Buffalo Boy's Blog
Giving You More Than Just My Two Cents
Speech for the Base
I was approaching the State of the Union speech tonight by Obama as the beginning of the end or a new beginning depending on how he addressed the issues that have the majority of his base to say the least nervous.
To put it simply Obama hit on the points he needed to, to keep me listening and supporting him for at least a few more months. He caught my attention again even if despite numerous well aimed and intentional shots across the bow at the repukes he failed to gain theirs.
After that speech though how can anyone in this country right now democrat or repuke deny that this president is willing to A) fight for middle class and the poor in this country B) willing to fight for what he ran on and C) Willing to work with both parties.
It was only a speech and if Obama learned anything maybe he has learned that he can't lead by delegating as much as he thought. His plans addressed in the speech included monthly meetings with leadership in both parties...how many presidents have done that? Our last president surely didn't.
We may not be getting the healthcare bill that we wanted but he hinted that congress should not give up..was he insisting that they continue to try to get a public option into the bill or to work with passing what the senate is passing down? One thing we did get is that he doesn't care that its an election year he wants it passed.
Plain and simple the president demanded action from both sides on big issues despite an election year, insinuating that they are not there to be re-elected but to lead and to get things done, not sit there and wait for failure just because you have an ideological difference.
The ball has been thrown to the republicans, if they work with it and attempt to get things done the rest of the year maybe they save face, if not the American people have got to be pretty damn obtuse not to realize that if the do nothing crap the republicans have been doing so far in Obama's tenure should not be tolerated.
This was my favorite part of the speech:
"From the day I took office, I have been told that addressing our larger challenges is too ambitious — that such efforts would be too contentious, that our political system is too gridlocked and that we should just put things on hold for awhile.
For those who make these claims, I have one simple question:
How long should we wait? How long should America put its future on hold?
You see, Washington has been telling us to wait for decades, even as the problems have grown worse. Meanwhile, China's not waiting to revamp its economy; Germany's not waiting; India's not waiting. These nations aren't standing still. These nations aren't playing for second place. They're putting more emphasis on math and science. They're rebuilding their infrastructure. They are making serious investments in clean energy because they want those jobs.
Well I do not accept second place for the United States of America. As hard as it may be, as uncomfortable and contentious as the debates may be, it's time to get serious about fixing the problems that are hampering our growth.
One place to start is serious financial reform. Look, I am not interested in punishing banks, I'm interested in protecting our economy. A strong, healthy financial market makes it possible for businesses to access credit and create new jobs. It channels the savings of families into investments that raise incomes. But that can only happen if we guard against the same recklessness that nearly brought down our entire economy.
We need to make sure consumers and middle class families have the information they need to make financial decisions. We can't allow financial institutions, including those that take your deposits, to take risks that threaten the whole economy.
The House has already passed financial reform with many of these changes. And the lobbyists are already trying to kill it. Well, we cannot let them win this fight. And if the bill that ends up on my desk does not meet the test of real reform, I will send it back."
Its time for the stalemate in Washington to end. That was the message tonight. Republicans/conservatives know damn well that they have sat back and done nothing but criticize everything from day one, from the closing of Gitmo to the choice of the first families dog.
They are the first to criticize but the last to come up with solutions. The president expects more. He mentioned leading instead of short term politics:
"Just saying no to everything may be good short-term politics, but it's not leadership. We were sent here to serve our citizens, not our ambitions."
Why can't our elected officials have some pride in what they do? Lead, both democrats and republicans were elected to serve the people of this country not sit on their hands to spite the party in power.
Im excited again, the democratic base should be excited, now its in the republicans hands. I doubt they will follow on this, I doubt they will change and if they don't....the American people need to remember and in November remember this speech, remember the fact that the republican party in this country is the very reason why the president didn't get more done.
Mike, you've got to be kidding. It was a fluff speech. It sounded like a campaign speech full of empty promises and a wish list an hour long. They're all crooks, dems, the pukes, joe "the fence" leibermann. The best step that could have been taken last night would be to drop a bomb on the chamber and start over.
He can preach bi-partisanship all he wants, but inserting barbs against the republicans, and continuing to blame Bush for a financial mess that has been culminating due to overall global economics since 1980s more than anything isn't being "bi-partisan". It's like saying "OK you jerks I'm willing to work with you. But the balls' in your court to work with me. You jerks." Come on, seriously?
