PRESIDENT Obama said on Friday, Dec. 19 that 2014 has been “a breakthrough year for America,” focusing on achievements of the past 12 months and the prospect of compromise with political foes taking control of Congress next year.
“My presidency is entering the fourth quarter. Interesting stuff happens in the fourth quarter,” the President said at a year-end news conference before his holiday vacation.
The news conference came at the tail end of what Obama titled his “Year of Action,” when Congress failed to take up most of his agenda plans, so he turned to ways to act on his own. Republicans cried foul at the tactic, accusing the President of overstepping his authority, while voters did not seem to think much of the strategy either, giving Obama low marks in public opinion polls.
Despite crushing losses for the Democrats in last month’s midterm elections, he declared a renewed confidence and energy for the next year.
The President acknowledged many unanticipated crises on the national and global scale in 2014, but said he would enter the new year with a renewed assurance that “America is making strides where it counts.” He also said he intends to make sure the economy, government and justice system work for everyone.
Ticking off the year’s improvements, he cited lower unemployment, a rising number of Americans covered by health insurance, and a historic diplomatic opening with Cuba. He also discussed the hopes he has for the communist nation, not anticipating change overnight.
“This is still a regime that oppresses its people,” Obama said. However, he hopes the diplomatic approach would bring about progress.
He also briefly talked about his own executive action on immigration starting next year, an issue of comprehensive reform which the nation is deeply divided on. He also promised that America’s combat mission in Afghanistan would soon be over.
“Take any metric that you want, America’s resurgence is real. We are better off.”
The President will return to Washington with both chambers of Congress under Republican control, a first since he’s been in the White House. Despite likely dead ends on Capitol Hill, Obama is hopeful to compromise with the new Congress on issues like commerce and taxes and to bring forward action on immigration reform. He promised to continue to act on his own authority where he can.
He mentioned that he has been speaking to House Speaker John Boehner and incoming Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell about how they can work together to make progress.
“They are serious about wanting to get things done. The tax area is one area where we can get things done…the devil’s in the details,” he cautioned.
“I’m being sincere when I say I want to work with this new Congress to get things done,” he said.
(With reports from The Associated Press)
(www.asianjournal.com)
(LA Weekend December 20-23, 2014 Sec. A pg.1)
