Dallas Morning News lists outline of Trump's "achievements."

Courtesy of the Dallas Morning News: 

President Donald Trump's first six months have been defined by his often angry and tasteless tweets, his ham-handed efforts to denigrate and undercut the multiple investigations into Russian influence in the 2016 election and the stalemated legislative battle to repeal and replace Obamacare.

The News then goes on to list a number of things that Trump has achieved.

Here is a sampling:

FOREIGN POLICY 

-Embraced autocrats in Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Philippines, Egypt and abandoned longtime U.S leadership in seeking to enhance democracy and human rights. 

-Insulted U.S. allies in Europe, especially Germany, and undercut longstanding U.S. treaty commitments. 

-Compromised Israel's intelligence sources. -Spurred more divisiveness in an already divided Middle East by setting off a squabble between Saudi Arabia, a major U.S. ally, and Qatar, home of the region's biggest U.S. military base.

(Trust me there's more.)

DOMESTIC POLICY 

-Proposed a budget with massive cuts that would shred the social safety net and cripple longstanding governmental functions. 

-Created uncertainty in the nation's health care system by sending inconsistent administrative signals and supporting legislation that could deprive millions of people health insurance coverage, undermine Medicaid health support for lower income Americans and give wealthy taxpayers a massive tax cut. 

-Mismanaged the federal government by failing to fill many top spots and installing an inexperienced, dysfunctional White House staff.

(Yep, there's more.)  

INSTITUTIONAL DAMAGE: 

-Committed potentially impeachable offenses of obstructing justice that prompted appointment of a Special Counsel by firing FBI Director James Comey, because of his probe into possible Trump campaign collusion with Russia, and urging other intelligence officials to pressure Comey to halt the probe. 

-Undermined the courts with denunciations of judges and their decisions affecting his administration's policies, especially those curbing his hastily issued ban on Muslim travel from certain countries.

 -Without evidence, accused former President Barack Obama of illegally wiretapping his phones. -Repeatedly misrepresented his administration's policies and trashed officials with whom he has disagreements, calling the ousted Comey "a nut job," Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer the "head clown" and House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi an "incompetent."

(And yes there is more. So much more.)

But that gives a fairly accurate overview of Trump's accomplishments thus far.

Hell if he accomplishes any more America will soon be a smoldering crater in the ground.

I guess this is what the Trumpsters meant by the term MAGA.

So what was President Obama doing yesterday? Not much, just being the first sitting US President to set foot in Cuba in 88 years.

Photo courtesy of the Obama Diary.

Courtesy the New York Times:  

Shouts of “U.S.A.!” and “Obama!” echoed over the stone plazas as President Obama and his family made their way around rain-slicked courtyards in Old Havana on Sunday evening, savoring the adulation of Cubans welcoming him warmly despite a driving rain as he began a history-making visit. 

“Welcome to Cuba! We like you!” a man shouted as Mr. Obama’s entourage passed. Above, a woman applauded and hooted from her wrought-iron balcony. 

Later, a motorcade including the presidential limousine, adorned for the first time with Cuban and American flags, snaked through narrow streets where elated residents, their clothing soaked from waiting in the rain, hoisted cellphones and cheered the first sitting American leader to set foot on Cuban soil in 88 years.

Okay so just how many history making, landmark decisions is that for this President so far in his two terms?

Ended our two unnecessary wars, killed Osama Bin Laden, repealed DADT, saved the US auto industry, brought healthcare to millions of uninsured Americans, saved the economy, and that was only in his first term.

The next time that somebody offers there opinion that this is a failed President, just go right ahead and laugh in their face.

Because that really is the only appropriate response.

A little good news to end our day, courtesy of the June job numbers.

Courtesy of Business Insider:  

The Bureau of Labor Statistics released a surprisingly strong jobs report Thursday morning. 

Employers added 288,000 jobs in June, significantly more than the 215,000 economists were anticipating. The unemployment rate, which is drawn from a different survey of households, dropped from 6.3% to 6.1% the lowest rate since September 2008. 

Immediately following the news the S&P 500, The Dow Jones Industrial Average and Nasdaq Composite were in the green, continuing positive trends seen leading up to the pre-bell release. The Dow crossed 17,000 for the first time ever seconds after the opening bell before settling around 17,050.

The article goes on to remind folks that the both the May and April jobs reports were revised up after they were first announced, which means we are likely to see this already great report improve even more.

It is probably worth noting that the Republicans continue to attack Obama over an economy that they think is growing too slowly, and accuse him of costing Americans jobs due to Obamacare and his so-called attacks on the coal industry, even though there is no data to support those claims.

A recent poll came out saying that Americas think that Obama is the worst President since World War II, and that the country would have been better of if we had elected Mitt Romney.

