Yes, my first impression seen in the last post is “Where are the grownups?”. The SOTU sounded like one of those conversations you get into with a drama king/queen and it circles round and round and you just can’t seem to escape.
Here are some freebies, we’re going to freeze spending, I love you guys, you’re great, your pathetic lives are Bush’s fault, look at me, I’ve gotten us out of Iraq and did you see, did you see, I’ve killed more terrorists than Bush, those damn bankers, they’re a bunch of thieves and I’ll make them pay, oh yeah and corporations too and if anyone, anyone, yes, you too Court says different, well, I’m telling. Oh and don’t forget that healthcare ball is mine and we’re not done playing with it. And its your fault, so you have to step up, just because I said so. Banks, you can afford more fees because I see how you’re spending your money. Colleges, you can afford to lower your prices, because I said so. Entrepeneurs, you can afford to get into green energy, because I say it’s important. Oh – and this, my govt is open, and independent of influence and lobbying and we’re bipartisan and we don’t point fingers. Only those other administrations do.
Hmmmm, no need to go on, but let’s get into specifics:
To recover the rest, (of the bank bailout money that apparently isn’t fully paid back, just mostly paid back) I have proposed a fee on the biggest banks. I know Wall Street isn’t keen on this idea, but if these firms can afford to hand out big bonuses again, they can afford a modest fee to pay back the taxpayers who rescued them in their time of need.
This includes banks that a) didn’t need the bailout but had it forced on them and b) paid it back with interest. Suffer swines!
Because of the steps we took, (the Recovery Act) there are about two million Americans working right now who would otherwise be unemployed.
Based on what people reported to us without any sort of check on them except that probably if they said they saved a job, they got more stimulus money, even when hiring means, oh yeah, I kept my employees….. Does he think people don’t read?
Retirement funds have started to gain back some of their value.
Well, up until I restarted the war on Wall Street that is. Dear Mr. Obama – Wall Street = investors = American people.
you find out that even though banks on Wall Street are lending again, they are mostly lending to bigger companies. But financing remains difficult for small business owners across the country.
So – after fining Wall Street for having gotten us into this mess by loaning to people who couldn’t afford it, we are going to dis them for not loaning to people who can’t afford it.
We need to make sure consumers and middle-class families have the information they need to make financial decisions.
Because those of you who go those interest only loans or the adjustable rate mortgages quite obviously didn’t have the information, that’s why you were so surprised to learn how money works and then boop, you lost your home. More information, that’s what you need, not actual accountability to the information you initial.
This year, we have broken through the stalemate between left and right by launching a national competition to improve our schools. The idea here is simple: instead of rewarding failure, we only reward success. Instead of funding the status quo, we only invest in reform – reform that raises student achievement, inspires students to excel in math and science, and turns around failing schools that steal the future of too many young Americans, from rural communities to inner-cities. In the 21st century, one of the best anti-poverty programs is a world-class education
I’m sorry, but isn’t this the dreaded Bush “no child left behind” concept??????
This year, we will step up re-financing so that homeowners can move into more affordable mortgages.
Um – by forcing banks to refinance after you tax them?
Our approach would preserve the right of Americans who have insurance to keep their doctor and their plan. It would reduce costs and premiums for millions of families and businesses. And according to the Congressional Budget Office – the independent organization that both parties have cited as the official scorekeeper for Congress – our approach would bring down the deficit by as much as $1 trillion over the next two decades.
Not really.
Still, this is a complex issue, and the longer it was debated, the more skeptical people became.
No, the longer it was debated, the more people realized what it was.
Now, even as health care reform would reduce our deficit, it’s not enough to dig us out of a massive fiscal hole in which we find ourselves
Laugh line
I am absolutely convinced that was the right thing to do. But families across the country are tightening their belts and making tough decisions. The federal government should do the same.
This AFTER the money goes out on clean energy, schools, health reform, and infrastructure.
Starting in 2011, we are prepared to freeze government spending for three years. Spending related to our national security, Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security will not be affected. But all other discretionary government programs will. Like any cash-strapped family, we will work within a budget to invest in what we need and sacrifice what we don’t.
Another laugh line. (why doesn’t he oust and entire dept with 100 million dollar budget? Wildlife services.)
You know what…I’m done. Re-read the first paragraph with the re-cap. That’s good enough.
Here’s the text of the speech. (I think it’s a little edited though else he went spoke w/o TOTUS a few times)
Here’s the AP’s fact check.
UPDATE:
Marc Thiessen on the SOTU:
It was quite possibly the most partisan, condescending State of the Union address ever. Tonight, Obama was unpresidential. The permanent campaign continues. In the long run, it will backfire.
