Very flat. I was looking for a little more pizzazz.
And in the face of ruinous deficits, it seems beyond pitiful to be throwing a bone to college students in the middle of a State of the Union speech. He can’t seem to get away from trying to buy support.
This one will be on the front pages tomorrow as a bust. Watching Joe and Nancy in the background is more exciting than the speech.
I only caught the last few minutes, but I must say I agree with you. I supported and voted for Obama in the election, but the last part sounded too much like a stump speech. I found myself audibly groaning when he started the old political rhetorical trick of making vague references to correspondence he’s received on the issues of the day. “From the single mother in…, to the small business owner who…, all the way to the little boy who…”. It’s starting to ring hollow to me, even coming from him.
But the Republican response from the governor of Virginia was even worse. I didn’t hear a single substantive alternative to what the president and the majority in congress want to do. Nothing but vagaries about small government and conservative values, whatever is meant by that term nowadays. I’m not a partisan, and I really tried to find something substantial in the response to compare to the administration’s agenda, but the governor didn’t really say anything meaningful. As Chris Matthews said tonight, “there’s nothing to report.”
On the other hand, I don’t think any speech from the president would win over his critics. Such is the culture of subotimization in Washington today. Rather than seek to be seen as working constructively with the opposite party for the American people–whether that’s what they really want to do is beside the point, perception is everything–our congress critters are focused on demonizing the opposing party and winning seats in the next election. This goes for both Dems and Repubs. Party victories are more important than national ones. In this climate, I suppose I’m not too worried about a lackluster Obama speech. Those who support him will continue to do so, and those who oppose will continue to seek new ways to derail any promising initiatives his administration offers.
I agree with the weak response from the VA governor.
I was shocked by the non-response from the Joint Chiefs re: Gays in the military. I think that Obama was on a roll and shot himself in the foot. Don’t get me wrong; I don’t wish any ill will upon gays (or any such group, et.al) but I think that this was one of the strikes that Barack threw out there…along with the college student thing. And the obvious begging for applause for not raising taxes (approx. 20 min into it.)
I think it’s like with the Supreme Court. They’re not supposed to react to policy issues.
I like the comment that I heard: Obama is the champion of green, because he recycled all his campaign speeches.
That pretty much says it all. I turned it off after I threw up in my mouth the third time.