Political Hay
The All of the Above President
In his State of the Union speech, President Obama tried to satisfy everybody. But during the year, he’ll be judged by the results of his decisions.
Going into last night’s high-stakes State of the Union Address, the political world was wondering how President Obama would respond to a series of political setbacks that culminated with Republican Scott Brown’s surprise victory in last week’s Massachusetts Senate race.
Would he move to the center or try to rally his liberal base? Would he retreat from comprehensive health care legislation or dig in his heels? Would his tone be feisty or conciliatory?
As is often the case with Obama, the answer turned out to be: all of the above.
In a flatly-delivered, 70-minute speech, Obama made several nods to conservatives by talking tax and spending cuts, while at the same time refusing to abandon the liberal agenda items he outlined last year.
When it came to the economy, Obama endorsed many conservative criticisms of his policies. “[T]he true engine of job creation in this country will always be America’s businesses,” he declared. He called for earmark reform. And in an affront to Keynesians who argue that deficit spending is necessary to boost an ailing economy, he said, “families across the country are tightening their belts and making tough decisions. The federal government should do the same.”
Yet he continued to talk up government spending as a means to spur economic growth, and called for a second stimulus bill.
Obama urged the Senate to follow the lead of the House and pass legislation aimed at limiting carbon emissions, but only after calling for building nuclear power plants and increasing offshore oil drilling.
While he spent most of his first year in office pushing health care legislation as his top domestic priority, in last night’s speech it was relegated to second-class status. Still important, yes, and still worth fighting for — but one priority amid a laundry list of goals that typically make up State of the Union speeches.
It took him nearly a half hour to raise the issue, and he glossed over it quickly, only dedicating roughly 7 percent of the speech to the topic, based on the word count of his prepared remarks. One could interpret his actual comments on health care either as defiant or defeatist.
On the one hand, he gave hope to liberals who were worried he was eager to abandon the issue after Brown’s win threw a monkey wrench into Democrats’ plans to pass legislation. Speaking of those struggling with the current health care system, Obama said, “I will not walk away from these Americans, and neither should the people in this chamber.” He later added, “Do not walk away from reform. Not now. Not when we are so close. Let us find a way to come together and finish the job for the American people.”
Yet at the same time, he acknowledged that “this is a complex issue, and the longer it was debated, the more skeptical people became” and suggested that there may need to be time to let “temperatures cool” before people take another look at the legislation. He also claimed that he was still open to new ideas from those in “either party.”
The idea of restoring bipartisanship was part of a broader theme of his speech, and he proposed monthly meetings with Republicans. But he pinned most of the blame for the polarized climate on Republicans, lashing out at them for abusing the filibuster. He said that “if the Republican leadership is going to insist that sixty votes in the Senate are required to do any business at all in this town, then the responsibility to govern is now yours as well.”
While Obama’s speech may poll well initially, as is always the case with Obama, the reality will soon undermine his rhetoric.
He can’t claim to be a tax cutter while pushing for a national energy tax, promoting a health care bill that hikes taxes on the middle class through the individual mandate, and allowing for a massive tax increase when the Bush tax cuts expire. He can’t tout his economic policies if job losses continue to mount and unemployment remains higher than he promised when he sold Americans on the stimulus bill.
It’s easy to talk a big game about deficit reduction during the State of the Union Address, as presidents often do, but it’s another thing to actually make difficult choices and take action to limit spending. And stories will continue to emerge that will contradict his promises of fiscal restraint. Just this week, for instance, the Congressional Budget Office revealed that the economic stimulus bill would cost $75 billion more than initially projected, and that the federal deficit would be $1.35 trillion in 2010.
When it comes to health care, Obama will either exert pressure on reluctant Democrats to get the bill across the finish line, or he’ll recognize the difficulty of doing so and let the initiative wither and die. If he chooses to push ahead, the most talked about option among Democrats right now is for the House to pass the Senate bill, while making changes in a separate bill using the reconciliation process that requires just 51 votes in the Senate. This would mean that after telling the nation that he wanted to work together with Republicans and integrate their ideas, the response would be to cut Republicans out of the process entirely and ram the bill through in the most partisan way possible.
In his annual speech to Congress, Obama was able to choose all of the above. But during the year, he’ll actually have to make decisions, and Americans will continue to judge him based on the results.
About the Author
Philip Klein is The American Spectator’s Washington correspondent. You can follow him on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/Philipaklein
Letter to the Editor View all comments (159) | Leave a comment
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Stephanie| 1.28.10 @ 6:41AM
One thing the joker was right about last night was that the public doesn't trust Washington.
It was surreal. And enough to make me spit up my dinner.
aredub| 1.28.10 @ 12:29PM
I trust Washingon---or at least 41% of it who Barry/Nancy/ and Harry refuse to listen to.
drudge ette obama | 1.28.10 @ 1:07PM
Some smarty Obama the former Constitutional law professor is, Pat. He doesn't even know his cites come from:
PatriotPost today:
"We find unity in our incredible diversity, drawing on the promise enshrined in our Constitution, the notion that we're all created equal..."
As the Internet meme goes these days: FAIL! Uh, uh, uh, -- that "notion" was enshrined in our Declaration of Independence, third paragraph, first sentence. One would think that this alleged professor of "Constitutional Law" at the University of Chicago Law School would have noticed such a simple, yet substantial, error.
pat| 1.28.10 @ 1:38PM
Calling President Obama the joker, barry, bill hussein o'stalin, etc... shows the era of politics that we have entered. This sort of attitude strikes at the core of intelligent political discourse.
drudge ette obama| 1.28.10 @ 2:44PM
Well Pat-Joker, Pat-Barry, Pat-Bill Hussein O'Stalin, you have entered the sanctimonious "it's above me" stage now.
Still praying at the altar of Lawrence Tribe, you know, the guy that defines your definition of brilliant jurist?
How does Obama's massive error in a State of the Union address reconcile with your view that he is a genius in Constitutional law?
Socialist got your tongue? Or is it just a good case of cognitive dissonance?
pat| 1.28.10 @ 3:04PM
Haha. For being a lawyer (if you really are) -- you'd clearly rather throw insults around than that argue rationally.
I'd put you in line with Scalia, rather than Roberts. I.e. I disagree with and don't respect you.
drudge ette obama| 1.28.10 @ 7:27PM
Pat, you have stepped in it.
Now we know your sex. You are female (your use of "haha" gave you away), you are intimidated by lawyers (because you aren't sure who you are writing with and questioned my being one - I am) and you topped your lame response by giving me the highest compliment that anyone who adores American Spectator would love to receive: you likened me to Scalia. Thank you, Pat. You made my day.
As far as respecting me, don't bring the argument to a personal level. No one cares who you respect because nothing respects nothing.
We are all still waiting for you to make some excuse for Obama not even knowing the difference between the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
Still waiting, mad Pat.
JohnLeeHooker| 1.28.10 @ 3:18PM
I prefer to call him a "fence post turtle." He woke up on the top of a fence post, has no idea how he got there, no idea what to do, he sure isn't going anywhere. And you remind me of the person who put him there: I know you're a democrat but I just can't figure out why you put that turtle on that post.
