What Did Obama Say in his State of the Union Address?

by Paul A. Rahe

January 28, 2010

Big Government

Several items I found quite telling in last nights self adulation teleprompter read. 1. Obams comments on nuclear power, and offshore drilling will be introduced in the next version of Eric Clapton’s  CD When Hell Freezes Over. 2. He will stand on the side of freedom and human dignity, tell that to the Iranian dissidents as they were beaten  and murdered in the street and Obama said nothing. 3. I loved when he was laughed at when he continues his delusion  about proceeding with an agenda to limit CO2.  Apparently he is unaware that the data “supporting” said effort, has been proven false. 4. While he continued to blame the banks for TARP funds and lack of transparency, he forgets the progressive policy that set all of this in motion. 5. His proposed freeze is a total joke, it represents nothing when compared to the size of the deficit. Let’s not forget, the areas  to be frozen already have received a 35% increase in funding last year, making the issue moot, or shall I be bold enough to say another lie? 6. His calling out the Supreme Court for their decision last week was beyond arrogant and fitting of the dictator he hopes to become. 7. Last, less I bore you to death re-sawing sawdust, his lame attempt to continue on with his form of health care denial, the vast majority of the American voters loath.  Random thoughts, while observing the State of the Union, yea I said I wouldn’t watch it. But couldn’t find the I Love Lucy re-runs, J.C.

The State of the Union Address that Barack Obama delivered last night bore little, if any, resemblance to the speech that, in my opinion, he should have delivered. The actual speech was, in fact, all too typical of the genre. It ran for an hour or more, and it consisted of an interminable laundry list of putative accomplishments and proposals. When, near the end, the President said, “I don’t quit,” I found myself thinking, “No, surely! But I very much wish you would.” In the course of an hour, I felt as if I had spent three weeks listening to the man. I very much doubt that I was alone.

Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who's the biggest liar of them all?

Seven things stood out.

First, at no point did Barack Obama acknowledge that the promises that he made in campaigning for the so-called stimulus bill have gone unredeemed and that unemployment has continued to grow in a fashion that, he told us, it would not.

Second, much of the speech consisted in self-praise that, in the grim circumstances that we now face, seemed out of place.

Third, despite what the Climategate scandal has revealed concerning the dishonesty of those who have shilled for bills like the cap-and-trade measure passed by the House of Representatives, the President insists on our basing American public policy on discredited science.

Fourth, our President is still telling the same old lies concerning the healthcare reform measures passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives; and, despite everything that has happened, he intends to push for their reconciliation and passage into law by one means or another.

Fifth, he intends to raise taxes on the investing class — both by means of imposing a tax on the large banks and investment operations which will be passed on to those who make use of the services they provide, and by allowing the tax cuts introduced by President Bush to lapse for those making over $250,000 a year — and he has no appreciation for the role which the investing class, if not denied the rewards for which it has incurred considerable risks, can play in creating new jobs and fostering prosperity.

Sixth, Barack Obama has a vast array of programs that he wants to put in place, and he provided no information as to how these would be paid for.

Seventh, he is not in any way serious in the arguments that he makes for fiscal prudence.

I doubt that President Obama helped himself or his party with his State of the Union Address. A year ago, such a speech might have done him some good and would have done him no harm. By now, however, too many people are aware that they are being had. If anything, his decision to continue pushing his signature measures — cap and trade and healthcare reform — is likely to wreak havoc on his party in November.