A by-the-numbers look at Obama's first year

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Highlights of Obama's first year, by the numbers:

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7,949.09—Dow Jones Industrial Average close on Jan. 20, 2009.

10,609.65—Dow Jones Industrial Average close on Jan. 15, 2010.

13 million—Number of people 16 and older unemployed as of January 2009.

14.7 million—Number of people 16 and older unemployed as of December 2009.

7.7 percent—Unemployment rate January 2009

10.0 percent—Unemployment rate December 2009

$787 billion—Cost of economic stimulus approved by Congress.

$10.6 trillion—Outstanding public debt Jan. 20, 2009.

$12.3 trillion—Outstanding public debt Jan. 14, 2009.

$296.4 billion—Federal spending from the financial crisis bailout fund before Jan. 20, 2009.

$173 billion—Federal spending from the financial crisis bailout fund after Jan. 20, 2009.

$165 billion—Amount of bailout funds repaid by banks and automakers.

139—Bank failures between Jan. 20, 2009, and Jan. 14, 2010.

274,399—Number of properties that received forclosure-related notices in January 2009.

349,519—Number of properties that received forclosure-related notices in December 2009.

34,400—U.S. troops in Afghanistan in January 2009.

70,000—U.S. troops in Afghanistan as of Jan. 12, 2010.

319—U.S. military deaths in Afghanistan from January 2009 through Jan. 15, 2010.

139,500—U.S. troops in Iraq in January 2009.

111,000—U.S. troops in Iraq as of Jan. 12, 2010.

152—U.S. military deaths in Iraq from January 2009 through Jan. 15, 2010.

539—Appointments to top federal policy positions submitted to the Senate

352—Appointments confirmed by the Senate.

180—Appointments in top policy positions carried over from the Bush administration.

12—Formal news conferences.

21—Foreign countries visited.

29—States visited.

10—Visits to Camp David.

2—Vacations.

___

Sources:

AP reporting and analysis

Bureau of Labor Statistics

Treasury Department

Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.

RealtyTrac Inc.

Defense Department

White House Transition Project

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D9...;show_article=1

[alienlovechild 75]

You forgot an item:

Future 1 term president

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Obama is looking to boost those national debt numbers. Count on it.

[oh hene wa 0]

You forgot an item:

Future 1 term president

I like that due date

hahaha

it is my b'day

many blessings on your baby and

for a very healthy baby

God bless you always

[Nagishkaw 510]

21—Foreign countries visited.

[scandal 951]

So....

The stock market is higher, banks have repaid (with interest) much of the money loaned to them under TARP, the rate of job losses has dropped dramatically from ~600K monthly to pretty near zero, GDP growth was over 5% in Q4, troops are being pulled out of Iraq and are being redeployed for a major spring offensive in Afghanistan, we're hitting Al Quaida and Taliban leadership with drone attacks in Pakistan - taking out senior leadership figures, and Republicans in Congress are continuing to bottle up routine Presidential appointments despite best efforts to be conciliatory.

My hope and change are working out not too badly, after all.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

So....

The stock market is higher, banks have repaid (with interest) much of the money loaned to them under TARP, the rate of job losses has dropped dramatically from ~600K monthly to pretty near zero, GDP growth was over 5% in Q4, troops are being pulled out of Iraq and are being redeployed for a major spring offensive in Afghanistan, we're hitting Al Quaida and Taliban leadership with drone attacks in Pakistan - taking out senior leadership figures, and Republicans in Congress are continuing to bottle up routine Presidential appointments despite best efforts to be conciliatory.

My hope and change are working out not too badly, after all.

I generally agree but that 12 trillion is scary, I cringe at the idea we may reach 100% debt/GDP. Next he needs to clean out expensive programs and raise taxes.

Edited February 15, 2010 by Sousuke

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

I generally agree but that 12 trillion is scary, I cringe at the idea we may reach 100% debt/GDP. Next he needs to clean out expensive programs and raise taxes.

How about they just stop spending money, tell the old people they are on their own, and bring all the troops home

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

Well the old people paid for their programs number 1.

The military probably could use some cutting back, a lot of wasteful over budget programs happening.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Well the old people paid for their programs number 1.

Really? I thought they paid the benefits for the previous generation. Currently, more benefits are being paid out than are being paid in through payroll deductions, employer share, and self-employment taxes.

[scandal 951]

Really? I thought they paid the benefits for the previous generation. Currently, more benefits are being paid out than are being paid in through payroll deductions, employer share, and self-employment taxes.

Cite? I don't think that's true. Are you talking specifically about Social Security, or about entitlement benefits collectively (incl. Medicare/Medicaid).

Certainly in most years of SS operation, it's operated at a net annual surplus with more tax revenue coming in than benefits going out. Hence, the Social Security "lockbox". We are now getting pretty close to the point where that won't be true and we'll be drawing down the "lockbox", but I didn't think we'd arrived there in FY 2009 or 2010, at any rate.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Cite? I don't think that's true. Are you talking specifically about Social Security, or about entitlement benefits collectively (incl. Medicare/Medicaid).

Certainly in most years of SS operation, it's operated at a net annual surplus with more tax revenue coming in than benefits going out. Hence, the Social Security "lockbox". We are now getting pretty close to the point where that won't be true and we'll be drawing down the "lockbox", but I didn't think we'd arrived there in FY 2009 or 2010, at any rate.

http://www.newser.com/story/70398/social-s...-2010-2011.html

[scandal 951]

http://www.newser.com/story/70398/social-s...-2010-2011.html

Fair enough. So it's true in FY 2010 and 2011 (by those projections). It hasn't been true for the past 2-3 decades, since the last major recession in the 80s.

To Sousuke's original point, he's right too.

Well the old people paid for their programs number 1.

They did pay. They paid for the previous generation of retirees, with the reasonable expectation that they would get their benefits when the time came.

The only suckers left waiting in the SS ponzi scheme (unless it's shored up and made solvent) will be those of us currently working and contributing who will get NADA when the lockbox is drained and we retire.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Fair enough. So it's true in FY 2010 and 2011 (by those projections). It hasn't been true for the past 2-3 decades, since the last major recession in the 80s.

To Sousuke's original point, he's right too.

They did pay. They paid for the previous generation of retirees, with the reasonable expectation that they would get their benefits when the time came.

The only suckers left waiting in the SS ponzi scheme (unless it's shored up and made solvent) will be those of us currently working and contributing who will get NADA when the lockbox is drained and we retire.

The baby boomers will be the first generation to receive less than they paid in. It was bound to happen, and I blame old people for stealing from their kids and grandkids.

[scandal 951]

The baby boomers will be the first generation to receive less than they paid in. It was bound to happen, and I blame old people for stealing from their kids and grandkids.