State of the Union address
Posted by Backroadsnews on Jan 27, 2010 in Uncategorized |
So did anyone watch President Obama’s State of the Union address? If so, what did you think?
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No, might try to catch it on youtube sometime today.
All I can say is . . . UGH! Not a fan of the president.
Whose speech?
He is one of the best speakers I’ve ever heard and anyone who wants to improve their public speaking can learn a lot from him. But any hopes I had for meaningful change evaporated months ago so even though he covered a lot of topics in a sincere and logical manner, I just consider anything he says more BS from another politician. And if anyone thinks the Republicans are going to save us check out the previous eight years. The vast majority of ALL Congressional members put their re-election ahead of what is best for the country. I apologize for getting off subject but I sincerely believe this country is headed for very serious problems and those bastards in Washington seem content to continue “politics as usual”. In summary, good speech but it means nothing. Thank-you..
Well said farmboy.
I agree Obama is a great speaker. Though I went in with an closed mind, I did enjoy a lot of his commentary and admired his delivery. I wish more politicians were occasionally open to admitting when some of their actions weren’t popular.
I disagree with much of what he wants, but not everything. I think he had some good points on the cost of higher education and issues with student loans. I do think something has to happen to health insurance costs, but I don’t think his plan is it. I’m not running for elected office, so I believe I’m free to be okay with some Democrat ideas.
I also agree with farmboy on the politicians running for re-election rather than what is best for their constituency or for the nation. That is why I think we need term limits for legislators. Ten or 12 years should be the max, in my opinion. If they’re popular enough, they can christen a successor with their endorsement and then get a job working the halls at DC. Whatever.
“Went in with a closed mind” — typical Republikan behavior.
Tom Parker-
Typical Democratic behavior…misspelling
As compared to the Democrats’ tolerance of other people’s views??? Hmmm?
THAT I find hilarious. The Republikan Party has defined itself as the most outrageously intolerant political group short of the Inquisition. I don’t want to get into a political argument about the merits of Dems over Repukes so I will flatly state that the problem with the U.S. is politicians of either stripe. It’s never about what’s good for America or Americans but always about what’s good for the Party or reelection. As for tolerant views, I refer you to the Republikan voices of Palin, Limbaugh, Beck, et al. (And, for the Dems, that fount of wisdom and insight, Diane Feinstein.)
I guess you’re right. The democrats often footnote their comments with support of opposing views of things like religion, values, etc. Oh wait, they never do. Most of their comments are demeaning and sarcastic as to the beliefs people hold if they don’t match their own.
Tom, you’re like family. We shouldn’t be talking politics.
The President is basically just a figure head anyway. The real functioning of the government is controlled in the House and Congress. The power of the President has been expanded some, lots since TDR for sure, in the past 100 years or so though.
The National Dems are tolerant, as long as you agree with their viewpoint. Otherwise you’re a lunatic tea bagger who is either evil or too stupid to know better.
Rachel Maddow and Keith Olberman are shining examples of the lefts tolerance.
Sarcasm intended.
Funny how Olberman’s worst person in the world only includes those in the Republican Party.
The problem with politics these days is that it’s become too polarizing. Closed minds on both sides of the aisle, a complete unwillingness to compromise or even listen to opposing viewpoints, etc. Jayhawkdandy is correct with his examples. However, I didn’t hear him say anything about the same attributes among Republikans. Does that mean he doesn’t see that trait in his own party, chooses to overlook it, or just prefers to bash opponents without casting a critical eye on his own team? I should mention that I am an unaffiliated voter who likes to choose the best candidate for the position. Increasingly this is becoming difficult.
Tom, I don’t really have a team (that currently matters politically).
True I am a registered Republican, but only to vote in primaries because of Kansas’s closed primary laws. I am for all intents and purposes a Libertarian.
