State of the Union Address 2010

anart

A Disturbance in the Force
Obama's State of the Union speech is occurring at the moment, and against my better judgment I actually turned it on. It's about 20 minutes into the incongruous jocularity of the President and the Chamber - and he just said that he will encourage legislation to reverse the ruling of the Supreme Court that Corporations are 'persons' and can donate to election funding. He says this is wrong - this will allow society's most powerful to influence elections, as well as foreign interests - he won't have it.

The Supreme justices sit there on camera like stunned corpses as a bipartisan standing ovation exploded in the chamber. He's addressed ear mark spending, lobbying limits and transparency, changing political discourse, the super-majority dictated by the Republican minority leadership (60% majority needed to do anything), and futher tax cuts for education and child credits. He states that voting no on everything is hindering progress (what an astonishingly brilliant observation!).

He then goes into Al Queda (trademarked courtesy CIA) and that as a candidate he promised he would end the war and that this is what he is doing - he will "have all the combat troops out of Iraq by August".

"All of our troops are coming home." (flash to a general's face who looks bewildered and Joe Lieberman mouthing something that looked a lot like 'yeah right'.) No mention of Afghanistan or the many other countries where we are killing because it is what we (or our drones) do.

Then - to supporting the troops when they come home, Michelle and Joe Biden are heading a new committee to support military families! (rousing applause - yes - yes to the military families, the Chamber responds! Camera zooms in on those in uniform.)

Sheesh - I take it the "5D city on a hill" is next week with all these promises that cannot be fulfilled?

No way all of this is going through - he is righting all the most obvious (to the sleeping populace) wrongs in one speech - down to reducing our nuclear stockpiles and "the farthest reaching arms control treaty in two decades"... ( what? )

"Securing all vulnerable nuclear material around the world in 4 yrs so they never fall into the hands of terrorists." Which brings us to isolating North Korea and Iran - A HAAAA - "they too will face consequences", he says!

I now know why I've avoided these speeches in the past. "America must always stand on the side of human dignity and freedom" ... (the nation glances nervously in the direction of the 'naked' airport scanners.)

"If you abide by the law, you should be protected by it" ... (who defines the law?)

He has "finally reversed legislation that prevents gays and lesbians from serving their country in the armed forces" ... (great, that's really important while the globe is on fire! To get more cannon fodder - gay cannon fodder is even better!)

Now he's attacking pundits "turning serious issues into soundbites" and how citizens are losing hope - "no wonder there is so much cynicism and disappointment" - "there are few Americans who believe we can change or that I can deliver it. I never said it would be easy or that i could do it alone." (The nation thinks, 'didn't you?' - could have sworn you said that somewhere between 'yes we can' and 'hope'... somewhere between my KFC dinner and McDonald's breakfast, I could have sworn you said you were the answer...)

"When you try to do big things it stirs controversy - we can respond to that by playing it safe and avoid hard truths and pointing fingers and keep our poll numbers high and get through the next election, instead of doing what is best for the next generation. I know if the people who were in this position had made that decision 100 years ago, we wouldn't be here tonight - we must do what is hard, even if success is uncertain..." (paraphrased due to excessive rhetorical leading that caused my mind to spasm momentarily - or more than momentarily).

Then a rousing crescendo of hyperbolic emotional rhetoric of what it means to be an American - "USA, USA, USA" (he actually said that) - "it lives IN you" (get it out!!) -

"a new decade!" "We don't quit! I don't quit! Strengthen our union!"

You get the point - he is a spell binder. As the pressure behind my brow increases to the point of pounding, I turn off the mind control device that is television, understanding why the sheeple are now more comfy, more sleepy and more secure in their dream - no matter what crashes in on them in the next few years.

Even the Republicans were applauding, so it must be the truth, right? "Any more KFC left in that bucket, honey?"

(No actual msg laden poisonous food was ingested during this experience - however I do now feel that I need a shower.)
 
Thanks for the deconstruction, anart -- I didn't watch tonight, but it is good to read your summary of what you saw and get some of the main points. Spellbinder indeed!
 
Thanks for enduring the speech for us! I could only handle a couple minutes. :scared: Great summary! Did you take notes?
 
Rhiannon said:
Thanks for enduring the speech for us! I could only handle a couple minutes. Great summary! Did you take notes?

Only in my head as I was typing in real time... but...

Here is a summary from the Washington Post - lots of promises I didn't even touch on...

WaPo said:
ECONOMY/JOBS

-Urged the Senate to follow the House and pass a second jobs bill as its first order of business this year.

-Proposed using $30 billion repaid by Wall Street banks to help community banks lend money to small businesses so they can stay afloat.

-Proposed new tax credit for small business that hire workers or raise the wages of current employees.

-Proposed eliminating all capital gains taxes on small-business investment and providing tax incentives for all businesses to invest in new plants and equipment.

-Said it's time to slash tax breaks for companies that move jobs overseas and extend them to companies that create jobs in the U.S.

-Set a goal of doubling exports over the next five years, contending it will support 2 million jobs at home. Announced an initiative to help farmers and small businesses increase their exports. Promised to reform export rules.

FINANCIAL OVERHAUL

-Urged Senate to follow the House and pass a financial overhaul bill to protect consumers from industry abuses and make sure they have the information they need to make decisions about what to do with their money.

HEALTH CARE

-Urged Democrats dispirited by the loss of their 60-vote Senate majority not to abandon the yearlong effort to overhaul the health care system.

FEDERAL SPENDING

-Proposed a three-year freeze on most domestic spending, beginning in 2011. Spending on national security, Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security would be exempt.

-Announced he will issue an executive order creating a bipartisan task force to recommend ways to reduce the deficit. The Senate recently blocked a similar proposal.