It is the republicans duty to work with him, they were lucky to keep their jobs, either they work with the party that was elected to power or maybe we should find other elected officials who will work with them.
So the other option is they Filibuster everything requiring 60 votes for anything to pass and nothing gets done?
The president was basically calling them to do their friggin jobs Rob, they have said no to everything this administration has tried to do with no attempt to come up with something of their own. The american people republican or democrat have elected the members of both congress and the senate to pass bills that would help the American people whether its jobs or healthcare. They aren't passing shit therefore why are we paying them....If I were the president I would say until they can get along, no one in the house or the senate gets a pay check until they come up with some sort of legislation on one of the issues the president laid out.
This 60 vote crap is ridiculous....51 is majority the democrats have 58 in the senate thats good enough they need to ditch the Filibuster altogether so shit can get passed.
Being president is a big job. It's a big responsibility. You wanted the position, Barack. You campaigned for it. You told the public to trust you with it, and they elected you -- and you're now president of the greatest country mankind has ever known, and yet you act like this was all coming to you, like you deserve it, that you're better than the people you are supposed to serve and that you have no tolerance for debate or dissent. That's not the way it works as president, Barack. We have a Constitution, we have checks and balances, we have separation of powers, we have states -- and most of all, we have the people. You don't get to impose your programs and policies on the nation and the people without our consent.
This is a representative republic, not a banana republic, and let me remind you: Karl Marx and Saul Alinsky are not our Founding Fathers. This is a nation built on individuality, built on liberty, free markets, and faith. Yet you, Barack, demand fidelity to a different belief system: A system that crushes individual initiative and free will. The president does not berate Supreme Court justices who are guests of the Congress and who have no ability to respond to your attacks. You've made such a mess of things, Barack, and it's time to stop deluding yourself. It's time to stop blaming others. You are delusional. You are delirious. It's time for you to assume the responsibilities of a president rather than pretending to be one.
You've driven the nation's debt over the edge. It is your responsibility to fix it now. Otherwise, our young people will have no future. You were wrong to grant terrorists constitutional rights. Even the libs in New York don't want the trial there now! You, Mr. President, are endangering the security of this nation. Now fix it! Reverse course, and end the terrorists -- all of them -- back to Guantanamo Bay, where they belong. You are wrong to nationalize one industry after another from automobiles to banks. You are destroying competition and jobs. You need to stop what you were doing before millions of more families go broke from your misguided policies. It's not too late to stop this. I know you're not going to stop it because last night you said you don't quit, and I know what you mean.
You're gonna keep plugging for the same agenda, which is going to destroy this country even more -- which makes me think, Barack, that's your objective. You know, Barack, unlike most presidents you're dealing with a Congress that has super majorities in both houses, fellow Democrats. It amazes me that with all the talk about your ability to persuade and communicate, that you can't even hold your own party members together anymore. Is that Bush's fault, too? Is it is fault of the banks and the insurance companies and the lobbyists that you can't keep your own Democrat Party unified -- or is it a problem with your leadership, Barack, or lack of leadership? It's the latter, Mr. President. I'll tell you, you are not a leader. You are an agitator and an organizer, and a process guy, but you are not a leader. It is you who are doing something wrong.
The people in Virginia don't like it. The people in New Jersey don't like it. The people in Massachusetts don't like it. The people in Massachusetts and all over the country have the ability to inform themselves outside of your sycophant press corps, and they are doing so. Members of your own governing majority don't like what you are doing. I mean, this calls for some self-reflection and some circumspection. Has it occurred to you, Mr. President, even once that you're not as cool as you think you are? Has it occurred to you that you are screwing up? And if it has, are you happy about that? Has it occurred to you that you have a great deal to learn and that you need to take your own measure, or are you Mr. Perfect? Are you God-sent?
Are you The One that you've been waiting for? See, I have a little concern there may be a psychological issue at play here. I don't say this to demean you, Barack. I say it because I'm concerned. I mean, Tom Daschle was always "concerned" and I like the word. I'm concerned. You seem to have a whole lot of enemies, at least in your own mind. A partial list would include Fox News, insurance companies, banks, oil companies, the "special interests," the Supreme Court, Republicans, talk show hosts, executives, anyone or any business that earns over $250,000 a year, mortgage companies, credit card companies -- and the list goes on and on and on. You have the longest enemies list of anybody I've ever known.