Margie| 1.28.10 @ 3:54PM
Hey John Lee,
I like that turtle on the fence post analogy. Now, can you make us a good bluesy guitar pickin' melody to go along with it? That'd be great! :^)
Margie| 1.28.10 @ 3:58PM
Maybe somethin' along the lines of this.. ya know. got those turtle on the fence post blues.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYrVwGxlcFA
screen protector for notebook | 9.9.11 @ 5:51AM
screen protector for notebook,it can let the computer screen to keep clean
BHG| 1.28.10 @ 4:43PM
Were you critical of MoveOn's name-calling of President Bush?
Zachriel | 1.29.10 @ 10:31AM
There's been a lot of buzz on the conserva-blogs about how Obama mixed up the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, but that is not a valid criticism.
Obama: We find unity in our incredible diversity, drawing on the promise enshrined in our Constitution: the notion that we're all created equal; that no matter who you are or what you look like, if you abide by the law you should be protected by it; if you adhere to our common values you should be treated no different than anyone else.
Nice ellipses. By truncating the sentence, the context is removed. Obama is referring to the Fourteenth Amendment.
Alan Brooks| 1.28.10 @ 7:14PM
You probably think I don't like the Bushes. WRONG.
Bush 41 was a gracious man who helped facilitate the terminus of the Cold War-- albeit building on the foundation Reagan's administration had erected.
Bush 43 faced the worst assymetrical war of all time.
However, they were both in over their heads. But, no, this isn't a regurgitation of the past-- this comment is a premonition of a Gingrich-type GOP Speaker who will assume office a little less than a year from now. I know you have you party loyalty ("never speak ill of a fellow Republican") but today you have to, like childish things-- put that away.
Alan Brooks| 1.28.10 @ 7:19PM
...what do I mean?
You'd better find one hell of a statesman to be Speaker; you have months to do so. Don't blow it. With all the talented people in this country you can find the right statesman or woman. Palin could do it, if she were given a crash course in the next 11 months.
But you have to start NOW.
Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 1.28.10 @ 6:59AM
This was simply the recycled Obama theme of it's America's fault but I will lead you beyond it. In fact he used the word I 76 times, over twice as much as any other SOTU.
The entire speech was just a rehash of the blame game but few solutions.
This also shows a recurrent Obama theme, that of missed opportunities. Obama and his White House staff continue to believe the blame game will work, when all it has become all too obvious that the blame game is a losing game for Obama.
The Obama arrogance was on display last night, in particular his idiotic comment about the Supreme Court. The SOTU was not the place for that radicalism or for launching an attack on an American institution.
It's obvious that Obama and his legion of sheeple haven't learned anything from the recent elections.
By September many ill winds will blow, including perhaps a major blow off in the stock markets, which will not recover so fast.
The Obama SOTU proved once and for all he's tone deaf, his arrogance knows no bounds and he really doesn't give a damn about the common man, preferring instead to continue looting the U.S. Treasury vis a vis Geithner.
Obama claims the public is skeptical about the prospects of his plans working. No, in fact, the public looks on in horror at the incompetency in Washington, D.C., Inc., and Obama has become part of the crowd, spinning platitudes and homilies as opposed to concrete plans and sincerity.
Deborah D | 1.28.10 @ 3:24PM
Bill -- perfectly stated. Even the pundits are starting to question his grip on reality. This is from Peter Wehner:
"What made the speech a bit bizarre, and somewhat alarming, is how detached from reality the president is. After having spent much of his time blaming his predecessor for his own failures, he said he was 'not interested in re-litigating the past.' Barack Obama lamented waging a 'perpetual campaign' – even though that is what the president, David Axelrod, Rahm Emanuel, Robert Gibbs and others in his employ do on a daily basis."
But he himself has gone on a drunken spending spree and then has the gall to say that politicians are leaving a massive debt to younger generations. Where's he been taking a nap for the past year?
Propaganda -- say one thing and do another. He's either lost his grip on reality or thinks we have.
Themistocles| 1.28.10 @ 7:09AM
All the above! Beautiful. Just like his Afghanistan decision.
It's getting painfully obvious the pecksniffian speechifier-in-chief doesn't know how to sell to an electorate that is wising up to his liberal agenda.
Lew| 1.28.10 @ 7:10AM
"In his State of the Union speech, President Obama tried to satisfy everybody. But during the year, he'll be judged by the results of his decisions. " last word should be his delusions.
Appleby| 1.28.10 @ 7:27AM
I skipped listening to President Foghorn last night; I dislike his voice and I am very tired of hearing his recycled 1968 sophomore blather.
Instead I printed out and read the 1962 Port Huron Statement of the SDS, to reassure myself that people like The Foghorn come and go, and life goes on. The first thing that struck me was that modern day college students could not read or understand the Port Huron Statement; the words are too long and the concepts too difficult. Second, they WOULD not read it, because instead of 140 characters, it is 40 pages long. And third, which is what I remembered, is that it is incredibly naive and its forecasts of the future of the country, even two years in the future, were completely off the mark. Their assessment of *Russia* (the USSR) was completely wrong; their ideas about war were childish; and in fact their analysis of the Fifties and what led to them was upside down.
And it made me smile to read many proposals that todays liberals would shriek against Not In My Back Yard. (They propose to industrialize the world, for example, and convert to nuclear power.)
So by and large the blather coming from 1968 was wrong back then and is still wrong today. And in 20 years we will read this speech and laugh.
drudge ette obama| 1.28.10 @ 8:12AM
I will find this and read it. Thanks.
Al Adab| 1.28.10 @ 10:52AM
Yes, they were wrong then and remain wrong today. Personally I prefer the Sharon statement as a political philosophy.
Gill O’Teen ✝✡| 1.28.10 @ 8:00AM
Knowing we have a ‘I’ll do what I want, not what I say’ liar-in-chief, I chose to watch reruns of “Futurama” and “South Park” last night instead of nanny botoxi cracking her plastic face leaping out of her podium seat to applaud obummer’s deceptions. After all, those fictions are at least partially based in reality. Then I thought we all needed a little giggle and determined to proceed with an idea brought to me from one of my regular correspondents. So I am intruding here to announce the Gill O’Teen 2 Yo (2010 A.D.) Haiku Contest.
Both of you who actually pay attention to what I post are aware that in the past I have attempted to have two fun contests.
The first simply asked contestants to submit their favorite obummer lie. I received exactly two entries and they each simply repeated the very lie I had cited as an example when announcing that contest, so I did not declare a winner.
Then I thought that to celebrate obummer’s lie that those who make less than $250,000 a year will not see their taxes increase even one thin dime, contestants were asked to compose a rhymed four line poem in the manner of George Harrison’s 1966 Rock Classic “Taxman”. I received entries from one person. Accordingly that person was declared the Gill O’Teen Poet of the Year 2 Yo (2010 A.D.) and he was awarded a spiffy certificate.
A few weeks ago he sent me the following email:
“Gill, You might consider promoting a Haiku competition. They are very easy to do as they require only the 5-7-5 format. I've seen them mushroom on other discussion lists where rhyming verse did not. I would gladly sit this one out and watch what comes in.”
The rules for this contest are as follows:
1) Contest entries must be date stamped before February 21, 2 Yo (2010 A.D.).
