Obama's Tuesday speech a broad look at economy

[democracy1st]

Obama's Tuesday speech a broad look at economy
By LIZ SIDOTI and JENNIFER LOVEN, Associated Press Writers Liz Sidoti And Jennifer Loven, Associated Press Writers

WASHINGTON – For President Barack Obama, it's a chance to take a deep breath and paint a big picture after a first month of gargantuan economic proposals, legislative accomplishments and Cabinet missteps.

The president addresses a joint session of Congress Tuesday night, giving a State of the Union-like speech. It lacks the formality of that title only because he's not considered to have had enough time in the White House yet to deliver a full status report.

Regardless, it is one of the most high-profile trappings of the presidency: traveling to the Capitol to speak to representatives of the entire federal government, with the public watching in prime time, about his agenda.

With the recession well into its second year, expect the remarks to be longer on the economy than on foreign affairs. The economy is in just too bad shape for Obama to do anything other than focus mostly on what he's already trying to do about job losses and dwindled savings and frozen credit, as well as what else he has in mind.

The president is expected to show Americans how all the pieces fit together to make the economy sound again. There's the $787 billion just-signed stimulus bill, plus an even more expensive mix of rescues for the financial industry, auto companies and troubled mortgage holders.


He will touch on other priorities he says fit into the bigger picture. Potentially eye-popping expensive plans to broaden health care coverage to eventually insure everyone. Moving the country toward greener energy sources. Expanding education opportunities. Overhauling financial industry regulation.

And, he is all but certain to talk about the national debt and budget woes, stressing the need to get what he calls "exploding deficits" under control by controlling spending. His upcoming budget request will include his goal to slice the estimated $1.3 trillion annual deficit in half by the end of his first term.

"We cannot successfully address any of our problems without addressing them all," Obama said Saturday in his weekly radio and video address. "The road ahead will be long and full of hazards. But I'm confident that we, as a people, have the strength and wisdom to carry out this strategy and overcome this crisis."

Sober themes of responsibility, accountability and transparency are to be woven throughout the speech.

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs summed up Obama's message this way: "We all have a special responsibility to do what we can to put this country back on the right track and to see it through back to prosperous and better days."


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090222/ap_on_go_pr_wh/obama_the_speech

[FrenchieCat]

1. Odd how AP frames issues when it comes to reporting on the Obama Administration!

"There's the $787 billion just-signed stimulus bill, plus an even more expensive mix of rescues for the financial industry, auto companies and troubled mortgage holders."

Oops! They forgot to mention that the "expensise mix of rescues" comes from the same 700 Billion dollar TARP program that Bush pissed 1/2 of away....and that folks have already gotten mad about back in September!

Guess AP writers would love for the people to get mad at that same money again....especially if they are led to believe that this is new additional money! :eyes:

Who let the dogs out? http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x8216297