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All things considered, I was pleased with President Obama's State of the Union address last night, as, I imagine, were most Americans. I mean, there was something in that speech for everyone to embrace. Well, everyone except Republican members of Congress whose attitude is "If it comes from the White House, we're against it, no matter how much sense it makes or how good it will be for the country and its people."
I was particularly delighted to see the President put the emphasis on job creation and not health care reform. I was glad to see him nail the Republicans for their obstructionism and to criticize his own party which tends, in his words, "to run for the hills," instead of using the power of its sizable majority. The message to his own party was clear: "Let the Republicans propose something better or, as they are more likely to do, let them simply filibuster and then we will show up these hypocrites for exactly what they are."
Bipartisanship would be nice, but it's not going to happen with these Republican clowns. The President managed to pass an economy recovery bill that saved this country from an even deeper recession and possibly even a depression. Yet, only three Republicans voted for it. On health care reform I wish he had sent a stronger message: Instead of suggesting the Republicans come up with a better plan than the one he has proposed -- one that will provide security for almost all Americans, will reduce costs and will reduce the deficit -- he should have demanded it.
The evidence has shown that the private sector is not going to fuel a much-needed economic recovery. Thus it has to come from the federal government with more stimulus programs. It will take a lot more -- in fact, a whole lot more -- than the $154 billion jobs bill passed by the House. But at least it's a start and I was delighted to see the President suggest more, such as lending money to small businesses and giving them incentives for capital expansion. Those are the types of programs we need more of.
And I was particularly glad to hear for the first time in a State of the Union address since we started this mess that we are managing an exit from Iraq.
In his first year in office, President Obama made the mistake of letting others define him and his policies. Last night I saw more of the man who campaigned for the Presidency, a man who speaks the simple truth and inspires in the process. I just hopes he keeps that up.
I was particularly delighted to see the President put the emphasis on job creation and not health care reform. I was glad to see him nail the Republicans for their obstructionism and to criticize his own party which tends, in his words, "to run for the hills," instead of using the power of its sizable majority. The message to his own party was clear: "Let the Republicans propose something better or, as they are more likely to do, let them simply filibuster and then we will show up these hypocrites for exactly what they are."
Bipartisanship would be nice, but it's not going to happen with these Republican clowns. The President managed to pass an economy recovery bill that saved this country from an even deeper recession and possibly even a depression. Yet, only three Republicans voted for it. On health care reform I wish he had sent a stronger message: Instead of suggesting the Republicans come up with a better plan than the one he has proposed -- one that will provide security for almost all Americans, will reduce costs and will reduce the deficit -- he should have demanded it.
The evidence has shown that the private sector is not going to fuel a much-needed economic recovery. Thus it has to come from the federal government with more stimulus programs. It will take a lot more -- in fact, a whole lot more -- than the $154 billion jobs bill passed by the House. But at least it's a start and I was delighted to see the President suggest more, such as lending money to small businesses and giving them incentives for capital expansion. Those are the types of programs we need more of.
And I was particularly glad to hear for the first time in a State of the Union address since we started this mess that we are managing an exit from Iraq.
In his first year in office, President Obama made the mistake of letting others define him and his policies. Last night I saw more of the man who campaigned for the Presidency, a man who speaks the simple truth and inspires in the process. I just hopes he keeps that up.
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