2) All entries must be sent to my gmail account gill.Oteen07041776@gmail.com.
3) Each entry must follow the basic haiku format of three (3) unrhymed lines. The first and third lines must contain exactly five (5) syllables. The middle line must contain exactly seven (7) syllables. Any entry containing obscenities or pornography will be disqualified. I will be the sole judge of this.
4) In the event that I and a contestant disagree as to exactly how many syllables a word might have, a standard dictionary or Google will be consulted. If that fails, I will ask the submitter for an explanation. If the dispute is not resolved by the contest deadline as determined by the email date stamp on the explanation, the entry will be disqualified.
5) I will compile a list of all the entries received which adhere to rule 3, and forward them to the Contest Judge as soon as practical. The identity of the composer of any entered verse will not be disclosed to the Judge. Each verse will be assigned a number based on the order received.
6) The Contest Judge alone will determine the winner using whatever guidelines he chooses. His decision will be final and may not be challenged by anyone including Gill O’Teen.
7) The Winner will receive a virtual certificate suitable for framing designating him or her "The Gill O’Teen Haiku Champion of 2 Yo (2010 A.D.)
8) The Contest Judge will be the Gill O’Teen Poet of the Year for 2 Yo (2010 A.D.).
9) His actual identity is known to participants in the earlier contest, but will only be revealed by those who send me a request. This request will be forwarded to him and only he has the right to divulge his name. For the purpose of this contest he will only be referred to as the Gill O’Teen Poet of the Year for 2 Yo (2010 A.D.).
10) Neither Gill O’Teen nor the Gill O’Teen Poet of the Year for 2 Yo (2010 A.D.) are eligible to win this competition. Everyone else who enters before the deadline is eligible.
11) The email address of all contestants will not be knowingly disclosed by Gill O’Teen to anyone for any reason.
12) Contestants will, however, be identified by their email user i.d. unless I am instructed to use an alias for said contestant. For example, ‘race5@oaklawnpark.org’ will be known as ‘race5'. If a second ‘race5' enters, that i.d. will be ‘race5(02)’ etc.
13) By entering any haiku in this contest, the contestant grants Gill O’Teen the right to use said haiku in any manner he deems fit except that he may not use any but his own compositions in any commercial enterprise without the signed permission of its author.
Sample Haiku from the Gill O’Teen Poet of the Year 2 Yo (2010 A.D.) are found in the pdf “How to Write Haiku” which I compiled and will send free as an email attachment to anyone requesting a copy.
Sample Haiku I wrote (if I can do it, anyone can do it!)
Americans’ Right
To worship their God freely
Shall not be infringed
Gill O’Teen ✝✡
gill.Oteen07041776@gmail.com
Celebrate Galt Day 4/15/2 Yo (aka 2010 A.D.)
“God made our parents
Our lives and our liberties
We make our gum’mint”
Baloney Guy| 1.28.10 @ 8:15AM
Truth diminishes
Obama's mouth runs and lies expand
Supreme Court scolded
Strange ideas clash
Pols talk but few listen
Bankers rejoice
Weak ideas fall
Lies hugely grace the night
Blame sleeps then lies walk
Al Adab| 1.28.10 @ 10:55AM
Washington our Hope
Change upon the coming wind
Trust not in the Prince
This is getting to be fun but I remember also
Any moron can
Write haiku, just stop at the
Seventeenth sylab
Al Adab| 1.28.10 @ 11:35AM
Who is John Galt? A
Man who stopped the world engine.
Shrug. We shall be heard.
Franklin| 1.28.10 @ 1:45PM
Ok, I'll bite, but I'll send it later. Right now I wanted to tell you that I have changed my nickname for Pelosi from "trampoline face" to "nanny botoxi". What a hoot.
Al Adab| 1.28.10 @ 2:53PM
Franklin,
Can't wait to see your submission.
For Chris Mathews:
Fibrilation comes
He speaks, my heart is rapid
My leg now tingles.
Franklin| 1.28.10 @ 10:21PM
Don't know if they are much good since my days in the old school houses of late '60, early '70's :
You sent a message
Must go to my happy place
Want my Unicorn
Here is another one;
Up my leg MATTHEWS
OLBERMANN Foams at his mouth
miss ? MadCow Maddow
Fraklin| 1.28.10 @ 10:47PM
Survey My Subjects
Are they working hard enough
Fame and Fortune, MINE
drudge ette obama| 1.28.10 @ 8:12AM
Obama's starting to show results from Chavez' and Castro's tutelage. 70 minutes of blow and rhetoric. The Supreme Court should not attend next year - Obama couldn't light a candle to Alito's and Robert's jurisprudence. I only hope this court gets another chance at eminent domain.
pat| 1.28.10 @ 12:09PM
Prof. Tribe -- who taught both Roberts and Obama, said they were the two smartest students he has ever had. Trust me, he can hold a candle. With the exception of Justice Stevens, who is the wisest justice on the court (even Souter admits this), Roberts is probably the clear second. Opposite ideologies -- both sound and rational legal thinkers.
Obama is much closer than Alito to measuring up to Stevens and Roberts's intellect.
drudge ette obama| 1.28.10 @ 12:28PM
Pat, the day I listen to Lawrence Tribe the Socialist, is the day my family should put me away. Even while I was in law school a while back, we all knew Tribe was leftist...... I choose my mentors carefully. (I would still love to see Obama's grades.)
Some smarty Obama the former Constitutional law professor is, Pat. He doesn't even know his cites come from:
PatriotPost today:
"We find unity in our incredible diversity, drawing on the promise enshrined in our Constitution, the notion that we're all created equal..."
As the Internet meme goes these days: FAIL! Uh, uh, uh, -- that "notion" was enshrined in our Declaration of Independence, third paragraph, first sentence. One would think that this alleged professor of "Constitutional Law" at the University of Chicago Law School would have noticed such a simple, yet substantial, error.
pat| 1.28.10 @ 1:24PM
drudge ette obama -- I, like you, am also a practicing attorney. Also, like you, I recognize that Tribe is a liberal and that he endorsed Obama during the Presidential campaign (this is no secret in the legal world). Still -- I try to be objective... and I will not deny President Obama's extraordinary intellect. He was the EIC of the Harvard Law Review. You can be cynical to the extent that he was elected to this position for a variety of reasons... but, as I am sure you are aware, most law reviews bearing the name of the university are the most highly selective journals you can be on, usually requiring the 15-20% of the class at a minimim. Certainly, Harvard law review is no different.
I wish our country could have more civil discourse -- and, even though we disagree on issues, at least respect other people's intellect and true concern for our country.
I'll concede the Dec of Independence v. Constitution error -- but, I won't concede that President Obama is not an extremely smart man... like John Roberts, Newt Gingrich, and a slew of liberal and conservative minds.
geezer117| 1.28.10 @ 2:45PM
But unable to talk to a sixth grade class without teleprompters....
BHG| 1.28.10 @ 4:48PM
If Obama's such a genius why don't we have his grades, an article for the Law Review, and why did Bill Ayers ghostwrite his books? A lazy genius?
