The White House has released a partial transcript.
I understand Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell will give the Republican response. If anyone wants to stay put and comment on that, feel free. Here’s the release of McDonnell’s text. I’m still looking for the official SOTU text.
Here’s a question — isn’t it a bit weird for Supreme Court justices to wear their robes when they aren’t on the bench? I guess they do, but seems strange to me. It’s not like a priest’s robe or military uniform.
These are the times that try men’s souls. Answer history’s call. Yes, let’s.
Why is Washington unable or unwilling to solve our problems? And what’s up with the shouting, pettiness, etc.?
“Numbing weight of our politics” — good phrase. Now what are we going to do about it?
So far this speech is not working for me. I think the American people are getting tired of being told how decent and hard working they are.
We are unified! We all hate bankers!
Message: Everything sucks, but if it weren’t for me everything would suck worse. I think this is true, but I’m not feeling warm and fuzzy about it.
Stick it to bankers!
Republicans only applaud Republican tax cuts. Democratic tax cuts don’t count.
Small business loans — should be popular.
Sorry — dozed off. Jobs. OK.
Financial reform. OK, MSNBC cameras went to Senator Dodd as soon as Obama mentioned financial reform. Ouch.
Hey, the Republicans like nuclear power plants! Even better than tax cuts! Oil and gas development!
Disagree with “overwhelming scientific evidence on climate change.” Nice dig.
Finally, here’s the complete text.
“To make college more affordable, this bill will finally end the unwarranted taxpayer-subsidies that go to banks for student loans.”
Yes! Steps to reduce the student loan debt on the young folks. Very good.
Health insurance reform. Sigh.
“Still, this is a complex issue, and the longer it was debated, the more skeptical people became. I take my share of the blame for not explaining it more clearly to the American people. And I know that with all the lobbying and horse-trading, this process left most Americans wondering what’s in it for them.”
Partly your fault, Mr. President.
He added a line to the paragraph above about taking his share of the blame.
I will not walk away from these Americans, and neither should the people in this chamber.
I hope this signals he is going to get more engaged in pushing this.
We’re past the halfway point in the text, btw.
Am I hearing some boos?
We cannot continue tax cuts for oil companies, investment fund managers, and those making more than $250,000 a year. We just can’t afford it. Works for me.
I’m still leery of the spending freeze and “bipartisan fiscal commission.”
Mention of Citizens United. Yeah, with some of the bums sitting right there in front of him.
Well I don’t think American elections should be bankrolled by America’s most powerful interests, or worse, by foreign entities. They should be decided by the American people, and that’s why I’m urging Democrats and Republicans to pass a bill that helps to right this wrong.
Oh, they’re all against those awful earmarks. I guess the earmark devil makes them do it.
I’m going to guess the pundits will grade this speech in the C+ to B – range, except on Fox News, where it will of course have completely failed.
Just saying no to everything may be good short-term politics, but it’s not leadership.
In other news, I see that Peg is whining that I was mean to her. Poor baby.
He deviated from the text a bit about bringing troops home from Afghanistan. I’m not sure I caught exactly what he said.
We’re on the next to the last page, folks.
Hey, he’s repealing don’t ask, don’t tell? That’s a plus.
I campaigned on the promise of change – change we can believe in, the slogan went. And right now, I know there are many Americans who aren’t sure if they still believe we can change – or at least, that I can deliver it.
But remember this – I never suggested that change would be easy, or that I can do it alone. Democracy in a nation of three hundred million people can be noisy and messy and complicated. And when you try to do big things and make big changes, it stirs passions and controversy. That’s just how it is.
OK, but dude, you’ve got to be more visible, more engaged with what’s going on in Congress.
Anyone else want to grade this? I don’t think the speech itself will have much impact on current political momentum.
I am really, really tired and am going to tune out now, but keep talking among yourselves.
Scalito got the cold shoulder!
Well, I’m glad someone is more hopeful tonight.
Kinda hopin’ he’ll get around to specifically calling out the obstructionists, though.
Even Harry Reid can’t keep from yawning when Obama’s talking about all the jobs. Oh dear.
Hey, I didn’t know Mr. Burns was a GOP Congressman! Who was that guy?
I’m not really buying this list of accomplishments, which is sad because I actually believe it. It’s just described in politician-boilerplate-speak.
OMG, could Boehner and Cantor look MORE disrespectful?
Wish he would have said, ‘ what no applause for tax cuts over there, even for tax cuts,’ “I give up on you.!!!!”
Did he just say nuclear power plants?
Yeah, he said nuclear power plants. 🙁
We do need to export more of our goods.
