Wednesday, January 27, 2010

The White House released the following excerpts from President Obama's State of the Union address:

We face big and difficult challenges. And what the American people hope - what they deserve - is for all of us, Democrats and Republicans, to work through our differences; to overcome the numbing weight of our politics. For while the people who sent us here have different backgrounds and different stories and different beliefs, the anxieties they face are the same. The aspirations they hold are shared. A job that pays the bill. A chance to get ahead. Most of all, the ability to give their children a better life.

You know what else they share? They share a stubborn resilience in the face of adversity. After one of the most difficult years in our history, they remain busy building cars and teaching kids; starting businesses and going back to school. They are coaching little league and helping their neighbors. As one woman wrote to me, "We are strained but hopeful, struggling but encouraged.

"It is because of this spirit - this great decency and great strength - that I have never been more hopeful about America's future than I am tonight. Despite our hardships, our union is strong. We do not give up. We do not quit. We don't allow fear or division to break our spirit. In this new decade, it's time the American people get a government that matches their decency; that embodies their strength. And tonight, I'd like to talk about how together, we can deliver on that promise.

13 comments:

Tyler Kehoe said...

What a speech. Many mixed reactions to this. I believe the main problem was that President Obama talked about to many things without going into depth about all of them. Ms. Penglase taught our AP English class that you would rather go in depth about one or two singular topics. Talk about what America wants and tell Congress to work on it. Jobs and Health Care? I believe this could have a been a total changing point for Obama, but he fell way short in getting anything through to both the Democrats and Republicans.

Unknown said...

I have to agree with kehoe on this one (gasp). i believe it was a good speech but as was mentioned previously he did not go in depth on any of the subjects covered, he just made them as a passing glance. I appreciate the wanting to cut our deficit, but "if" this "nonpartisan" health care bill passes that will most certainly not do that. he tried to appeal to the right which was sitting on his left and the left which was on his right had to clap for everything regardless of how it will work. in another note, did anyone else notice how much biden and pelosi blink

rlepak said...

I agree with Obama's statement that our country does overall have one goal in mind, and that it is our difficulties that bring us together as a nation. He really applied our sense of "Americanism" in those paragraphs. But, overall, I agree with Kehoe. I think that if Obama wanted his popularity to go up, he should not have even mentioned health care. And on a different note, Biden and Pelosi were both very over enthused.

Diana said...

I think President Obama's speech was uplifting for some people. His speeches always have an inspirational tone. This particular speech did just that. I agree with the President that we need to all come together to work through these hard times and that the Republicans and Democrats need to put aside political differences. We are dealing with something that is far more elaborate than one group of people or one belief. That part of his speech was very well done. But, i do think he seemed to dance around certain topics, without actually covering them in depth.

klatour said...

I cannot believe I am saying this, but I also agree with Kehoe...He went only touched on many issues rather than going in depth in a few main issues. I also agree with Diana that his speeches are overall very inspirational and uplifting and this speech was no different. Even though he brought up the health care he gave it an "it's almost over" kind of feel and probably provided a lot of people with some long lost optimism.

jreichart said...

Oh yes Obama, let us all hold hands and rejoice in America during these uplifting and happy times. Of course his speech was inspirational, he is a fantastic orator. But whats new? The state of the union address is a complete joke and utter waste of time for most informed U.S. Citizens. As Mr. B. said, he will touch on education, jobs, and spending. He did just that, with the occasional hint of a useful piece of information thrown in now and then. I just think the whole "stand up/sit down" thing is a complete joke. This is a glorified press conference to give America a vague overview of what our fearless, brilliant president has been doing lately, and I think it is a complete joke.

K-Laz said...

President Obama is obviously a great speaker. He knows how to use words to his advantage, while getting his point across to his audience. Although the point the president made were valid, I'd still like to see him pull through on many of these points. I expected him to address his plans on pulling the troops out, and his ideas on turning this economy around. What i really didn't feel like hearing about in the speech was the healthcare bill. I felt that this was President Obama's beg for the republicans to agree with his plan. I figured he would try and get his two cents in about the bill, but after all he had to. All and all quality wise, this was a great speech, but I would have liked to have heard more in depth explanations of his plans.

AAgostini said...

Obama definitely appealed to some shared American values --resilience, perseverance-- and for that reason his speech had quite the optimistic and reassuring tone. While it may have encouraged hope for his audience, the audience also needs something concrete on which to base its hope. Going into depth with more specifics for his audience could have been helpful. However, had he addressed a few topics in depth, he may have subsequently been criticized for neglecting others. The balance to be detailed and at the same time encompassing is difficult for anyone to achieve.

jmarczewski said...

President Obama is a fantastic speaker. If I were stranded in a dessert and becoming dehydrated, I would believe him if he showed up and said an ocean was just a few steps away. But when it comes down to content and true information being related to the American people, I feel President Obama falls short. When Brett Favre throws an interception to cost his team the NFC Championship game, he at least addresses it in the postgame press conference; similarly, I think President Obama should have at least addressed health care with more attention as opposed to practically ignoring the issue all together. As someone said in my Spanish class this week, which I agree with whole-heartedly, President Obama is still campaigning while he's the President, and if he continues with that mentality, it will be difficult for him to accomplish anything, since everyone can't be pacified by his indecisions.

morgank said...

President Obama may have touched people with his speech though, I do have to agree with almost everyone else, he didnt go into depth into as many topics as he should have. He may be a good speaker but it seems that he may use it to his advantage to try to reassure the American people wit his words without telling them whats really going on or what the next step may be.

Astoiber said...

i just thought it was funny watching biden and pelosi jump up and down like giddy little school girls every time the prez says something.

Unknown said...

I am not a huge supporter of Obama, but I thought his speech was very good. He was optimistic about our future. I think with the state that our nation is in Americans needed this.

MKlinka said...

Well, Obama said things that Americans like to hear at least. He complimented the American people, and that's worth something at least. I agree he really didn't cover anything in depth, and that I'm disappointed with that. On the bright side, our president can talk real pretty and people like that. Obama sort of missed the boat here, he missed his chance to make his difference. And that's sad