Obama opened with the statement,
"The state of our union is strong."Really? How about this Obama: the state of our union is weak. Weak on Jobs, weak from a crushing debt, and weak because we are defenseless against terrorism. Why not tell the American people the truth? As a country we are weak and will become weaker with every step down this path.
At times I thought Obama provided glimmers of hope. Take nuclear power and off shore drilling.
"To create more of these clean energy jobs, we need more production, more efficiency, more incentives. That means building a new generation of safe, clean nuclear power plants in this country. It means making tough decisions about opening new offshore areas for oil and gas development."I agree. That's why President Bush visited the Tennessee Valley Nuclear Plant in my hometown of Athens, AL during his term. President Bush commended the facility for being under budget and for providing affordable energy. Yes, TVA produces safe affordable energy everyday at the facilities in AL and TN. So what's stopping us from building more Nuclear Plants. To date, Liberals have been the road block. My next thought was why aren't we drilling off shore? The utilization of US oil provided by US workers iscrucial for US security and long-term success. Obama almost sounded like a Conservative, but in the same breath Obama said,
"I am grateful to the House for passing such a bill last year. This year, I am eager to help advance the bipartisan effort in the Senate. I know there have been questions about whether we can afford such changes in a tough economy; and I know that there are those who disagree with the overwhelming scientific evidence on climate change. But even if you doubt the evidence, providing incentives for energy efficiency and clean energy are the right thing to do for our future – because the nation that leads the clean energy economy will be the nation that leads the global economy. And America must be that nation."What? How was Obama not utterly embarrassed by the entire Climate Change debacle? First, the research is nothing but crap. Climate Change amounts to the US giving more money to 3rd world countries. This little Copenhagen venture cost the American taxpayer $1.1 million dollars. In total roughly 106 Government officials (Senators, Congressman, Aids, and Spouses) traveled to Copenhagen. Yet nothing was signed or decided on.
How about the comment,
"let’s also eliminate all capital gains taxes on small business investment; and provide a tax incentive for all businesses, large and small, to invest in new plants and equipment."Another interesting idea from a Liberal leader, but how is that even an option when the sentence preceding this statement discusses spending $30 billion dollars of tax payer money, and, within moments, the discussion went to Healthcare reform funded by middle America and small businesses.
Besides feeling like one of the most arrogant, condescending people in the world just gave me a lecture, the speech lacked direction, consistency and overall substance with regards to a deliverable agenda. Obama mentioned nothing that is attainable. In 70 minutes Obama promised to give $30 billion to community banks, $10k to families for 4 year college plans, an extension on paying back student loans, free student loans to individuals that go into public service, healthcare reform (again), lifting the pan on gays in the military, a freeze on gov't spending, earmark reform, breaking ground on a high speed train, another jobs bill, ending all the wars, and a million other things that I missed because I was in utter shock.
All the promises came very easily to Obama. Let's face it, this isn't his first rodeo. Obama was elected on the slogan, "Hope & Change" and that is one thing he has delivered on. Still so many Americans are furious with the "Hope & Change" they have received because they really thought Obama was sincere and planned to govern from the middle. (INSERT LAUGH). The election of Obama will be recorded in American History as one huge lapse in judgment. Hopefully, historians will paint our current society as the divided populist it is - euphoric morons and sensible conservatives (I know wishful thinking).
The speech ended with a dramatic call to remember what America is, what ideals we represent, and an attempt to energize Americans to rise up with the Administration and Congress for the greater good. By the end of the speech, I felt like I had been asked to bend over, grab my ankles, squeal like a pig, and then role over and be caressed by my rapist. It was exhausting!
