It was a damned fine speech.

[WilliamPitt]

But he always gives good speeches, sometimes even great ones.

Yet the fact that we're ***still*** discussing the Bush tax cuts for rich people encapsulates just how far words can go.

Not very far at all, so far.

It was a damned fine speech that called (again) for the end of those tax cuts, for defense budget cuts, for health care cost cuts, and for the defense of Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security.

But he also said he supports Bowles-Simpson, and he said "everything is on the table."

It was a damned fine speech...but I still have a big knot in my stomach.

Flame away if you wish. That's where I come down.

[Romulox]

1. How go the WARS, Mr. "deficit hawk" President?

:hi:

[LynneSin]

32. I'm assuming part of the defense budget cuts will include the wars

but who knows.

[sad sally]

40. Not a mention in this "great" speach about his three wars, only these vague words:

Now, as commander in chief, I have no greater responsibility than protecting our national security, and I will never accept cuts that compromise our ability to defend our homeland or America's interests around the world.

We need to not only eliminate waste and improve efficiency and effectiveness, but we're going to have to conduct a fundamental review of America's missions, capabilities, and our role in a changing world.

[Citizen Worker]

101. President Obama, just what are "America's interests?" Inquiring minds want to know. This catch all

phrase is often used to justify military action. I think I know what it means, OIL, but not one politician has bothered to explain its meaning.

[Richard D]

131. It's there . . .

. . . said like that so that the listener will fill in the blanks with whatever patriotic idea as to what America's interests are. Such a phrase is left undefined and open ended on purpose.

[robinlynne]

86. doubt it. we still spend billions on anti-aircraft things that dont work at all. there is plenty of

fat to cut form the defense budget. Halliburton embroiders every soldier's towel for goodness sakes. They drive empty trucks back and forth because they receive per drive.....

[russspeakeasy]

78. I thought he was going to lay out a "plan", . Maybe I was busy

crushing aluminum cans and missed it. It was a good speech
tho.

[truebrit71]

2. He has the speechifying part down pat..it's the whole "putting plans into action" part that he's...

...not so good at..

[leftstreet]

3. If Rich Tax Cuts aren't on the table for 2 years, nothing else should be either

!!

[Donnachaidh]

68. this is what truly irritates me

The tax cuts don't expire this time until AFTER the elections. So he can promise the moon - to get re-elected - and then find a *really good reason* not to let them expire. No skin off his nose - mission accomplished. Second term gotten, and we can all go jump off a bridge...

Here's a novelty -- cut them BEFORE we vote. Put up or shut up.

[robinlynne]

90. What you are describing is exactly what he just did.

[tomp]

105. really? the bush tax cuts for the rich have been repealed? nt

[Donnachaidh]

124. no -- we were discussing the bait and switch tactics already used on the tax cuts

Campaigning about *letting them expire*, getting elected, and then suddenly NOT letting them expire.

[robinlynne]

139. Yes. That is what he just did.

[robinlynne]

138. exactly the opposite. You missed what i was respodning to maybe?

[gkhouston]

120. I didn't hear that. I heard him say he thinks we should tax the richest Americans

more. I didn't hear by how much or when--that appears to be one of the details that's going to be worked out. If he takes the laissez-faire approach to this that he did to the health care debate, I would expect the Republicans to come back and argue that a flat tax rate is "fair" and that the richest Americans shouldn't pay more and we'll end up with some crapola compromise that will stink on ice.

I was not encouraged that the cost of the wars went unmentioned or that so much of the speech was devoted to spending cut after spending cut. It gave the impression that our spending problem is much larger than our revenue problem.

[robinlynne]

87. !!!!!

[SidDithers]

4. Derp...nt

Sid

[CaliforniaPeggy]

5. It was damned good.

I feel much happier about him and us, now...

[RKP5637]

19. I thought it was good too! I'll feel even better if these things he

discussed get implemented. ... but I also felt better after his speech.

[n2doc]

6. Agree with you

Too many times I have heard pretty , inspiring words from this President, only to be disappointed when the final result is revealed.

[russspeakeasy]

79. Was it just me, or did he tell me he'd still respect me in the

morning?

[Tom Rinaldo]

7. Yep. I'm encouraged and still anxious

..far better than being completely depressed. I'll say that.

[Poll_Blind]

8. When I can feed my family speeches, when I can pay the doctor with speeches...

Then I'll put more credence in his speeches. He gives a damned fine speech, as you said. I don't have a problem with his speeches. It's everything that comes (or doesn't come) after the speech part that has me shaking my head...

