[Hold My Own]

A few takes:

1. This isnt fun and games anymore so enough with the jokes
2. Is it me or are you still using the same talking points a year later? At some point you HAVE to produce on these bright (and clean) ideas that you keep talking about. Or adjust and change positions to one that you think you'll actually get support on
3. I'm now Justice Alito's biggest fan after the "not true" after Obama is standing right in front of them telling the Justices what they just did (like they dont know or something). Also, I dont think I've ever seen that done at a State of the Union address have the president bash a particular sector singling them out....not very presidential if you ask me and was simply a bully tactic


Oh, and how do you not mention gitmo? Really? Kind of a big deal here...especially when it was one of your biggest talking points that got you in.

Did he mention the terrorist that was read their rights 12 hours after? I'm not sure, he may have touched on it and I missed it....kind of a big deal too.

[SuperJon]

He didn't mention the terrorist.


Here's my biggest problem with Obama: while he has some very, very good ideas that at their base I can agree with, his plan to achieve those ideas, assuming he actually has one, normally is terrible.

[El Scorcho]

Did he mention the terrorist that was read their rights 12 hours after? I'm not sure, he may have touched on it and I missed it....kind of a big deal too.

I'm not sure I'm not sure I know what you're referring to here. Curious.

[SumItUp]

he has some very, very good ideas

Will you share what they are?

[SuperJon]

I like the idea of tuition rates coming down and only having to pay a certain percentage of your income per year in student loan payments. The idea of "you shouldn't have to go broke to get an education" is a very good idea. I like rewarding people for choosing to go into public service. I also like upgrading the community college system because I have seen first hand how valuable it is. However, to say that after 20 years (10 for the people in public service), you don't have to pay anymore is a bit much. Where does the rest of that money come from? Does the bank (or in Obama's world the government) just take the hit?

I like the idea of our education standards improving. We're so behind in pretty much everything, especially math and science. One of the things I hated most about Bush was No Child Left Behind. Obama had a great idea to improve education, but he hasn't even begun to mention how he would go about improving it. How can I get behind him if I don't know what I'm getting behind?

I like the idea of giving back to small business owners but I'm not so sure that using the money from the bank bailouts is the best way to do that. Also, he needs to clarify what small business owner means because that's very, very vague.

I like the idea of lower health care costs and health care for children. However, I don't think it's necessarily the government's responsibility to do that, and I definitely don't think the current plan is worth the paper it's printed on.

I like the idea that says that big things need to be changed and big changes aren't always popular. I think any good leader has to know that. The problem is I think his solutions to the big problems aren't good solutions.

I'm trying to remember some of the other things he said tonight but I'm drawing a blank. If you want more, I'll try to come up with them tomorrow.

[ATrain]

Ok, great ideas, but where is the plan??? Cut taxes and balance the budget (actually "reduce the deficit")? What is the government planning on cutting?

Bring the troops from Iraq home, great, but can the Iraqi government function on their own now, or if we leave now what are the chances it becomes a dictatorship and another safe haven for terrorists???

I'll post more later. Gotta get ready for work.

[LUconn]

I thought the SCOTUS callout to their face was uncalled for, and beneath the president. Heck it was pretty low class for anybody. When you preface a statement with "With all due deference to separation of powers" it means you're about to take a big dump on the idea of separation of powers.

[JK37]

Only caught the second half of the address. Was kinda busy. Here goes:

I found myself wishing his ideas for education reform, especially those relating to loan payment, were retroactive.

I hear everyone on the callout, and I perked up when he prefaced it that way, too. Wow...

The faces of the Joint Chiefs when he proclaimed "Gays in the military!" Hilarious...

He seemed to take every chance to challenge those who oppose. For someone who continues to say, "I want to change Washington" - buddy, you ARE Washington now! This seemed like a strong effort to shore-up the elections and strengthen the party base. But if that's the best he can do to that effort, I forsee a big turn in those upcoming elections.

Obama is part idealogue, part politician. He just can't seem to make up his mind.

[ALUmnus]

I like the idea of tuition rates coming down and only having to pay a certain percentage of your income per year in student loan payments. The idea of "you shouldn't have to go broke to get an education" is a very good idea. I like rewarding people for choosing to go into public service.

Tuition rates: not the fed's job. As for paying a percentage of your income on a loan, this is already currently a payment option for just about any student loan.

I like the idea of giving back to small business owners but I'm not so sure that using the money from the bank bailouts is the best way to do that.

Then stop taxing high-income individuals, they are the small businesses. He said he is doing just the opposite, and taxes will be increased on $250k+ earners.

I like the idea of lower health care costs and health care for children. However, I don't think it's necessarily the government's responsibility to do that, and I definitely don't think the current plan is worth the paper it's printed on.

The problem that you have with his solution is basically the idea.

I like the idea that says that big things need to be changed and big changes aren't always popular. I think any good leader has to know that. The problem is I think his solutions to the big problems aren't good solutions.

These are just populist platitudes, and when you think about what things he wants changed, it gets a little scary. Not much to like there.


As for the Supreme Court pimp-slap:

Tonight the president engaged in demogoguery of the worst kind, when he claimed that last week's Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. FEC, "open[ed] the floodgates for special interests — including foreign corporations — to spend without limit in our elections. Well I don't think American elections should be bankrolled by America's most powerful interests, or worse, by foreign entities."

The president's statement is false.