Christopher Holland| 1.28.10 @ 10:49PM
If Obama is so damn smart, how come he needs an autocue to talk to grade school kids? If George W Bush (or any conservative for that matter - ok, GWB wasn't a conservative) had used an autocue to talk to kids, the media would never have let it go how stupid and inarticulate he was. Obama isn't smart, he is a poseur who got through life by telling people what they wanted to hear. Now the game is up - he has to deliver but he can't do it, he is clueless. All the Groveller in Chief is good for is talking, and he needs an autocue to do that. Obama isn't go to be voted out of office in 2012, he is going to be laughed out of office long before that for being the biggest loser since King George.
Melvin| 1.28.10 @ 8:18AM
You know people, why in the hell do we need the governments permission to get ourselves out of this economic funk that we are in?
It is as if we are waiting for the government to give us the green light and tell us what path we need to take.
To hell with the government, Barack Obama couldn't find his butt with both hands in broad daylight.
There is absolutely nothing that is stopping from shoving government out of the way, and making our own path out of this mess that government got us in to.
We control our destiny in this Country, not Barrack Obama, Nancy Pelosi or Harry Reid.
Tenn Slim| 1.28.10 @ 10:58AM
Opine
Now there is the best comment I have read.
Here on the Banks of the Big Muddy, we are doing just that. Local Cafe goers ALL decry the OBNA interference and most just simply ignore his statements. One cannot find a positive thought or statement about his Admin. We are simply ignoring him and getting on with the business of business.
end
Franklin| 1.28.10 @ 1:52PM
McDonnell said his state was ready to start drilling for oil off the coast. So what's stopping them? If it's government regulations, screw them. Can't be any worse than cheating on your taxes. Heck, if you screw the government, Obama may make you a czar.
Deborah D | 1.28.10 @ 3:42PM
You know what, Franklin...really! If Congress and Obama can ignore the Constitution (the freakin' law of the land) and the Senate can ingore their own rules, why can't VA just ignore whatever ridiculous rules and regulations prevent that state from drilling where in hell he wants to! If it's anarchy they want -- who says we have to follow their rules if they won't follow ours (Constitution)!?
I get so spittin' mad -- just like taxes are just for us little people out here.
OscarPhone | 1.28.10 @ 2:19PM
Melvin, I agree with you 100%. What you say is true except for one glaring fact. Obama and his uber-liberal allies in Congress have the reins to the economy in their hands. The Sword of Damocles hanging over business and American entrepreneurialism is the gross of taxes and regulations waiting to be dumped upon them at any moment. They don't know what will happen or when but "change" is be coming. Obama said so. So they sit on the sidelines waiting to be Obama's next scapegoat (or not?). He's attacked every business interest or economic sector in the country including the free market itself. Who's next? How hard will the hit be? Who knows? Nobody knows.
That's the problem and it will not be cured until Obama disowns the tactics of the enterprise hating left and get his Congress to do the same.
gmiller| 1.29.10 @ 9:48PM
Re: " That's the problem and it will not be cured until Obama disowns the tactics of the enterprise hating left and get his Congress to do the same. "
That will happen when hell freezes over. I'm with Deborah. Nullify the federal laws, withhold taxes through civil disobedience, then full speed ahead to the future. Those leftists will destroy our country if we continue to allow it.
Jim O'Brien| 1.28.10 @ 8:35AM
Did he mention the word terrorism?
Stephanie| 1.28.10 @ 8:45AM
Jim O, I don't think I heard the work terrorism or muslim extremists once.
Can this man be impeached?
Jim O'Brien| 1.28.10 @ 11:57AM
Sure. The definition of treason is giving aid and comfort to the enemy. That's what Obama is doing, by giving terrorists the rights of U.S. citizens in our judicial system. When the terrorists manage to kill 500,000 people or more in NYC, Obama will have their Miranda rights read to them. He's an incompetent fool jeopardizing our lives and our country.
Mike| 1.28.10 @ 9:01AM
What you see depends upon where you stand. No matter what President Obama says or does, many AmSpec readers will never see anything but a "communist." More enlightened readers will never see anything but a "socialist."
Baloney Guy| 1.28.10 @ 9:14AM
Please provide an example where he does not blame everyone but himself.
Mike| 1.28.10 @ 9:29AM
Apparently, you did not listen to the speech.
Franklin| 1.28.10 @ 1:54PM
You believe he meant it?
Mike| 1.28.10 @ 2:23PM
Yes.
And I believe Jim DeMint when he gave his purpose for stopping health care reform
gmiller| 1.29.10 @ 9:49PM
I will never call the Marxist usurper "President"
hunter| 1.28.10 @ 9:11AM
It is a felony to gain entrance to a Federal building by use of false document or certificate. Why is this man allowed to enter, let alone speak. Those who continue to belive and support anything he says are also highly suspect.
Mike| 1.28.10 @ 9:41AM
"Why is this man allowed to enter, let alone speak."
Maybe, because he won the election and has been sworn in as the President.
Your post, sir, is excellent evidence supporting the contention that America's education system, public and private, is failing.
Al Adab| 1.28.10 @ 10:27AM
Mike,
You got a couple things right. He won the election, which proves even the best systems suffer occasional failures and Yes the educational system is failing as we continue to produce voters without discernment.
P. T. Barnum was right. There's one born every minute.
cowgirl| 1.28.10 @ 11:06AM
That is why my 4.0 honors home schooled student who is highly educated in world as well as American History and American government will be running this country in a couple of years. He will get it back to where it belongs.
Al Adab| 1.28.10 @ 11:09AM
Let's hope so ma'am. From an old "kicker" my best to your student. may his (?) path be straight.
Mike| 1.28.10 @ 11:14AM
Is there any home schooled child who is not a 4.0 honors student?
Al Adab| 1.28.10 @ 11:30AM
The One, our leader
Speaks and we must all obey
Say No, save freedom.
Don't you remember "dissent is the highest form of Patriotism"?
cowgirl| 1.28.10 @ 12:22PM
"Is there any home schooled child who is not a 4.0 honors student? "
I don't know. You seemed to be the expert on all things here - you tell me. My son passed the California High School exit exam in 8th grade. He took the California State Standardized tests in 8th grade also. His scores in all subjects put him at the equivalent of a 12th grader in a California High School. I know that doesn't say much because the Liberals in California have destoryed the public school system. But I tell you what - I will put him up against you anyday and twice on Sunday in a World History/American History/American Government class and I will bet you he will wipe you up with a mop and bucket.
dave| 1.28.10 @ 1:49PM
No disrespect to you son, who I am sure is a bright young man... but many of us who comment here have phds, mbas, jds... oh -- and the intellegence that everyone acquires with age.
Please save rants about how your 8th grade son is smarter than the people on this board... whether or you not you agree with them.
cowgirl| 1.28.10 @ 1:56PM
Dave:
Having a discussion with a liberal is like having a discussion with Charley Mason. It makes no sense. Your post falls in that category. So does Mike's posts. But liberal are a funny bunch. When they are getting creamed in a discussion or their Messiah is getting creamed in a discussion the first line of defense is to either call someone a racists or complain about other people's right to free speech.
dave| 1.28.10 @ 2:00PM
I am not a liberal -- and I never cried foul of racism or your right to free speech. I am just saying people should be more respectful of each other. Mike, who i dont know or support his views, has obviously failed in this area as well.