PB

[leftstreet]

14. You just have to hold on for 2 years. Then rich people are going to sacrifice

:bounce:

[robinlynne]

88. yep. guaranteed. not on his watch.

[gkhouston]

121. Two years? I'm not sure what we'll be doing *two months* from now. n/t

[gateley]

9. This one just "felt" different, WilliamPitt -- I don't believe I've ever heard him

lay out the background so clearly and concisely, his refusal to give up on "helping others", things like that. I'm far more encouraged this time than previously.

I think this is what he WANTS, whether or not he's successful remains to be seen.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

22. Exactly right.

I believe this is what he WANTS.

Now, we have to get it.

[RobinA]

35. If Wishes

were horses, poor men would ride.

[pacalo]

28. That's encouraging. I think that's what he wants, too, but he's trying to please all sides.

On one hand he wants to protect SS/M/M, then says he supports the Bowles/Simpson recommendations, that everything (including SS/M/M?) is on the table.

I thought the speech was going to be in the evening, so I missed it. I'm going to watch it when I find a video.

I appreciate your take, gately.

[Marr]

62. He's a politician. Sounding sincere is part of the job description.

But words are cheap. I put zero stock in the words of politicians-- especially politicians who have already proven to me that they can speak just right in a campaign, then shapeshift into Wall Street's butler the moment they take the oath of office. If he wants to win me over, he'll have to do it with actions. The words have ceased to be effective.

[Cameron27]

67. Well said.

[Donnachaidh]

69. and that *sincerity* is ramping up, because of the election coming up.

I'm a cynic -- It seems the *candidate Obama* suit came out, complete with flowery passion. That worked the first time - but I want to see REAL *ACTION* follow quickly after the promises. No longer can we fall for the *trust me, I'll get to it* nonsense of the past two years.

[Major Hogwash]

103. This is the fight we want to have. Obama picked his time and place to have it.

The time is right now, and the place to have it is where we are in history, with a huge deficit, a large debt, and the GOP has no one in the wings to oppose him for his re-election campaign.
Obama will use the infamous "bat of truth" to beat them over the heads with for the next 17 months.
And we will drag out the "truth trough" and waterboard the GOPers who dare to disagree with the facts.

Never again -- never -- will someone be able to be elected to office after saying in a debate, "I don't have to accept your numbers" the way Bush did to Gore in 2000.
Oh, yes they do have to accept our numbers; the GAO is the final authority on it, and the MSM can't lie their asses off the way they did in 2000 and warp the truth the way for Bush the way they did.

[sinkingfeeling]

10. The question is what type of support is behind him? Can enough independents and intelligent people

overcome the teabagger ideology? Do enough people understand what damage Ryan's plan or the failure to raise the debt ceiling have? Will they put the pressure on?

[gateley]

15. +1 nt

[RKP5637]

23. I hope so! People really need to start paying attention, maybe we're over

the tipping point now where the independents and intelligent people are really really fed up with the lunacy of the teabagger mentality.

[DJ13]

11. This will be the defining moment for his reelection

If he caves in to Republicans on this he will be too tainted to win in 2012.

[gateley]

12. Delete - dupe. nt

[fascisthunter]

13. He Did say Some Very Good Things

especially regarding giving tax breaks to those who do not need them, while disenfranchising the already needy to afford those tax breaks.

[iwishiwas]

16. does that mean Medicare for all is back on the table??

[spin]

20. We had the most expensive healthcare system in the world before heathcare reform ...

and many feel that our new healthcare system will be even more expensive. We need to stop pandering to the healthcare industry and the insurance companies.

Medicare for all is what I envisioned would happen when I voted for Obama.

[iwishiwas]

34. medicare for all-was not

part of his platform as I recall (although it was another candidates platform).
What we have now as you say is most certainly a pandering to the insurance/healthcare industry via the "free market" mentality.

[merbex]

17. It was a speech only the neo liberal crowd would love and defend

The thing is, Democratic politicians have perfected the art of giving speeches that say one thing and then then put together legislation that does quite another.

And THAT sums up the state of the Democratic Party late 20th early 21st century.

According to me :>)

[readmoreoften]

99. +1

[Logical]

18. I 100% agree! n-t

[EFerrari]

21. Did he say anything about jobs?

I have the same knot. It was a good speech.

