handling of international affairs, as well as his approaches to health insurance reform, taxes, global warming and other important issues.
Even Republican political opponents are forced, albeit with reservations, to compliment the Democratic president. "The election of Barack Obama sent a powerful message about the openness of American society, and his eloquence can do a lot to improve the rest of the world's views of the United States," said Paul Wolfowitz, who served as deputy secretary of defense in the George W. Bush administration. He believes that Obama's foreign trips have increased the popularity of the president, who should now use this resource and oratory talent "to respond to fundamental foreign policy challenges." CNN columnist William Schneider wonders whether, based on all this data, it's time to call Obama a "super president."
“No, it’s not time,” says American University of Washington history professor Alan Lichtman, who predicted the victory of the Democratic challenger in the 2008 elections in his book “Keys to the White House.” The expert does not deny that Obama has done a lot - he achieved congressional approval of his budget project and a $787 billion economic stimulus package, revised the policies of his Republican predecessor regarding national security, labor law, environmental protection, a ban on stem cell research, and abortion. .
“But 100 days is an artificial mark established by Franklin Roosevelt, based on considerations of that time,” Mr. Lichtman emphasized in an interview with Vremya Novostei. “In fact, all newly elected presidents after him achieved significant results in their second hundred days.” Dwight Eisenhower signed an armistice agreement on July 27, 1953, ending the Korean War. Ronald Reagan passed Congress through Congress on August 4, 1981, with his historic 25 percent cut in all taxes. George W. Bush pushed through a similar ambitious $1.35 trillion tax cut on May 26, 2001.
“Barack Obama will be more severely tested for his strength and ability to achieve significant results in his second 100 days, when lawmakers will closely consider his proposals to change financial regulation, fix the health and social insurance system, and fight global warming,” -- noted Professor Lichtman. The expert believes that the president “will face powerful opposition from lobbying groups and will not be able to count on either the complete unity of Democrats in Congress or cooperation from Republicans.” In terms of foreign policy, Obama will need to “show concrete results in limiting nuclear weapons, in negotiations with Iran and in waging a war in Afghanistan, which could become his “Vietnam.” “Let’s return to the topic of “super-presidentialism” after August 6, after the expiration of the second 100 days,” concluded VN’s interlocutor.
Obama himself, as his aides say, does not seem inclined to attach special importance to the 100-day mark and was going to do without any lavish events. But position and traditions oblige. In the end, it was decided that tomorrow the president would meet with the people at St. Louis City Hall, and then in the evening at the White House he would give a large press conference for American and foreign journalists.