Obama's Next 100 Days: The Top 4 Challenges Ahead

On Wednesday Barack Obama will mark his first 100 days. There's no doubt he's done a lot of things right. He's provided leadership during difficult times. He's reached out to both our friends and our enemies and opened new dialog. And he's proven his detractors wrong - being able to remain both upbeat and engaged even as problems mount.

So far, so good.

However, the NEXT 100 days are likely to be the ones where he will have to make history - or have events overtake him.

Here's why:

What's coming to a head are issues that have been boiling since long before he took office. But they will come to a boil in the next 100 days.

1. Driven to the edge.

At least one of the "Big Three" Automakers will end up in bankruptcy. Call it what you will, pre-packaged or whatever. But bankruptcy is the way to get workers off the health care plan, to walk away from pension responsibilities, and that will have a real bottom line impact on the economy and housing. Certainly there will be some mitigating factors - but continuing to pour billions of dollars into these companies won't help cars roll off the lots. Folks aren't going to 'splurge' in a tough economy and buy a car from a company that may not be in business in 2 years. Obama will have to face the impending end of the US auto industry - and that's hard to swallow.

2.
Poverty, fear, guns, and heat.

Of all the scary stuff we've seen on the news lately, the reports of gun shops running out of ammo seems to be the most haunting to me. Whether it's forward thinking criminals stocking up, or suburban vigilantes ready to defend their two car garages - the image of empty shelves where bullets used to be is hard to shake. The fact is that we're heading into the summer. And air conditioning costs money. So, with a long hot summer on the horizon, and the economic hard times settling in, there's bound to be a rising tide of unrest that will spill out into the streets. Maybe I've got West Side Story in my head, or two many episodes of the early days of Law and Order - but I don't think so. Fear, guns, and heat are a bad combination.

3.
The Banks.

The good news is - the banks profits are up. The bad news is - the banks profits are up. Because, the way that banks are making more 'profit' is by increasing charging fees to customers and being able to re-write their balance sheets by writing off bad debt. The stories of consumer complaints are legend. Credit card charges that jump through the roof. More foreclosures. Interest rates that make savings all but impossible. And now, happy days, we're hearing that salaries in the financial service industries are on the rise again. Larry Summers sleeping during the Credit Card Exec Summit didn't send quite the right message. In the next 100 days President Obama is going to have to demand accountability for the hundreds of millions of dollars that have been pumped into these institutions. It won't be pretty.

4. Iraq.

There's a significant deadline looming, June 30th. And while the Obama administration seems to be clearly on the road to draw down troops, redeploy to Afghanistan, and replace combat troops with advisers and security details, it doesn't appear to be that simple. The rising tide of violence in Iraq, in advance of the draw down, will put President Obama in the difficult decision of handing over a troubled region back to ill equipped local forces, or to back down on his promise of getting troops out of Iraq. Neither choice will play well in the press.

Overall, the first 100 days were remarkable. But the next are going to truly test the metal of the Obama Administration and the country. I hope he trained for a marathon rather than a sprint.

Comments

[Vinca]

I gave Obama, a grade of B. He is establishing better relations with other countries. I he secures the border and rollsback those tax cuts fot the very rich, I might be able to give him an A+

[ProudLiberalDan]

The one issue you are forgetting is that proposed Health Care legislation gets introduced in the Senate in June.

That's the most important agenda item we KNOW is coming up and we all need to be ready to advocate for a public, not-for-profit option, over decades of campaign contributions from the health insurance industry.

[Bud111]

100 DAYS IN OFFICE

Most Liberals are Hoping that President Obama will correct the Following:

1. His choice of corporatist advisors.
2. His halfhearted support of The Employee Free Choice Act.
3. His support of Free Trade.
4. His escalation of a War in Afghanistan and possibly Pakistan.
5. His halfhearted willingness to prosecute the Bush Crime Family.
6. His lack of support of Gov. Siegelman and other railroaded people.
7. His support of the Bush FISA compromises.
8. His continuing the practice of renditions.
9. His support of Insurance Companies over Single Payer Health Care.

[jcwtts1]

I don't know what liberals you are talking to but I can't name one who thinks any of that except Employee free choice act. What you describe is a 9 step plan to be a one term president. Good luck with that.

J

[Foxinbox]

I have to strongly disagree with you and say your in the deep minority of liberals on that one.

[SaltySaltillo]

I suppose rising radicalism in Pakistan, Iran nuclear ambitions, rising Chinese geopolitical ambitions, health epidemics, untenable balances of trade, health care reform, education reform, financial system reform are all back burner items now, huh?

[LazarusLong]

"...I hope he trained for a marathon rather than a sprint...."

Did you notice the campaign !? I think he understands long term planning and patience of execution.

No one is perfect but when you look at what our options were, I think America chose the right person for President. Maybe we can focus a little more on the big picture rather than trying to find fault at every turn.

Accountability ? Of course. But maybe we can recognize that things change with time and campaign promises from a year ago may just not be the best solution today. I, for one. am tired of the concept that a leader can't change their mind when new or differing information is available.

Whatever President Obama is faced with in the next 100 (or 1000) days, I have confidence that he will be looking out for the interests of the nation and all of it's citizens.

[larry278]

The basic thing is that Pres Obama blew his 1st 100 days. He & we must get what must be done & do it in what remains of Obama's 1st term. That is a tall order. Remember, Obama is a capitalist. Obama will have to learn to use socialist solutions. That is going to be very difficult for Obama. Obama knows almost nothing about socialism & nothing at all about building a socialist democracy. Obama is going to need a great deal of help in making socialism in America work. Obama is touted as a quick study. Let's see how quickly Obama can learn.

[timm553]

So, how do you know what the President knows and what he doesn't? Or what he needs or not? You, sir, obviously don't know what you're talking about.

[JudgeCrater]

Try your post again and let's see how quickly you can learn about what sarcasm really means.

Yeah, only 1,360 days to go in his first term. Time's a' wasting!