[sabrina 1]

73. The cuts in infrastructure, bridges, roads etc. seem to me will

cost jobs. But the Republicans don't like those kinds of jobs, so he agreed to those cuts. I only heard part of the speech so I don't know if he mentioned jobs this time.

[KittyWampus]

24. Where did he say he supports Bowles-Simpson? I read the transcript- did he slip something in?

Or I might have missed it. Entirely possible I missed it.

[WilliamPitt]

30. The "independent commission"

[inna]

95. dude. hello. he APPOINTED them by his executive order, FFS, against the will of congress.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

25. I've always loved his speeches --

It's his actions I've tended to have a problem with. The Devil is ALWAYS in the details, so I will wait to see what is put on paper. You are right to have that knot in your stomach -- we are just a few steps away from the undoing of the social net as we have known it. We will have to be uber vigilant, and we need to be clear with ourselves that we may need to take to the barricades like we never have before.

[OhioChick]

26. Very Pleased Here..Yet Cautious

We shall see what transpires.

[indimuse]

27. It sounded like a *damn fine presidential campaign speech*...

for those still sleeping...

knr!

[Poboy]

29. Simpson-Bowles shit shoveling.

[Marrah_G]

31. I'm going to listen to it tonight

My over all confidence in all that is DC has been crumbling for a while.

[myrna minx]

33. I enjoyed listening to the speech, but I need to see results too.

I've heard a lot of this before. I'm glad he outlined what he did and he used his powerful bully pulpit to do so, but I need actions to meet the words - so I hope he follows through. I wish I wasn't so skeptical, but I'm sad to say that I'm very skeptical.

[in_cog_ni_to]

36. He actually said, "Everything is on the table? Well, that's NEVER good!

You mean he didn't say, "everything is on the table EXCEPT Social Security and Medicare...end of subject."

[WilliamPitt]

37. Quote:

"Up until now, the cuts proposed by a lot of folks in Washington have focused almost exclusively on that 12%. But cuts to that 12% alone won’t solve the problem. So any serious plan to tackle our deficit will require us to put everything on the table, and take on excess spending wherever it exists in the budget."

[nichomachus]

38. The guy can give a good speech

He gets a D- for followup, but he gives a hell of speech. No one can deny that.

[slay]

52. +1

yeah i no longer trust obama's speeches. if he were half as good a leader as he was a speech giver we could actually get some things done - but he's not.

[GeorgeGist]

39. Fooled Me Once

but not again.

[Golden Raisin]

98. Bingo! Exactly!

[Norrin Radd]

41. How I feel:

[Cowpunk]

49. Me too.

Now the capitulations begin, if they haven't already.

So how do we force Obama to live up to his own words?

[Enthusiast]

112. Leading up to Obama's signing

the bill that extended the Bush tax cuts I had hopes that we could "force Obama". I signed every petition, I called every Senator and Representative and I wrote the White House. None of this forced Obama to do anything. I no longer believe we can do anything to actually influence Obama. We are a ship adrift at the mercy of winds beyond our control.

[Cowpunk]

128. Our leverage is our support in 2012.

Unfortunately there are far too many Charlie Brown progressives willing to go "all in" once again based solely on some inspiring rhetoric.

[Enthusiast]

153. I really do

fear that Obama's is hollow inspiring rhetoric. If TPTB went to so much trouble to cast Obama as a presidential contender in the first place, they must have huge plans for him. Just like the false election of 2000, we are victims again. I hope I'm wrong.

[Enthusiast]

109. Yeah, I feel the same.

Of course I want to believe. But many times in my life time I have wanted to believe only to find that it was much better if I tried to maintain objectivity.

[Rex]

42. Sometimes that is why I get mad, the man has a brilliant mind.

Now if he would just use it to fix the destruction from the GWB years...hell I would even give him a free pass on the Gulf of Mexico disaster, just to watch him start procedures to prosecute the last administration...for anything they did, can even be a parking ticket.

I know...we don't live in 'that kind of country anymore'. We live in a country that tortures...but not on record, well not much on record.

Obama needs to step up or get out of the way.

[gkhouston]

122. My thesis advisor had a brilliant mind, too.

Unfortunately, he was a poor administrator. When it came down to making tough decisions, he had a tendency to do nothing for as long as possible, then allow himself to be swayed by whichever weasel squealed the loudest.

I've been thinking of him a lot, lately.

[Carolina]

43. Exactly

I agree and would certainly never flame you. I also note that his "defense of Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security" is appropriately vague.

