Opinions on Obama's speech

[handyman2]

So what did all think of Obama's state of the union address last night?
I personally thought it was a good rousing one. He through out a lot of good ideas. It seemed interesting that he sounded more like a Conservative Republican at times.
It was as much a campaign speech as a state of the union address.
Some points I noticed some Democrats did not applaud at times and Biden's applause seemed half hearted.
Now he has thrown down the gauntlet to both parties what do you think will change in Washington if any?

[Savoir Faire-Demogague in NJ]

Yeah, I have similar observations as you.

[chiver78]

I didn't see the whole thing, but I have similar feelings as everyone else so far. what I did notice was that there were more things that brought the whole room to its feet than I was expecting. that's encouraging to me, actually.

it'll be interesting to see if Congress does anything with the items he mentioned last night. I don't think anything he said last year ever went anywhere.

[Deleted]

From Congress, I don't expect a whole lot. Extending the payroll tax break is probably about it.

If I were the GOP, I'd be looking long and hard at the surtax for millionaires. The reality of the economy is that we probably can't get out of this mess through cuts alone. If they let it through right now, neither Romney nor Gingrich nor Santorum would have to vote for it. Ron Paul could vote no. They could let all of the guys in contested elections this year vote no and still get it done. It won't happen, mind you - but if I were Mitch McConnell, I'd be cutting a deal with Harry Reid. Let us bluster and protest in public, and we'll pass your bill.

I'd like to see them adopt the 90 day rule for appointments. That's the kind of nonsense that makes America think Congress can't do anything, so it may be a nice "reaching across the aisle" gesture of goodwill for both sides.

Beyond that, I think he was wise to toss out suggestions for what he can do from the executive branch. Rand Paul was just in the news around here for the cost savings he introduced in his office. I agree with him on very little, but I respect the effort to change the things that are fully in his control.

[dancinmama]

Jan 25, 2012 9:14:56 GMT -5 handyman2 said:

It seemed interesting that he sounded more like a Conservative Republican at times.

I wouldn't go so far as to say he sounded like a "conservative republican", but he definitely did not always sound like the "old Obama". Those were the times I thought he was full of BS.

[Deleted]

I didn't watch much more than the first part where he took credit for a bunch of stuff he either had nothing to do with or had little to do with.

I'm curious what people's opinions are on the whole idea of making the business tax code more complicated as a means to encourage domestic manufacturing. My first thought is the whole idea that it's a bad idea for the gov't to get in the way of the free markets like this, especially when there's no evidence that globalization has done anything to reduce employment in the US. But of course, we need more jobs right now, so maybe it's a decent idea? Long term, I still can't see why this would be good, though.

[deziloooooo]

Jan 25, 2012 9:14:56 GMT -5 handyman2 said:

So what did all think of Obama's state of the union address last night?
I personally thought it was a good rousing one. He through out a lot of good ideas. It seemed interesting that he sounded more like a Conservative Republican at times.
It was as much a campaign speech as a state of the union address.
Some points I noticed some Democrats did not applaud at times and Biden's applause seemed half hearted.
Now he has thrown down the gauntlet to both parties what do you think will change in Washington if any?

Being the supporter over all of the POTUS I think as you did..over all a good speech, LOL...and I got a kick out of the first commentator from the right who except for the kudos on the getting Osama found absolutely nothing to like at all in all the rest of the speech..nada, zero..not even a inkling of a possible good point ..which kind of sums up the other sides, IMHO of courser, attitude toward this administration almost from the get go.

Actually, to continue to stand firm on increase /remove Bush Tax cuts on the wealthiest..$1 million and over..I wonder why , especially if they, the right , feel , as they should , by the way, they have a very good chance of winning this office. If that was out of the way..the Bush Tax cuts..the same problem their POTUS would face, debt..less revenue..would be not facing their administration, one more negative out of the way..and since the majority of the American public are in agreement on the doing away of these Bush cut on the wealthiest, most Pubs too...to me it seems it would behoove them, pubs, to so support the Pres on this..a no brainer.

