I wrote the below to my friends just this eve, and am also curious about what others thought of the speech, and what you're going to do in response, so i attached a poll..
Carol, Lisa, Michael + all-
So as i said, i didn't watch the SOTU (too conditioned by 8 yrs of not watching it while it was being given by a village idiot) but i did read parts of it after, got the central points, and some of the reactions -- liked this one, especially: 5 min clip of Kos being interviewed by Olbermann
where Kos (who is pretty damn straight with his analyses, doesn't generally sugarcoat things much i've found, and though i don't always agree with him on everything, we're definitely on the same 'team') says he really liked a lot of the speech, the specifics especially, but there were other things he didn't like much. my fave part is when he says he thinks (and maybe hopes) that the talk about bipartisanship is all for the independents, who lap that stuff up, but he hopes that the Dems will actually shove laws down the throats of the Repubs, with 2 house majorities.
The only bit of the SOTU i actually saw was a 1 min clip here:
here
which probably was pre-arranged, but anyway, it's where Barack thanks Michelle for her efforts on childhood obesity, then says after with a big smile on his face: "She gets embarrassed" -- how the hell you not going to like a guy who smiles like that?? i mean seriously, i cannot even now not see and feel genuineness in this guy -- in a way that i do not feel i ever have with John McCain (hah), Hillary Clinton, Bill Clinton, Chief Village Idiot Bush, Bush Senior, Reagan.. i'd probably have to go back to Carter to feel some of that (and i was a kid when he was Prez, so don't remember him on TV much anyway). i think most Americans, if not world citizens, agree with me on this.
And Carter was just the weakest Pres personality of recent times (though yes, he's done amazing things post-Pres, and i think will be long remembered for that). i think we've seen some of that in Barack too -- the positive framing of that would be willingness to compromising, friendliness -- but the freaking Repubs (most of them) and their blue dog henchmen don't give a flying crap what we call it, and just will use it to their maximum advantage. they (the majority of them) are in it for themselves, and pure power, and i've known this a long time, so i would never give them one inch of bipartisanship -- i'd just quash them at every opportunity (see, that's the Sikh in me coming out, and i'm even using milder language than i actually feel).
Anyway - he's still the same Barack. he's just tried to play too nice, and what i said to a moderate friend a coupla days ago (who did vote for him, thinks that Americans are too hasty in their judgements and his policies need time to work) was that:
#1. Americans have some limited patience, but a year into an Admin, you OWN the govt, and the world, and you better not whine and keep blaming the past (kind of what Plouffe said in his editorial with the bed-wetting comment) and
#2. if he is going to be a one-termer (and it may be), then he might as well be a f'ing memorable one, and be remembered as someone who fought like hell for what he believed deep down. because if he's not even going to do that, then screw it all.
Wow -- i haven't written at length on this in a while, but it was coming -- i want to believe in the guy, because i want the changes that could come if he stands his ground, the changes we got with FDR, some with LBJ, and others (and Michael, i'm definitely thinking of all the history i learned from you as i write this). [Michael is an army intelligence Vietnam Vet turned very strongly progressive activist and editorialist in recent times, and has a deep historical knowledge]
Yeah, i've been bummed at much of last year -- the iconic symbol of it for me was the f'ing bank CEO's standing him up in that meeting in Dec -- what the F--- was that???? bank CEO's can't travel because of weather? you know what -- i can think of a lot of ways that the Prez could make their life much more unpleasant if he's got a little fortitude. Jon Stewart mocked that so pointedly, as well. i think there was a lot of face lost right there. and yes, i do think it's better to be tough in the first place in all situations, when people are getting to know each other, before those who are below you in status (kids, students, Congresscritters) start believing they can walk all over you. i don't know that you can ever get it all back. but i've always felt there's a little grit in Barack, and as Lisa said to me last week (when i saw her in LA) -- perhaps the ego of Barack will be our saving grace. because he's def got one (much more than Carter, i believe), and he is not going to want to lose battles in the end.
Perhaps -- perhaps -- we're seeing a little of that now with the way they're going after the banks in a populist way, and also after the SCOTUS decision - i didn't see it, but i'm happy that all those f'ing Repub "Justices" got slapped by him standing right in front of them (reminds me of the cojones Colbert showed when he did all that to GWB back in 2005).
Anyway -- the upshot is -- i'm ready to fight a little for the man again. or at least, the causes underneath that he's trying to get done. as i've been saying, i think the next few weeks are the critical time -- and the last week after the loss in MA, most of the words coming from the WH, have shown they've gotten the message. time to play ball, or go home.
Hope i'm right on all that.
Other specifics:
-- i hate offshore drilling. categorically.
-- feel actually a little mixed on nuke power, but it's a long discussion. some severe negatives, and my first reaction is always: let's push solar and wind etc. even harder!! we can do so much more with those, yet, and quickly. (i was heartened by many more windmills across the country as i drove it than i ever have seen before).
-- i f'ing hate clean coal, and esp. MTR mining -- remember that 3 brave young people are suffering and still sitting in trees after a week in WV to stop Massey Coal from blowing up another huge mtn there (Coal River Mtn: click here to learn more and take action).
-- yeah, gay marriage would be great, but we're so far from that politically in this country. if he at least stands up for DADT repeal, that will be a real step.
-- [ Also: here's a group that is apparently organizing rallies for HCR all over, though i know Slinkerwink and NYCEve's groups do plenty already too, and many others who write and post here at DKos ]
Your thoughts?
-X