My senior Dad whom I care for has already had 2 years of no SS COLAs. He worked hard all his life since age 15 (now nearly 89) and planned well for his golden years which makes my caretaking less financially burdensome. Still, I have been tracking how his retiremnet income is drop, drop, dropping. Meanwhile the cost of food, caretakers, medicines etc are continually rising.

I don't trust a thing this POTUS says. And funny how he gives a powerful speech (or as you put it "a damned fine speech") just after the announcement of his 2012 campaign.

Well, we were suckered by powerful words before: hope, change, audacity of now, senseless wars, public option, blah, blah, blah. We've heard the lip service time and again, but I would bet my last dime there will be cuts to more than the Bush tax rates and Mr. Nodrama will be the one to introduce them under the guise of fiscal responsibility

[MercuryRepeater]

44. blah, blah, it's just words, blah, blah

so predictable.

[Donnachaidh]

142. what's predictable is the shrillness of those who want to make this into a *historic* moment

On the basis of flowing words.

But you see, those of us who exist in the plane of reality, have watched this man *speechify* his ass off, and then, when asked to actually DO what he said he would -- CAVE like a beaten dog.

It's sad that he's that way -- it's embarrassing he has so many minions.

[JoePhilly]

45. Where was the announcement of SS and Medicare cuts ... ????

I mean, that was the prediction of the last week plus here on DU.

But OMG, didn't happen.

Same predictions were made for the State of the Union ... also ... DID NOT HAPPEN.

But now that he did not say the evil things breathlessly predicted, so what!!!

The outrage machine simply throws out its failed predictions, and moves on.

[eridani]

48. You missed "everything is on the table"? n/t

[JoePhilly]

63. Ahhh ... and that equals an announcement of major cuts. FAIL.

The same nonsense was predicted prior to the State of the Union.

When it did not happen ... the outrage machine simply dropped it.

Then about a week ago, the outrage machine resurrected the nonsense. Predicted an announcement of major cuts.

When that again does not happen, the search for ANY phrase that can be twisted INTO the potential for any thing whatsoever, replaces the original prediction as the "new outrage".

[eridani]

158. No, it means that Obama is willing to negotiate my survival--even though

he didn't make a commitment one way or another.

[elias49]

46. It WAS a damned fine speech. And if our party would get behind him

maybe we'd see some movement!
It points out one great difference between the right and the left: when a Republican says something, advocates for a cause, comes up with a 'good idea', even Republican fetuses back that plan, advocacy, or idea up.
Dems tend to snark.

[Solomon]

126. + 1,000

[Duval]

151. +1001! n/t

[NorthCarolina]

47. I'll am beginning to think this has all been thoroughly scripted.

Come out with a Deficit Commission Report EARLY on. Assume folks will be afraid and outraged with what is in the commission report (and rightly so), but simply leave it alone to simmer without much public talk about it. Then when things die down a bit and the time is right, the GOP issues an absolutely PREPOSTEROUS plan ridiculously far to the right that calls for an outright end to Medicare. Step up to the podium and ridicule that extreme right plan with some 'not on my watch' rhetoric, but at the same time acknowledge that there is an urgent need to revamp programs such as Medicare and Social Security because America can't afford them, and then drop a dime on the Simpson-Bowles report mentioning that, as President, you would lean heavily on those recommendations. After all, Simpson-Bowles is vastly better than the alternative Ryan plan the GOP has offered right? RIGHT? That's the way they hope you will eventually come to think about it anyway. Simpson-Bowles is enacted, DC and Wall Street celebrate, and and the people lose. Business as usual.

[Enthusiast]

114. I fear you are spot on.

And I share your sentiments completely. This looks to me as if it has been scripted and well crafted. Actually it will be easy to pull off. It is only a matter of media manipulation and we watch that every day.

[Carolina]

129. OMG, you nailed it

Nodrama selected the deficit commission and didn't balk at some of Simpson's nasty, pejorative remarks about the American people. As I said upthread, I don't trust the vacuous words of this POTUS one bit

[Cleita]

50. No flames here.

The pretty words were in his mouth, but the skepticism from performance past is still in my brain.

[slay]

51. He always - ALWAYS gives great speeches - the reality that follows often sucks

and sucks hard and sucks ass - unless you are super-rich. that's my opinion. i no longer trust obama and his speeches - they all end in lies and betrayal. seen that movie - been there, done that. guess it takes others longer to learn. i mean when has he NOT given a great speech - except possibly that Libya thing? ugh.

