Obama at 100 days: By the numbers

Posted: Friday, April 24, 2009 12:00 PM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: White House, The First 100 Days, Barack Obama

From NBC's Mark Murray, Harry Enten and Athena Jones
Today is President Obama's 95th day as president, but it's as good of a time as any to begin looking at his first 100 days -- numerically:

Note: All other recent past presidents -- Bush 41, Clinton, and Bush 43 -- threw out Opening Day pitches during their first 100 days.

Note 2: By Wednesday, the only modern presidents who will have conducted more press conferences in their first 100 days than Obama are Truman (14) and Clinton (13).

Note 3: Of Obama's domestic trips, only three have been to states that weren't battleground states in 2008, and one of those exceptions -- Arizona -- will most likely be a battleground in 2012.

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Comments

-- he's conducted 10 press conferences (Wednesday's will make it 11)
-- he's given at least 10 major speeches
-- he's held seven town halls (Wednesday's will make it eight)
-- he's embarked on 13 different trips (Wednesday's will make it 14)
-- he's signed 13 bills into law
-- he's signed 19 executive orders
-- he's, according to our friends at PolitiFact, kept 27 promises, broken six, and compromised on seven others
-- and he's thrown out ZERO first pitches at Major League Baseball games

-------------------

Under Obama, there have been nearly 4 million more people unemployed, he's threatened the banks, insurance companies, and automakers to the point that the public has lost confidence in all those industries. We're trillions of dollars more in debt, and foreign dictators laugh at him.

But, at least he's popular.

Morgan Masse, KC (Sent Friday, April 24, 2009 12:10 PM)

Well he's got the best marketing outfit in the world working for him. Congratulations New York and especially GE. Cute little song here :-)

http://market-ticker.denninger.net/

Dave, Tn (Sent Friday, April 24, 2009 12:11 PM)

THAT'S WHAT I CALL A PRESIDENT !!!!!!!!!!!!!

RON, PHILA. PA. (Sent Friday, April 24, 2009 12:11 PM)

The most important facts are the 13 bills signed and 19 executive orders issued reversing the damage of War Criminal Bush and his torture hugging party. I'm so glad that Obama tortured the repugnant ones last week with the release of the torture memos regaling us with the evildoers' sinful ways and total lack of morals and ethics. Ah the sweet smell of progress and change we can believe in.

I'm so looking forward to the release of the 2,000 torture photos that will further rub the noses, er trunks, of the Evil Elephant Party in their immoral sins. Looks like the tortured torture party will break into 2,000 little photos. Tee Hee the truth will always come out eventually.

In Obama We Trust!

Eric, Salinas, CA (Sent Friday, April 24, 2009 12:17 PM)

He's had a hell-of a- lot more shi! to clean up compared to any other president. Think he's had time to throw out a first symbolic pitch? I don't blame hime, If I had an opportunity to return to battle groung states that helped me in the polls I would do so as well.

So how did you all rank him on the s*** sweep scale? Wjo actually got paid to come up with this first 100 days scale. Given the unpresidented crisis Geroge Bush and GOP left this nation and world in. Give me a break...report some serious news guys...

Anita, Birmingham, Alabama (Sent Friday, April 24, 2009 12:21 PM)

Wait a minute,You guys left out a few other tid-bits.Bamer used the toilet 197 times,he drank 265 glass of water,smoked a couple butts,had three MGD's,ate every day he's been in office,used the phone 107,999 times,kissed his wife 2097 times,his kids twice that many.Hay this is stuff every american needs to know,right?Please MSNBC hire some News people,get rid of the rag mag writers you have.And please get rid of Moran Joe and his racist right hand Patty B.they can take there act to south of the mason,where there fans love them,and Rush,Sean,Sarha,and the rest of the ranters.

jesse St.Paul Minnesota (Sent Friday, April 24, 2009 12:22 PM)

I'll bet the media is really glad to have this whole "100 Days" angle to obsess over for a few days, sure beats that whole "torture" situation, huh?

Hard to tell the politicians that you've been playing footsie with all this time hat they broke the law, huh?

It only gets harder from here . . .

Nashville_fan (Sent Friday, April 24, 2009 12:23 PM)

And now the United Nations and the International Red Cross are calling for a Torture Investigation. What a great first hundred days. I can't wait to see Cheney on trial at the Hague.
And for all you folks who voted for and supported these torture policies, well, the Germans got over it, so can you.

David Duke (R) (Sent Friday, April 24, 2009 12:23 PM)

Looks like his media supervisors have determined that he's made it through his 90 day probationary period.

You guys ever consider the possibility that you sound like cheerleaders? Inadvertently, of course, but it sometimes seems indicative of subconscious sympathies and biased leanings.

He does look busy, though.

Rah Rah!

Richard, Washington State (Sent Friday, April 24, 2009 12:28 PM)

Anita:

ANY other president?

Get some perspective. Vietnam, for example.