The Court held that 2 U.S.C. Section 441a, which prohibits all corporate political spending, is unconstitutional. Foreign nationals, specifically defined to include foreign corporations, are prohibiting from making "a contribution or donation of money or ather thing of value, or to make an express or implied promise to make a contribution or donation, in connection with a Federal, State or local election" under 2 U.S.C. Section 441e, which was not at issue in the case. Foreign corporations are also prohibited, under 2 U.S.C. 441e, from making any contribution or donation to any committee of any political party, and they prohibited from making any "expenditure, independent expenditure, or disbursement for an electioneering communication... ."

This is either blithering ignorance of the law, or demogoguery of the worst kind.

http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/? ... DBiMzQzZjk

Also, the "blame Bush" stuff is getting seriously ridiculous. It's been his mantra since before he took office, and I guess he figured, now that he's got everyone's attention by pre-empting their tv lives, he'll get it out there again. I don't see how so many fell in love with such an arrogant personality.

[TDDance234]

The whole speech can be summed up in:

"I'm great. I single-handedly saved the masses and stopped the recession. Bush is bad and I'm good. I don't quit but Bush quit."

[PastorZack]

what he can't make up his mind about is either he wants to be stalin one day, che the next, or chavez...he says alot, but the only thing that resonates are the attacks and empty promises. He's good at shifting blame. What bugs me about the President is that he is the executive, not the legislative branch of government. He only signs the bills, not writes them. He even scolds the Supreme Court??? I'm telling you, its power grab after power grab and Americans need to voice their opinions while we have them. November is right around the corner. Thank God!!!


Hang Benedict Spector in '10

Toomey for PA Senate

[SuperJon]

I like the idea of tuition rates coming down and only having to pay a certain percentage of your income per year in student loan payments. The idea of "you shouldn't have to go broke to get an education" is a very good idea. I like rewarding people for choosing to go into public service.

Tuition rates: not the fed's job. As for paying a percentage of your income on a loan, this is already currently a payment option for just about any student loan.

[/quote]

Agreed completely that it's not the federal government's job, but they can put pressure to lower them. Some of the hikes lately have been ridiculous. HPU just jacked their tuition up 30%.

As for the percentage, they must hide this pretty well because you're the only person I've heard talk about it already. I talked to a few people about this last night and none of them even mentioned it being a possibility. I paid 25% of the money I made in student loans last year.

I like the idea of giving back to small business owners but I'm not so sure that using the money from the bank bailouts is the best way to do that.

Then stop taxing high-income individuals, they are the small businesses. He said he is doing just the opposite, and taxes will be increased on $250k+ earners.

Disagree completely. My dad owns his own business. It's a real estate appraisal company. He makes way under $250k per year and has been told he doesn't qualify for a small business loan. So a person with their own business that happens to be working in the area that was screwed more than anything doesn't qualify for a small business loan. Yeah, good job Obama.

I like the idea of lower health care costs and health care for children. However, I don't think it's necessarily the government's responsibility to do that, and I definitely don't think the current plan is worth the paper it's printed on.

The problem that you have with his solution is basically the idea.

I like the of helping the people that can't help themselves, but I don't think it's the responsibility of the federal government.

[LUconn]

Not everybody needs a college degree. To some extent, as someone who already earned a degree you should be happy costs are getting prohibitive. It makes you more valuable.

[Hold My Own]

I felt like it was a campaign speech all over again...like he's running for office or something

[Hold My Own]

Did he mention the terrorist that was read their rights 12 hours after? I'm not sure, he may have touched on it and I missed it....kind of a big deal too.

I'm not sure I'm not sure I know what you're referring to here. Curious.

The Underwear bomber being treated the same as if you stole some old ladies purse. Once the rights were read he shut up while having a lot of valuable information that we could have used to prevent the next attempt.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0110/32073.html

[LUconn]

I found the transcript because I wanted to see the wording of what he said to the supremes and his speech didn't originally include "With all due deference to separation of powers" I wonder if he didn't realize he would be sitting 5 feet in front of their faces.

[Hold My Own]

It was one of the most unpresidential things I've ever seen and simply a bully tactic

[4everfsu]

Can you imagine the outcry if Bush had same the same thing to the supreme court justices? The media would have had a field day.

[UNCA Alum]

I felt like it was a campaign speech all over again...like he's running for office or something

Exactly. It was like this past year didn't even happen and that he isn't President right now.

Delivery was flat. He seemed kind of annoyed. Worst speech I've ever seen him give. He doesn't seem to comprehend the fact that the reason why his popularity is sinking is because we don't like his policy proposals, not because he hasn't done a good enough job of explaining them to the dumb, ignorant masses.

I understand why he won the general election. Any Democrat would've won in that political climate. I still just can't figure out how he beat Hillary Clinton. Democrats have to be punching themselves in the face each night for falling for this guy's BS over a lady that actually has a clue. I wouldn't have voted for her either, but man do I wish she was on the ballot.

[olldflame]

I have to almost force my fingers to type it but.................................... I wish Hillary had won too.

[LUconn]

I'd probably feel better with her in there in terms of foreign policy/relations, but she would have probably gotten some of this awful domestic stuff done.

[flamesfan30]

so then having her as secretary of state... is a good thing?

[ATrain]

I have to almost force my fingers to type it but.................................... I wish Hillary had won too.

I wish she had won to

[RubberMallet]

lets just hope he spends as much time as possible dealing with the bcs and stays out of the economy and foreign policy.

[ATrain]

lets just hope he spends as much time as possible dealing with the bcs and stays out of the economy and foreign policy and healthcare.

Added something for you