[Raine]

57. Agree, pretty words are great as far as they go

but they don't go far enough, words are not enough. I've been fooled to too many times by Obama to believe what he says. I'm waiting to see what comes of all those pretty words. If the past is any indication ... just more betrayal.

[Raine]

53. TOTALLY agree! nt

[Dappleganger]

54. Well said.

[davidthegnome]

55. I'm nervous, Will, but..

Hopeful. It was a powerful speech, powerful enough to motivate a cynic like me. I believe he's drawn a line in the sand, I believe he will do everything in his power to accomplish what he laid out for us. I'm going to do everything I can to help him.

No flames from me, you'd have to do something pretty darned outrageous for that. I admire your writing talent and wish I had half your ability. K & R.

[ProgressIn2008]

56. I don't give a damn about speeches, good or bad. Action is all that counts now. nt

[FiveGoodMen]

152. A-fucking-men to that!

It would be better if no one listened to speeches.

They are irrelevant.

But they are a great way to pull the wool over people's eyes.

[KoKo]

58. What bothers me about him...is that he gives great speeches that make us feel bad about ourselves..

(Since he's been President) There's not the soaring "Hope and Change" of his Campaign speeches. This NEW Obama is a downer.

I'm starting to feel that he thinks average Americans were all "overspending" trying to live "a good life" and we were the ones who caused what Obama always calls "The Recession." He doesn't talk about Banksters and those Real Estate Agents and Banksters who sold fraudulent Mortgages to average Americans and that those average Americans can't even find a clear title to their mortgage because the mortages were sold off to Hedge Funds and Investment Banks...after being sliced and diced.

Obama is making me feel the American Dream is dead unless we all suffer and sacrifice and pony up more of ourselves to keep the whole bailouts and scam that was done on us going.

It's all American's Fault...and we must ALL SACRIFICE.

In my experience any President who makes average Americans feel BAD about themselves and guilty...will not be re-elected to a second term.

Obama might be an exception because of his great Oratorical Skills...but I'm sort of tired of feeling bad about myself.

[MissDeeds]

59. He's in campaign mode

so there are going to be a lot of fine speeches. Been there, done that with Obama. Words are meaningless at this point. His record speaks for itself.

[deaniac21]

60. Best I've heard in the last 24 business hours!

[alarimer]

61. More pretty words from a proven liar.

I know better than to believe a single word Obama says.

[annabanana]

64. Is there less time between this speech and when the rubber

hits the road than there was between our last uplifting promise and the subsequent, um, thud? I am MORE inclined to hold out hope when there is less time for much accommodation.

[inna]

65. it was a campaign speech. sorry, been there, done that, don't believe a word he says at this point.

[ddeclue]

66. I loved your email tonight. When are you going to post that here so I can share it w my FB friends?

Thanks!

[joeunderdog]

70. As long as we don't grade on results, Obama's our man.

DU's favorite apologies...
Congress stopped him
It's not his jurisdiction
He's playing possum...just wait til his 2nd term
The Republicans made him do it
He's being bi-partisan
The Blue Dogs are at it again
The Republicans would be "even worse"


Be happy. It's going as well as it could. What do you expect?--he's just the President we elected to C*H*A*N*G*E things. It's not his fault. It's not up to him to be (insert air quotes) "effective."


and, don't forget, "He gives GREAT speeches."

[Last Stand]

76. It was Clinton's fault.

Don't blame O.

[readmoreoften]

100. +1

[wildbilln864]

71. k*r! nt

[lonestarnot]

72. All I'm going to say is,

it's very difficult to regain trust once it has been breached. We'll see.

[grahamhgreen]

74. Kick.

[chill_wind]

75. It's good cop-bad cop rope-a-dope

and the public is being played the dope. He's going to push the sugar-coated Republican turd policies vis- a-vis the Deficit Commission and save us from the really evil extremists.Quintessential Obama.

[RowdyRacer]

77. If he intended to do anything...

He would have done it when he had majorities in the congress. It's easy to talk big when you know there's no chance of having to back it up.

[tavalon]

134. Oops, you weren't supposed to notice that

None of us were.

[julian09]

154. Did you forget Sen Brown is not a dem

and dems only had only 59 counting two independents, and blue dogs who vote with republicans.