However, to expect these types, politicians, to use common sense on problems..[sigh] {Both sides on that one by the way } [double sigh there }

[dancinmama]

Obama: "And we need to replace teachers who aren't helping kids learn."

Me: You'd better talk to your union buddies about that one.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Obama: "Payoffs in public investments don't come right away."

Me: Boy you got that one right Mr. President. And with Solyndra, they won't come at all.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Obama: I'm going to issue an executive order to reduce red tape for infrastructure projects.

Me: This just shows how naive you were the first time around when your shovel ready projects weren't as shovel ready as you had thought.
<< snicker, snicker >>

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Obama: "No bailouts, handouts, or cop-outs."

Me: I sure hope that includes you!!

[chiver78]

Jan 25, 2012 10:08:49 GMT -5 dancinmama said:

Obama: "And we need to replace teachers who aren't helping kids learn."

Me: You'd better talk to your union buddies about that one.

he preceded this statement with a comment that there needs to be authority given to reward great teachers and flexibility to replace..... you got the rest. I don't doubt he expects to have to work with the unions.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Obama: "Payoffs in public investments don't come right away."

Me: Boy you got that one right Mr. President. And with Solyndra, they won't come at all.

he also acknowledged certain investments didn't work. perhaps you missed it?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I'm not apologizing for him, or anyone else, but you've got things a little skewed here.

[Deleted]

Speeches are nice. That was a nice speech.

[dancinmama]

Jan 25, 2012 10:16:05 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

Jan 25, 2012 10:08:49 GMT -5 dancinmama said:

Obama: "And we need to replace teachers who aren't helping kids learn."

Me: You'd better talk to your union buddies about that one.

he preceded this statement with a comment that there needs to be authority given to reward great teachers and flexibility to replace..... you got the rest. I don't doubt he expects to have to work with the unions.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Obama: "Payoffs in public investments don't come right away."

Me: Boy you got that one right Mr. President. And with Solyndra, they won't come at all.

he also acknowledged certain investments didn't work. perhaps you missed it?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I'm not apologizing for him, or anyone else, but you've got things a little skewed here.

I don't think so.

Actually he is the one that should apologize....to the American people for wasting so much of our hard-earned money.

[chiver78]

Jan 25, 2012 10:23:26 GMT -5 dancinmama said:

Jan 25, 2012 10:16:05 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

I'm not apologizing for him, or anyone else, but you've got things a little skewed here.

I don't think so.

Actually he is the one that should apologize....to the American people for wasting so much of our hard-earned money.

he can get in line to do that behind the previous administration, who wasted billions of dollars and thousands of American lives on a war we didn't need to fight.

[dancinmama]

Jan 25, 2012 10:26:03 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

Jan 25, 2012 10:23:26 GMT -5 dancinmama said:

I don't think so.

Actually he is the one that should apologize....to the American people for wasting so much of our hard-earned money.

he can get in line to do that behind the previous administration, who wasted billions of dollars and thousands of American lives on a war we didn't need to fight.

His speech was not about previous administrations and they are not up for re-election.

[Savoir Faire-Demogague in NJ]

he can get in line to do that behind the previous administration, who wasted billions of dollars and thousands of American lives on a war we didn't need to fight.
The billions spent actually had people working. The issue of whether or not the war needed to be fought is highly debatable. The US was attacked. Retaliation was justified.

[usaone]

Its all about Congress. The Pres will compromise on almost everything.

[sesfw]

Watched M*A*S*H last night and really enjoyed the shows.

bho will be here in the Phoenix area today and will make a campaign speech at a major construction site for Intel. ALL construction workers are getting the day off WITHOUT pay while bho pats himself on the back.

While he is here in AZ he needs to spend some time in the desert at the illegal immigrant trail. I think a couple of nights camping out in that area will be nice.

