Resolved: Obama's performance in the White House has not been successful

Thanks LK for your response. The reason I did not respond much to your arguments is because in R1 you said rebuttals were for R3, not R2. Some of my opponent's sources are biased as well (i.e. redstate.com). This time I used all valid sources. Energy Policy --Rebuttals-- "As my opponent forfeits the point of it being effective towards green energy companies, it is worth noting that the bill did not have one positive return." "The stimulus has only been a loss to the Obama Administration." This is not true at all. The Facts: Electricity generated from solar, wind, and geothermal has doubled since 2008. [1] It would be pretty naive to think that the largest investment in clean energy in history did not contribute to this accomplishment. America will now control 40% of the global lithium-ion battery market by 2015, not 2%. [2] This also occurred because of the Stimulus. American Natural Gas Production is at an all-time high. [3] "While it may be possible that this stimulus will create 5 million jobs within the coming decades, this is merely speculation with no facts attached to it. " Actually, the Congressional Budget Office, along with high numbers of economists, have said that the Stimulus package has been a huge success. The CBO has reported that the Stimulus: -Increased GDP by up to 1.9% -Lowered the unemployment rate by up to 1.3 percentage points -Increased the number of full-time workers by up to 3.3 million [all 4] -Renewable Energy is now 12 - 14% of all American energy production [5], a campaign promise kept [6] "This is just over a 1% change, which is very pathetic for Obama's investment into green energy. These "accomplishments" would have been done without him." Actually, it is a 2-3 point change, (10% of all --> 13-14% of all), which really is a 30% or 40% change. In fact, my opponent's source says, and I quote: "The investments in sustainable energy made by the federal government as well as state and private funders have paid off handsomely." "Oil record not because of Obama" Obama agreed to also release oil from Strategic Petroleum Reserve though, increasing the amount of oil production to an Eight-Year high. [7] My opponent's source for this is a Conservative Republican Congressman on Fox News. "Preventing premature deaths isn't supported" Under Obama's direction, the EPA has put forth safeguards that would prevent up to 11,000 premature births, 130,000 asthma attacks, 5,000 heart attacks, 5,700 hospital visits, and 540,000 sick days being used. [8] "Obama/ Keystone Pipeline" My opponent's main argument was that harming the nation's largest aquifer was a environmentalist hyperbole. On the contrary, his source supports my argument, and says that so far, there isn't a path that doesn't cross the aquifer, and it would likely be completed by October. This further supports my argument, because I said Obama would support the pipeline when the planning is fully put out. Therefore, Obama is not harming the country here, by protecting our nation's largest aquifer. "Secretary Chu wants a Spike in Gas Prices" According to my opponent's source, this is not supported. He said that a gradual rise in prices would increase renewable energy. Chu opposes a spike in oil prices. Energy Conclusion Obama's historic investments in clean, domestic energy have: -Doubled Electric production from Solar, Wind, and Geothermal -Increased domestic Natural Gas Production to an all-time high -Made the US back on top in producing 40% of lithium car batteries -Made the US have 13-14% of our total energy resources from renewable energy Job Policy "The claim that Obama prevented a second Great Depression is completely false." It did prevent a second Great Depression. In fact, Alan Blinder and Mark Zandi, both highly renowed economists, have said that without the Stimulus and other actions, GDP would've been 6.5% lower in 2010, and we would have lost 8.5 million more jobs. [9] The prevailing thought among economists is that the stimulus prevented another depression. [16] It is clear that the program has had a very large and positive effect on the economy. The stimulus created up to 3.3 million jobs. [10] [11] Without the Stimulus, unemployment would've topped 11%. [11] Both of these facts are from the CBO. "Note: I urge readers to visit my opponent's source # 25 about how the US would have had "20% unemployment." The sources says nothing of the kind and is again, misleading." I apologize, wrong source. Anyways, without the Stimulus, we would've had 11% unemployment. Jobs Conclusion -The economy is healing from the biggest downturn since the Great Depression -Obama's Stimulus package created up to 3.3 million jobs, lowered unemployment by 1.3 points, prevented an economic depression, and increased GDP by about 1.9% - 3.5%. -Obama has signed less regulations than predecessors -Obama signed Auto bailouts, which saved 1.4 million jobs, and put the Big 3 back into business with profits. GM is now back on top. -Taxes are at the lowest levels in 60 years [12] -The economy has added over 4 million private sector jobs over 25 consecutive months of job growth. [17] The economy lost 4 million jobs -Manufacturers, helped widely by the Stimulus and Auto Bailouts, have added 400,000 jobs since February 2010 -Obama has signed multiple Free trade agreements with other nations, on track to double US exports by 2015. [18] The trade agreements will support tens of thousands of jobs, help boost the economy, while protecting labor and environmental rights. [19] Foreign Policy "The sanctions against Iran are horrendous foreign policy and likely to cause retaliation." The Obama administration has put tremendous pressure on Iran on a variety of fronts — far more pressure than the Bush administration was ever able to muster. They are a better policy that all-out war, and if Iran did decide to block the Strait of Hormuz, it wouldl hurt Iran more than the US. [13] "Obama has weakened relationships with our only ally in the Middle East, Israel, by pursuing an anti-Israel type policy. " Obama has actually promoted a peace process for the Middle East, and has increased our intelligence and security forces with Israel to higher levels. In fact, Israeli Jews view Obama about as well as the last President Bush. [15] "My opponent's last point of "strengthened our alliances with other nations," is laughable at best since it is so broad." Global approval of US leadership is 28% higher under Obama than it was under Bush. [14] START Treaty As I said last round, it reduces BOTH America and Russia's nuclear arsenals to 1,550 weapons. It allows more American inspectors in Russia. So, this START Treaty has improved the world's nuclear safety. Foreign Policy Conclusion We have higher levels of security and intelligence cooperation with Israel now under Obama. The START Treaty reduces both the US and Russian nuclear arsenals and improves global security. Obama let the peace process of the Arab Spring unfold by itself, with many new Democracies sprouting by themselves. Libya no longer has a vicious dictator. We have nearly eliminated al-Qaeda. The War in Iraq was responsibly ended. Sources: http://www.debate.org...