[Taft_Bathtub]

80. Yup, so sad

He gives great speeches, then does the exact opposite of what he promised to do. I fear we're getting Bowles-Simpson as the moderate/compromise :(

[Jim_Shorts]

81. Gummyworm man will reappear !

Remember he just started "campaign mode". We have been down this road before. I will be the first to support him if he actually fights for us when the repugs try to blackmail him over the debt ceiling

[pnwmom]

82. That speech, and the campaign speeches to follow,

can help us to take back the House, and increase our slim majority in the Senate.

I hope he makes many more.

[mistertrickster]

83. I was happy to hear him sound like a Democrat again. But now he has to act like one. nt

[bertman]

84. I fell for it. I was tearing up and CHEERING. Now I want to see him be tough

enough to make all that beautiful oratory stick.

REC.

[robinlynne]

85. He had a chance to act on this question 3 months ago. That was the moment.

NOt as a promise for the future in 2 years, if we elect him. How dare he say: that will not happen on my watch? It just did. on his watch. It just happened. Dec. 17th. 2010. He signed the god damn thing into law. Without his signature those specific tax cuts would have expired. ended. gone away.

[suffragette]

130. It bothers me that he is making this a campaign centerpiece

when as you note, he so recently took the opposite action of what his campaign promise for 2012 is.

[liberation]

157. It's not like he has a track record of saying something and doing the opposite...

Oh, wait.

I am fascinated how a simple speech is enough for many people to completely ignore a track record. Logical dissonance, apparently, is bipartisan.

[Cowpunk]

159. Damn good point! NT

[somone]

89. His past performance is indicative of future results

Words are cheap.

[Phlem]

91. Wow William

I'm starting to respect you more and more.

Good job.

-p

[inna]

96. +

it's the Will I appreciated so much during the Bush era.

[Jester Messiah]

92. Hope he means it, but I'm going to need to see deeds to match the words.

I've been really disappointed in the supine manner in which Obama has allowed the Repubs to frame the debate. I don't know if he thought that the job was over after he got HCR pushed through, but that's how he's acted. If he's finally going to wake up, well and good... but I won't hold my breath.

[Jim_Shorts]

93. There's an old saying in Tennessee

I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee .. fool me once, shame on ... shame on you. Fool me ... you can't get fooled again

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKgPY1adc0A

[JDPriestly]

94. I'm with you. William Pitt. I've been through too many ups and downs

with Obama.

I will wait to see what really happens.

The speech is very ambiguous about Social Security and Medicare. He says nice things about the programs, but he is not specific about the changes he wants to or will agree to make to them. This is a life or death issue for many Americans.

It does not just affect seniors now receiving benefits or baby boomers who will receive benefits within the next 15 years.

If Medicare benefits are cut, working people who are young or middle aged will have to make wrenching choices between taking care of ailing, sometimes dying parents, or taking care of their children.

Those young and middle-aged people who do not have children will bear the burden of choosing whether to pay for their parents' co-payments for expensive healthcare. But those people who have children and older parents will face truly heartrending decisions.

Do we pay Johnny's college tuition or do we pay the co-pay on Mom's health insurance? And what about that heart bypass? Can we afford to keep mom alive? Or is it time for us to let her go . . .

Those are the choices that young and middle-aged people with average incomes will have to face if Medicare is not maintained.

Medicare and Social Security taxes should be raised so that the burden of caring for seniors does not just fall most heavily on people with the lowest incomes.

I realize that Obama does not have an average or low income and that his parents and grandparents are not living, but maybe he could have some empathy and demand that Republicans have empathy with other American families who do have surviving elderly parents.

He and members of Congress are cavalier about the Social Security and Medicare issues. They seem to think that these issues affect only older people. In fact, they affect everyone.

[patrice]

97. I felt good that he said that Republicans are trying to fundamentaly change America in a bad way.

I think he said that twice.

[bdamomma]

113. repigs are showing their true colors

maybe they are our domestic terrorists???

[Major Hogwash]

102. Are you currently writing another book?

[FlyByNight]

104. Still nervous...

...but the speech was a decent start. As with everything, the devil is in the details.

Bowles-Simpson (appropriately enough, BS) is a cancer and shouldn't be seriously considered.

[kentuck]

106. No doubt, it was a political speech...

But that does not automatically disqualify it as useless.

If the Democratic Party would take the points that the President made and ran on them, they would win. Unfortunately, there are many Democrats that do not support the progressive ideas the President espoused. That is the problem moreso than what the President said.

