Other contributors have said "What are Barack Obama's accomplishments as president?" is the same question as "What are some opinions about what President Obama has done right as President during his term so far?". If you believe that these are not asking the same thing and should be answered differently, click here.

What are some opinions about what President Obama has done right as President during his term so far?

In: US Presidents, African-American History, Barack Obama [Edit categories]

Answer:

This question is asking for opinions. Please keep the tone friendly when adding yours. This question is for voicing your opinion about what has been done right. See the related question below for voicing your opinions about what was done wrong in his Presidential term so far. If you disagree with another opinion in these answers, do not put that here, that is what the discussion section is for. When adding your opinion, put it below those opinions before yours.

He became President of the United States
President Obama is also the first black President of the United States
Saved the collapse of the American automotive industry by making GM restructure before bailing them out, and putting incentive money to help the industry
Shifted the focus of the war from Iraq to Afghanistan, and put the emphasis on reducing terrorism (where it should have been all along)
Relaxed Anti-American tensions throughout the world
Signed order to close the prisoner "torture camp" at Guantanamo Bay
Has made the environment a national priority, and a primary source for job creation
Has made education a national priority by putting emphasis and money behind new ideas like charter schools, but speaking directly to school children in telling them they have to do their part
Won the Nobel Peace Prize
Created a $789 billion economic stimulus plan
Made the appointment of first Latina to the Supreme Court
Pushed for attractive tax write-offs for those who buy hybrid automobiles
Authorized construction/opening of additional health centers to care for veterans
Renewed dialogue with NATO and other allies and partners on strategic issues
Began the process of reforming and restructuring the military 20 years after the Cold War to a more modern fighting force. This includes new procurement policies, increasing size of military, new technology and cyber units and operations, etc.
Provided better body armor to our troops
Created the "Cash for clunkers" program that offers vouchers to trade in fuel inefficient, polluting old cars for new cars to help stimulate auto sales, save energy, and help the environment
Changed the failing status quo military command in Afghanistan
Closed offshore tax safe havens
Deployed additional troops to Afghanistan
Ended previous policy of awarding no-bid defense contracts
Ended media blackout on war casualties and the return of fallen soldiers to Dover AFB
Ended the previous practice of cutting the FDA and circumventing FDA rules
Ended previous practice of forbidding Medicare from negotiating with drug manufacturers for cheaper drugs; the federal government is now realizing hundreds of millions in savings
Ended previous practice of having White House aides rewrite scientific and environmental rules, regulations, and reports
Enabled the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that has created 2.1 million jobs (as of 12/31/09)
Ended previous policy of not regulating and labeling carbon dioxide emissions
Ended previous policy of offering tax benefits to corporations who outsource American jobs; the new policy is to promote in-sourcing to bring jobs back
Ended previous policy on torture; the US now has a no torture policy and is in compliance with the Geneva Convention standards
Launched website Recovery.gov to track spending from the Recovery Act, an unprecedented step to provide transparency and accountability through technology
Ended previous practice of protecting credit card companies; in place of it are new consumer protections from credit card industry's predatory practices
Ended previous "stop-loss" policy that kept soldiers in Iraq/Afghanistan longer than their enlistment date
Enabled law that energy producing plants must begin preparing to produce 15% of their energy from renewable sources
Established a National Performance Officer charged with saving the federal government money and making federal operations more efficient
Established a new cyber security office
Expanded the SCHIP program to cover health care for 4 million more children
Expanded vaccination programs
Provided funding to families of fallen soldiers to have expenses covered to be on hand when the body arrives at Dover AFB.
