If the president’s rhetoric was sweeping, it was also pragmatic. “Being true to our founding documents does not require us to agree on every contour of life,” he said. “It does not mean we will all define liberty in exactly the same way, or follow the same precise path to happiness. Progress does not compel us to settle centuries-long debates about the role of government for all time — but it does require us to act in our time.”
Brian Williams of NBC News was a trip in the lead-up to the president making his appearance for the crowds at the National Mall. He quipped that Joe Biden's Bible had the dimensions of a pull-out couch. And that the president's escorts had the somber countenance of somebody walking towards an execution.
That's Fred Willard color commentary if you ask me. Too funny.
As far as the president's "sweeping" remarks, I think they work for effect on such a grand stage. And if anything they keep the dialogue on subjects such as immigration reform, and gay rights at the forefront, but drastic changes are anything but assured. Promoting action on climate change is admirable but I don't expect to see solar panels be the wave of the future any time soon. This passage I liked:
"The commitments we make to each other—through Medicare, and Medicaid, and Social Security—these things do not sap our initiative; they strengthen us," he said in his address on Monday. "They do not make us a nation of takers; they free us to take the risks that make this country great."
The president's speech did highlight what democrats are supposed to stand for, and we shouldn't shy away from those values. But I, as well as opponents, should realize that an agenda has only so much potential. In the real world, gay marriage can only go so far. Gun control can only go so far.
It'll be interesting to see how the next four years play out. Surely there are a lot of hot button issues to tackle, but there's always the Middle East, the mid-term elections, and plain ol' opposition party tactics. We must make plans but also be realistic about their fruition. They're only viable until the next shoe drops.
13 comments:
Why doesnt anyone ask thepresident why he has not worked with the houses to balance the budget?
Why Hasnt anyone asked him where he figures the hational Debt is leading our country?
Why has he not been asked why the wars are still going on when he ran on I will bring our boys back?
Why does everyone cheer when he talks?
Medicare, Medicaid, and socialist insecurity is for people who enjoy the subservient, immoral, and demeaning lifestyle of being wards of the state.
Sad dependence of a bankrupt government..
A pathetic message for a state of the union . My children did not watch,, they were learning about freedom and self reliance.
(keyrose)
Again the taxpayer pays for a bunch of political rhetoric. I am sure the lazy bunch who depend on the government for their welfare checks enjoyed watching the working taxpayers money go down the drain.
At a time, when we are struggling, he should have bypassed the inaugural and parties. He had taken the oath the day before, so why not save some money.
It's the difference between being "Selfless" and "selfish".!..
The only thing I have to say is that it is very strange that everyone that is a GOPer thinks anyone not a GOPers are asking for hand outs. Get a life peeps twice the nation went to vote and twice said no to the GOP. Far left conservative is not an answer to our problems and so not ans answer is far right liberal thinking. The only difference between both is that the far left wont move to the center when in reality that is where all things should be at this point. You cant have everything as you propose far left conservative the far right does move to teh center but the far left wont so no so stop staying all that are not GOp are asking or are getting a hand out they are not and that is the blind that separates us .
@anonymous you got to be kidding. Get your history right. By constitutional law the President has to be sworn in on the 20th. Because it was a SUNDAY and the next day a Federal Holiday it made sense to have it on Monday. GET SERIOUS really bypassed the inaugural and parties.
They only had two parties down from 8 four years ago so who cut back it sure looks like the demos cut back dont you think.
A nation without a inaugural and parties as it has been since the founding fathers just because he is Democrat is silly and shows that no matter what the Demos do the GOPers find wrong.
So they cut back from 8 parties a year to two only and one was the always done MILITARY one that is never going away. SO that notion is not well thought out. So they saved money and did you know that those parties are paid by others not the US government you fail to tell us in your one sided writing .
So you failed to mention they cut the parties down from 8 four years ago to only two parties and one was the military one.
So you failed to mention the reason he was sworn in was by constitutional requirements on that day that just happened in the 20th to be sunday.
Nuno, grow up and speak in real words, not as if you are writing a big text message to a 12 year old.
And PS, the right is conservative, and the left is liberal in political discussions.
Where was all this hubbub about reigning in spending during the Reagan, Bush I, Clinton, and Bush II administrations? Certainly there was no problem raising the debt limit then.
And if you're SO concerned about handouts and welfare, start at the root of the problem. HEB and Wal-Mart and all of them fast food resaurants that plague your fair city of Laredo. That's right. They have lobbyists for that. They count on welfare dollars to fill their bank accounts.
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2011/jul/26/barack-obama/obama-says-reagan-raised-debt-ceiling-18-times-geo/
http://www.kiiitv.com/story/15417811/fast-food-restaurants-lobbying-to-accept-food-stamps
http://www.reporternews.com/news/2011/jun/11/life-and-death-of-a-good-bill/
http://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/clientsum.php?id=D000042670&year=2012
Government entitlement to corporate enterprise via a subservient middleman. THAT'S AWESOME.!..
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