In spite of the pressure of current setbacks, and in spite of the ubiquitous obstructionism from some sections of the Congress, the Obama State of the Union Message on the occasion of his first year in office was a joy and a pleasure to watch. Self-confident, self-effacing, and with a natural humor, our president set an aggressive and positive tone for the future. When his lovely wife Michelle seemed a little flustered in the gallery, his affection was spontaneous and uplifting. Without being dreary, there were a few items which I personally found interesting.
Relations with China are at a point which could bring the "bloom or the blight" to future history. Obama said that we will not "accept second place" in the world. But then, neither will China. He was respectful, cordial, and never condescending. (Aside: my thought, particularly in view of the recent figure skating events covered in the media, is that perhaps at some future time America and China will feel a close and real love and respect one for the other.) The President spoke kindly and respectfully of Germany, and India, and he spoke highly of the Muslim world, hoping that we might contribute to their efforts at education, and such.
We have long pondered the seeming inconsistency pertaining to Iran and her nuclear capacity. The issue re-occurs — why can we have nuclear armaments, while they cannot? He resolved that issue, this observer felt, in saying that we must be forever watchful that nuclear weaponry never fall into the hands of terrorists. If Iran had such weaponry, it could indeed fall into unfriendly hands, and that in my estimation resolved the issue.
The Supreme Court has been a disappointment in recent times, encouraging gun ownership in spite of obvious reasons to limit such ownership. And now the Justices have given lobbyists and special Interest groups, domestic and foreign, unparalleled rights to influence the American government. Sometimes one has to wonder. Former Justice Sandra Day O'Connor was critical of the decision. Barack Obama in an atypical moment in his delivery expressed displeasure and disappointment. Many of us I'm sure had hoped he would.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - roger nowosielski
I don't believe what I'm hearing.
This article should be labeled "satire."
2 - Dave Nalle
Apparnetly you watched an entirely different speech from the rest of the country.
Dave
3 - roger nowosielski
No, he didn't. He's simply predisposed to the idea that Obama can do no wrong.
No different, really, from the kind of garbage that MSM keeps feeding us.
4 - Dan(Miller)
Re comment #3, apparently lots of CNN viewers liked it.
Dan(Miller)
5 - Glenn Contrarian
There were areas where I didn't agree with the president - 'clean coal' and biofuels immediately come to mind, since I haven't seen any real progress on the first and the second one takes more energy to produce than is obtained from it.
I also disagreed with increased offshore drilling...but that one's not quite so bad.
I strongly AGREED with his push on nuclear energy - I've always been for it (unlike most of my fellow liberals), because next to truly renewable energy sources, nuclear power's the cleanest we presently have. That's why I'm a contrarian.
The most interesting point of the night, IMO, was when he listed eight different instances of tax cuts...and not one Republican clapped in applause. Things get interesting when you take toys away from spoiled children....
I think he should have gone further in pointing out how the Republicans have refused any attempt at bipartisanship, since they've voted in lockstep even against bills that they've co-sponsored, and refused to even consider an exchange system for health care reform...never mind that the Republicans (some of whom are still serving now) had proposed just such a system as a counter-proposal to 'Hillarycare'. But I have to remind myself - these days, hypocrisy doesn't seem to be a negative trait in the eyes of many conservatives.
A banner point of the night was when the president directly addressed the Supreme Court and told them just how bad their decision was, how it went against a century's worth of legislation, and how it could lead to foreign companies pumping in all the money they want to influence elections here stateside.
"Government run by organized money is the same as government run by the organized mob." FDR said that...and he was absolutely right.
President Obama's speech will not be perfect in anyone's eyes...but it was directed mainly at the independent voter - and in that respect it was very, very good.
6 - Clavos
A banner point of the night was when the president directly addressed the Supreme Court and told them just how bad their decision was...
An act that was not only wrongheaded, but also shockingly inappropriate for the occasion and place. The Justices displayed much more class than our crass president by not reacting to his rude remarks.
President Obama's speech will not be perfect in anyone's eyes...
Ya think?
...it was directed mainly at the independent voter - and in that respect it was very, very good.
Funny. This independent wasn't impressed at all, except for the comments about nuclear energy.
7 - roger nowosielski
So what do you think, Glenn? This sudden call for "jobs bill" is a case of awakening? After being in office for one full year bailing out Wall Street putting the cart before the horse? So now he finally realizes that it's the economy, stupid, and in the wake of political defeats in Massachusetts and Virginia and New Jersey? After dividing the country despite his solemn pledge to unite it?
You may keep on referring to fine political points - just like the ones you mention. But all I see is lack of integrity, lack of passion, lack of true leadership. The man was elected mostly on the basis of his symbolic value. The Democrat Party was so keen on proving to themselves and all alike how free of bias and enlightened they are.
Well, now we're getting the dividends.
8 - Baronius
John, I'm surprised that you didn't like the Republican response.
I didn't see the speech, or the response. There's something distasteful to me about a lawyer encouraging study in science and math. But it really bothers me that a lawyer wouldn't recognize the Supreme Court's obedience to the Constitution in this recent decision.
9 - Baronius
Oops. My sarcastic notation didn't show up on the beginning of comment #8. Of course John's adoration for the speech prepared me for his dislike of the Republican response.
10 - roger nowosielski
I didn't like the Republican response. It was in the same pedestrian vein as the original address.
It was a perfect opportunity to address the country at large, the people who have been led to expect so much only to end up being disappointed, the tea-party crowd, what have you. But no, the response was geared to counter Obama's speech, for which very reason it was equally dry, devoid of meaningful content and failing to connect.