[jarhead1976]

More BS , lets face it , The Federal Reserve run's this congress and Potus.

[chiver78]

Jan 25, 2012 10:30:56 GMT -5 dancinmama said:

Jan 25, 2012 10:26:03 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

he can get in line to do that behind the previous administration, who wasted billions of dollars and thousands of American lives on a war we didn't need to fight.

His speech was not about previous administrations and they are not up for re-election.

thank the 22nd Amendment for term limits.

[rockon]

Speeches are nice and they are also quite predictable. I just caught some highlights from last night and as usual talk is nothing more then words if you are not effective in getting the cooperation required to accomplish them. Opposition from the opposite party is a constant and expected factor in politics and a leader that is effective finds way to move agendas forward even in the worst environments. Obama has not been effective largely because him and his party forced many things through the congress that they controlled in late night sessions even when they did not have public support. Secondly he continues to say he wants bi partisan support but then in the same speech turns around and blames or ridicules the people he says he wants to work with. that style has never worked for me and I would be most surprised if it makes him more credible or effective.
Last but not least many of his ideas don't sound bad on the surface... then you ask yourself. How will it work out if we take half of the saving from the Iraq war and put it on the national debt when it's borrowed money to begin with? How do you pay off borrowed money with borrowed money?
The State of our Union is not good so just tell the truth, detail a real plan that balances our budget in the next few years, don't just ask for bi partisan support but show your sincerity and leadership by acknowledging that many of our problems stem from things both parties have done for decades, commit to real transparency, swear to end the connection between large corporations and our bloated government and then last but not least show by your actions that you will do what it takes to make it happen and you will not only have my vote but you will win by a landslide.

[workpublic]

i'm still clearing the smoke out of my ass. i'll let youse know later. ;-)

[dancinmama]

Jan 25, 2012 10:41:10 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

Jan 25, 2012 10:30:56 GMT -5 dancinmama said:

His speech was not about previous administrations and they are not up for re-election.

thank the 22nd Amendment for term limits.

I completely agree.

[Mkitty is pro kitty]

The billions spent actually had people working.

Yes there were some people working, but the money that put us deeper in debt could have been used better. Why spend all that money to have buildings and roads built there when they could have been built here for a lot cheaper?

The issue of whether or not the war needed to be fought is highly debatable. The US was attacked. Retaliation was justified.

Retaliation against the wrong country isn't. Telling lies about WMDs isn't. Later trying to claim you should take credit for Osama because of your torture methods isn't. Being an apologist for people who say/do such things isn't.

Obama: "And we need to replace teachers who aren't helping kids learn."

Me: You'd better talk to your union buddies about that one.

Me: You'd better talk your wingnut think-tank buddies to come up with a new meme. Start by taking ALL he said in context, not cherry pick a sentence so you can give a tired old zing about unions.

[diamonds]

Jan 25, 2012 10:08:49 GMT -5 dancinmama said:

Obama: "And we need to replace teachers who aren't helping kids learn."

Me: You'd better talk to your union buddies about that one.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Obama: "Payoffs in public investments don't come right away."

Me: Boy you got that one right Mr. President. And with Solyndra, they won't come at all.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Obama: I'm going to issue an executive order to reduce red tape for infrastructure projects.

Me: This just shows how naive you were the first time around when your shovel ready projects weren't as shovel ready as you had thought.
<< snicker, snicker >>

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Obama: "No bailouts, handouts, or cop-outs."

Me: I sure hope that includes you!!

Rules for Radicals written by Saul Alinsky dedicated to Lucifer. A course that Obama taught at University of Chicago. This is called Power Politics.

[handyman2]

One thing that struck me in his speech. He has the ability to put passion and emphasis on words.
That is the Achilles heal of the current Republican candidates. Stumbling and mumbiling is not going to cut it. They need to focus more on issues and not on each other and get some speech training to compete with Obama.
A well given speech can convert a lot of votes. So my advice to the Republican candidates is show more polish in your presentations or Obama will win next year.

