I believe the President did a hell of a number tonight.

[TheWraith]

He struck a brilliant tone for the situation that he was in. He came out sounding reasonable, balanced, and non-partisan, offering to consider good ideas from anywhere, while adamantly defending healthcare reform, Social Security, hammering corporate tax loopholes, oil subsidies, and emphasizing spending our money right. He extended an olive branch to fiscally conservative independents and businesspeople, particularly small and medium business owners. He reiterated the end of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. And he did it all in terms and using language that

There were only two places that rang poorly in the speech for me. One was him describing the US economy as still being #1 in the world, still the most productive, etcetera. I understand the point he was making--despite how hard things may be, we still have it better than virtually all the rest of the world. Still, it could be a little tone deaf to the people who still can't find a decent job. Like me.

Second was his comment about lowering the corporate tax rate. Again, I understand what he means--that these taxes disproportionately hit small and medium businesses, because they don't have the lawyers and accountants that the big corporations have to find loopholes. And on reflection, I realized that the point was that if you closed the loopholes, you could lower the overall rate and still have a vastly fairer system than we have currently. Still, I couldn't help but think we should have a stepped progressive tax for corporations the same as we have for personal income.

But overall, I thought it was brilliant, and came through in just the right tone. It undermines all the right's propaganda about Obama being an evil socialist autocrat, while standing firm on the important issues.

[leftstreet]

1. Two years into it and he's STILL asking for ideas?

Jesus

[Hamlette]

3. I know! Being President is soooooo easy!

[leftstreet]

10. He had some great ideas when he was campaigning n/t

[Skittles]

5. you're missing the point

that's to give the impression he gives a fuck what we want

[patrice]

6. He's President, not king. We're the ones who are supposed to lead on the issues. nt

[Raine]

13. When Liberals/Progressives do that we're basically told to STFU

it's big bussness that leads him on the issues and who he listens to.

[Robb]

23. If someone tells you to STFU, you should hit alert.

ETA: On DU, that is. :)

[patrice]

24. Being too focused on the top is part of what's wrong. We need more Liberals in local offices. More

Liberal grassroots.

[tabatha]

2. I liked Ed Rendell's comment

that Obama boxed in the Republicans.

[patrice]

8. Right. It's a win:win for him. If they obstruct, he wins. If they don't obstruct, the Dems have an

opening to influence the shape that REPUBLICAN issues take. That is, if they stick together well enough to do that.

[tkmorris]

12. Wait, of the White House, Senate, and House

We control two of the three. And what we are HOPING to do is influence the shape of Republican policy? Doesn't that strike you as a tad... weak?

[Catherina]

4. "It undermines all the right's propaganda" while supporting its agenda.

Fucking brilliant.

[TheWraith]

15. Ahh, the blind hostility of DU towards any words or phrases that's not ours.

How I haven't missed it. :eyes:

[Name removed]

19. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[snot]

7. I'm really not interested in what any politician says anymore. I watch what s/he does.

[tblue]

11. +1

[Raine]

14. Yeah talk is cheap, they say whatever they think

will pacify, the real proof is in what they do the rest is BS.

[eridani]

17. +10

Watch who they eat
And who they beat
Watch who they own.
The rest
The rest
The rest
Is decoration.

--Marge Piercy (about 30 years ago)

[bowens43]

18. agreed.

If we have learned anything over the last two years it's that politician's bullshit no matter how pretty or fragrant , is still bullshit.

I really find that I can't stand to hear Obama's voice anymore. All it does is remind me that he made fools of those who put him in office.

[Dappleganger]

26. Ditto.

[RZM]

9. I thought it got the job done

Though it wasn't great. Our economy is still significantly larger than China's -- and since they have four times our population, our per-capita numbers positively dwarf theirs. Even our unemployed and underemployed are doing decent compared to your average sweatshop worker there. I've been on unemployment before myself -- I know it's not fun, but it still beats some of the opportunities in China. I get your tone-deaf comment . . . but I'd rather be looking for a job here than working for a pittance there.

I liked his focus on public transit -- I wish he had said more about reforming drug laws . . . but there are still more Obama SOTU's to come . . . one can hope :)

[Hannah Bell]

16. remember bush's mars program? didn't hear much about it after sotu, did you.

[madokie]

20. I agree with you and rec'd this post.

[MaeScott]

21. High numbers of viewers apparently agree..liked the speech. nt

[lunatica]

22. I want to see his words translate into real accomplishments

But the orange man sitting behind him and third in line for the Presidency won't let that happen.

[hfojvt]

25. many here think it made him sound like a moderate Republican

With a state of the Union Obama had the opportunity to make a case for liberal policies to a national audience. Instead, like Clinton, he made a case for the other party and their policies.

Sounded like he was singing this song to Republicans and the corporate world
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8fRLhkaozM