I will say that painting people (i.e. all liberals) with a wide brushstroke is a pointless and counterproductive endeavor. Don't you have when liberals claim all conservative are corporate-loving, compassionless, gun-owning nuts? I do.
dave| 1.28.10 @ 2:02PM
*hate (sorry for the typo).
cowgirl| 1.28.10 @ 2:06PM
Your not a liberal. Right and I am princess Diana. Liberals have the right to say and whatever they think. Talk all day long like Obama. Call me a gun nut or compassionless. I don't care. I don't have that Liberal fuzzy-warm gene. Talk about being respectful - you are FAR from that.
cowgirl| 1.28.10 @ 2:08PM
Dave - Yes you did complain about my right to free speech. This is not your blog board. This is not your article and you are telling me what to say and what not to say. A liberal you are trouncing on free speech.
dave| 1.28.10 @ 2:11PM
Wait. Are you serious? I said I HATE when liberals people say conservatives are gunnuts and compassionless.... because I do not believe that to be true at all.
And -- I have been a registered republican for over 20 years. I didnt realize people couldn't disagree on this board without being called a liberal. Wow.
cowgirl| 1.28.10 @ 2:19PM
Your are a registered republican for 20 years. Yeah right and I am princess Diana. Your liberalism is glaring....
dave| 1.28.10 @ 2:33PM
Haha, ok cowgirl. The only thing I said remotely close to being political is when I said I hate when liberals call conservatives compassionless, gun-owning nuts.
But, since I commented that it's idiotic for you to say your 8th grade son is smarter than people on this board.... apparently this makes me liberal.
You remind me of Nancy Pelosi. If you think I'm liberal, maybe you think im complimenting you. Hint: I'm not.
(no more responses coming from me-- as, I'm sure you'll require the last word)
cowgirl| 1.29.10 @ 7:37AM
No the first thing you did on this board is attack a home schooled kid. That was the clue that you are a liberal. Again, having a discussion with a liberal is like having a discussion with Charley Mason. It makes no sense.
cowgirl| 1.29.10 @ 7:38AM
By the way, Nancy Pelosi is 100% against homeschooling.
Grzmlyk| 1.28.10 @ 12:26PM
Hey Mike: Are you the guy who's awaiting delivery of the Brooklyn Bridge?
Which of the following are you?
Moron
Child
Crook
Please check all that apply.
Mike| 1.28.10 @ 2:27PM
Grzmlyk
At little out of sorts today?
Al Adab| 1.28.10 @ 2:57PM
Out of sorts?
On a haiku day, who said Conservatives have no sense of humor?
Grz is funning you.
Mike| 1.28.10 @ 6:08PM
Haiku? You may want to brush up a little on what constitutes a haiku.
May I introduce you to ad hominen attack?
Deborah D | 1.28.10 @ 3:52PM
cowgirl -- just ignore the Mike's of the world who think if one is homeschooled they must be ignorant of the world. It is they who are ignorant.
Thank goodness your child wasn't "educated" in a government school. Good job, Mom!
Margie| 1.28.10 @ 4:29PM
Dittos to that, Deb D. Great posts, cowgirl!
gmiller| 1.29.10 @ 9:54PM
re: "Maybe, because he won the election and has been sworn in as the President. "
Look into the circumstances surrounding it, He is likely illegitimate:
http://constitutionalreset.com.....on-speech/
victor| 1.28.10 @ 9:29AM
The SOTU,
Same Olde Tired Utterances
This speech was truly a "Man Caused Disaster".
Matt| 1.28.10 @ 9:34AM
There are also some thoughts about the SOTU on Walton's Wall @ www.waltonswall.com
Pingback| 1.28.10 @ 9:50AM
“Polite to the point of listlessness” : links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Harrison St.| 1.28.10 @ 9:50AM
He said my favorite "false choice" rhetorical device too! I think it was a false choice between fighting our enemies and adhering to our values. It was all bs anyways.
Pete| 1.28.10 @ 9:52AM
Of mixed pigment
A progressive wet dream
Colossal failure
I was never good at haikus.
Harrison St.1| 1.28.10 @ 9:55AM
Found it!
"Let's reject the false choice between protecting our people and upholding our values."
I love it when he gives us these false choices being made by god-knows-who. Even better, I love this instantly-forgotten pledges for transparency by pledging a website be developed where ALL earmark requests are logged..
Margie| 1.28.10 @ 4:28PM
"Let's reject the false choice between protecting our people and upholding our values."
~This is what I mean by the type of rhetoric that lulls my brain to sleep.
homey| 1.28.10 @ 9:58AM
stretchy ghastly face
smug look makes me want to puke
we made a mistake
-my Nancy Pelosi haiku, next, I'm growing a bonsai
Al Adab| 1.28.10 @ 10:20AM
You must be another friend of Gill O'Teen who is sponsoring a haiku contest currently. Hi8s posts often show up here.
FanDaElis| 1.28.10 @ 10:17AM
I think people get it! Obama's speechs are becoming completely empty of truth and full of deceit! I do not believe he is going to recover!
Al Adab| 1.28.10 @ 10:18AM
Triangulate nothing. This is more like a dodecahedron.
Siegfried X| 1.28.10 @ 10:21AM
Lawyer arguing his case. Will say anything.
Tim| 1.28.10 @ 10:31AM
When was the last time that we saw a Sec of State not be in attendance at the State of The Union Address?
Hillary not being there and not being ill but rather be in London says it all......
The Dems have jumped ship and will be in CYO mode from now until November 2010.
Meanwhile..the rest of us can just sit and wait for those life boats to show up.
Tenn Slim| 1.28.10 @ 10:54AM
Opine
Hillary is decidly out of the Oval Office favor. I look for her resignation due to travel fatique this year.
bt
The USA owes a debt to this woman. Laboring in the FP vineyard with the OBNA minions is d.... hard work.
end
Donny Nobama| 1.28.10 @ 7:09PM
At least one cabinet secretary is always out of Washington during the SOTU speech. That's been true since the early days of the Cold War, when a well-timed hit on the Capitol might otherwise have "nuked" the entire line of Presidential succession.
But that certainly doesn't take anything away from either of your arguments, Tim or Slim. I'm also certain HRC was only too glad to make like a tree in autumn... and leave.
Derek Leaberry| 1.28.10 @ 10:37AM
One of Woodrow Wilson's worst innovations was altering the Constitutional mandate for the president to periodically inform the Congress of the State of the Union. Instead, Wilson decided to give a yearly address before that body rather than by couriering it over in writing as had been the tradition, which had proved sufficient for George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Andrew Jackson, James Polk and lesser presidents. But Wilson was our first professor-president and a bit of a blowhard, a model for two recent professor-presidents, so it is not surprising that he would turn the State of the Union into a pompous lecture. Of course, Wilson was a man who made bad innovations his life's cause- the Federal Income Tax, the Federal Reserve Board, Direct Election of Senators, US entry into World War One, Women's Suffrage, Deweyite education and the League of Nations bear his awful stamp. It would be better for Americans to turn our backs on Woodrow Wilson and all of his terrible deeds. Ending the oral State of the Union speech would be a start. There are better things to do on a cold winter night than to watch a president drone on for an hour and more while congressmen applaud like trained seals.
