The President of the United States, Barack Obama, spoke Tuesday evening to a congress long-divided, a congress with an all-time low approval rating from the American public. Always a master speaker, the president
emphasized the principle that the mission should be foremost, beyond obsession with political or personal aspiration, several times in his annual State of the Union address.
If those debaters who have filled the airways in recent months were seeking a long-winded dissertation on the accomplishments of the administration during the past year, they were disappointed. The president indeed mentioned the end of the Iraqi conflict and the death of Osama bin Laden, but the tone of his address was far more in keeping with a clear definition of the current directions the nation under the president is taking, and the goals for the years ahead.
During the course of the hourlong speech, he did mention that the world is unified behind a clear need to stop the nuclear escalation from the rogue, Iran. The world, he said, is now united behind severe sanctions. He continued that to stop the nuclear threat from Iran, no option is off the table. But, he avowed, peace is preferable. He went on to say, most specifically, that the money saved with the reduction in our reduced warfare should be used, half to pay off the national debt, and half to the renewed nation building of America. In what may have been the most moving, emotionally, of his words, he reminded us that the Hoover Dam, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the system of transcontinental highways across America all were born out of times of financial crisis. He alluded at that point to plentiful jobs available, and to his administration's endeavor to retrain workers to fill available jobs.
The debaters for weeks have declared passion and commitment to rigid ideology; the president suggested common sense in moving toward the future as a wiser and more sensible priority. He vowed to fight obstructionism with action.
The president pointed with pride to the American auto Industry. He spoke of American produced cars from Detroit, Toledo, and Chicago, being the standard in all parts of the world. He mentioned South Korea, and China, and an unlimited market. In that regard, he told the listeners, corporations shouldn’t benefit from out sourcing; from hiring overseas. He pledged double tax breaks, and double incentives to those who bring jobs back to America.
Article comments
1 - peter petterson
I have only heard sound bites. It seems to me that President Obama talked commonsense,talked about what America did and can do again. I think he wants Americans to work together, to cooperate, and remember that they all live in the same country. America and Americans have lost their way since Vietnam; and stumbled through a number of other wars losing young countrymen in the process. Iraq should never have happened, and Afghanistan should not be allowed to continue for very long either. It has a corrupt government which wants to establish an islamic state. President Obama certainly spoke some sense, have the American people got any?
2 - Christopher Rose
Having been a fan of Obama by a short head over Clinton prior to his election and then becoming rather disillusioned by his actual actions and performance over the last three years, I have to say his speech last night was pretty impressive.
Yes, he has a good delivery but there was much of real substance in his words. Given the lacklustre candidates the Republican Party has come up with, unless something extraordinary happens this year I can quite easily see him getting four more years.
3 - Clavos
The New York Times characterized the SOTU (accurately, IMO) as a campaign speech.
I can quite easily see him getting four more years.
I hope, fervently, you're wrong, Chris.
4 - Christopher Rose
Which of the Republican candidates would you be prepared to support though?
Two slightly mad faithists, a lobbyist or an arch separatist?
5 - Dr Dreadful
Two slightly mad faithists
Two? Unless "slightly mad faithists" is a tautology in your book, Chris, that's not a fair description.
AFAIK, Romney has no record of ever allowing his Mormon faith to interfere with either his political or his business career. He seems to be entirely mindful of the separation of church and state, and that's to his credit.
Santorum, on the other hand, is not slightly mad but utterly batshit insane. Given the opportunity, he'd supplant the U.S. Constitution with the Bible in a heartbeat.
6 - Christopher Rose
Well, I was just having a bit of fun, Doc, but thanks for updating me.
On the other hand, do we really want anybody who literally believes in the end days and all that stuff having their finger anywhere near a nuclear trigger?! Who knows what they might do under pressure?
7 - Igor
IMO, a pretty good SOTU.
8 - Clavos
Therein lies the dilemma, you're right...
9 - Clavos
My last in response to #4...
10 - John Lake
Upon some examination, the Presidents idea to keep all students regardless of motivation in school until graduation seems less than well thought out, and unenforceable. It could lead to more violence in schools, and students or young people winding up with criminal records at an early age. We wonder if one of the president’s daughters made the suggestion.