Richard, Washington State (Sent Friday, April 24, 2009 12:29 PM)

It would have been nice for a little more comparrison to G.H.W. Bush, Clinton and G.W.Bush. How much did they do during the same period? I would like to see that comparrison.

S.B. Stein E.B. NJ (Sent Friday, April 24, 2009 12:33 PM)

19 executive orders reversing previous executive orders. The executive order merry-go-round isn't much of an accomplishment. Not for Clinton, not for Bush and not for Obama.

Signed 13 bills into law? No comment on whether that's average or not, so I assume it is.

But the first pitch thing, that only proves to me he's a communist! (Actually, he invited Castro to throw out a first pitch, but it turns out Cubans have to defect in order to play baseball here.)

So far, I compare Obama's start to the Seattle Mariners. I like the players and the manager more than Obama and his team, but still have the same reservations about their ultimate performance.

Anita, Birmingham:

Re: the **** sweep scale. Do you mean the outgoing pile or the incoming one?

Richard, Washington State (Sent Friday, April 24, 2009 12:36 PM)

There were 26 promises kept before they got the dog.

Richard, Washington State (Sent Friday, April 24, 2009 12:39 PM)

Wow, Eric, Salacious! You get to rub elephant noses and send a thrill down your leg with 2000 torture photos! Will you do it simultaneously or relish each pleasurable act separately to make it last? Will you be alone or with a like-minded elephant nose rubber and torture photo afficionado?

There are red letter days and then there are red letter days!

You must be positively glowing! We're so happy for you.

Richard, Washington State (Sent Friday, April 24, 2009 12:45 PM)

Richard:
Both and as for Viet Nam, I remember well. President Obama is doing a great job considering the S*** sweep he has to contend with. He is my President of choice.

He is doing an excellent job.

Anita, Birmingham, Alabama (Sent Friday, April 24, 2009 12:59 PM)

MSNBC: I see you have a few Repugnant ones on your first read sign up list.

Hey you guys (Repugs)—YOU ARE NOT FOOLING ANYONE BUT YOURSELVES.

Andrea, New York City (Sent Friday, April 24, 2009 1:00 PM)

I'm so looking forward to the release of the 2,000 torture photos
------------------------------------------------------
As if we needed any more evidence to point out how truly unhinged Eric in Salinas is, now he's actually looking forward to torture photos.

Dude, get some professional help (Sent Friday, April 24, 2009 1:07 PM)

I see the 'hater-ade' is flowing briskly today.

This is a great list for all of those who love to say that President Obama does nothing but give speeches. I would love to see how this list stacks up to what other Presidents accomplished in their first few months in office.

What's funny is that there are people who are criticizing him for not having saved the planet in his first 3 months in office. George W. Bush inherited a country with a huge budget surplus, no deficits, no wars and a world (for the most part) that respected us...and he was able to turn all that around in only 8 years.

So I guess the hope for some was that maybe Obama can take a country with a 3 trillion dollar budget increase, major deficits, 2 wars and a world (for the most part) that hates us and turn all that around in only 100 days! Get over it people!

I think, under the dire circumstances he was dealt and the huge mess this country was left in after the past 8 years, he's doing a tremendous job.

Kudos Mr. President!

Dee, Dallas, Texas (Sent Friday, April 24, 2009 1:08 PM)

While Bush was vacationing at his Texas ranch during his first 100 days Obama was working. Obama keeping people informed and interacting with people.

I like a president that interacts and doesn't hide from people.

eagle1776 (Sent Friday, April 24, 2009 1:13 PM)

Numbers are easy to count, and any accounting hack at AIG can do that. Let us look at the current facts surrounding our new President. Shall we! President Obama, can think for himself, speaks clearly, and presents information rationally. He is a deep thinker, knows his facts, and does not make rash decisions. President Obama is strong when the situation calls for force however, smart enough to listen first. Politically, President Obama is finding out quickly that the GOP/RNC are mentally ill, and clinically insane. President Obama knows the meaning of, keeping his emotions properly in check, and keeping with the correct political responses. By the way America! If those South American dictators think that President Obama is weak?? They had better think that one over very carefully. Shaking hands, listening carefully, accepting a book, and shaking hands at a conference is one thing. President Obama is not showing weakness! He is showing diplomacy! Make this President angry, and they will quickly feel his wrath!

Rock, Janesville,Wisconsin (Sent Friday, April 24, 2009 1:29 PM)

I'm so looking forward to the release of the 2,000 torture photos that will further rub the noses, er trunks, of the Evil Elephant Party in their immoral sins. Looks like the tortured torture party will break into 2,000 little photos. Tee Hee the truth will always come out eventually.

In Obama We Trust! Eric, Salinas, CA (Sent Friday, April 24, 2009 12:17 PM)
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++==

We need to reach out to our liberal buddies, and the best way to do that is to start with an apology. I'm sorry Bush and Cheney thought LA and NY were worth annoying a few known murderers of Americans with a little water and "the threat" of a caterpillar. There I feel much better now.

Dave, Tn (Sent Friday, April 24, 2009 1:31 PM)

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