Ret. Marine| 1.28.10 @ 7:31PM
Yeah it was pretty funny watching the nanny seal jump up and down as if she were proud of her retarded son (obama) coming in last place at a special event. That was the most god-awfull 70 min to go through. I am really ashamed at the 53-52% whateverthehell the number was who voted this shit for brains in our house. I want him evicted and ASAP.
Tenn Slim| 1.28.10 @ 10:51AM
Opine
This is the speech Thomas Paine, a USA Founder would have made. OBNA could take a lesson.
bt
January 24, 2010
Congressional Representative and Senators:
The following is the Common Sense Philosophy that I would have you follow in creating; amending or modifying any Legislation created by you or brought to the Floor for debate. Your attendance daily to these Common Sense Principles will ensure your continuance in the USA Electorate Elected position of Trust that you hold.
Bt
1. The United States of America is good.
2. We believe in God and He is the Center of our lives.
3. We must always try to be a more honest person than we were yesterday.
4. The USA American Family is sacred. It is the ultimate authority not the Government.
5. Justice is blind and no one is above the Law.
6. We, the USA Electorate, have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, with no guarantee of equal results.
7. Government cannot force us to be charitable. We will work hard for what we have and we will share the results with whom we decide to.
8. It is not Un American to disagree with authority or to share our opinions.
9. The Government works for us. We do not answer to the Government, It answers to us.
End
Semper Fi
Black Saint| 1.28.10 @ 10:51AM
f Obama & the Democrats really wanted to create jobs, Raise our standard of living, Increase tax collections by billions, Improve our Medical care while decreasing costs, Decrease crime, save 100,s of billions in welfare, Improve our schools while decreasing cost, Provide billions more to simulate the economy etc. etc. all they have to do is Abide by our Constitution against Invasion, Enforce our Immigration Laws & and Honor their Oath of Office!
Meantime, with 15 million Americans without jobs, & Millions more working temporary & part time jobs, The invasion continues. No Liberal Politician will address the 500 pound gorilla in the room, and millions of invading, plundering, welfare loving, prolific breeding, Illegal Aliens taking millions of jobs that should be American jobs and 100,s billions of dollars in social services that should be for American citizens!I
One cannot be political correct and admit that Illegal Aliens are an large part of the problems in this Nation.
Their negative impact extends to every area from Sub-par loans & defaults, Underground economy, Massive document fraud, Lower standard of living, Crime, Overflowing prisons , Bankrupted hospitals, Failing schools, Property Taxes, Insurance costs, Environment, Culture, Welfare costs, Welfare fraud, SS fraud, Voter fraud, Disrespect for our laws & country, our Constitution against invasion and even Balance of payments occurring from oil and other imports to support the 20 to 30 million illegal aliens in this country!
One has to only look at Calif. which is basically mostly an Spanish speaking, Bankrupt state that cannot afford to provide Welfare, Schooling, Medical, Prison cells etc. for millions of MS-13 Gang bangers, Drug dealers, Rapist and other assorted Criminals and uneducated, Prolific breeding, third world Parasites from South of the border!
In a very few years it will be impossible to see where Mexico ends and Calif. begins as both will be an third world cesspool!
Failure to secure our borders and reward the Invading horde for their invasion and their relatives in an never ending chain with American Citizenship is nothing less than committing National Suicide & will assure our future is an over populated Spanish speaking third world Nation that is an Cesspool of Corruption, Crime, Poverty and Misery modeled on Mexico!
Louis Jenkins| 1.28.10 @ 2:58PM
Black Saint:
Now that's what I call Haiku.
Dan R.| 1.28.10 @ 11:13AM
As a moderate Republican who had enthusiastically supported John McCain in November 2008, I was willing to give Barack Obama the benefit of the doubt when he won and hoped that he would do a good job as our president. Initially, I was pleased with his decisions. He manned up in Afghanistan and Iraq, ignoring the fruitbat wing of his party who wanted to cut & run from both conflicts as fast as possible, and I think he and Ben Bernanke did the right thing by flooding the financial system with money to stave off a full-blown depression in the wake of the meltdown in the debt markets.
However, I said at the time that whether or not I would support him for re-election would depend on two things:
a) Whether or not he had the guts to make the tough choices necessary to actually reduce federal spending and bring the deficit under control, and
b) how he handled Iran.
I'm sorry to say that on both of these scores, I'm not seeing anything that would give me comfort. His proposed "spending freeze" is a fig leaf. It doesn't address either defense spending or entitlements. The budget deficit cannot be brought under control without going after entitlements. In addition, he appears to have gone soft on Iran and resolved himself to the fact that they are going to be allowed to develop nuclear weaponry, which I regard as an unmitigated disaster. If the nutjobs running Iran get the bomb, it's only a matter of time until one of their warheads ends up in the hands of Hamas or Hezbollah, and you can imagine where things go from there.
Contrary to my hopes and the hopes of millions of other Americans, it now apprears that our president is merely a reincarnation of the same type of spineless, big spending, big goverment, quasi-socialist, wants-to-please-everybody Democrat that we all remember from the 1970's.
NavyBrat| 1.28.10 @ 11:24AM
All this speech consisted of was more regurgitated campaign drivel. Nothing new. Just the same repetition of lies, obfuscations, & half-truths. Mr. Klein is right when he phrases this speech as "all of the above." What ELSE would one expect from a guy who's voted "present" his ENTIRE LIFE?!
WRJonas | 1.28.10 @ 11:33AM
I did not watch him either . I have developed this curious visual disorder when I am watching him speak. The word LIAR keeps flashing across my mind in rhythmic subliminal fashion. It is very distracting and makes concentration impossible. I have never seen or experienced this even when watching the Clintons. I did have a close experience once watching LBJ deny knowing Billy Sol Estes .
But this is a new phenomena for me. I am curious if anyone else has had this affliction ?
jlori| 1.28.10 @ 11:40AM
Obama likely believes that he knows what is best, that the ends justifies his means. That is how all anarchists, tyrants, socialists and Marxists rationalize eco-terrorism, riots, protests, hate-speech, violence or any other means the see fit to use to achieve their sanctioned end. He said he gets it but he just doesn’t. He will never understand that big government is the problem, not the solution; that he is the problem, not the solution.
Pingback| 1.28.10 @ 11:41AM
The American Spectator : The All of the Above President American Me links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Valerie| 1.28.10 @ 11:43AM
I don't know much about politics, or what I even believe anymore.
All I know is that I'm tired of being told to have Hope.
I don't need hope, I need a fulltime job with health insurance.
Black Saint | 1.28.10 @ 11:48AM
Obama still does not get it & I still doubt if the Politicians of either party really understands what is happening in American!
For years we have watched our jobs being outsourced & in-sourced, aided and abide by the ruling Political elite!
On the low end Politicians have allowed the largest invasion of any Nation, at any time, by any means, as millions of Uneducated, Illegal Aliens pour across our borders in direct volition of our Constitution Article IV Section IV against invasion, the Rule of Law & their Oath of office.
The Democrat support the massive invasion because a large Uneducated, Prolific breeding, dependent welfare class translates into Democrat votes!
The Republicans because their paymaster in the Chamber of Commerce & Business love slave labor with the benefits like Medical, Schooling, Welfare & Incarceration, Section 8 housing etc. are passed on to the tax payers!