You want me to find fault with the Republican Party. I have plenty. The House Minority leader John Boehner is a walking talking idiot. I don’t have an opinion on Senate Minority leader Mitch McConell, quite frankly cause I’m not sure he knows that he has a job. There are some great governors in the pipeline, but there is no real voice of oppisition, just a lot of factions. Iraq was a huge mistake strategically and economically, not taking anything away from the effort or sacrifice of our military. A huge fear of mine would be to have Sarah Palin become the President. I shudder. Sean Hannity only shouts people down over and over again. The war on drug favored by social conservatives is idiotic because we keep throwing huge sums money into something that does not work, over and over again. I could keep going, but I’m not trying to right a novel.
It’s true I have more disdain for the Dems right now, but that’s more so because a) I usually don’t trust the party in power and b) the size and growth of government is so huge now that our free market system is in danger of no longer being the innovators of the world. The Republicans under Bush were no better about limiting government, but the current group in power seems to actually likes this malignant growth.
I have to give the President major props for going to the Republican retreat today and have a real meaningful debate on policies. His star went way up with me (albeit it was real real low before today). It was a respectful, articulate discussion between the two sides that I think rarely happens. However, he only did so because of the writing on the wall for him and his party with the recent elections and the unemployment figures. Doing that meeting 6-9 months ago would have been real change, not just a political reality
I agree that politics are too polarizing right now. I just don’t see that changing, even though today I have alittle more hope than I did previously.
Dustin
I must say I am in admiration of the participants of this conversation. It seems you people can actually hold political conversations without being closed minded and name calling. I think the two party system has done great damage within the country due to the fact that the majority of people can never agree that their side can be wrong. Both parties have brainwashed their followers to think their side is correct and the other side is completely wrong. It is nice to finally read a blog where people are agreeing and talking civil.
I recently returned from advocating on Capital Hill in Washington, D.C. for some legislative changes with the National Rural Health Association. I had the opportunity to meet with Dennis Moore and Todd Tiart personally, along with staffers for Lynn Jenkins, Sam Brownback, Pat Roberts, and Jerry Moran. Unfortunately, my report is rather dismal. Regardless of what side of the aisle you are on personally, don’t expect much to be done anytime soon to benefit you in the healthcare sector. Democrats are still under the impression they can push through the current healthcare agenda without compromising with Republicans claiming imperfection in the policies but a warranted urgency to pass it, while the Republicans want to fight it because of its imperfections in hopes to piecemeal the important parts and pass them as stand alone legislation without passing the bill it as a whole. Both sides seem to realize that something needs to be done while neither side seems willing to work with the other to get anything done. The Democrats see the popularity of healthcare change as an opportunity to tack on literaly thousands of unrelated riders that they want passed while the Republicans refuse to let it pass because of them and because it might come off as a win for the Dems! All the while Obama is catching slack for not getting anything done so he wants to shelve the whole thing to avoid bad press! I can’t tell you how many times a senator or representative told me: “we are just waiting to see what is going to happen.” Well listen here my fellow citizens in office… You are not there to wait and see what will happen. You are the ones supposd to be making it happen. We are the ones waiting on YOU! So stop playing partisan politics while your constituents die… and I assure you that they are, as a direct result of your inaction. If you doubt that I have numerous true stories to share with you. If I had anything to say about it, our elected officers would be held to the laws and standards they set. They would be required to get their healthcare from medicare/medicaid (which they do not) and they would be required to retire on social security (not the special three figure retirement fund that they have voted for themselves to receive)! Where the hell are our checks and balances! Where is our common sense and representation in government?!
Until America starts pushing for change in the responsibility of our policy makers instead of just superficial changes in policy, this is what I recommend: If you want healthcare, take care of yourself! Exercise, eat healthier, and go to your doctor for preventative health maintenance… I guarantee that it will save you in the long run… I wouldn’t hold your breath for universal healthcare. If you want economic security, live within your means. Make every penny count, and I do not mean by giving it away to global conglomerates that promise to save you money… which they may short term… but you’ll never see that money again when it leaves the system. Every penny you spend in the LOCAL economy might as well be worth double in the way it comes back to you! If you’re worried about unemployment, invest in the future of your community. Don’t be afraid to take on new endeavors and invest in new businesses. Every new business brings new jobs with new employees that will also use other local businesses which will in turn create a need for people to be employed at those businesses and put their children in the school systems! I know this is a lot of cause and effect, but we need to start somewhere! Giving up anywhere along the lines is a sure failure! One thing I can assure you is this: Policies, like policy makers, come and go, but it is you that make your community what it is and it is the standard to which you hold your elected officials that make our government what it is. If everyone does their part, both Washington, KS and Washington D.C. will flourish.
