STATE OF THE UNION: Right down the middle

January 27, 2010 at 10:36pm

President Obama, in his first State of the Union address, faced the challenge of reassuring a frightened middle class.
The Obama that was carried to victory by so much hope and optimism has become an ordinary guy facing the country's extraordinary problems. A new NBC-Wall Street Journal poll showed that 27 percent of Americans don't blame him for the country's current state of affairs.
And more than 80 percent are tired of the partisan bickering and gridlock. These may be the first poll results in months that give Obama some encouragement, something to build on.
In tonight's address, he built on those public attitudes just like presidents have before him. He is moving to the political center, giving something to the left and something to the right.
Thirty billion will go to smaller banks to help open up lending to small businesses. Stimulus funds for fast rail will finally be released to rebuild the country's antiquated infrastructure.
Building more nuclear facilities and off-shore drilling drew applause from both sides of the political spectrum.
Obama called a world-class education the best anti-poverty program for a 21-century global economy.
Reaching out to the left, he promised to pull troops out of Iraq, reduce the threat of nuclear weapons, and repeal Don't Ask-Don't Tell legislation.
But it was his centrist theme that drew the most applause: jobs, jobs, jobs.
This was the likable Obama that attracted younger and independent voters to the Democratic Party.
He successfully tapped into middle-class concerns. And Mr. Cool made it clear that he agreed with the public assessment that the pettiness and stupidity of politics can't be a substitution for governance.

Comments for "STATE OF THE UNION: Right down the middle " (2)

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Tom Janowski said on Jan. 27, 2010 at 10:51pm

As campaign speeches go, that was pretty typical. Being that it was NOT a campaign speech, I needed to see more anger and more passion--especially about health care.

I think he addressed far too many issues and didn't spend enough time on key issues where he needed to get really specific.
How many Presidents mention education as the key to everything? All of them! And yet, years and years and years later...still no action, no change.

A few things I did NOT want to hear--100 new nuclear power plants??? These are so expensive to build and since we have not addressed the issue of where to house all the nuclear waste and spent fuel rods from the past 60 years, why on Earth would we want to build more? And more off shore drilling? Is this anything like "drill baby drill"? I think it is and I'm going to have to say no thanks.

I take exception to Obama stating that America leads on climate change issues...we don't.

Sadly, overall, this speech was alot like setting our clocks back in the fall. It sounded like a request for a do-over. It's like Obama could have used the line from a Five For Fighting's song--"history starts now". Yet in reality, Obama's history as president started a year ago and on his big issues, it was pretty much a wasted year.

The time for campaign speeches ended a year and two months ago. It's been time for action for the last year. Wake me up if there is any real action....

Louis Richards said on Jan. 28, 2010 at 6:55am

The State of the Nation address was another great speech by a great speech-maker!

Of course, actions speak louder than words and many of us (I'm thinking "Independents" here) would like to see more agressive action coming from the White House. Nonetheless, Obama is still a very popular president even though some may quibble over details; however I certainly would not have wanted to stand in his shoes this past year.

As Obama will be in office for another 3 years all we can do is wait & see ... and express ourselves at the ballot box in an off-year election if dissatisfaction continues.

Still, a great speech!

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