On the high end H1 vistas to take the engineering, software jobs etc. at low wages to increase business profits & the insane salaries of the CEO,s their bonuses &, benefits etc.
After years of seeing their standard of living deteriorate & requiring both parents working and still not able to provide a standard of living that one working did it in the past, people are frustrated & angry that no one in Washington really cares about working Americans or the future of this Nation!
Obama promised Hope & Change so the voters kicked out a Elitist, Arrogant, Spendthrift Republican party that was wading in the swamp of corruption!
Now after one year of Democrat rule and total control most are realizing Obama sold them a bill of goods and the Democrats are even more Elitist, Arrogant, Big spending and the swamp of corruption & debt has now turned into a sea of debt & corruption with Acorn , Unions, Seiu, Wall street , Big banks & the tax funded Racist hate organization La Raza!
Both parties when they get total control & power get more corrupt, arrogant & worse than the British & King George that resulted in the American revolution and the shot heard around the world!
Now the good people of Mass. have fired another shot. If the Politicians of both parties still refuse to change and keep thinking they are Kings & we are their Serfs & they & the special interest they serve, know what is best, the next shots they hear may not be as peaceful.
It is way pass time the Politicians realize they are the servants & not our rulers and they exist to serve the American citizens & this Nation, not the special interest, not Mexico, not Latin American and every country in the world while ignoring and punishing Citizens by taxes, jobs and debt to support the rest of the world!
Patriotic American| 1.28.10 @ 12:16PM
Zoo animals have million dollar habitats; the best food, the best medical care and keepers who watch over them making sure their every needs are met. Ever looked into the eyes of an animal in a cage? They are dull and lifeless. The animals in zoos sleep, eat and pace their cages. Ever look into the eyes of an animal in the wild? They are clear and full of life. Because they are free. They are free to make choices. Choices about their habitat, food and well being. Obama and his administration want to be the American People’s zookeepers. They want to regulate our habitats, our medical care, our food and the government wants to spend trillions to attend our every need. I don’t know about the rest of America, but I don’t want to live in a cage, I want to be free. FREE to make CHOICES about my habitat, medical care, food and well-being. This November I’m breaking out of my cage.
Dixie Pixie| 1.28.10 @ 12:24PM
If you ever wondered what a political speech written by delusional and ideologically spastic squirrels trying to spout the standard liberal dogmas and myths would look like, you now have a example in Obama's SOTU speech.
Pingback| 1.28.10 @ 12:34PM
The American Spectator : The All of the Above President capital university links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Pingback| 1.28.10 @ 12:44PM
Cautious Reactions To The State Of The Union – Blog Watch links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Grzmlyk| 1.28.10 @ 12:57PM
Dixie, you have just insulted the entire squirrel population.
When do you think Obama's going to have himself declared Supreme Leader and then abolish outright both houses of congress?
Chris Matthews and David Brooks, among legions of others, will have week-long orgasms.
Dixie Pixie| 1.28.10 @ 1:48PM
Greetings Grzmlyk
Dittos on your “President Who Knew” post.
Just out of curiosity why should I apologize either squirrels or the writers of the SOTU speech?
Did anyone check the speech for a such a high gibberish factor? Did anyone proof read the speech?
My best guess is Obama will declare himself “Fearless Leader” when he realizes only the Liberal Glitterocracy will vote for him. If so, like Julius Caesar, he would be smart to keep Congress as political cover. Fortunately for us, Obama is not smart enough to stage a successful overthrow of the USA government. A crash and burn is the best he can accomplish.
Tony in Central PA| 1.28.10 @ 1:32PM
I forced myself to watch it. If there's anything people should have learned about Obama by now, its that he tells everybody what he thinks they want to hear. Its getting old. The article title nailed it, " The All of the Above President ". In the end, its just talk intended to provide good vibes and diminish suspicions about his actual intentions, which we all should have figured out by now.
The speech was 73 minutes long and was interrupted by applause 86 times. It was like watching some sort of study in primate behavior, with all of the hooting and clapping meant to reinforce the social bonds and cement the status of the alpha male.
RichN| 1.28.10 @ 1:57PM
Sums up Obama in 30 second video. Funny!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BkIh1R5utY
Black Saint| 1.28.10 @ 2:04PM
If your want a Nation like Calif. Keep voting for Left wing Democrats!
California the Golden state, American future, is fast becoming the poster child for an bankrupt third world State! If Obama & the Democrats are successful the Calif. Nightmare will soon be the Nation,s Nightmare!
An unholy alliance of Socialist Democrat politicians, Unions, and Illegal Aliens supporters are feasting at the trough of tax payers paid benefits while taxing & regulating business and the tax paying public into poverty.
The pandering of Left Wing Democrat Politicians to their constituency of Unions, Illegal Aliens and open border supporters, are driving business and citizens to other states & countries, while leaving the parasites & welfare leeches in an increasing bankrupt, crime ridden, dysfunctional state!
For years California has ignored economics 101 and imported Criminals, Uneducated Peons, and poverty from Mexico, which increased Medical, Welfare, Crime, Prison, etc. & adding a estimated 16 billion per year to Calif. State expense to support the invading horde of Illegal Aliens while exporting business and educated tax payers.
Like all Socialist countries the results have been a astronomical increase in social welfare, schooling, prison cost etc. and a lowing of Living standards, Heath care, Education standards, Tax receipts & finally Bankruptcy.
The policies of Obama and Wash. DC Democrats are intent on following Calif. policies and Pro-Illegal Aliens and Anti-tax paying citizens and are endorsing the same socialist process of rewarding the Unions, Corrupt, Stupid, Foolish, Lazy, Greedy & Criminal while punishing the responsible, honest, law abiding & hard working citizens of American.
Failure to abide by our Constitution against invasion & enforce our Immigration laws and constraints on wages and benefits for public employees will result in turning the Golden State into MexiCalif and the end of the Calif. Dream and the beginning of the MexiCalif. Nightmare!
Amnesty & Citizenship as a reward for their invasion of the USA, will result in the rest of the USA turned into a Spanish speaking third world cesspool and follow California into a polluted, over populated, Spanish speaking, third world Nation of Crime, Corruption, Poverty, Cruelly & Misery modeled on Mexico!
This will result in a population depending on Welfare and the Democrat party, thus assuring the lock on power for the Socialist Democrat party of the United States of Mexico!
Franklin| 1.28.10 @ 2:11PM
Tried to force myself to watch - had to get up (lost count) when my blood started to boil. Fear my neighbors heard "You lie", "Not true", "Scum bag blowhard", etc. coming from my house. Try not to swear but I think f*** slipped out a few times. I know sh** did. Oh, and A$$.
As far as I could tell, the whole speech was an incoherent mix of “You sent a message”, “I’m not listening”, “Republicans are lazy and just say no”, “My next takeover will be the SCOTUS” and my favorite, “It’s BOOOOSHS fault”.
Same old, same old.
archer52 | 1.28.10 @ 2:44PM
From my website:
http://truthandcommonsense.com.....who-he-is/
I believe, now for the first time, that Obama is not just a man sold on himself but a committed ideologue. Last night he did his best Mussolini head tilt and faraway gaze and declared war on the rest of us little people. Sure he has supporters, some who will follow him right off the nearest cliff, but the rest of us that stand firm and say "no more" will be punished in some form.