I suggest we start with Boehner and Cantor. 🙂
Can’t start with Boehner and Cantor, they are not ‘goods.’ But they could go in another load,
McCain wonders, “What’s a billion?” Or maybe it’s “When did he walk in the door?”
The bipartisan deficit commission. What a load. Oh, Barack.
“The problem is, that’s what we did for 8 years.”
Nice one.
“We were sent here to serve our citizens…not our ambitions”
Good one !
What does it mean that I was so bored by this speech I went over to read what Peg had written about her treatment here?
It will be interesting to see how the pundits rank this. I have no idea what they will think.
All I know is I won’t be able to stand whatever Chris Matthews says.
(BTW, funny how Peg selectively edited your response to her to ignore the “you and yours love to hate” bit. I think that kind of baiting, then ignoring, thing may be part of why we can’t all just get along, actually.)
Peg selectively edited
It was fairly obvious that the only reason she came here was to find justification for why she hates liberals.
B-
He should have called out the repubs when they wouldn’t clap for anything!!!
Thanks Maha, this was not easy to respond to. Too much of what we have heard over and over.
The Republican response looks like a Saturday Night Live skit .
Watching the Republican response. Surprised to find that Barbie’s Ken has been elected Governor of Virginia. Also surprised at how awkwardly he reads a teleprompter. Still, he’s not Kenneth the Page.
Saturday Night Live skit .
So true!
Setting this response in the VA statehouse just led me to wonder: is this the same statehouse that was the capitol of the Confederacy, or is it a new one?
Was there intentional successionist symbolism, or is it just me?
If you replace the words democracy and freedom with what they really mean, prosperity and greed, the speech would make more sense.
The speech sounded good…oh well.
Maha, Peg needs to grow some thicker skin and realize we can’t all get along.
What a Pollyanna.
One thing I noticed in myself is when Obama starts with the old ” We’re Americans” syrup..I just shut down emotionally and turn off. I used to wallow in that nonsense, but now I see it a form of political manipulation, and any politician mouthing historical sentiments in regard to our greatness isn’t received as sincere. I’m not sure if it’s a condition of age and new found wisdom, or a result of the Bush administration…I know with Reagan I was still sucking it up…I wanted to be just like Ollie North —haircut and all.
One thing I noticed in myself is when Obama starts with the old †We’re Americans†syrup..I just shut down emotionally and turn off.
Me, too.
Obomber is still a warmonger, this country is still in the tanks, the republicans still look and act like clones, there was not much in this speech to make anyone happy except his stance on the gay military fiasco.
Spending freeze when the hell did we elect a republican, let them deal with the deficit you keep right on spending, his god damn temerity is outlandish. Howard Zinn died today one of his last statements about Obama was that he would be a mediocre president which is to say a bad president.
We need some damn moxie I am sick of his conciliatory nature Jesus I am starting to miss GWB at least he had some balls would someone call Michelle and ask her to please give her husband his testicles back this country needs them.
Nuclear power?
Now I’m going to have to rummage in my closet to see if Istill have some of my old, “HELL NO! WE WON’T GLOW!” t-shirts from my anti-nuke protest days.
Ah, good times…
As for a spending freeze, WTF!?!?
If we have to have one, may I suggest we cut $1 from the military for every dollar taken from civilian projects. “OK, Senator, we have to close those schools down in your district. Which military base are you willing to close with them?”
I couldn’t post this at Peg’s:
One of the hardest things I’ve ever tried to do is persuade another who doesn’t share my temperament, experiences, and perceived survival needs, of “truthâ€. In fact, I was only able to begin to divine real cold hard impartial (and often personally distressing) truth when it became critical for my own survival to do so.
The next time you comment on a blog with others who do not share your perception of truth, I’m suggesting that you remember that persuading them in ways you wish to be persuaded will only persuade people just like you.
Apparently in her case, the ears have walls. Her school of hard knocks awaits.
————–
Anyways…
I might have added some snark, such as “We’re ALL Americans, even the Real Americans.”
Apparently in her case, the ears have walls.
Indeed. The thing is, if a conservative came here with an argument based on the actual facts of the case and not on a stack of straw men, I’d respect it. And if a conservative came here, actually considered our arguments and responded to them on point, I’d respect that too. I might not agree with it, but I’d respect it. But let’s not hold our breath. Peg just plain didn’t grasp what the Citizens United case was about, and she wasn’t addressing what people here were trying to tell her. She was just cutting and pasting generic arguments from elsewhere without considering the points being made here by other commenters for her benefit. I can’t respect that. And somebody could tell her I said so.