Obama tops Forbes world’s most powerful list

On Iran. He got weapons inspectors into Iran's secret nuclear facility for the first time, gained UN security council support for stronger sanctions if needed, has seized 500 million dollars in U.S. Iranian assets, and engaged in direct talks about nuclear issues and their involvement in U.S. Afghanistan and Iraq policy. More than 1,100 Iranians have died fighting the Afghan drug trade and public support for aiding Afghanistan is great. We are now using Iranian supply routes to keep our troops supplies as well as using the caucuses because our supply routes in Pakistan have been compromised by the Taliban during the Bush administration. Both actions would have been impossible under the Bush administration. Iran has agreed to shared nuclear enrichment in principle, and the stumbling block is an unacceptable position that Iran wishes to sell enriched nuclear material, not going to happen, period and because that ambition is in the light of day the IAEA and the U.N. do have their teeth bared with our backing but thankfully without the need for unilateral action though that possibility remains open.

Despite the difference between the real economy and GDP thanks to the corporate disparity in this country unemployment is at a startling rate with real unemployment at 18 percent and underemployment perhaps hitting as much as a quarter of the nations work force. However imagine how bad the unemployment would be if instead of third quarter growth in GDP we were hit with another contraction or if housing and car sales were again down. The incentives and stimulus that were the vanguard of this administrations policies have had an effect and the G20 under Obama's leadership injected another trillion into the global economy and Japan the second largest economy in the world and our second largest trading partner has had a positive increase in its economy as well creating the momentum for a truly global recovery.

On Gay rights, Obama passed major Hate crimes legislation, had GLBT staffers including a high ranking ambassador, and extended benefits to same sex couples to the greatest extent possible under existing law and while one rhetoric has promised both an overturn of DOMA and Don't Ask Don't Tell. However great social legislation such as Tobacco regulation, Hate Crimes legislation under the Mathew Shephard Bill, and Equal Pay for Equal Work under Lilly Ledbetter, and in healthcare the already large accomplishments removing the limitations on stem cell research, expanding SCHIP by several million, the billions for Health I.T. in the stimulus our first national investment in the field, and the subsidies that made C.O.B.R.A. at least within the realm of affordability so that the unemployment rolls didn't also swell the rolls of the uninsured. These may not be monolithic accomplishments but they are more than many presidents achieve after an entire term and they were accomplished under great duress with little fanfare.

Am I overawed? Absolutely not. Am I frustrated with Democrats in the Senate, oh God yes! But do I believe that Obama can not accomplish real progress, not for one moment and in many ways I think that he has already.

During the election he didn't take public money, he reneged on that promise.

The UN Nuclear deal is words on paper only. No compliance, no teeth.

The talks with Iran led to Iran saying "no" just as they had all along. Yielded nothing but time for Iran to continue to develop their nuke program.

What partnership with Russia? We announced no missile shield for Poland and they did a military exercise in which they simulated attacking Poland with nukes! They are providing nuclear assistance to Iran.

How has he pulled the world out of an economic nosedive? Unemployment over 10%, dollar at his lowest levels ever, gas near $3 again, gold at its highest level ever...

Cooled tensions with North Korea by ignoring their firing ballistic missiles at our allies and in the direction of our assets?

Staying out of the Iranian election dispute was a tragedy for the world's pro "let the people decide their own govts" movement. Missed opportunity.

Iraq is getting worse by the day. We have desurged and moved back to our bases where we are buttoned up at night. Result, more suicide bombings. Bring the troops home, now!

Gitmo is still open. Patriot act still in force. Illegal wiretapping. Interrogation, etc etc. All the Bush stuff still there.

Afghanistan is a mess with American casualties at their highest. Bring the troops home, now!

Lobbyists abound in his administration, despite his pledge. Lobbyists have had a hand in writing every major bill that has come out thus far.

As an advocate for health care, why did he just not extend Medicare to cover the uninsured? Why are lobby groups invited to participate in the process? Why does he court their approval?

He hasn't lifted don't ask, don't tell and he is against gay marriage.

I'd say the reality doesn't live up to the rhetoric.

Well, let's see.....hummmm.....He won a populist election funded by the people, one Nobel Prize, UN Nuclear deal, 1st talks with Iran, 1st partnership with Russia, pulled the world out of an economic nose dive, Cooled tension with North Korea, Stayed out of Iranian election dispute, Iraq, Gitmo, Afghanistan, Pakistan and he's tackling Lobbyists, Healthacare and Don't Ask Don't Tell in the first year of his first term. Yeah, I'd say he's got some juice.