"It was a confident performance, more defiant than contrite, more conversational than soaring."

[babylonsister]

A Dose of Reality, a Bid to Restore Magic


By PETER BAKER
Published: January 27, 2010


WASHINGTON — By now, President Obama can hardly be under any illusions about the depth of the partisan divide as he seeks to reboot his presidency. Yet he still seemed surprised on Wednesday night when he could not get Republicans to applaud tax cuts.

As he boasted in his first State of the Union address that his economic program had cut taxes for 95 percent of working families, Democrats jumped to their feet to cheer. Republicans sat quietly. Mr. Obama paused as he glanced over to their side of the House chamber. “I thought I’d get some applause on that one,” he said.

If Mr. Obama thought he could take the rostrum in the House chamber and restore his image as the change agent who came to Washington to end the politics of division, he received another reminder just how hard that will be. Mr. Obama tried to recapture the magic of his yes-we-can campaign after a season of no-we-can’t governing, but conceded little if any ground to critics on either the right or the left.

It was a confident performance, more defiant than contrite, more conversational than soaring. He appealed to and scolded both parties, threatened vetoes, blamed his predecessor and poked fun at lawmakers. The agenda was largely the same, dressed up in fresh packaging, as he offered point-by-point rebuttals to the litany of critiques he hears with increasing frequency. He acknowledged only a failure to explain his policies without retreating an inch on the policies themselves. His main message: “I don’t quit.”

In the wake of last week’s Republican victory in the special election for a Massachusetts Senate seat, Mr. Obama had to tackle head-on the disappointment that has dragged down his poll numbers. He pleaded for patience and understanding. “I campaigned on the promise of change; ‘change we can believe in,’ the slogan went,” he said toward the end of the address. “And right now, I know there are many Americans who aren’t sure if they still believe we can change — or that I can deliver it.

“But, remember this,” he went on. “I never suggested that change would be easy, or that I can do it alone. Democracy in a nation of 300 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.”

more...

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/28/us/politics/28assess.html?ref=politics

[cilla4progress]

1. Fearless

I think for me what was so heartening to see that he is not intimidated; he still believes in the same values we elected him for (I take him at his word on this); and he is willing to fight for them.

I think his light-heartedness was a good stick in the eye for the Republicans. If the "best revenge is living well," he demonstrated to his detractors that they haven't taken him off his game, deflated his idealism, or moved him off his goals. I believe him when he says this. I just want to see more action. I thought he articulated the last year really well, and showed that he gets it. I wasn't sure before the speech; he convinced me.

[Clio the Leo]

2. You know what's funny to me Babs?

.... I dont say this to pick on anyone, it's just an observation .... but the Obama that has everyone on such a high today .... the Obama that restored everyone's hope last night .... that is the SAME Obama that you and I (and others) are debating in favor of every day. The Obama we saw last night behaved in just the manner that *I* perceive him to act every day. The only difference is that he had over four million people watching him.

I'm not saying that we're always right and they're wrong .... it's just an observation.