Provided the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) with more than $1.4 billion to improve services to America's Veterans
Encouraged Federal support for stem-cell and new biomedical research
Budgeted funds for high-speed, broadband Internet access to K-12 schools
Responded with compassion and leadership to the earthquake in Haiti
Responded immediately and efficiently to the floods in North Dakota and other natural disasters
Launched Business.gov - enabling conversation and online collaboration between small business owners, government representatives and industry experts in discussion forums relevant to starting and managing a business - Great for the economy
Improved housing for military personnel
Improved conditions at Walter Reed Military Hospital and other military hospitals
Changed failing war strategy in Afghanistan
Improved benefits for veterans
Increased infrastructure spending (roads, bridges, power plants…) after years of neglect
Donated his $1.4 million Nobel Prize to nonprofit organizations
Increased opportunities in AmeriCorps program
Provided tax credits to first-time home buyers through the Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009 to revitalize the U.S. housing market
Increased pay and benefits for military personnel
Increased student loans
Instituted a new policy on Cuba, allowing Cuban families to return "home" to visit loved ones
Cracked down on companies that deny sick pay, vacation and health insurance to workers by abusing the employee classification of independent contractor. Such companies also avoided paying Social Security, Medicare and unemployment insurance taxes for those workers
Limited salaries of senior White House aides; cut to $100,000
Placed limits on lobbyists' access to the White House
Protected 300,000 education jobs that would have otherwise been lost, such as teachers, principals, librarians, and counselors through the Recovery Act
Placed limits on White House aides working for lobbyists after their tenure in the administration
Pushed for the Children's Health Insurance Reauthorization Act on February 4, 2009, which provides quality health care to 11 million kids - 4 million who were previously uninsured
Lowered drug costs for seniors
Made more loans available to small businesses
Held many more press conferences and town halls and provides much more media access than previous administration
Signed the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act, the first piece of comprehensive legislation aimed at improving the lives of Americans living with paralysis
Negotiated deal with Swiss banks to permit US government to gain access to records of tax evaders and criminals
Promoted a new Afghan War policy that limits aerial bombing and prioritizes aid, development of infrastructure, diplomacy, and good government practices by Afghans
Announced creation of a Joint Virtual Lifetime Electronic Record for medical records of members of the U.S. Armed Forces to improve quality of medical care
Encouraged new federal funding for science and research labs
Created new funds for school construction
Ordered all federal agencies to undertake a study and make recommendations for ways to cut spending
Ordered a review of all federal operations to identify and cut wasteful spending and practices
Began the phasing out the expensive F-22 war plane and other outdated weapons systems, which weren't even used or needed in Iraq and Afghanistan
Reengaged in the talks on global warming and greenhouse gas emissions
Provided tax credit to workers thus cutting taxes for 95% of America's working families
Reengaged in the treaties/agreements to protect the Antarctic
Removed restrictions on embryonic stem-cell research
Helped reverse a downward spiral of the stock market. On January 19, 2009, the last day of President Bush's presidency, the Dow closed at 8,218.22. In February 2010, the Dow closed at 10,309.24
Renewed loan guarantees for Israel
Restarted the nuclear non-proliferation talks and building back up the nuclear inspection infrastructure and protocol
Returned to the government the money authorized for his family's refurbishment of White House offices and private living quarters
Sent envoys to the Middle East and other parts of the world that had been neglected for years; reengaging in multilateral and bilateral talks and diplomacy
Unveiled a program on Earth Day 2009 to develop the renewable energy projects on the waters of our Outer Continental Shelf that produce electricity from wind, wave, and ocean currents. These regulations will enable, for the first time ever, the nation to tap into our ocean's vast sustainable resources to generate clean energy in an environmentally sound and safe manner
Signed national service legislation; expanded national youth service program
Permitted states to enact fuel efficiency standards above federal standards
Arranged for students struggling to make college loan payments to have their loans refinanced
Commanded and authorized the SEALS team to gain the successful release of a US captain held by Somali pirates
Pushed for the FDA to now regulate tobacco
Ended the previous stop-loss policy that kept soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan longer than their enlistment date
Cut the missile defense program by $1.4 billion in 2010
Provided for the public to meet with federal housing insurers to refinance (the new plan can be completed in one day) a mortgage if they are having trouble paying
Arranged for the closing of the "secret detention" facilities in Eastern Europe and elsewhere
Implemented the US financial and banking rescue plan
Commanded the US Navy to increase patrols off the Somali coast
Signed the Weapons Systems Acquisition Reform Act to stop fraud and wasteful spending in the defense procurement and contracting system
Visited more countries and met with more world leaders in his first six months in office than any prior President
Improved relations with Iran
Improved U.S. policy on climate change
Set timetable for exiting Iraq and brought troops home
Improved relations with Russia
Improved relations with the Islamic World
Made progress towards greater cooperation on limiting nuclear proliferation
Created jobs with his economic stimulus plan causing the unemployment rate to decrease. Currently at the lowest in recent years.
