Obama: 100 Days

Today is Obama's 100th day in office.

What a milestone!

For 100 days, Obama, global citizen, has been at the helm, leading the free world.

He made so many promises during the long, long campaign; and so many of those promises have been broken in just 100 days. It's quite an accomplishment.

There is saturation coverage of Obama's first 100 days. It's everywhere.

A sampling:

Wall Street Journal: Making Sense of a Dizzying 100 Days

Washington Post: Obama's First 100 Days: A Washington Post Special Package

New York Times: Obama’s Stand in Auto Crisis Shows Early Resolve

FOX News: Obama Marks 100th Day in Office Amid Outbreak

Associated Press: President Obama to spend 100th day in spotlight

Joe Klein on the President's Impressive Performance Thus Far

The White House wants you to know that Wednesday is just like any other day. But for those who insist on highlighting President Barack Obama's 100th day in office, the White House will play along.

The president will mark Wednesday's milestone with two high-profile events, both designed to highlight the accomplishments of his fledgling administration.

Obama starts his day with a White House appearance with Sen. Arlen Specter, the veteran Pennsylvania Republican who is switching parties, a development the president said he was "thrilled" about. Vice President Joe Biden, who had long encouraged his former Senate colleague to become a Democrat, also planned to attend.

Later, Obama was to hold a town hall-style meeting in Arnold, Mo., a suburb of St. Louis, where aides say he'll note discuss his first 100 days but also focus on moving his agenda forward. Obama returns to Washington in the afternoon to prepare for a prime-time news conference, his third since taking office.

Darrell West, director of governance studies at the Brookings Institution, said the White House is smart to try to take control of the message on the 100th day.

"It's always good to play offense," West said. "If you create a vacuum, someone else is going to fill it."

Spending at least part of his 100th day on the road is keeping in step with Obama's penchant for getting out of Washington. While debate raged on Capitol Hill over his massive economic stimulus bill, Obama took his case directly to the American people, holding town hall meetings in Indiana, Florida and Illinois. When Congress passed the bill, Obama opted out of a White House signing ceremony, choosing instead to sign the bill at a Colorado science museum.

Like most of the 12 states Obama has visited in his first 100 days, Missouri is politically important. A traditional bellwether in presidential elections, Missouri went to Obama's opponent, Republican John McCain, by just a few thousand votes in 2008. Not only will Obama be eyeing Missouri in 2012, but Democrats see an opportunity to pick up another Senate seat there in 2010 when long-serving Republican Sen. Christopher Bond retires.

Obama's efforts to fix the nation's economy have drawn comparisons to President Franklin Roosevelt, who is largely responsible for the 100 days phenomenon. Roosevelt launched many of his New Deal programs during that period and, with backing from Congress, signed 15 major bills into law.

"The White House wants you to know that Wednesday is just like any other day. But for those who insist on highlighting President Barack Obama's 100th day in office, the White House will play along."

Really?

Oh, give me a break!

The White House is hyping the event and milking it, even screwing up prime time TV by seizing the airwaves for ANOTHER news conference.

The White House is making sure that this day is not like any other day.

There is so much analysis that it's ridiculous.

The big question you should ask yourself: Are you better off today than you were 100 days ago?

I am not.

I wonder how Peggy Joseph is doing.

PEGGY JOSEPH: I never thought this day would ever happen. I won't have to worry about putting gas in my car. I won't have to worry about paying my mortgage.

Has Obama eliminated Joseph's worries about day-to-day expenses?

How are things for Julio Osegueda?

JULIO OSEGUEDA: It's such a blessing to see you, Mr. President. Thank you for taking time out of your day, oh, gracious God, thank you so much!

Mr. President, my name is Julio Osegueda. I'm currently a student at Edison State College in my second semester. And, OK... I've been at the same job, which is McDonald's, for four-and-a-half years because of the fact that I can't find another job. Now, with the fact that I've been there for as long as I've been there, do you have any plan or any idea of making one that has been there for a long time receive any better benefits than what they've already received?

Is life better for Osegueda?

And what about the hundreds of millions of other Americans, along with the billions of citizens of the world?

How's it going for you after Obama's first 100 days?

For me, not good.
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John Hawkins: 20 Great Moments from Obama's First 100 Days!