Obama's State of the Union agenda: Yes, I get it

[babylonsister]

Obama's State of the Union agenda: Yes, I get it

By BEN FELLER
Associated Press Writer


WASHINGTON (AP) -- Seizing a chance to reconnect, President Barack Obama will use his first State of the Union address to try to persuade the people of a frustrated nation that he's on their side, with a familiar sounding agenda recast to relate better to everyday struggles.

In a time of deep economic insecurity, Obama will use this stage on Wednesday to offer hope after a grueling, grinding first year of his presidency, aides say. For the many who think the United States is still on the wrong track, Obama will attempt to present a clearer sense of how everything he's pursuing fits together to help.

And for jittery Democrats facing re-election this fall, Obama will seek to give them an agenda they can sell to voters.

Obama will propose ways to help the middle class. But any new ideas probably will play a supporting role to the plainspoken narrative he wants to tell, that his agenda works for people despite their growing doubts.

"Obviously you want to write a speech in a way that is interesting enough that people want to listen, and that leaves them feeling a sense of momentum and progress," senior Obama adviser David Axelrod told The Associated Press. "But these are serious times. I don't think this is a time for rhetorical flights of fancy."

What to expect in the speech, which comes during a rocky period for Obama?

Heavy does of health care, despite the setbacks of the past week, and job creation. Obama will address the budget deficit, his bid to take on the financial industry, energy, education and immigration. All those issue, he says, fit into his plan to rebuild the economy.

On national security, he will address terrorist threats, the wars in Afghanistan and Pakistan and nuclear disputes with Iran and North Korea.

Recent big events won't escape notice, such as Haiti's humanitarian crisis and the Supreme Court ruling allowing businesses and labor unions more power to influence elections. Obama will directly confront a seething frustration with Washington, evident in Republican Scott Brown's stunning Senate victory in Massachusetts that rattled Democrats and cost Obama the voting bloc he needed in the Senate.

It all points to the message Obama wants to convey: Yes, I get it.

more...

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_OBAMA_STATE_OF_THE_UNION?SITE=CONGRA&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[Fire1]

1. Good! n/t

[rateyes]

2. Actions will speak louder than words. nt

[ProSense]

3. Actually, on the Internets,

where cliches abound, actions are as easily ignored as words.

[Inuca]

4. On the Internets

words are considered actions. Brave keyboard warriors.

[rateyes]

5. Self-delete

[Chulanowa]

7. What on earth do you know about the real world?

Maybe you should take those suckers off and take a look around before preaching about shit you fail to understand.

[rateyes]

10. I live and work in the real world everyday. You?

I don't wear blinders. I see clearly, and I know of what I "preach," and it isn't "shit."

The "shit" that is being preached is "The bill I sign MUST include a public option."--Obama's words. Not mine.

He said that he was adamantly opposed to mandates to purchase health insurance--no he's for them.

He said the days of big bonuses for the Wall Street Corporations were over. They're not. Again, HIS WORDS, not mine.

And, don't preach the shit that, "He doesn't have 60 votes." He doesn't need 60 votes. He needs 50 votes and his Vice-President.

I'm living and working in the real world everyday. Perhaps, it is you who needs to wake up out of dream land and smell the goddammed coffee.

[Chulanowa]

19. Horses are at least aware that they're wearing blinders. What's your excuse?

The president can make all the demands of a bill that he wants. This does not lean the Legislature is going to give it to him. I know this is really, really, REALLY fucking difficult to grasp for you, despite it having been really easy for me to pick up in fifth grade social studies. He can throw it back to them.. .And then they can make it law WITHOUT his signature. Did you know that? Given that, what comes across his desk will, in all liklihood, be a better bill than what doesn't.

if you haven't noticed, he has a similar level of control over private industry. if AIG decides to throw huge parties and gratuitous retirement packages, Obama actually can't say "No you can't" - What he can do is demand the money back. Which he is working on doing - again, we have all that bureaucratic red tape prevents a dictatorship - benevolent or otherwise.

[rateyes]

8. Actually, in the real world,

his actions have not matched his words.

[quantass]

6. We'll see Mr. President. nt

[Orsino]

9. Unfortunately, that parses to "Message: I care."

Well, I've still got some hope left.

[thereismore]

11. A far cry from "Yes we can," but better than nothing. nt

[emilyg]

12. I don't want pretty

words - I want action.

[Writer]

13. Great! I know that there will be many ready to cynically disbelieve you, Prez. n/t

[Beacool]

14. Oh, I'm sure that he'll give a good speech.

He usually does. Flapping his gums is his specialty.

Actual actions and leadership, not so much.

:eyes:

[akel21]

15. He

had this idea in his head that this was the jfk era, and pukes were willing to better the country.
These pukes are in church praying that hcr dies.

[Beacool]

16. I think that Obama is a bright man and means well, but has abrogated his leadership to others.

Being overly confident about his own skills is in the long run self defeating. Surrounding himself with Chicago political hacks hasn't served him well either.

I talked to my brother recently (he's an economist for France & Spain) and he said that in Europe the consensus among TPTB was that Obama is charming & charismatic, but that he doesn't know what he's doing. Sarkozy was angry with him last year and told one of his aides that Obama was inexperienced and too arrogant to realize just how inexperienced he really was. Which is mostly true, as demonstrated by how he has allowed Congress to trample him on healthcare reform. How can the whole thing have become such a quagmire when the Democrats hold a super majority? A majority that any previous president would have longed for and envied. What a mess!!!

:(

[boppers]

17. Let me know when the democrats actually have a super majority.

58+Lieberman and Sanders doesn't count, especially with the Blue Dogs.

I think the biggest problem is that folks don't realize how screwed up D.C. actually *is*, with tons of politicians only in it for their state, or themselves... in which case, I'd be looking at the three fingers pointing back when talking about inexperience.

[last1standing]

18. When he actually does something maybe we'll start believing him again.

Fool me once... Can't get fooled again.

[Zoeisright]

20. I'll believe it when I see it.

After this last year, put me in the 'doubter' category.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

21. OK, he gets it.

That's the first step.

Then, he needs to ACT.

Can he?

Will he?

:shrug:

[asdjrocky]

22. We know he can give a speech.

Remember his words about the public option? DADT? Remember when he spoke out against mandates?

Yeah, the man can sure give a speech.