Drastically slowed down the recession
Saved Wall Street
Passed the Lilly Ledbetter Act (equal work for equal pay)
Signed the healthcare reform laws after he pushed for the successful passage of the comprehensive health care reform
Signed into law a financial reform package related to Wall Street
Nominated two of the only four women ever to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court
Presided over the departure of U.S. combat troops from Iraq after seven years.
Received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009 for his "extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples."
Created closer oversight of the financial services/credit card industry
Ratified the nuclear weapons reduction treaty with Russia
Rescued the US automobile industry
Provided timetables for bringing our troops home from Afghanistan
Accomplished the extension of unemployment compensation
Put an end to discrimination against homosexuals in the military
Assisted in the overthrow of Moammar Gadhafi, with no loss of American life
Extended unemployment compensation
Started a new hospital records system
He has done wonderful work starting to repair the sullied image of the United States around the world
Helping the earth become a better place
Gave money for veterans
Encouraged people to do the right things and not the wrong
Told people to believe in their dreams and to go through with them and have a great life
He has given the late night talk show hosts a lot of new material for their jokes, as well as the 'forwarded' email jokes
Kept John McCain from becoming President, which is all the contribution he needs to make. Even if he screws up royally, at least he kept Senator McCain from sitting in the "big boy's chair"
Called for resumption of Arab-Israeli peace negotiations
Introduced George Mitchell as an envoy for peace in Palestine
Improved strained relations with moderate Arab leaders (like with his meeting with President Mubarak of Egypt and his meeting with King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz
Started reversing U.S. efforts to isolate antagonists such as Iran and Syria
Believes that there needs to be an elimination of nuclear weapons (like nuclear weapons in Iran)
He has tried to do the best things possible to try to fix our country and the world's Economic Crisis (Watch the CBS Evening News w/ Katie Couric weekdays on CBS @ 6:30pm Eastern)
Improved Relations with Russia
Made the Rights of Women around the World a Core Component of the U.S. foreign policy
Made Progress towards Greater Cooperation on Limiting Nuclear Proliferation
Improved Relations with Iran
Sponsored these bills (unverified):
- S.RES.529 : A resolution designating July 13, 2006, as "National Summer Learning Day".
- S.2048 : A bill to direct the Consumer Product Safety Commission to classify certain children's products containing lead to be banned hazardous.
- S.2125 : A bill to promote relief, security, and democracy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
- S.2154 : A bill to provide for the issuance of a commemorative postage stamp in honor of Rosa Parks.
- S.2259 : A bill to establish an Office of Public Integrity in the Congress and a Congressional Ethics Enforcement Commission.
