The Obama Presidency: A Preliminary Assessment (SUNY series on the Presidency: Contemporary Issues)

Lively and engaging essays covering President Obama’s domestic and foreign policy, governing style, and character. Barack Obama’s presidency is a pivotal one in American history, coming at a time of dramatic political change in the United States and amidst an astonishing array of domestic and foreign policy challenges. Not surprisingly, then, the Obama administration has been the focus of intense scrutiny by scholars, the press, and the public, and rarely has the tone of political discourse been more polarized and emotionally charged. In this book a distinguished group of scholars offers an objective and timely examination of the Obama administration; Obama’s character, leadership style, and rhetoric; and his domestic, foreign, and national security policies. Engaging, lively, and highly readable, each essay offers important insight into this historic president and presidency. Robert P. Watson is Professor of American Studies at Lynn University. His many books include George W. Bush: Evaluating the President at Midterm (coedited with Bryan Hilliard and Tom Lansford) and Life in the White House: A Social History of the First Family and the President’s House, both also published by SUNY Press. At the University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast, Jack Covarrubias is Assistant Professor of Political Science, and Tom Lansford is Professor of Political Science. Douglas M. Brattebo is Assistant Professor of Political Science at Hiram College. Preface -- Introduction -- Rating Presidents And Assessing Obama / Robert P. Watson -- Rhetoric And Image / Casey Malone Maugh -- Obama's Lincoln: Image To Ideology / William D. Pederson -- The Optimist And The Realist / R. Ward Holder -- Obamania In Europe / Marie Des Neiges Leonard -- The First Hundred Days / Sean Savage -- Relations With Congress / Max J. Skidmore -- The Firing Of General Stanley Mcchrystal / Douglas M. Brattebo -- The 2010 Midterm Election / Matthew N. Green -- The U.s. Auto Industry Rescue / Steven A. Stuglin -- Environmental Policy And Global Climate Change / Byron W. Daynes & Glen Sussman -- Food And Agricultural Policy / Julie A. Lester -- Health Care Reform / Michael K. Gusmano -- Response To The Gulf Oil Spill / Matthew A. Williams & Brian Richard -- Inherited Wars: Afghanistan And Iraq / Tom Lansford & Jack Covarrubias -- Iran Policy / Robert J. Pauly -- China Policy / De-yuan Kao -- Counterterrorism Policy / Leonard Cutler -- Obama, Libya, And War Powers / Louis Fisher -- The Policy Czar Debate / Justin S. Vaughn & Jose D. Villalobos -- The Use Of Unilateral Directives / Graham G. Dodds -- Vice President Joe Biden / Richard M. Yon -- First Lady Michelle Obama / Robert P. Watson -- Conclusion. Edited By Robert P. Watson ... [et Al.]. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Mode Of Access: World Wide Web. Preface Introduction Rating presidents and assessing Obama / Robert P. Watson Rhetoric and image / Casey Malone Maugh Obama's Lincoln: image to ideology / William D. Pederson The optimist and the realist / R. Ward Holder Obamania in Europe / Marie des Neiges Léonard The first hundred days / Sean Savage Relations with Congress / Max J. Skidmore The firing of General Stanley McChrystal / Douglas M. Brattebo The 2010 midterm election / Matthew N. Green The u.s. auto industry rescue / Steven A. Stuglin Environmental policy and global climate change / Byron W. Daynes & Glen Sussman Food and agricultural policy / Julie A. Lester Health care reform / Michael K. Gusmano Response to the Gulf oil spill / Matthew A. Williams & Brian Richard Inherited wars: Afghanistan and Iraq / Tom Lansford & Jack Covarrubias Iran policy / Robert J. Pauly China policy / De-Yuan Kao Counterterrorism policy / Leonard Cutler Obama, Libya, and war powers / Louis Fisher The policy czar debate / Justin S. Vaughn & José D. Villalobos The use of unilateral directives / Graham G. Dodds Vice president Joe Biden / Richard M. Yon First Lady Michelle Obama / Robert P. Watson Conclusion.