January 27, 2011 - by Lisa Fritsch
At this time of great national uncertainty, it would have been better for Obama to be more introspective about the state of our union, rather than the extrovert he was the other night.
January 27, 2011 - by Lisa Fritsch
Officially, it was the State of the Union address – the annual report, constitutionally mandated, from the president to Congress.
Back in the day, it wasn’t a big thing. Many such reports were simply letters from the president. Over time, however, they have grown in prestige and pomp. And they have also become less of “giv[ing] to the Congress information of the state of the union” and more of “recommend[ing] to their consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient.”
In other words, it becomes a pageant for the president’s further agenda. And that’s exactly what we saw the other night.
Despite virtually everyone’s concern about the state of the economy, spiraling debt, and job creation, Barack Obama’s speech the other night was focused far too much on lofty goals than the nitty-gritty we need to refloat our ailing ship of state.
While rhetoric is expected at such addresses, Obama has probably the most dangerous rhetoric of all: empty.
His repetitive talk of “achievement” and “innovation,” without a willingness to promote the initiatives that led to America’s success in these areas in the past, means that — as usual – he is all talk.
Not once in his speech, for instance, did he really concede that his health care plan is dragging down the economy. Not once did he mention the necessity for us to keep up oil drilling initiatives as the world looks for greener energy sources. And again he sought to mislead Americans by dishonestly speaking of his “tax cuts” which were little more than keeping the tax rate under George W.Bush.
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