- S.3627 : A bill to prohibit the Department of Defense and the Department of Energy from selling, distributing, or transferring elemental mercury, to prohibit the export of elemental mercury, and for other purposes
He has done us proud, he is one of the best Presidents ever
Ordered Osama Bin Laden killed on May 1st 2011
Signed a detailed form to ban abuse to prisoners
Sent out 800+ bills, most of which helped the US or will in the future
Put his life on the line just to fix bush stupid mistakes
Signed an Executive Order on government contracting to fight waste and abuse
Renewed dialogue with NATO and other allies and partners on strategic issues
Launched Recovery.gov to track spending from the Recovery Act, an unprecedented step to provide transparency and accountability through technology
Launched a $15 billion plan to boost lending to small businesses
Invested heavily in education both as a way to provide jobs now and lay the foundation for long-term prosperity
Signed an Executive Order establishing the White House Office of Urban Affairs
Issued a Presidential Memorandum to restore scientific integrity in government decision-making
Answered questions at the first online town hall from the White House that were submitted and voted on transparently by the public at WhiteHouse.gov
Established a central portal for Americans to find service opportunities
Launched Business.gov - enabling conversation and online collaboration between small business owners, government representatives and industry experts in discussion forums relevant to starting and managing a business
Appointed the first ever Federal Chief Information Officer to provide management and oversight over federal IT spending
Signed the Children's Health Insurance Reauthorization Act on February 4, 2009, which provides quality health care to 11 million kids - 4 million who were previously uninsured
Issued an Executive Order repealing the Bush-Era restrictions on embryonic stem cell research
Committed to phasing out the expensive F-22 war plane and other outdates weapons systems, which weren't even used or needed in Iraq/Afghanistan
Played a lead role in G-20 Summit that produced a $1.1 trillion deal to combat the global financial crisis
Signed the Weapons Systems Acquisition Reform Act to stop fraud and wasteful spending in the defense procurement and contracting system
Ordered the closure of the prison at Guantanamo Bay and a review of our detention and interrogation policy, and prohibited the use of torture
Appointed Special Envoys for Climate Change, Southwest Asia, the Middle
East, Sudan, and a Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan
Increased infrastructure spending (roads, bridges, power plants) after years of neglect
Increased minority access to capital
Developed a comprehensive new strategy on Afghanistan and Pakistan that will help defeat Al Qaeda and authorized the deployment of more than 21,000 troops to Afghanistan
Signed the Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act which gives the federal government more tools to investigate and prosecute fraud, from lending to the financial system, and creates a bipartisan Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission to investigate the financial practices that brought us to this point
Signed the Helping Families Save Their Homes Act
Increased, for the first time in more than a decade, the fuel economy standards for Model Year 2011 for cars and trucks so they will get better mileage
Issued a Presidential Memorandum to the Department of Energy to implement more aggressive efficiency standards for common household appliances
Announced a new U.S.-Mexico border initiative
Concluded cyberspace policy review
Established a new "U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue"
Announced new policy steps towards Cuba
Provided funding for advanced manufacturing technologies
Issued a Presidential Memorandum on the Freedom of Information Act instructing the Attorney General to issue new guidelines to the government implementing those same principles of openness and transparency in the processing of FOIA requests
Funded the design of a new Smithsonian National Museum of African American History scheduled to open on the National Mall in 2015
The Executive Order on Presidential Records brings those principles to presidential records by giving the American people greater access to these historic documents, severely curtailing the ability to use executive privilege to shield those documents
Signed the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, a hallmark piece of legislation
Signed an Executive Order establishing a White House Council on Women and Girls to provide a coordinated Federal response to the challenges confronted by women and girls and to ensure that all Cabinet and Cabinet-level agencies consider how their policies and programs impact women and families
Reengaged in the agreements/talks on global warming and greenhouse gas emissions, and addressed the U.N. Climate Change Conference
Supported the first steps of a legally-binding treaty to reduce mercury emissions worldwide
Managed several natural disasters successfully, including oil spill in the Gulf- one of the worst environmental disasters ever- severe winter ice storms and flooding in several states
Provided new car tax credit
Purchased fuel efficient American-made fleet of vehicles for the federal government
Nominated Sonia Sotomayor to Supreme Court. She's confirmed and becomes the first Hispanic Supreme Court justice
Helped reverse a downward spiral of the stock market. On January 19, 2009, the last day of President Bush's presidency, the Dow closed at 8,218.22. Today, the Dow closed at 10,309.24 (February 2010)
