State of the Union Open Thread

Great speech (4.00 / 2)

Now if the Repubs and Evan Bayh were only listening...and we can get some action.

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by: Howard C. @ Wed Jan 27, 2010 at 21:28:19 PM CST

Some quick thoughts. (4.00 / 2)

Very good speech.  I hesitate to say it was great because I don't think it was as well delivered as speeches I've seen him give in the past, but the hope that I had thought dead is suddenly breathing (though not dancing the jig it did initially after the election).  

Things I loved:

1.  The ending was wonderful.
2.  I liked the subtle anger in his voice and him calling out Republicans for their obstruction.
3.  I laughed when President Obama criticized the recent Supreme Court decision on campaign finance reform and saw Speaker Pelosi mouth the words, "Shame on them."
4.  Jobs bill.  First thing on the agenda.  Amen.
5.  Not giving up on health care reform.
6.  DADT repeal!  I'm cautious on this.  His words and actions haven't quite matched on GLBT issues.  I applaud him for bringing it up and hope he really pushes for it.  That's all I ask.
7.  I like his sense of humor and gentle chiding.
8.  Despite my disappointment with the second half of his first year.  I truly like this man.  He is good and decent, compassionate and smart.
9.  Letting the Bush tax cuts for the rich expire.
10.  Setting the record straight.
11.  {Paraphrased} Democrats still have the largest majority in Congress in decades and shouldn't back away from using it.
12.  Rhetorically, at least, Obama is not going down the path of Clinton triangulation as I feared.
13.  Michelle Obama!
14.  Repeatedly praising the House for passing his agenda.  A subtle dig at the Senate?

Things that give me pause:

1.  Nuclear energy.  "Clean" coal.  Offshore drilling.  
2.  While the spending freeze didn't receive the attention in the speech that it did in the liberal blogosphere, I am still leary of what it will mean while also agreeing that the deficit does need to be dealt with.
3.  The reform commission on social security, medicare and medicaid.  As envisioned by Bayh and Conrad, I'm leary of the intentions.  Is it to shore up those programs strengths or gut them while giving cover to congress people who will say they were just following the commissions recommendations.  Not going to discount it out of hand, but I feel distrustful.

"It is the first responsibility of every citizen to question authority."  --Benjamin Franklin

Yes, even Democratic authority.

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by: Daily Activist @ Wed Jan 27, 2010 at 21:45:02 PM CST

One more thing I loved. (4.00 / 2)

15.  The troops are coming home from Iraq!

"It is the first responsibility of every citizen to question authority."  --Benjamin Franklin

Yes, even Democratic authority.

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by: Daily Activist @ Wed Jan 27, 2010 at 21:52:43 PM CST

[ Parent ]

And one more thing that was disappointing. (4.00 / 1)

4.  No mention of the Employee Free Choice Act or labor law reform.  (I saw this mentioned over at Daily Kos and said, "Oh, yeah.")

"It is the first responsibility of every citizen to question authority."  --Benjamin Franklin

Yes, even Democratic authority.

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by: Daily Activist @ Wed Jan 27, 2010 at 22:03:58 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Three more to the good. (4.00 / 2)

16.  

And to encourage these and other businesses to stay within our borders, it's time to finally slash the tax breaks for companies that ship our jobs overseas and give those tax breaks to companies that create jobs in the United States of America.

17.  

I have proposed a fee on the biggest banks.  I know Wall Street isn't keen on this idea, but if these firms can afford to hand out big bonuses again, they can afford a modest fee to pay back the taxpayers who rescued them in their time of need.

18.  Financial reform.

"It is the first responsibility of every citizen to question authority."  --Benjamin Franklin

Yes, even Democratic authority.

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by: Daily Activist @ Wed Jan 27, 2010 at 22:18:45 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Boooo... (0.00 / 0)

   Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) said that Republicans "will use every means at our disposal" to block a legislative change to Don't Ask, Don't Tell.

   "I would hope we would be able to block it," he said.

   As he walked into the House chamber, he said that the 15 year old compromise policy is working, and that Obama would be making a mistake to push "an ideological agenda" that undermines military readiness.

   "There's nothing more important in a military unit than unit cohesion," Pence said.

http://www.politico.com/blogs/...

"It is the first responsibility of every citizen to question authority."  --Benjamin Franklin

Yes, even Democratic authority.

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by: Daily Activist @ Wed Jan 27, 2010 at 22:30:17 PM CST

Supreme Court (4.00 / 2)

I liked most of the speech, but as a practicing attorney and member of the Supreme Court bar who was deeply offended by last week's campaign finance decision, I loved the President's dig at that decision with most of the Supreme Court sitting right in front of him.  You could see Justice Alito flich and then he and Chief Justice Roberts both had their jaws clenched tightly.  Of course, Roberts and Alito were part of the 5-4 majority that wrote that abominable decision that gave rich corporations MORE political rights than ordinary voters.  

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by: FishersDemo @ Thu Jan 28, 2010 at 11:37:55 AM CST

Video (4.00 / 2)

"It is the first responsibility of every citizen to question authority."  --Benjamin Franklin

Yes, even Democratic authority.

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by: Daily Activist @ Thu Jan 28, 2010 at 11:52:21 AM CST

[ Parent ]