OPEN GOVERNMENT

-Called for requiring lobbyists to report each contact with his administration or Congress.

-Called for 'strict limits' on lobbyist contributions to candidates for federal office.

-Urged lawmakers to pass a bill to undo a recent Supreme Court ruling that allows companies and labor unions to spend freely on campaign ads that promote or target particular candidates by name.

-Called on Congress to publish on one Web site all special-interest spending known as "earmarks" before bills are voted on.

IRAQ

-Reiterated pledge to remove all U.S. combat troops from Iraq by the end of August.

GAYS IN THE MILITARY

-Pledged to work with Congress and the military to allow gays to serve openly in the military.

EDUCATION

-Urged Congress to eliminate taxpayer subsidies for banks that provide student loans.

-Proposed $10,000 tax credit for four years of college, along with higher Pell Grants.

-Proposed capping student loan repayments at 10 percent of income and forgiving all student loan debt after 20 years, or after 10 years if the student enters public service.

IMMIGRATION

-Said the government should continue working to fix a broken system by securing borders and enforcing laws.

ENERGY

-Urged Senate passage of comprehensive energy and climate legislation to help the country shift toward cleaner energy sources and help create jobs.

BIPARTISANSHIP

-Proposed monthly meetings with both the Democratic and Republican leadership in Congress.

Gee - headed straight toward Utopia...
 
I definitely appreciate you posting this. I actually watch such little television these days I had no idea this was coming on. My eyes hadn't been opened yet when he was first elected, but it has always been my policy that it doesn't matter which one you vote for, you pretty much get the same thing either way.
Rhiannon said:
Thanks for enduring the speech for us! I could only handle a couple minutes. :scared: Great summary! Did you take notes?
I was wondering the same thing as the summary was so good.
 
Thanks anart, you delivered all his main points fabulously, which basically amounts to "i'm a pathological liar but no one will do anything about it. ha ha ha."
 
This dissection should go on SOTT in some format! :headbanger:

Thanks for writing this, I have no TV to watch it on and I didn't feel like waking up the neighbors. Actually I'm not sure if they're asleep, but if they were watching this I'm sure they are asleep by now!
 
granny franny said:
:( Sadly such political theater pacifies many while I grieve for my grand daughter's future.

I have the same concern about my own daughter's future, granny franny! By the way, we encourage newcomers to post an introduction in the Newbies section -- just something about how you found this site, nothing too personal. And welcome!
 
I watched the State of the Union address tonight and thought it was a good speech. I paid close attention to the political posturing and in particular the looks on the faces of members of the audience. Following are excerpts from the introduction and conclusion, which, to me, were reflections of the past, present and future of America.

From the Introduction
It's tempting to look back on these moments and assume that our progress was inevitable, that America was always destined to succeed. But when the Union was turned back at Bull Run and the Allies first landed at Omaha Beach, victory was very much in doubt. When the market crashed on Black Tuesday and civil rights marchers were beaten on Bloody Sunday, the future was anything but certain. These were times that tested the courage of our convictions and the strength of our union. And despite all our divisions and disagreements, our hesitations and our fears, America prevailed because we chose to move forward as one nation and one people.
Again, we are tested. And again, we must answer history's call.

“For while the people who sent us here have different backgrounds, different stories and different beliefs, the anxieties they face are the same. The aspirations they hold are shared: a job that pays the bills, a chance to get ahead. Most of all, the ability to give their children a better life.
You know what else they share? They share a stubborn resilience in the face of adversity. After one of the most difficult years in our history, they remain busy building cars and teaching kids, starting businesses and going back to school. They're coaching Little League and helping their neighbors. As one woman wrote me, "We are strained but hopeful, struggling but encouraged."
It is because of this spirit, this great decency and great strength that I have never been more hopeful about America's future than I am tonight. Despite our hardships, our union is strong. We do not give up. We do not quit. We do not allow fear or division to break our spirit.


From the Conclusion

…despite all these setbacks, that spirit of determination and optimism -- that fundamental decency that has always been at the core of the American people -- lives on.
It lives on in the struggling small business owner who wrote to me of his company, "None of us," he said, "are willing to consider, even slightly, that we might fail."
It lives on in the woman who said that even though she and her neighbors have felt the pain of recession, "We are strong. We are resilient. We are American."
 
Aidylsun B. said:
I watched the State of the Union address tonight and thought it was a good speech.

Can you elaborate on what you mean by "it was a good speech"? I am perplexed.

Anart, you deserve combat pay and a medal for service above and beyond the call of duty. But then, that's just what you do every day....
 
Galahad said:
Aidylsun B. said:
I watched the State of the Union address tonight and thought it was a good speech.

Can you elaborate on what you mean by "it was a good speech"? I am perplexed.
Yes, I'll be happy to elaborate. For me, a good speech is one that is easy to understand, clear, concise and without ambiguous language. I had no problems understanding the message. I have heard many, many speeches and have, at times almost fallen asleep or walked away confused. I have also listened to speeches that I didn't necessarily agree with but where the speaker's delivery was excellent or even perfect.
 
Aidylsun B. said:
Yes, I'll be happy to elaborate. For me, a good speech is one that is easy to understand, clear, concise and without ambiguous language. I had no problems understanding the message.

And, wich is it?

I ask because I am just seeing someone delivering words with no real meaning inside himself, someone saying what is needed to be said to continue, someone unable to feel shame or others pain and suffering.
He seems not to be talking to humans but to machines needing some buttons to be pushed in order to continue the dream.


Aidylsun B. said:
I have heard many, many speeches and have, at times almost fallen asleep or walked away confused. I have also listened to speeches that I didn't necessarily agree with but where the speaker's delivery was excellent or even perfect.

And does it really matter? :huh:
 
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