(Sorry for the length - he was actually busier than we thought.)

* Appointed John Bolton - who opposes non proliferation treaties and the U.N.

-to Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security.

* Nominated Linda Fisher - an executive with Monsanto-for the number two job

at the Environmental Protection Agency.

* Nominated Michael McConnell - leading critic of the separation of church

and state - to a federal judgeship.

* Nominated Terrence Boyle - ardent opponent of civil rights - to a federal

judgeship.

* Canceled 2004 deadline for automakers to develop prototype high mileage

cars.

* Nominated Harvey Pitts - lawyer for teen sex video distributor-to head SEC.

* Nominated John Walters - strong opponent of prison drug treatment programs

- for Drug Czar. Washington Post, May 16, 2001.

* Nominated J. Steven Giles - an oil and coal lobbyist - for Deputy Secretary

of the Interior.

* Nominated Bennett Raley - who advocates repealing the Endangered Species

Act - for Assistant Secretary for Water and Science.

* Is seeking the dismissal of class-action lawsuit filed in the U.S. against

Japan by Asian women forced to work as sex slaves during WWII.

* Earmarked $4 million in new federal grant money for HIV and drug abuse

prevention programs to go only to religious groups and not secular

equivalents.

* Reduced by 40% the Low Income Home Assistance Program for low-income

individuals who need assistance paying energy bills.

* Nominated Ted Olson - who has repeatedly lied about his involvement with

the Scaiffe-funded "Arkansas Project" to bring down Bill Clinton - for

Solicitor General.

* Nominated Terrance Boyle - foe of civil rights - to a federal judgeship.

* Proposes to ease permit process - including environmental considerations -

for refinery, nuclear and hydroelectric dam construction. Washington Post,

May 18,2001.

* Proposes to give government the authority to take private property through

eminent domain for power lines.

* Proposes that $1.2 billion in funding for alternative renewable energy come

from selling oil and gas lease tracts in the Alaska National Wildlife

Reserve.

* Plans on serving genetically engineered foods at all official government

functions.

* Forced out Forest Service chief Mike Dombeck and appointed a timber

industry lobbyist

I don't have a definitive list, and in no particular order, but I recollect these:

- Got Bill to combat Global Warming written and through the House

- Nominated the first Latina to the Supreme Court

- Made major speeches to Muslim and African countries, a first in recent times

- Was a major participant in meetings to push international action on Climate Change issues (didn't quite the whole game like Bush)

- Nominated his political rival, Hillary Clinton, to the post of Secretary of State, allowing her to have a major role in his government

- Cash for Clunkers program is so successful it "sells out"

- Manages to get a Bill for Healthcare partly through the House, and on the boards in the Senate (if these pass, it will be the first time in 60 years that Dems have accomplished this)

- Makes some very good choices for his Cabinet (SoS, Energy) and some duds (Geithner, etc.)

- Pushes through a major stimulus package to address the broken economy left by predecessor (jury is still out, but some say improvements being seen)

I'm light on the negative stuff I know, please feel free to fill in. All in all though it does seem like a decent record compared to Number 43, and almost certainly compared to McC. Hillary might have done as well, don't know.

Democratic Underground. Forgot to mention in Bush's list: was warned about major Al Qaeda activity.

Keep em coming.

The man is bad news for moustaches.

Is that the same Dick Cheney whose firms Haliburton and Dresser Industries did business with Saddam Hussein, Qaddafi and Iran ayatollahs in the 90's? Is he still available for secret negotiations? I hear he's good at it.

If in N. Korea, it would have to be a Cuban cigar, and we don't do business with them. I'm afraid your proposal is off the table. I'm sure someone could photoshop a reasonable facsimile if that's what you require.

that's a great post. It's comical to watch professional naysayers scurry for a different set of reasons why healthcare WON"T WORK AT ALL EVER FORGET IT I KNOW SOMEONE WHO KNOWS SOMEONE, especially when you post hard numbers and rational explanations that suggest the opposite is definitely possible. Goalposts, ho!

Thanks Amity for a little bit of balance in the daily Salon health-food-fight. Reich is right today, we will get this passed.

thanks for an honest evaluation of your system. I agree - I think we're leaping over the problem of penalizing the poor again with the national bill, or at least I hope so.

Do you find people are generally satisfied with the Massachusetts plan, or not? I'm in California, without any insurance (laid off, lost it, am 100% "pre-existing', now can't get back in). Does the Massachusetts plan solve the pre-existing Catch 22? Are you satisfied with the doctors you have access to? Is there any attempt or mechanism to fix the things that people generally don't like or aren't working?

Thanks for your assessment.

KJL: Are we witnessing a Clintons comeback?

DM: No. Bill is probably just delighted to be relevant again.

Good lord, after 8 years of Bush, aren't we all!