Lately, the public opinion polls have been showing growing discontent with President Obama, not surprising considering the many problem that exist and have not been possible to solve anytime soon!
But as Peter Beinart has demonstrated on THE DAILY BEAST website, in actuality, Obama has had a more successful record of accomplishment, in many ways, than both Jimmy Carter in his four years, and Bill Clinton in his eight years in the Presidency!
Obama has been able to gain passage of the economic stimulus package, the health care reform, and now financial regulatory reform seems about to pass. He is also seeking to gain environmental and immigration reform, and one should not bet against these ideas eventually occurring!
Obama also has been able to put two women on the Supreme Court, with the likelihood that they will promote a view of the Constitution that most progressives and liberals will be happy with! And while foreign policy is very complex, he has been seen as making major changes in relations with the rest of the world!
For his first 18 months in office, Obama has achieved more than all Presidents except Woodrow Wilson, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Lyndon B. Johnson!
It seems, as Beinart states, that Obama will be seen as a transformational President for the promotion of larger government, as much as Ronald Reagan was transformational for the promotion of conservative views in the 1980s! Despite any gains by the GOP this year in the midterm elections, Beinart believes that we are witnessing a major shift leftward that will continue despite the Tea Party Movement!