adding (4.00 / 8)

If they don't want a bad story in the newspaper, it doesn't get written.

This is uncomfortably true of America in 2011.  The only variable here is that "they" is not government but the shadow government.

At least the subjects of autocracies know who is running the show.

---

by: Daniel De Groot @ Tue Jan 25, 2011 at 21:46:13 PM CST

at least we have Gitmo (0.00 / 0)

it will no doubt speed things up progress when the progressive complainers get shipped to our favorite concentration camp to reflect on things

---

by: watchman @ Tue Jan 25, 2011 at 21:50:05 PM CST

Crap (4.00 / 6)

"it will be harder because we will argue about everything"

What a bunch of garbage.  What's made the past 2 years hard is Obama's absurd search for bipartisan agreement.  "Must propose only a small stimulus so Republicans will get on board!"  "Must take months to find a health care reform that Republicans will vote for!"

---

by: Notorious P.A.T. @ Tue Jan 25, 2011 at 21:58:51 PM CST

Must extend tax cuts for the rich (4.00 / 1)

so he can get pittance unemployment benefits through, START Treaty, repeal Don't Ask Don't Tell, and get a bump in public relations before the SOTU. What, you mean it didn't buy you the DREAM Act?

---

by: Upward and Onward @ Tue Jan 25, 2011 at 23:05:57 PM CST

[ Parent ]

It's all the kids fault. (4.00 / 2)

If they weren't so stupid, we'd all have jobs.

NYT:  Financial Meltdown Was Avoidable

---

by: dkmich @ Wed Jan 26, 2011 at 04:13:09 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Obama is absolutely right (4.00 / 4)

There are no other "democracies" where the "debate" literally cannot be ended by the majority in two years in order to hold a vote.  


New Jersey politics at Blue Jersey.

---

by: Hopeful in NJ @ Tue Jan 25, 2011 at 21:59:24 PM CST

The jewel idea of our liberal democracy. (0.00 / 0)

The individual's protection from the majority.

---

by: shergald @ Tue Jan 25, 2011 at 22:05:58 PM CST

[ Parent ]

yeah (4.00 / 1)

That's what the Supreme Court and the Bill of Rights is about.  What has the filibuster added?  The BoR can claim credit for Brown v. Board and Roe and Hamdan v. Rumsfeld.  Is there such a moment to credit to the filibuster?

---

by: Daniel De Groot @ Tue Jan 25, 2011 at 22:15:28 PM CST

[ Parent ]

The filibuster gave Joe Lieberman and Ben Nelson (4.00 / 1)

freedom from the public option, and having to vote on it.

Also, Democrats in general the freedom to not do a whole bunch of liberal things, and an excuse for not doing so.

For people like Lieberman and Nelson, that kind of freedom is way more valuable than silly things like desegregation and reproductive rights ("Hey, just go to the next hospital!" says Joe).

---

by: liberalmaverick @ Wed Jan 26, 2011 at 13:18:42 PM CST

[ Parent ]

"there isn't a person here who would trade places with any other nation on Earth." (4.00 / 5)

The last word, Paul.

In the end, after all the complaining is finished, most of us can conclude: I'm glad I'm here and not in some other place. Well, except maybe for a few EU countries which practice liberal-socialism in the real FDR sense.

---

by: shergald @ Tue Jan 25, 2011 at 22:04:18 PM CST

"I know there isn't a person here who would trade places..." (4.00 / 8)

I didn't hear the speech, but reading the above, I'd say that's probably true because regardless of whatever he was trying to imply, when he said "here" he was speaking to a room full of people living inside the DC Beltway bubble. They and "theirs" are doing just fine thanks to the GUROW™ (Great Upward Redistribution of Wealth). Of course they wouldn't want to be "anywhere else.  

---

by: Oaktown Girl @ Tue Jan 25, 2011 at 22:43:10 PM CST

And by the way (4.00 / 2)

even though I put a (humorous) trademark symbol after GUROW™, I'd love for people to start using it as much as possible. For example, "Senator __________(insert name) who enhanced his net worth by several million thanks to the GUROW™. Or, simply making references to GUROW Economics™.