Like I said in my post the question is this- What happens when the irresistible force meets the immovable object? Obama last night left himself very little wiggle room when he drew that line in the sand.
Being at war with our own President and his agenda is something our nation will not handle well. Disagree sure, but being called out like the Supreme Court was last night? Being targeted with taxes and regulations that cripple our ability to function? No, there is no way this doesn't end badly. Thank God, our founding fathers gave us three branches of government. Had it been different, we'd be reading Obama's little red book.
Dustoff| 1.28.10 @ 3:02PM
Dave
I am just saying people should be more respectful of each other.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Like O-bummer was to the Supreme Court?
I question this guys (smarts) If he is. Why has most of his history been hidden? You would think they would have it glued to the W/H walls, if he was.
Pingback| 1.28.10 @ 3:13PM
Editorial: A key first step in Race to the Top | StarTribune.com | Educational Minnes links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Flee| 1.28.10 @ 3:40PM
Its hard to believe he is trying to make it seem like the Republicans will be to blame if his radical agenda does not go through. He had full reign over both houses of Congress and still could not keep the troops in line. Even if they think Bush was stupid or evil, I guarantee if he had this setup he could get things done. Not that I wanted all he asked for either but I'm just saying.
Tony in Central PA| 1.28.10 @ 3:58PM
When I hear the kind of failed agenda complaining and excuses I heard last night along with dissing the Supremes, I wonder how long it will be before there's an elitist call for Expanding the Powers of the Presidency in Order to Get Things Done.
martin j smith| 1.28.10 @ 4:46PM
Obama--Mr attack himself--pure politics--pure thuggery--No surprise.
Margie| 1.28.10 @ 5:17PM
That's the nutshelliest in a nutshell summation I've heard yet. Perfecto!
FTM| 1.28.10 @ 6:11PM
I didn't watch, I work 3rd shift and I like to get in a nap before the shift starts.
However, I will comment.
I recall shortly after Obama took office, after running his mouth about hope and change and reaching across the asile and all that some politician or another tried to reach a compromise with the guy and his response was, "we won the election." Seems to me that the comment pretty much set the tone for this administration to this point.
Anyway, seems to me that this guy is living in his own world.
seattle_ben| 1.28.10 @ 6:36PM
In typical Obama fashion, he spoke for 70 minutes and just about everybody thought he agreed with them.
The left wing nutjobs nodded at his mention of those cap™ things.
The right wing nutjobs glowed when he said he killed more talibans in 2009 than bush did in 2008.
The "have some spine" crowd thought he showed some spine and he chose to do it fora few minutes.
The "grow a pair" crowd was happy when he looked feisty and ballsy at times.
The"fiscal moderates" was happy he acknowledged the deficit mess.
The "Clintonian middle triangulation" crowd thought he moved to the middle.
The "Soulless Evil corporations" crowd were happy with the supremes getting scolded like schoolchildren in front of the principal.
Heck, the only one who visibly disagreed was Alito, and he did it silently.
I was wondering if Alito and the supremes would walk out at this bit of drama, and was amost hoping to see them do so, maybe, just maybe, we'd see Obama's teleprompter fly off and knick justice Alito's back...
I'm sure we'd have a lot more to talk about today, Obama would be speechless for the rest of the evening.
And for sure, if that doesn't wake up Reid, I don't know what would.
But it was not to be. And we end up with yet another hohum night of boring speech by the reds, followed by a boring speech by the blues and whole bunch of people screaming about the grievious insult Alito inflicted on our magnificent CIC.
Ken (Old Texican)| 1.28.10 @ 7:15PM
Seattle ben...
Bitch bitch bitch..., zero content.
Do better.
Seattle_Ben| 1.28.10 @ 8:00PM
Zero content? And I thought I failed at channeling the spirit of SOTU 2010. :)
All kidding aside, all of blogland is filled with articles from facets of the political spectrum and many can point to particular passages in the speech where their eyes light up and they're convinced Barack is with them.
This is his secret weapon. His gift. But if not for transcripts to fall back on, 5 minutes after it ended, I couldn't really remember what he said.
I do know he agrees with me. Just not so sure on what. It's his magnetic prose and I swear if Reid had not yawned to break the spell, I might be manning the phones till November in some get out the vote sweatshop.
Pingback| 1.28.10 @ 8:03PM
Biking in Heels: Back to biking | Bicycling Leisure Knowledge links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Pingback| 1.28.10 @ 9:29PM
Excerpts from VA Gov. Bob McDonnell's State of the Union Response … | Educational Vir links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Rich Joseph| 1.28.10 @ 9:33PM
I attempted to watch the President's State of the Union address. I could not make it through the whole speech. I just couldn't. I suppose that I am one of those feebleminded dolts that do not possess sufficient mental capacities to appreciate all the wonderful things that our President is doing for us and my attitude is not appropriately subservient to his enlightened leadership. So I changed the TV channel to watch Gilligan's Island instead.
While Mr. Obama droned on for 70 minutes, way out on cable channel 110437 the following exchange took place on Gilligan's Island.
"Skipper: What time did you say this was Professor?
Professor: Shortly after 11.
Skipper: Oh well then it couldn't have been me or Gilligan because we were both sound asleep.
Professor: Both of you?
Skipper: Well yes, eh...
Professor: Well then, eh, Skipper if you were asleep how could you know that Gilligan was?
Skipper: Because he told me when he woke up.
Professor: Well if Gilligan was asleep, how could he know that you were?
Skipper: Well because I.... a... well...... yes. If there's anything I can't stand, it's logic! "
The Skipper kind of sounds like he works in the Obama Administration.
Pingback| 1.28.10 @ 10:10PM
Lower Florida Keys Real Estate 1/23-1/24/10 | Monroe County FL Real Estate links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Pingback| 1.28.10 @ 10:28PM
The American Spectator : The All of the Above President USA Cws links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Pingback| 1.29.10 @ 1:38AM
The American Spectator : The All of the Above President links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Yosemeti Sam| 1.29.10 @ 2:01AM
" There is a sort of river of things passing into being, and Time is a violent torrent; no sooner is a thing brought to sight than it is swept by and another takes its place, and this too will be swept away."
Meditations bk. 4, sect. 43
Marcus Aurelius AD 121-80
Roman emperor from AD 161
Speaking of metaphorical rivers:
BHO, an allegorical hitch-hiking scorpion upon
the backs of Americans ever seeking to cross rivers to greater freedoms - read better life -
for themselves and their posterity; he stings them,
over and over again, because it's in his 'nature' and doesn't care about drowning with his victims.
Pingback| 1.29.10 @ 8:02AM
Empty Suits All The Above President « Quipster links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Pingback| 1.29.10 @ 3:40PM
American Idol 2010 Episode 6 Dallas – part 3 | Paula Abdul Celebrity Monitor links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Heather | 1.31.10 @ 10:47AM
As ever, crystal clear and cogent, Mr. Klein.
Converse | 8.12.11 @ 2:48AM
is good
gavin1 | 9.20.11 @ 7:03AM
A good post.
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