The President gave the Party a chance to get back into the game. Otherwise, the Republicans will continue to control the debate and the agenda. Democrats should be happy that the speech put the Republicans on the defensive. When was the last time that happened?

We should look at the potential in the speech - not at the person giving the speech or whether you trust him or not. If it could move the Democratic Party to grow a spine, it would be a great speech.

The President is in campaign mode. He knows the Republicans aim to make the Bush taxcuts permanent. They want that more than they want love from their mother. It was a surprise attack. They never expected the President to come out in support of tax increases at this time. In that respect, it was a tactical victory for the President.

However, the President knew that this is an issue he could not dodge, so why not take it on now? It was a political calculation. But if the Democrats pick it up and run with it, it might help the Party to restore their spine.

[Enthusiast]

107. After the Ryan proposals

the Republicans were an easy mark. I mean this fucking Ryan is advocating decreasing taxes on the wealthy by an incredible 10%! This while 81% of the American people want taxes raised on the rich.

Ryan forgets we have a solid decades worth of evidence that these particular Bush tax cuts do not do a thing to create jobs or correct the deficit. Yet he wants to double down on these deficit creating tax cuts? This makes absolutely no sense. But 'they' claim to be the adults.

The Republicans will just have to elect a majority in both houses and the presidency -then they can REALLY ramp up their 'starve the beast' strategy. Just think, if we had Newt Gingrich for president, and more Republican in congress, we could start a war with Iran. That would be wonderful for the deficit. But I'm sure poor people would still be to blame.

[elocs]

108. Speeches are just words & promises. Empty without honest intent & actions to back that intent.

The best predictor of future behavior is past behavior, so we shall see, we shall see.

[webDude]

110. We all know he gives a fine speech, it's the follow-through thst is lacking.

[Javaman]

111. I just found it interesting that this "damn fine speech" came AFTER he announced

his reelection bid.

More flowery words where he "promised" not to extend the tax cuts for the wealthy.

Whatever.

I'm tired of flowery words. If he was so serious, why didn't he deliver a speech like this before he announced his reelection.

Folks we are being stroked and romanced for our votes again.

To paraphrase the president, Let me be clear, don't believe a damn thing until he does it.

Until then it's just more washington puffery Kabuki theater out chasing after our votes.

This speech was nothing more than metaphorical red meat to glue back those scales onto the blindly devoted few who just began to see reality.

Yes, I'm skeptical, yes I'm a cynic, but also yes, we have been lead down this road before. And before I take a step in that direction, I want to see more than billboards.

[tavalon]

115. I quit listening to his speeches quite a while ago

I don't run away screeching like I did when the silverspoon sociopath was pResident, but that was self preservation because his voice would make my ears bleed. I don't watch Obama's speeches because I've heard them before and they fired me up before and then there was little follow through. Now, when I hear him, I'm just sad and I feel sheepish for having been so on fire for a chimera. Maybe someday, he'll take off his third way suit and change into super Obama or even just moderately effective Obama and I'll wish I didn't stop listening.

Right now, the best I can manage is a pragmatic, I'll vote for him because the alternatives are worse, maybe. I liked candidate Obama but I haven't cared much for President Obama.

[Carolina]

132. OMG, I love your post

and your words eloquently express my exact same feelings.

Especially loved the phrases: silverspoon sociopath, so on fire for a chimera, take off his 3rd way suit! :hi:

[tavalon]

136. Aw shucks!

That's sweet. :blush:

[BlueJac]

116. there has always been great speakers..........

they don't always make great leaders!

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

117. I was moved to tears and came back to my senses. His words and his actions are

2 different things.

He reminds me of the neocon philosophy...tell the people what they want to hear, and then do what you want. I think he is a Trojan horse.

[mmonk]

118. You nailed it.

[LWolf]

119. I don't listen. I read.

I read quickly, skipping all of the eloquent, inspiring, fluff intended to distract me from the substance, and highlighting the content that relates to actual action and policy.

Which is why I always have that knot in my stomach.

[tweeternik]

123. K&R!! n/t

[Corruption Winz]

125. As I said in a different thread...

Time will tell. I just hope that he goes so far left, that when the right attempts to meet in the middle, it falls more towards our side.

[no limit]

127. "defense of Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security"...

I guess that depends on what the meaning of "defense" is.

[Search4Justice]

133. My sentiments exactly.

Don't tell me, show me.

[joeybee12]

135. I agree...the fact that his starting point is Sikmpson Bowles means for sure

Medicare and SS will be cut, and cut badly.