P.S. If anyone has questions on what was discussed with each of these government officials considering the current state of healthcare among rural Americans, feel free to comment.
Dustin — Excellent post. We agree on pretty much everything. If and when common, ordinary Americans are allowed to serve in Washington (they can’t now unless they’re millionaires and have rich friends in power), then common sense and unity will have a chance. Until then, I see nothing really changing. The party in power will swing back and forth like a pendulum (think Edgar Allen Poe and the victim strapped to the table is us), America will fall farther and farther from the promise it deserves, and eventually we’ll become another third world nation. What a pity.
I know this conversation has been very similar for the 10 or so years I’ve been interested in politics. Does anyone know if the complaints about partisanship, not getting anything done, etc., was also happening in the 60s and 70s?
Dan, I think you should package the blogs on this subject and send it to the Washington Post and dare them to print them under the headline “Heartbeat from the Heartland”. I don’t think I know any of the writers who have so eloquently and politely expressed their opinion but they make more sense than most of the editorials I read from highly paid correspondents. And I am very proud to be associated with these people even if it is only by a nameless and faceless connection.
Not a bad idea at all!
Maybe politico.com if nothing else.
I’ll look into it.
I told myself I was going to stay out the conversations and no longer post, but this does interest me. I caught some of the last posts on our political shamble we call a govt system, but refrained to getting into the Dem vs Rep issue. No doubt I am a registered republican (Dan you hit it right on the head about the dem’s like Tom, demeaning and down talking just like Tom repuk’s and republikans comment
) but I am a conservative by thoughts and action, like most of Americans I would fall in the middle right (I think that’s where I am)
But I really think we all are missing the point here. Its not about right vs left, Rep vs Dem, it’s about the progressive movement that’s going on in this country. They are attacking our rights and freedoms as americans and they are on both sides of the isle. The progressives don’t want to live by thoughts wisdom of our founding fathers in the words our Constitution. Lets remember our founding fathers seen what the ideals of big govt and strangle hold of dictating regimes can do to people. They wanted us as Americans to be free of choice, to have to opportunity to grow and prosper under a simple set of rights that each American should be able to hold onto, a nation of people who are set free to rule themselves and have a say so. Not a huge federal government to dictates to each set of people on how you go about your daily business. Our system today is run backwards from our origin. Each state is to rule itself and adhere to rights and beliefs of the people who live there and then be represented in our national/federal government.
Our current president holds onto a progressive set of values and he has made it so very evident in his speech. He talked to his progressive friends and his republican friends, I about fell out of my chair. He has totally forgotten about the democratic party in which is supposedly represents. I believe we have seem a separation of the democratic party in the fact that the progressives have been working through out the democratic party and no longer represents the views of the majority of the dem’s whom they represent.
It is very scary to me that just like was stated before, you can no longer be an average person running for the rights and views of the everyday American. Its time for common sense in our government, but as long as money is the number one influence it will never happen.
I’m sorry but I don’t agree about Sarah Palin, I think she represents the start of movement for the real “change” we all need. She an average American with a set of core vales. We have to agree that we will never totally agree with everyone 100%, but it should be about the core values as a human. She has not be brain washed with Washington rhetoric yet and maybe now we can start to see a movement of common sense people running our government for us.
Shane
For Sarah Palin to become a mainstream voice for change, she needs to focus on facts and not overblown innuendos and outright lies. Death councils, anyone? Creating hysteria among the faithful isn’t the answer; reasonable dialog, such as we’re having here, is. However, I can’t quite grasp your definition of “progressives.” I fear I know the answer but would like clarification. And by the way, to reiterate, I am not a Democrat, I’m an unaffiliated voter.
