State of The Union 2011

[Gaspar]

I found the speech very meh.

The tone was great!  Rather than a "Problems with America" speech, President Obama gave an "American Exceptionalism" speech.  Very Regan/Bushesque for the first 20 minutes.  There was a real push for compromise and cooperation. 

As for the meat, there was none.  The primary issues that Americans care about are the deficit and jobs. 

President Obama addressed the deficit issue by proposing a freeze on domestic spending.  Well we are already spending well over deficit levels, and a freeze will bankrupt us.  Without strong spending cuts we cannot maintain this pace.  In almost the very next breath he began to detail new "investments" A.K.A. spending.  So we got some elegant nonsense to address the deficit issue.

For over 20 months unemployment has been well over 9%.  President Obama cited jobs only 13 times in this speech talking mostly about private sector innovation and competition with other countries. He also mentioned his new clean energy objectives as the primary engine for new jobs.  All of this is stuff we already know and have heard.  Great long term goals, but no meat.  He paid lip-service to simplifying the tax code, but was very clear only to cite simplifying the "individual tax code."

Not much of a speech really.  He did not use the time effectively to address the issues that caused his party to lose the house.  The tone was pleasant though.  He is a talented speaker.

Did anyone pick up on anything special?

[waterboy]

Gosh, YOU didn't find any meat? YOU didn't think he addressed in detail the problems of our country and their solutions?

Very surprising. Quick, use your it's EASY button and enlighten us. You're usually so helpful in that way.

I'll start for you:

IT's EASY, just......

[Townsend]

I found the speech very meh.

Of course you did.  He could've announced a cure for cancer and you'd say it was meh.

[Gaspar]

9.4% unemployment. Virtually no change.

14 Trillion in debt (up from 9 Trillion)
1.3 Trillion in Deficit (up from about 200 billion) increased by a factor of 7 since he took office.

Unemployment and debt are the only issues he had to address.  The only issues I was interested in hearing about, so yes I suppose I found no meat.

My question is, what meat did you find?

[Townsend]

My question is, what meat did you find?

The same that can be said over and over.  I was impressed with the end.

"Remember this - I never suggested that change would be easy, or that I can do it alone. Democracy in a nation of three hundred million people can be noisy and messy and complicated. And when you try to do big things and make big changes, it stirs passions and controversy. That's just how it is."

"Those of us in public office can respond to this reality by playing it safe and avoid telling hard truths. We can do what's necessary to keep our poll numbers high, and get through the next election instead of doing what's best for the next generation."

The resounding sound of crickets put an emphasis on it.

[waterboy]

I found there might be a path that leads to meat if my fellow meat lovers will pull the meat wagon together!

Seriously, would you have sat through a nuts and bolts discussion of these issues? A leader's role is to shine a light on the path not pull the wagon.

Oh, wait...I see you are able to answer your own questions. Carry on.

[RecycleMichael]

"Half a century ago, when the Soviets beat us into space with the launch of a satellite called Sputnik, we had no idea how we would beat them to the moon. The science wasn't even there yet. NASA didn't even exist. But after investing in better research and education, we didn't just surpass the Soviets . . . we unleashed a wave of innovation that created new industries and millions of new jobs. This is our generation's Sputnik moment."

"At stake is whether new jobs and industries take root in this country, or somewhere else. It's whether the hard work and industry of our people is rewarded. It's whether we sustain the leadership that has made America not just a place on a map, but a light to the world. We are poised for progress."

"The world has changed. The competition for jobs is real. But this shouldn't discourage us. It should challenge us."

"We are part of the American family. We believe that in a country where every race and faith and point of view can be found, we are still bound together as one people; that we share common hopes and a common creed; that the dreams of a little girl in Tucson are not so different than those of our own children, and that they all deserve the chance to be fulfilled."

"We will move forward together, or not at all — for the challenges we face are bigger than party, and bigger than politics."


I thought his speech was brilliant.

[Townsend]

This is a FB post from a friend of mine who sounds alot like Gaspar.

She wrote "blah, blah, blah, hippity hoopla....that's all I heard."


If asked, she'd have no explanation other than she doesn't want the current president to be in office.

When someone is like that, "blah, blah, blah, hippity hoopla" is all they will hear. 

I imagine that's why all I heard out of our last president's mouth was "nukuler".

[Gaspar]

LOL. . .agan, there were only 2 issues that everyone, no matter what politics they ascribe to, wanted to hear.  Those issues were not addressed.

It was a flowery, beautifully delivered speech. Kumbaya!

It filled time.  This morning, the pundits on both sides are attempting to seize on anything, but there is little to discuss.  Unlike most SOTUs the shelf life of this one is almost over.

For those of you who still don't get it, this is what I wanted to hear.

1. Acknowledgement that we have grown debt and spending to an unsustainable level (current level).

In his introduction he said:

We need to take responsibility for our deficit,and reform our government. That's how our people will prosper.  That's how we'll win the future.And tonight, I'd like to talk about how we get there

Then he never talked about how we get there.  He addressed spending cuts as a freeze and only on 12% of the actual budget.  That will do nothing to reduce the deficit.  We will owe more in interest than that in 5 years.

