Objectively speaking, what have been some of President Obama's biggest accomplishments and failures during his tenure so far?

President Barack Obama's tenure, which spanned from 2009 to 2017, was marked by several significant accomplishments and some notable failures.

Accomplishments

1. Health Care Reform:

   • Obama signed the Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare, which expanded health insurance coverage to millions of Americans and prohibited insurance companies from denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions14.

2. Economic Recovery:

   • He implemented the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, a stimulus package aimed at mitigating the effects of the Great Recession. This included measures such as tax cuts, infrastructure spending, and support for education and healthcare14.

3. Wall Street Reform:

   • Obama signed the Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, which introduced stricter regulations on the financial industry to prevent future economic crises14.

4. Climate Change and Environmental Policy:

   • He played a key role in the negotiation of the 2015 Paris Agreement, an international accord aimed at reducing global carbon emissions and limiting the rise in global temperatures to below 2 degrees Celsius1.

5. Foreign Policy Achievements:

   • Obama led the negotiations for the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) with Iran, which restricted Iran's nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of global sanctions1.
   • He signed the New START treaty with Russia, reducing the number of nuclear weapons held by both countries4.

6. Social and Civil Rights:

   • Obama repealed the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, allowing LGBTQ individuals to serve openly in the military4.
   • He supported the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which relaxed the statute of limitations for equal-pay lawsuits4.

7. Education and Broadband:

   • He introduced the College Scorecard, a tool to help prospective students compare colleges based on costs, graduation rates, and post-college earnings1.
   • He expanded broadband coverage, particularly for lower-income rural families, ensuring that 98% of Americans had access to fast 4G/LTE broadband by 20161.

8. National Security:

   • Obama ordered Operation Neptune Spear, the mission that resulted in the death of Osama bin Laden14.

Failures

1. Immigration Reform:

   • Despite multiple attempts and promises, Obama was unable to pass comprehensive immigration reform. His executive actions, such as the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), were incremental and faced significant legal and political challenges5.

2. Foreign Policy Challenges:

   • Obama's handling of the Arab Spring, particularly in Libya and Syria, was criticized for being ill-conceived and ineffective. His administration underestimated the rise of extremist groups and the resilience of authoritarian regimes2.
   • The escalation of the war in Afghanistan and the continued use of drones and special operations forces were seen as prolonging U.S. involvement without clear success2.

3. Guantanamo Bay:

   • Despite an executive order to close the Guantanamo Bay detention camp, it remained open throughout his presidency due to congressional opposition34.

4. Israel-Palestine Conflict:

   • Obama's efforts to achieve a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine were unsuccessful. His reliance on traditional peace process strategies and failure to apply significant pressure on Israel contributed to the lack of progress2.

5. Domestic Political Polarization:

   • Obama's approach to politics, which emphasized consensus and cooperation, was often hampered by the highly polarized political environment. This limited his ability to achieve some of his legislative goals and led to increased partisanship2.

Overall, Obama's presidency was marked by significant legislative and policy achievements, particularly in the areas of healthcare, economic recovery, and climate change, but it was also characterized by notable failures, especially in foreign policy and immigration reform.