But, apparently, any populous kind of message must be deemed as inappropriate for such a momentous occasion as State of the Union speech (or its rebuttal). And so, the disconnect continues.
11 - Princeton Conservative
I thought the President did an excellent effort to revitalize Americans into supporting him and his agenda!....
hahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahah
NOT!
12 - STM
He looked like a shot duck to me at the outset of the address. One-term President is my tip, or a very close run thing next time round, and I don't care either way as I'm not American so there's no bias involved.
You have to ask yourself too what he might be thinking right now, having lost a senate seat held by the democrats since 1946, in the most democrat-friendly state in America, and in the first term of his government.
Granted, the Bush administration and the shysters on Wall St left him with a jumbo-sized shit sandwich, but still ... he's not been able to rise above it, which is the mark of a good politician. I hope he proves us wrong.
I also notice Hillary saying yesterday that she wouldn't do the full eight years in her job - and that line of questioning from the media assumes Obama will get back in.
Perhaps Ms Clinton knows something we don't, or has been checking the polls and at least suspects that she won't even be required to go round again.
13 - Arch Conservative
Can Mr. Lake get his tongue any further up Obama's ass?
I fell asleep twenty minutes into
Obamapalooza 2010 last night. but even asleep I knew it was the same old horseshit.
The only way to make an Obama State of the Union speech worth watching these days would be to have Biden wrestling an crocodile behind Barry.
The GOP should have Scott Brown give the rebuttal......from inside his pickup truck.....now that would have been worth watching.
This guy's so bad even Jimmy Carter will soon be saying what the F$@k?
"President Obama's speech will not be perfect in anyone's eyes...but it was directed mainly at the independent voter - and in that respect it was very, very good."
I have a thousand dollars that says come election day this November those independent are not exactly going to be showing any great fondness for Barry and the Dems Glenn. You want some of that action?
Here's to Brack Obama....a legend in his own mind.
14 - roger nowosielski
Don't say that, Archie. I'm being accused by some of the very same thing.
15 - pablo
"John Lake, aka BigBadJohnny, is a Chicago born humorist, self-styled expert, and sometime Liberal Blogger.
I can only assume that John was using the humorist part of his bio by writing this article.
16 - pablo
Hey John Lake,
You ever see "The Obama Deception"? Great flick man, its available on video.google
17 - Jordan Richardson
Oh God. The Obama Deception is one of the stupidest "documentaries" I've ever seen. Filled with out-of-context quotes and fear-mongering, the only thing it's worth is a good laugh.
It reminded me of Ben Stein's evolutionary hit job in Expelled.
18 - pablo
How about some cases in point Jordan? Or is that too much to ask? I can't stand Stein.
19 - Jordan Richardson
It's been a while since I've seen it, but I just watched the introduction again and the use of ominous music really reminded me of Stein's nonsense.
To dig any deeper in context and to offer a fairer critique would require a reviewing and I must concede I'm not really up to that today.
I do recommend Lake and others watch it, though, if only for interest's sake.
20 - Dave Nalle
I strongly AGREED with his push on nuclear energy - I've always been for it (unlike most of my fellow liberals), because next to truly renewable energy sources, nuclear power's the cleanest we presently have. That's why I'm a contrarian.
That makes two of us, and apparently just about no one else who matters.
The most interesting point of the night, IMO, was when he listed eight different instances of tax cuts...and not one Republican clapped in applause. Things get interesting when you take toys away from spoiled children....
A claim which every think tank from Heritage to Cato debunked this morning, pointing out scores of tax increases and how his "cuts" were merely restructuring which in some cases actually raised taxes - as usual mostly on working people.
A banner point of the night was when the president directly addressed the Supreme Court and told them just how bad their decision was, how it went against a century's worth of legislation, and how it could lead to foreign companies pumping in all the money they want to influence elections here stateside.
The best part of that was Alito mouthing "that's not true" to the camera. And in fact it is NOT true and shows a gross ignorance of campaign law on Obama's part or the part of whoever wrote his speech. The FEC already has rules entirely separate from McCain-Feingold which specifically block foreign corporations from donating to US campaigns and those restrictions were in no way struck down by this decision. Under those rules even if a foreign corporation had a US subsidiary only revenue generated by that subsidiary and kept in the US could be used to promote candidates in the US.
Dave
21 - pablo
Jordan Ok I see. You say filled with out of context quotes, but you only saw the introduction. Ok, that makes sense. Then when asked to provide some examples politely you decline. Ok I see.
I make a recommendation of something that I find of value. You denigrate it. Ok. Thats fine, but when asked by me to cite some examples in the interest of civility and discourse you decline, and then admit you only saw the intro!
Ok Jordan, I see how it is. Thanks.
Next time you cite something of value to yourself, and I come in and denigrate it, without citation when asked, particularly not even having read or watched the substance, don't be surprised if I respond in kind Jordan.
22 - pablo
Nalle 20
And how about a US corporation that has foreign stockholders to the tune of billions? As usual you make no sense, and ignore the obvious.
23 - pablo
My mistake Jordan, i misread what you said, and I apologize. I am still waiting however to ever read an apology from Nalle to ANYBODY. Particularly in light of his demeanor in general to those that he disagrees with. Any comment on that Nalle? I didn't think so.
24 - Jordan Richardson
Pablo, I'll try to clear up some time over the next couple of days to watch it again. No promises, though.
25 - pablo
Fair enough Jordan, thank you.