President Obama's Weekly Address on Day 96 of a 100-Day Yardstick

It was President Franklin D. Roosevelt who started this odd custom of presidential deeds to be done in 100 days.  During the first 3-1/2 months in office, Mr. Roosevelt pushed through Congress the massive legislation, which was the core of the New Deal.  Since 1933, the first 100 days has been used as a yardstick for initial presidential performance. 

Obviously, there have been significant changes in the US Presidency since 1933, as the news media are poised to release the general assessments by the American public on Wednesday, Apr. 29, 2009.  NP is also conducting its poll.

Selected Pythiian1's photo files of President Obama and his family from previous pieces during the 96 days have been included in this piece.

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In 2009, the complex domestic and international problems facing President Obama should not be compared to 1933, except possibly only in the narrow scope of some domestic issues that President Franklin D. Roosevelt faced in 1933. 

In 2009, families and individuals across the United States are forced to adjust to a severe economic downturn and to tighten their belts, while they watch an alarming increase in Washington spending and Congressional earmarks.  While the Dow Jones and Nasdaq have shown significant upswings, but the optimism is tempered by persistent market declines and continued unemployment reports.  

There are growing signs among the Democrats that President Obama will encounter some resistance in Congress on his budget proposal and other economic measures.

The Obama administration is mindful of the 100-day mark, but also plays down its significance when Mr. David Axelrod said that it is the news media Hallmark holiday.  Nevertheless, the White House is staging quite a show for the American public and the news media on Wednesday.

The White House's top aides have been prodding Congress to pass his budget on Wednesday, which would focus on President Obama's proposed domestic priorities in 2010.  On Apr. 29, President Obama will hold a town hall meeting with citizens in St. Louis during the day and he will cap the evening by conducting his third prime-time news conference.

It is apparent that the economy has consumed President Obama's attention so far in his young administration.  In fact, he has been more active than all recent presidents, including Ronald Reagan and John F. Kennedy.

It remains to be seen, whether or not, the Obama administration will reap its success in 2009 or in the years to come as the administration continues to push start the US economy.  The multi-tiered plans and programs are designed to solve the financial crises that affected a range of business and organizations, from Detroit to zoos, from small businesses to the closures of hospitals, and the ever pressing unemployment number, to name a few.

In his weekly remarks, President Obama chose to reiterate his message on fiscal discipline to the government as he has sought to cut back among various departments.  He also offered new approaches for the government to reform and to change some of its ways in these featured excerpts.  

Read full text here - View the White House video here.  

"It’s time to fundamentally change the way that we do business in Washington. To help build a new foundation for the 21st century, we need to reform our government so that it is more efficient, more transparent, and more creative. That will demand new thinking and a new sense of responsibility for every dollar that is spent.

Earlier this week, I held my first Cabinet meeting and sent a clear message: cut what doesn’t work. Already, we’ve identified substantial savings. We will continue going through the budget line by line, and we’ll identify more than 100 programs that will be cut or eliminated.

I’m announcing several steps that my Administration will take in the weeks ahead to restore fiscal discipline while making our government work better.

First, we need to adhere to the basic principle that new tax or entitlement policies should be paid for. This principle – known as PAYGO – helped transform large deficits into surpluses in the 1990s. Now, we must restore that sense of fiscal discipline. That’s why I’m calling on Congress to pass PAYGO legislation like a bill that will be introduced by Congressman Baron Hill, so that government acts the same way any responsible family does in setting its budget.

Second, we’ll create new incentives to reduce wasteful spending and to invest in what works. The idea is simple: agencies that identify savings will get to keep a portion of those savings to invest in programs that work. The result will be a smaller budget, and a more effective government.

Third, we’ll look for ideas from the bottom up. After all, Americans across the country know that the best ideas often come from workers – not just management. That’s why we’ll establish a process through which every government worker can submit their ideas for how their agency can save money and perform better. Later this year, I will meet with those who come up with the best ideas to hear firsthand about how they would make your government more efficient and effective."

President Obama concluded his weekly address with a nod to the private sector as another source of innovative ways to reform the government.  He also sends a message of confidence in and reassurance to the business and industries that operate well beyond the Beltway.

"And finally, we will reach beyond the halls of government. Many businesses have innovative ways of using technology to save money, and many experts have new ideas to make government work more efficiently. Government can – and must – learn from them. So later this year, we will host a forum on reforming government for the 21st century, so that we’re also guided by voices that come from outside of Washington.

Government has a responsibility to spend the peoples’ money wisely, and to serve the people effectively. I will work every single day that I am President to live up to that responsibility, and to transform our government so that is held to a higher standard of performance on behalf of the American people."

Source: White House Press Office