[chiver78]

Jan 25, 2012 11:14:34 GMT -5 diamonds said:

Jan 25, 2012 10:08:49 GMT -5 dancinmama said:

Obama: "And we need to replace teachers who aren't helping kids learn."

Me: You'd better talk to your union buddies about that one.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Obama: "Payoffs in public investments don't come right away."

Me: Boy you got that one right Mr. President. And with Solyndra, they won't come at all.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Obama: I'm going to issue an executive order to reduce red tape for infrastructure projects.

Me: This just shows how naive you were the first time around when your shovel ready projects weren't as shovel ready as you had thought.
<< snicker, snicker >>

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Obama: "No bailouts, handouts, or cop-outs."

Me: I sure hope that includes you!!

Rules for Radicals written by Saul Alinsky dedicated to Lucifer. A course that Obama taught at University of Chicago. This is called Power Politics.

[ugonow]

I thought there were parts stolen from previous presidents--- "Reagan , talking about his TERFA, which raised taxes on the wealthy, because, as he claimed many of them were paying less than bus drivers------------<<<"And what about fairness for families? It's in our families that America's most important work gets done: raising our next generation. But over the last 40 years, as inflation has shrunk the personal exemption, families with children have had to shoulder more and more of the tax burden. With inflation and bracket-creep also eroding incomes, many spouses who would rather stay home with their children have been forced to go looking for jobs. And what of America's promise of hope and opportunity, that with hard work even the poorest among us can gain the security and happiness that is the due of all Americans? You can't put a price tag on the American dream. That dream is the heart and soul of America; it's the promise that keeps our nation forever good and generous, a model and hope to the world.

For all these reasons, this tax bill is less a freedom—or a reform, I should say, than a revolution. Millions of working poor will be dropped from the tax rolls altogether, and families will get a long-overdue break with lower rates and an almost doubled personal exemption. We're going to make it economical to raise children again. Flatter rates will mean more reward for that extra effort, and vanishing loopholes and a minimum tax will mean that everybody and every corporation pay their fair share. And that's why I'm certain that the bill I'm signing today is not only an historic overhaul of our tax code and a sweeping victory for fairness, it's also the best antipoverty bill, the best profamily measure, and the best job-creation program ever to come out of the Congress .. "

[djAdvocate]

Jan 25, 2012 9:14:56 GMT -5 handyman2 said:

So what did all think of Obama's state of the union address last night?
I personally thought it was a good rousing one. He through out a lot of good ideas. It seemed interesting that he sounded more like a Conservative Republican at times.

totally. his line about "right sizing government" was particularly....shocking

It was as much a campaign speech as a state of the union address.
Some points I noticed some Democrats did not applaud at times and Biden's applause seemed half hearted.
Now he has thrown down the gauntlet to both parties what do you think will change in Washington if any?

nope

[ugonow]

Me neither...The players may change, but imo, the games will stay the same.

[djAdvocate]

Jan 25, 2012 10:41:10 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

Jan 25, 2012 10:30:56 GMT -5 dancinmama said:

His speech was not about previous administrations and they are not up for re-election.

thank the 22nd Amendment for term limits.

term limits are lame.

[deziloooooo]

There was a op piece in my local paper today, not from a known / famouse columnist , but just a guy, a teacher..a local one ..that I felt said a lot of the things I feel and with out trying to analyze each line of his thoughts , would offer it to any who might want to peruse it..to me , as I said, a lot of his ideas here made a lot of sense to me..things I too have been thinking for a long time and have had a hard time trying to understand why the other side can't see them as having merit..

www.sun-sentinel.com/news/opinion/fl-republicans-tax-rich-teacher-0125-20120125,0,7419153.story

It relates to one of the main points of the POTUS speech regarding the tax breaks for the wealthiest thus I am offering it here....