Lol Tom, you sounded like one (just a little jab for my Dem friends out there )
My definition of a prgressive, humm I would have to say it would be those individuals who believe in a nationalized government system that want to take away the individiual rights each of us posess in our Consitution. They believe that we as people can be perfected if “they” make everyman equal by taking away from one and giving to the other, Marxism in a sense. These people want to see a socialized government system. The difference would be marxism is a defined plan or order put into place through a Revoultion. Where as the progressives would rather see the evolution. Slowly and silently.
Shane
Yes, but evolution is a natural process. My question to you is, what’s the opposite of “progressive”?
I would say true, evolution is a natural process in the biological sense, but in the case of politics it is really more gradual movement with a set of ordered moves or as very strategic plan. I would say in this case progressives want us to naturally evolve into a socialistic society by slowly and steadily moving us in their direction while keeping us blinded to their real set of goals.
I do find it interesting that both candidates where self proclaimed progressives, so in my opinion we where screwed either way. Now in this case you have to question the people whom our president surrounded him self with and there is no doubt Obama is not the middle of the road democrat we all might have thought he was. The difference is he, as stated earlier on this post, is an amazing speaker.
Back to the topic at hand here, the opposite of progressive???? My definition would be a group of people who are against the capitalistic society with freedoms to freely prosper and live under the set of guidelines our fore fathers set for us to live by, the constitution.
These people we have in Washington D.C today look to people like Che, Moa, Stallin for their political ideologies and it frankly is very scary. Scary to think this people would want to follow people who where so cruel to relentless for their belief in a “perfect” society and they stopped at no cost and no amount of lives lost.
Long answer to a short question.
Shane
To many big words on this topic for me now! But words I do know is BACON CHEESEBURGER for Lunch today at THE HORN!!!!!!!!
I don’t think they are at all Leon! Once you learn the principles of what these people want to put in place it would scare the holy s%*t out of you.
How do you feel about taking the money you are making at your business and giving it to people who don’t work or work at a lesser job? I mean obviously you are getting filthy rich now that you own a business and paid someone to repaint your walls, added new items into your business, and heck got a different luxury items for you and your family right?
“Redistribute the wealth”. “Take it from the rich (through taxing them) and give it to the poor”. Thats a socialistic government or marxism at its best.
Yeah Paid someone to paint my walls NOT!!!!! Filthy rich as Seed Sales!!!lol
And if you want to get the s&it scared out of ya on taxes come on over for a beer and then i will let you know how much money that one beer The state of Kansas just made!
I paid more in liquor tax this year than I paid in utilities.
I understand all of this talk but i just pisses me off so I try to keep it on the lighter side!!
So I not sure how to take your post. If slamming me wow you dont know me at all.
I think he meant it in a sarcastic/joking way.
Of course we all know about your yacht over on Tuttle, the second home in Maui and that your cost per bottle of beer is only 4¢ and the rest is profit in your pocket!
Yeah, totally joking! I mean you own a bar in Washington, KS, I don’t think you will retire off of it in five years. I was down at the Power & Light district this weekend and I can see how they get filthy rich. $8.00 for a crown and coke with hardly any crownor $4.00 for a beer, and there was only about 1000 people in this bar.
Wouldnt have much in sales at that price around here!
ok, what happend to “Running up the score”??
Got rid of it. I needed a break. Seems like when I post something of general concern (even if I am personally involved) people seem to want to take me to task rather than the issue.
Dan,
I don’t see the “Comments” section anymore. If we have an idea do we just send it to you by email or post onto another post?
Dawn
I’m trying to pull back a bit on the purpose of this blog to more of a breaking news blog. So you can email me if you have a suggestion, but I will be posting to this blog less.
With the comments section, people would often post stuff that might flare up and often I would start catching blame for stuff I didn’t post… and that gets old.
Dan I like this blog even though I am the target alot of the time… I do really think it would work for the better if people had to post their name not a screen name. Never know my give that a try….I know we’ve had this discussion before I liked the comment section but then again I use my real name!
This blog is boring now….
Actually working on a new post right now.
Tom, the opposite of progressive is common sense meritocracy. This evolution you speak about is the rabble realizing that they can vote themselves increased social programs by taxing those with more than they are willing to work for. Why should they work for it when they can have their representative tax someone else for it?