Paul Revere by Cyrus Dallin, North End, Boston

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Wednesday, January 25, 2012

THE BEST OF PRESIDENT OBAMA'S SOTU SPEECH

“Now, you can call this class warfare all you want. But asking a billionaire to pay at least as much as his secretary in taxes? Most Americans would call that common sense. We don’t begrudge financial success in this country. We admire it. When Americans talk about folks like me paying my fair share of taxes, it’s not because they envy the rich. It’s because they understand that when I get tax breaks I don’t need and the country can’t afford, it either adds to the deficit, or somebody else has to make up the difference – like a senior on a fixed income; or a student trying to get through school; or a family trying to make ends meet. That’s not right. Americans know it’s not right. They know that this generation’s success is only possible because past generations felt a responsibility to each other, and to their country’s future, and they know our way of life will only endure if we feel that same sense of shared responsibility. That’s how we’ll reduce our deficit. That’s an America built to last. “

[SKIP]

"One of my proudest possessions is the flag that the SEAL Team took with them on the mission to get bin Laden. On it are each of their names. Some may be Democrats. Some may be Republicans. But that doesn’t matter. Just like it didn’t matter that day in the Situation Room, when I sat next to Bob Gates – a man who was George Bush’s defense secretary; and Hillary Clinton, a woman who ran against me for president.

All that mattered that day was the mission. No one thought about politics. No one thought about themselves. One of the young men involved in the raid later told me that he didn’t deserve credit for the mission. It only succeeded, he said, because every single member of that unit did their job – the pilot who landed the helicopter that spun out of control; the translator who kept others from entering the compound; the troops who separated the women and children from the fight; the SEALs who charged up the stairs. More than that, the mission only succeeded because every member of that unit trusted each other – because you can’t charge up those stairs, into darkness and danger, unless you know that there’s someone behind you, watching your back.

So it is with America. Each time I look at that flag, I’m reminded that our destiny is stitched together like those fifty stars and those thirteen stripes. No one built this country on their own. This Nation is great because we built it together. This Nation is great because we worked as a team. This Nation is great because we get each other’s backs. And if we hold fast to that truth, in this moment of trial, there is no challenge too great; no mission too hard. As long as we’re joined in common purpose, as long as we maintain our common resolve, our journey moves forward, our future is hopeful, and the state of our Union will always be strong. " 


This is how a real leader connects with his people. 

The GOP's response was whining negativity with an idea or two that actually matched Mr. Obama's.

There is no one running for the GOP nomination who could have done anything as good as what President Obama did last night.

UPDATE (via dailykos):

National Journal:
Today's United Technologies/National Journal Congressional Connection Poll showed Democrats with an 11-point lead over Republicans in a generic ballot question asked to registered voters. When asked if they would "rather see the Republicans keep control" of the House or see "the Democrats win enough seats to take over control of the House," 48 percent chose the Democrats, and 37 percent chose the GOP.

UPDATE II:


"91 percent of those who watched the speech approved of the proposals Mr. Obama put forth during his remarks. Only nine percent disapproved. Last year, 83 percent of viewers approved of Mr. Obama's State of the Union remarks.This year, 82 percent of those who watched the speech said they approve of the president's plans for the economy, up from 53 percent who approved before the speech. Eighty percent said they approved of Mr. Obama's plans for the deficit -- in contrast to 45 percent before the speech. Eighty-three percent approved of Mr. Obama's proposals regarding Afghanistan, which received only a 57 percent approval rating beforehand. "


(h/t Andrew Sullivan's blog)

6 comments:

PilotX said...

Wasn't Mitch Daniels Bush's financial advisor when the economy went to hell in a handbasket? Great choice GOP, either they have no memories or are just too stupid for words. Of course the two don't have to be mutually exclusive.

My favorite part of the speech "those who say America is in decline don't know what they're talking about". I have to totally agree, I was thinking that when Romney was saying we need to create a military no one will challenge my thought was who the hell can challenge the US military now? You have to be a brain dead zombie to be a Republican.

Les Carpenter said...

Daniels record as governor speaks for itself. And it is a damn good one.

One must look deep, and scratch hard to find many positives in the SOTU address.

Interesting his speech drew a diminished number of viewers. Perhaps the teflon sheen is wearing thin.

If only the conservatives of principal in the opposition party (s) could find a charismatic speaker with a vision with resonance the people would trust.

It's gonna be a very long slide to nowhere.

Ema Nymton said...

.

"If only the conservatives of principal in the opposition party (s) could find a charismatic speaker with a vision with resonance the people would trust."

It is not the messenger, it is the message. Compare the up-beat nature of the liberals/progressives approach to governing (there is enough for everybody and together, all can benefit) with the conservative approach to ruling (I got mine, forget you).

For liberals/progressives the rules are applied equally for all; for conservative game the system, the rules are simply an impediment and how can one get around them?

Ema Nymton
~@:o?
.

Les Carpenter said...

Emma, you are a dreamer. Lost touch with reality perhaps but what the heck. A good bottle of French, Portuguese, Spanish, Argentinian, or South African wine and I'll mellow and listen to most anything. ;)

Ema Nymton said...

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RN -

"... you are a dreamer." And I have not lost hope.

The people in USA continue to have it a little rough but at the same time, see improvement in their lives.

So please answer the following,

_You_ are going to vote FOR your candidate because ...

Ema Nymton
~@:o?
.

Les Carpenter said...

Emma - Unfortunately my candidate will not get the nomination. So, it is appearing as I might be voting libertarian.