Author: Michael I. Days
Publisher: Center Street
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:

"Obama's Legacy: What He Accomplished as President" by Michael I Days

My Thoughts....

This author brought out to the reader just how wonderful as well as outstanding this president really was. For many that may not agree...well, I definitely will say that President Obama was one of our most remarkable presidents. This author does a good job at giving the reader 'a chronological record' of all of what this president accomplished as he tried to improve the quality of our life during his two terms [2008-2012] as our president. I loved how we get President Obama's achievements as it is presented so well in chapters that dealt with laws passed, race, laws passed and even immigration. Now, I will say that this author did a wonderful job at giving the reader some interesting record of this very inspiring President. I will say that during this President's two terms he did try to turn this country around the way he had promised and this author does a good job as he 'lays out the depth of his virtue, character and how each of core beliefs made him stronger' as he pushed this agenda to created create jobs, health care and a lot more to help make our America Great.

By this being our first 'Black President' I agree quite well with this author that President Obama tried to 'surround himself with good advisers, strong people with good moral values that kept him in touch with what he had grew up with and on into his political career.' I am only left to say that as we live in todays world and many of President Obama contributions and legacy will be realized to be even more important to us that may have been realized especially as time goes on. Thank you to the author for writing such a interesting novel about President Barack Hussein Obama accomplishments. ( )

If you’re wondering just what our first black president has accomplished in 8 years, author Michael Days lays it out for you here in thorough and systematic fashion. This ends up being both the book’s greatest strength and weakness, for though comprehensive it sometimes reads a bit too formulaic and tedious.

To be clear, this is a partisan account but the author keeps the facts on his side. He discusses things like the “Beer Summit”, which seemed too measured for many at the at the time but as the author shows, in retrospect were both deftly and forthrightly handled. Days also mentions many of Obama’s accomplishments that have slipped under the radar, such as increasing funding and government resources for HBCUs and commuting more sentences for nonviolent offenders than the previous 5 presidents combined. Days explains it though President Obama has been critiqued for not doing more, much of the criticism he’s received from received from both allies and natural constituencies sides has been unfair.

As for those that fit into neither of those categories, the author also has something to say. Obama has also famously been labeled an “Imperial president” for using too many executive orders. Days explains that many issues, such as extending sick leave benefits and increasing the minimum wage for federal contractors, immigration reform via DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals), were critical changes that Obama couldn’t get through Congress due to Republican obstructionism so did via executive order.

To his credit, Days also discusses some of the more controversial things Obama has championed within his own party like the auto bailout (which though widely unpopular at the time has turned out to have been a success), his Obama’s actions increasing deportations and pushing for the TPP (Trans-Pacific Partnership) trade deal.

Days makes his case here and it’s a good one. President Obama has been a truly transformational figure in American politics, not just symbolically but in practical and policy terms as well, and that will end up being his political legacy. ( )