These people are not your enemies, though, Barack. They are Americans. They are part of this country. They are part of what makes the nation work. You are not. You have nothing to do, and have had nothing to do, with this nation's greatness. You can't lay claim to greatness on any scale, not even rhetorical. But you have no direct relationship to the greatness of this country. You are damaging the possibility of further greatness. Nevertheless, like a bully, you continue to threaten all of these people. The Supreme Court, Big Oil, Big Pharmaceutical, Big Retail, talk show hosts, Fox News, the list goes on. You threaten anybody who does not agree with you. You try to intimidate them. You smear them. Your sycophantic media goes right along and carries your water. But this is not what presidents do.
You're supposed to lead not by threatening people but by encouraging them, by embracing them, by thanking them, by inspiring them. Most of all you don't seem to appreciate the magnificence of this nation! I know you don't. The way you've been educated about this country it's painfully obvious. You think this country is guilty, period. Guilty and unjust. You seem to think this country needs to be torn down so you can rebuild it. But you were elected to be president, not some kind of dictator. You must operate within the confines of the Constitution. You are not bigger than the law, and you are not bigger than the people. You were elected to serve the people, not dictate to them. Anyway, I'm sure this little lecture will not do you much good, particularly given the spectacle of your speech last night. You really are full of yourself. But I truly hope that this little talk does do you some good down the way, because something is going to have to change in you or we are doomed for at least the next three years.
"This must be what it feels like to live in a monarchy when some little kid becomes king due to a premature death."
"We found out what it's like last night to sit through a speech by Hugo Chavez or Fidel Castro."
"Nancy Pelosi, she missed her calling. She's up and down, a Jack in the Box. She should have been a trained seal at Sea World the way she was behaving last night."
"I really do believe this guy thinks he's the savior. I think he's delusional. I mean this seriously. He's delirious in the way that Castro and Chavez and other dictators through history were dangerously megalomaniacal."
"I don't like saying these kinds of things about the president of the United States, but it was a speech that was not even presidential. I mean, is there one sane person left in the country not sick of being lectured to by a petty little man with the political instincts all of Chicago thug?"
"No matter where he is, Barack Obama is always the least experienced most condescending guy in the room. He has a personality uniquely unsuited for constructive leadership. Community organizing? Yeah. Leadership? No. He's boorish."
"Obama can stand up there and rip anybody he wants, rip anything, including the Supreme Court. But if someone even mouths a silent response, like Alito did, that someone is the subject of the media's attacks. That someone is insolent and disrespectful. But Obama can trash and try to destroy anything or anybody, and he is praised."
"Obama is going to have to learn the Founding Fathers of this country were not Saul Alinsky and Karl Marx."
"The least accomplished man in the room lectured everyone as if they were freshmen in their first last year of college. I was uncomfortable. It was the most uncomfortable State of the Union I've ever watched.
You have to go back and look at the last ten days of Obama's life. Everything that could have gone wrong politically did, monumentally so. You stack that up against his insufferably megalomaniacal ego and you get a guy who is angry at everybody. Like his base.
First of all the tax rate on the Rich right now at this very minute is 3% lower than it ever was when the Conservative hero Reagan was president, All Obama wants to do is put that 3% back on the Wealthiest Americans who make $250,000 net income per year.
From 36% to 39% exactly what it was under Reagan, Bush Senior and Clinton and the Economy hummed under Clinton.
As far as the rest of the book you wrote, I guess then that you think its okay that we have 41 republcans in the senate doing absolutely nothing to earn a paycheck while the democrats are the ones trying to get legislation done with nothing but threats of having it turned away by filibusters and no real solutions coming from the other side.
Its ridiculous.
The Courts were wrong when they overturned 100 years precedence which will allow foreign and domestic coorporations to buy our elections....That is facisim and your conservative supreme court is what gave us facism not Obama.
And as far as the credit card companies they are no better than loan sharks. the Banks were given $700 Billion By BUSH not Obama and they proceded to hand out huge bonuses like it was party money. They should pay it back, why shouldn't they.
Obama didn't buy the banks, Bush did, Obama just gave them the remainder of what was approved under George W. Bush in the tarp money only with more oversight. no one knows where the first $350 billion went., Ask Henry Paulson and George W.
you are as dumb as this blog...