Well, the President of the United States delivered his first constitutionally mandated State of the Union address to the nation Wednesday night. In it, he made plenty of people happy and mad.I know what you're thinking, why would Mike title this post as "What a liberal"?
Isn't that what the minority party is going to say for the next seven months? Just listen to that speech, I mean increasing funds for higher education? Crazy! Doubling the number of charter schools? Insane! Investing in renewable energy and diminishing our dependence on foreign oil? Bananas! I tell ya, this guy is a tree-hugger from Oregon!
And how dare he wind down our number of troops in Iraq. Like he promised that on the campaign trail or something. And who does he think he is adding troops and resources in Afghanistan? Did Barbra Streisand order this?
Someone please explain to me why Obama would want to hold the banking and finance firms accountable for their innocent missteps during the deregulated decade from hell? It wasn't their fault! And this notion that we should drill off the U.S. coast for oil and gas, now I know Jane Fonda is hiding in the White House somewhere.Seriously, he did show to the American public, (the small portion that actually pays attention to this stuff) that he means business while acknowledging he made missteps himself during his first year in office. The challenge here is whether the minority party, namely the 41 Republican Senators, are willing to talk when he goes to resert with their leadership next week.
Funny thing, the response by the new Governor from Virginia, included a plea to drill off the coast, while allowing cross state insurance purchases; both are in the senate health reform proposal. I guess he didn't read it either. And who were those people in his chamber? Campaign staff?
Question: will he make good on his promise to repeal DADT and equal pay for women in the workplace? One he passed without teeth, the other just plain forgot. All in all, I was moved throughout the address and, forgive me for the sarcastic start to this piece, found his ability to embrace his shortcomings, considering what he inherited upon taking office, to be quite refreshing and reassuring.
Healthcare reform isn't going away anytime soon and the commission to find government spending cuts will be established by executive order, even though the Republican sponsors of the Senate proposal voted against it in the final hour.
Did you see the President practically scold the Supreme Court for their screw up last week? Nice!
In the end, we have to go back out there in the days ahead, continue our duties, support our families and look to each other to help make this country better than how we found it.Whether on the City Council, County Legislature, State Assembly or the U.S. Congress, you set out each day with that intent. We are expected to accomplish something to better the community through whatever means we have available. Will we see the party of NO reach out and act toward our benefit in the years to come? One can only hope.