Earned an unprecedented success rate of 96.7% on winning congressional votes on issues where he took a position. He did even better than legendary arm-twister Lyndon Johnson who had a 93% success rate in 1965
Signed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act that made it a federal crime to assault an individual because of his or her sexual orientation or gender identity
Appointed the first Special Assistant to the President for Disability Policy
Signed the Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act authorizing advance appropriations for the Department of Veterans Affairs by providing two-fiscal year budget authority thus enabling better medical care for veterans. Endorsed by the American Legion, American Veterans, Blinded Veter...ans Association, Disabled American Veterans, Jewish War Veterans, Military Officers Association, Military Order of the Purple Heart, Paralyzed Veterans of America and Vietnam Veterans of America
Held impromptu press conference to urge Congress to investigate Anthem Blue Cross and other corporate health insurance companies that raise premiums in high amounts without explanation. Rep. Henry Waxman launches probe. In this case, Anthem Blue Cross wanted to raise premiums 39%. They have now put the increase on hold for two months (as of February 2010). Legislation preventing such increases pending
Designated $1.5 billion from the Troubled Asset Relief Program to fund programs at local housing finance agencies in the states hardest hit by the housing crisis: California, Florida, Nevada, Arizona and Michigan. The MBA forecasts that foreclosures will peak in the last quarter of 2010
Extended discounted COBRA health coverage for the nation's unemployed from 9 months to 15 months. Workers laid off between September 1, 2008 and February 28, 2010 qualify
Extended unemployment benefits for 2,000,000 unemployed Americans by 20 weeks. At the time the bill was signed 7,000 unemployed Americans were losing their unemployment benefits each day
Eliminated federal funding for abstinence-only education which was significantly increased during the Bush Administration to $176 million annually
Rescinded the Global Gag Rule
Appointed the most diverse Cabinet in history including more women appointees than any other incoming president
Committed to no permanent military bases in Iraq through the Defense Authorization Act
Provided the Department of Veterans Affairs the largest spending increase in 30 years to improve medical facilities and national cemeteries, and to assist states in acquiring or constructing state nursing homes and extended care facilities
Strengthened the Endangered Species Act
Empowered states that legalized medical marijuana to regulate themselves. Fourteen states have allowed some use of marijuana for medical purposes: Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maryland, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Maryland, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington
Enhanced earth mapping
Increased funding for national parks and forests in 2010, and plans to do it again for FY 2011
Allocated special funding to the Labor Department to provide green job training to veterans
Allocated funding to states and the Department of Homeland Security to save thousands of police or firefighter jobs from being cut during the recession
Created and sustained 2.1 million jobs and stimulated the economy 3.5% [as of December 31, 2009] through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
Signed on to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Signed the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act of 2009. The Act extends the Ryan White programs through 2013
Ordered a review by the Sentencing Commission of mandatory minimum sentences
Signed the Travel Promotion Act of 2010 to increase travel to the United States
Expanded the Rural Energy for America Program and USDA energy grants to empower farmers that want to use renewable energy
Revitalized and empowered the EPA, OSHA and the SEC to protect workers and consumers by regulating business practices
Signed the HIRE Act
Did not apologize to BP for making them take responsibility for the mess they created, as the GOP has done
Did not suggest that taxpayers foot the bill for the spill instead of BP, like John Boehner, Michele Bachmann, Tom Donohoe and other GOPers think we should
Did not further injure out of work Americans by blocking the extension of unemployment benefits in June of 2010
Worked tirelessly to get Congress to work in a bipartisan manner and encouraged Democrats and Republicans to work together and compromise . Democrats did
As the leader of the most powerful nation on earth, Barack Obama has inspired billions of people across the globe to take part in their political community, especially the youth populations
Supported funding for deep space travel by NASA (incl. asteroids and Mars)
Imposed a $500,000 cap on senior executives' pay for the most distressed financial institutions receiving federal bailout money
Developed new Afghan War policy that limits aerial bombing and prioritizes aid, development of infrastructure, diplomacy, and good government practices by Afghans
Announced the long-term development of a national energy grid with renewable sources and cleaner, efficient energy production
Held first Seder in White House
Backed the START Treaty
Stood for the food safety regulation bill
Quit smoking cigarettes as a leader and role model to set an example of a healthier lifestyle

See also the related question below asking for opinions about what he has done wrong* so far.

*Note: some opinions may be based on misinformation or misinterpretation of facts.