But I think, if that poll is to be believed, it is only true because this President has been under constant assault since the day he took office, and because every one of his achievement are undermined and attacked until they seem like deficits, while every mistake is exaggerated to the point that many people believe he should be tried for treason.

Of course if Obama somehow managed to cure cancer tomorrow, Fox News and the Right Wing blogs would bitch that he was putting doctors out of business and only doing it to push forward his socialist agenda. And a number of low information Americans would have no trouble believing it was true.

Here is your feel good story of the day. Gabby Giffords on top of the French Alps.

Courtesy of Mail Online:  

Smiling at the camera and with the mountains providing a stunning backdrop, these photographs of Gabrielle Giffords atop the French Alps provide one of the clearest signs yet of the remarkable recovery the former U.S. Congresswoman has made since the Tuscon shootings. 

Leaving the U.S. for the first time since she was shot in the head by a gunman in January 2011, Giffords today braved the elements to join her astronaut husband, Mark Kelly, hiking in the mountains near Mont Blanc. 

Wrapped up and wearing hiking boots, the couple were snapped at an altitude of 3,842 meters (12,605 feet) with incredible views of rest of the Alps behind them. At times, Kelly turned to help his wife, who still uses a wheelchair much of the time, reach the impressive summit. 

I thought it would be nice to take a break from politics for a little bit and celebrate this amazing woman's remarkable recovery, as well as this breathtaking achievement. 

I swear that if they could bottle whatever it is that is running through Gabby's veins, we could completely do away with coffee and energy drinks altogether.

P.S. There are more great pictures at the mail online link.

President Obama's new political ad. Now this is how you do it!

This administration has made numerous historically positive policy decisions, such as the repeal of DOMA, the ACA, the end of the Iraq war, just to name a handful, and yet we are still hearing liberals talk about a "failed administration" and their disappointment that Obama did not change water into wine while walking across it.

It is time for progressives to put their big boy pants on and get behind our President.

There is a vicious battle on the horizon and we are going to need all hands on deck.

Unless of course you want to spend the next four years wondering how YOU could have helped stop the Romney or Gingrich presidency from taking place?

So putting the rhetoric from Fox News and Sarah Palin aside, how is our President REALLY doing? I am so glad you asked!

From Daily Kos:

The President has the highest legislative success rate than any president ever in more than 50 years.

This is a President with such a substantial record of legislations, in my mind there will never be another President as competent as this unique President Barack Obama,

We have enough in our bank to counter any concerns of the American people, including the Republicans. If needed, we’ll bring out the entire collection.

Starting with the Stimulus package several policies are contained in the stimulus package, the President saved the nation and the world, here are some of the few policies that we benefited from the stimulus package; bare with me and let’s go through it;

Education- Billions for funding education, $5 billion in new funding for Head Start, $2,500 tax credit to help offset the cost of tuition (among other expenses) for those seeking a college education. Nearly five million families are expected to save $9 billion. In addition to the grants, college kids are actually getting a $ 1000 or more for laptop and school supplies, no excuse folk, education is the key to a successful future, education is top priority on the President’s agenda, "no kids left behind" this is just simply amazing.

Unemployment insurance for up to 99 weeks for the unemployed and modernized state UI programs to cover more of the unemployed.

Large new investments in the safety net, from food stamps (SNAP) to affordable housing to child care
Reform of the Justice Department, including the end of politicized appointments and a dramatic increase in enforcement by the Civil Rights Division

Auto industry rescue, which saved tens of thousands of jobs and stabilized the economies of Michigan and other auto-industry states

Gas mileage improvements, with requirements rising to 35mpg

Stimulus support for transit programs and hybrid / electric vehicle production

Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act (FERA), greatly strengthening protections against mortgage fraud

Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility, and Disclosure Act, protecting against excessive rate increases and other abuses

The Signed the HIRE (Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment) Act, which provides incentives for small businesses and other measures

Stimulus funds for new smart grid investments and so many more.....

The Obama administration has spent $ 9.3 billion on approved 2,500 highway projects. in all 52 states, 260,000 jobs were created from this investment alone) and this year the government is set to approve even more projects than previously envisioned, folks; there will be more money available for additional transportation projects.

And if you enjoyed these examples and want to read more then just click the link at the top of the page.

The next time somebody starts taking shots at our President and then suggests how much better Sarah Palin would be in the White House you ask them, what exactly has SHE done lately for our country?  And then you send them this link.

And that goes for any of those Fox News watching morons who, against all reason, believe that the Republicans have the answers to solve the serious problems confronting our nation today.  You ask them WHAT the GOP did to move this country forward lately, as well as during the eight years of the Bush administration?

You better make sure you have a packed lunch ready.  Because it is going to take them ALL day to think of something.