2. Acknowledgement that jobs are a real priority.  9.4% unemployment and 20% underemployment is unacceptable.

He offers some great long term goals just as he did in the last SOTU.  No immediate solutions.  On the contrary, he is posing the exact same jobs policy as last year, but giving it only a slight reference.  He uses the word "investment" in place of stimulus this time.

Eliminating tax cuts for energy companies, asking for a repeal of the current tax structure for the wealthy (employers) will not create any jobs, and will do very little to stimulate investment in new industry.

He never even mentioned the word unemployment.  It's almost like he has grown comfortable with an underemployed electorate or dependent population.  I hope this is not the case.

[Conan71]

Gaspar,

I agree unemployment and burgeoning debt are two major issues.  Is the SOTU the place we expect to hear specifics on how those issues will get addressed?  The speech is largely ceremonial, rarely long on specific detail, and seldom the most significant speech of a president's career.  SOTU isn't really supposed to be a nuts and bolts speech.

I think what he did remarkably well was this: he stressed unity.  That, right now, is an even bigger problem than unemployment and burgeoning debt and I think he addressed it well even if it was in ideological terms.  Details on debt, deficit spending, and helping with free market solutions will come in the weeks to follow.  I also give him credit for moving on beyond blaming Bush for the predicament he found himself in when he took office.

I didn't have expectations of the speech or anything specific I wanted to hear him say.  I just wanted to view it with an open mind, much as RM suggested yesterday.  Overall, I'd give him a B+ to A-.  No one is going to be completely happy with what they hear in a President's speech, especially those of us with opposing ideologies.  CNN did a flash poll last night showing 77% of the people they polled like the speech.  They did do a disclaimer that most people in the sample were Democrats as they claim people of opposing parties don't usually turn in to the SOTU.  I tend to disagree this year if you can get a pulse from social networking and the comments I'm seeing today.

No he didn't fix the country last night and he didn't lay out a precise road map.  SOTU is rarely the place we see that much detail.

[Breadburner]

[Conan71]

What are you doing with Guido's new avatar?

[Gaspar]

Conan,

That is something we can disagree on.  I view the SOTU address as the prime opportunity for a president to address the largest national audience.  This is the very best forum to review and qualify past efforts, propose new directions, and outline goals.

From the time I was in 4th grade, I have never missed a SOTU.  As I was taught in school, it's the president's most important speech. It's purpose has always been clear, the address serves to report on the condition of the United States and give the president a platform to outline his legislative agenda, national priorities, and anything that requires the cooperation of the congress.  

As spelled out in the constitution: He shall from time to time give to Congress information of the State of the Union and recommend to their Consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient.

With changes in technology, The requirement has grown from a simple report to congress, into a national address important to every American Citizen. It's carried on every network, and it's audience extends around the world.

It is a very important part of our culture as a nation.  I strongly disagree that it should be in any way discounted as a ceremonial fluff.  I think that is a big part of the political problems we have today, too many people are without the attention span to process this type of information and deem it important.

It is the most access to the public that a president has during his term. The very best opportunity to establish a clear path.  It's not a pep-rally.

[guido911]

The same that can be said over and over.  I was impressed with the end.


The resounding sound of crickets put an emphasis on it.

Crickets you say?

http://mediamatters.org/mmtv/201101260007

[waterboy]

Gaspar,

I agree unemployment and burgeoning debt are two major issues.  Is the SOTU the place we expect to hear specifics on how those issues will get addressed?  The speech is largely ceremonial, rarely long on specific detail, and seldom the most significant speech of a president's career.  SOTU isn't really supposed to be a nuts and bolts speech.

I think what he did remarkably well was this: he stressed unity.  That, right now, is an even bigger problem than unemployment and burgeoning debt and I think he addressed it well even if it was in ideological terms.  Details on debt, deficit spending, and helping with free market solutions will come in the weeks to follow.  I also give him credit for moving on beyond blaming Bush for the predicament he found himself in when he took office.

I didn't have expectations of the speech or anything specific I wanted to hear him say.  I just wanted to view it with an open mind, much as RM suggested yesterday.  Overall, I'd give him a B+ to A-.  No one is going to be completely happy with what they hear in a President's speech, especially those of us with opposing ideologies.  CNN did a flash poll last night showing 77% of the people they polled like the speech.  They did do a disclaimer that most people in the sample were Democrats as they claim people of opposing parties don't usually turn in to the SOTU.  I tend to disagree this year if you can get a pulse from social networking and the comments I'm seeing today.

No he didn't fix the country last night and he didn't lay out a precise road map.  SOTU is rarely the place we see that much detail.

Well said.

When people start using phrases like, "You just don't get it" or "For those of you who don't get it" etc. they just get tuned out by most folks. Where do these people get the arrogance and smugness to think only they "get it"?