Exactly a year into the US presidency, Barack Obama has invited a wide range of opinions on his job performance. Some criticise him for taking on too much (?now?s not the time for healthcare reform?), others for doing too little (?why hasn?t he done more about climate change??). Conservatives deride him as too liberal (?he?s socialising healthcare!?), yet many liberals feel abandoned (more troops in Afghanistan instead of pulling out). Some think he?s too idealistic (he favours diplomacy and dialogue), whereas others claim he?s not idealistic enough (declining to meet the Dalai Lama before visiting China). One way or another, he has disappointed everyone.

That?s not surprising. After a campaign full of soaring rhetoric, Obama the President had to face reality, and he?s turned out to be a centrist and a pragmatist. He claims to be pretty pleased with his first year in office, giving himself a B+, and even an A- if healthcare passes. The fairest assessment is that it has been a year of partial victories for the US President.

Partial victory is particularly true of the economy, the most pressing issue when Obama entered the White House. Obama succeeded where it was most important?preventing a financial collapse. His stimulus package had moderate success, and the most recent reports claim that it saved or created up to 2 million jobs. Most economists agree that the US is in recovery. However, unemployment is at 10%, small businesses can?t get loans and families are still losing their homes. And let?s not even talk about the deficit.

The economy is just one part of Obama?s domestic agenda, which has been shockingly successful by some assessments. According to the 56-year-old Congressional Quarterly?s analysis, when Obama expressed a clear opinion on a piece of legislation, Congress went along with him 96.7% of the time?beating Lyndon Johnson?s first-year record of 93%?despite Republicans? staunch opposition and extensive use of the filibuster. One of these votes, healthcare, will be the most important piece of legislation in a generation if it passes. His remaining three years will undoubtedly have fewer successes given the pre-election paralysis that is sure to set in this year and the undoubted loss of his filibuster-proof majority in November?s mid-term elections.

Obama has been less successful, however, in foreign policy. The wisdom or folly of his war leadership remains to be seen, but Obama has come off as weak on all other fronts. Diplomacy has failed to curb Iran?s nuclear ambitions, the Russia ?reset? button reset nothing at all, China called the shots during Obama?s November visit, the Secretary of State botched the setup for Israeli-Palestinian peace talks and Obama was saddled with too much blame and not enough credit after the Copenhagen climate talks.

The one global front on which Obama has succeeded is in restoring America?s reputation, which had been greatly tarnished by Bush?s mismanagement. The US has reclaimed its status as the most admired country in the world, climbing up from 7th place in 2008 in the Nation Brand Index. Even this victory is nuanced. Obama has been less arrogant and more willing to reach out to others than his predecessor, certainly. But his attempts to reclaim the nation?s moral high ground are compromised by missing the deadline for closing Guantanamo and backtracking on torture memos.

Given Obama?s mixed record, it?s not hard to see why he?s the subject of so much criticism and why his approval rating has been hovering around 50%. But all said, he?s done surprisingly well as President. Let?s take Bill Clinton?s old measure: is America better off now than it was a year ago? The answer is an unequivocal yes.

feedit@expressindia.com