[grasswire]

137. Don't be Charlie Brown.

The man is campaigning. This is strategy.

Demand action now. He needs us back. Demands should be "on the table" now.

[Time for change]

140. I don't trust him one bit

He said that he would not re-extend the Bush tax cuts for the rich when they expire at the end of 2012. Oh, really? He said during his campaign for the presidency that he would "repeal" them. Then he reneged on that, and said that he would not extend them when they expired at the end of 2010. Then he did extend them when they expired. By the time they expire a second time, his first term will be almost over. He may very well be a lame duck president by then. He has broken way too many campaign promises to be deserving of our trust. If he considers it to his political advantage to not extend them at the end of 2012, then he will not extend them. If he considers it to his political advantage to extend them, he will think of an excuse for breaking his promise not to extend them a second time, as he has done so many other times during his presidency.

[BakedAtAMileHigh]

141. Yes, it was fine speechifyin'....so f**king what?

You are too easily impressed.

[bvar22]

143. Obama knows how to MAKE the promises.

He just doesn't know how to KEEP the promises,
and thats really the most important part!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7uvttu8ct0

[BlueCheese]

145. That's gold, Jerry! Gold! nt

[zipplewrath]

144. Public Option

I remember him making alot of speaches about public options too.....

I'm glad he said the things he did. I like the BASIC position he is staking out. I can quibble with some things, and I'm concerned about these "automatic cuts" tied to GDP.

But no more do I hear him and I think "well, what will he negotiate away with himself before he ever starts?"

The devil is definitely in THESE details.

[ProudDad]

146. Obama 'Torturer in Chief'

A letter has been released with the signatures of more than 250 of the most eminent US legal scholars including Obama's old law professor Laurence Tribe, to protest the administration's treatment of Bradley Manning, charged with leaking documents to Wikileaks. It details the inhumane conditions of Manning's detention and takes a personal jab at Obama. This just in time for the US report released on human rights violations around the world, to which China fired back, mentioning Wikileaks. Kevin Zeese, co-founder of VotersforPeace.us weighs in.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hu1-IJr2KY

[LaurenG]

147. I recently attended a seminar discussing what the health care cuts

sketchily looks like. Medical Home, accountable care and quality utilization associated with health care are all front and center in the next few years.

Physicians will be required to improve patient care while lowering costs and patients will be strongly encouraged to actively participate in their own care and comply with disease management standards of care. Restructuring health care to run more smoothly by optimizing staffing and implementing patient health care coaching are just a couple of things that are currently being piloted. It's going to happen with or without congress in the middle of it so I think there is a plan I just have no idea exactly how it will pan out.

[ItNerd4life]

148. If it was Bush, we would all be saying what a hollow speech it was.

Actions not words. He's in campaign mode already.

[Bake]

149. I am cautiously optimistic

But then I got suckered into believing in '08, too.

Bake

[Taverner]

150. Yep. And when I say this, I get shot down for "not supporting the president"

Or whatever crap they try and paint on me

[liberation]

155. One of Obama's main strengths are his oratory skills. He has always given good speeches

The problem is that most of the time, he really doesn't say anything. So he is doing exactly what he did during the campaign: give a good sounding speech which tries to appeal to everyone, while giving no actual specifics or a position, and allow people to project their expectations.

Some moderates who were looking for something, anything, to make the left shut up claim the speech was a tour de force which put the GOP in their place. And he did some of that, albeit in a very timid way. But they also miss (or conveniently ignore) the fact that Obama in the same speech also praised the republican position.

The brilliance of the speech is that now spending cuts are a self evident matter of fact. The issue is no longer wether to have cuts in the first place, but how much we should cut. I.e. the GOP narrative is now accepted as fact. And this was done by a Dem administration no less. I said brilliant, because a large number of Dems are not only supporting, but cheering basic aspects of republican policy platform and talking points. It takes talent to pull that off.

[julian09]

156. Obama should explain the tax increase on the rich better

The percentage increase is not on gross income but net income after deductions.
The higher rate is only on the portion over $250k net. They are only going up 4% not a draconian amount. The repugs make it sound like it will be a drastic amount.
Can't let the repug mantra of uncertainty or tax on small business define the argument. Very little small businesses will be affected. They could bring the $250k up to $350 for households and $500k for small business, depending on employee count to get more support for small business hiring.

[deaniac21]

160. The thing that bothered me is that there weren't , as always, any

details of how we accomplish these great deeds. Not one.