---

by: Oaktown Girl @ Tue Jan 25, 2011 at 23:20:28 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Kelo, anyone? (0.00 / 0)

"Of course, some countries don't have this problem. If the central government wants a railroad, they get a railroad - no matter how many homes are bulldozed."

Although, reading the text of the speech, some parts are absurd to sublime, but in a good way.

---

by: Fraud Guy @ Tue Jan 25, 2011 at 23:32:03 PM CST

Mere carping? (0.00 / 0)

Barack Obama joined them by making temporal confusion a bipartisan enterprise, in which America is the only democracy on earth!

Really?  The evidence offered apparently includes Obama's saying:

It's no secret that those of us here tonight have had our differences over the last two years. The debates have been contentious; we have fought fiercely for our beliefs. And that's a good thing. That's what a robust democracy demands. That's what helps set us apart as a nation....

Some practices, Obama says, help set us apart as a nation.  Well, contentious debates do help in this regard.  That is, they set the U.S. quite apart from some other states.  Further practices, histories, etc. (not all of them admirable) are required to set the U.S. apart from all other states.  

For, as some might wish to point out, there are other democracies.

---

by: Roger Lamb @ Wed Jan 26, 2011 at 00:02:44 AM CST

Meh (4.00 / 6)

That form of nationalism always rubs me the wrong way, but I learned long ago to ignore it in this context.  While other parts of the speech had me upset, this never even registered.

It seemed to me he spent enough time, subtle as it was, setting up China as the main competition -- that thing we must worry about beating us.  By the time this line came around, we all know which country he was really talking about.

There was much to complain about and a lot that was pretty good.  I was most upset at this:

Every day, families sacrifice to live within their means. They deserve a government that does the same.

No.  We deserve a government that understands basic macro-economics!  Sheesh, what BS.

My favorite part, though, was this:

Within 25 years, our goal is to give 80% of Americans access to high-speed rail, which could allow you go places in half the time it takes to travel by car. For some trips, it will be faster than flying - without the pat-down. As we speak, routes in California and the Midwest are already underway.

Without saying "to pay for this, all the troops are coming home this year," I don't see how he does both.  But I'll certainly support him on the investment goals.

---

by: Mark Matson @ Wed Jan 26, 2011 at 01:11:59 AM CST

It Shows How Truly Intellectually And Morally Lazy He Is (4.00 / 2)

I, too, wouldn't mind, if only his actions weren't so pathetic.  As is, it's unfortunately symbolic of glib and deadly self-satisfaction.

More in the morning.

"You know what they say -- those of us who fail history... doomed to repeat it in summer school." -- Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Season 6, Episode 3

---

by: Paul Rosenberg @ Wed Jan 26, 2011 at 05:22:14 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Is POTUS Up-To-Date On DHS Practices? (4.00 / 3)

I didn't get that far in the speech, but your high-speed rail and pat-down quotes catch my attention. I traveled by bus for the holidays -- greyhound. And at at least one station, coming and going, police officers (or security guards?) would (randomly?) choose a route, pull everyone on that route out of line, search their belongings, and pat them down. At the bus station.

Why is the president so sure this isn't happening at some Amtrak stations?

As an aside, I specifically chose the bus instead of air travel to avoid the police stateism. But in 2011 America, no such luck.

"You want me to make all the roofs in Harlem white?" Mr. Paterson recalled asking Mr. Clinton inside the former president's office on 125th Street. Mr. Clinton nodded. "Don't you think Harlem has become white enough?" Mr. Paterson asked him.  

---

by: AnonymousAnonymous @ Wed Jan 26, 2011 at 06:38:49 AM CST

[ Parent ]

eh (4.00 / 1)

I skipped it. The history of this president offered no hope for taking on the Republicans and beating them about the ears with their efforts to return to 1859.  I suppose the only good thing is he did not join the r's in calling for the elimination of Social Security.  

---

by: blue bronc @ Wed Jan 26, 2011 at 04:54:25 AM CST

Obama spoke in the language of business (4.00 / 4)

and a backward-looking, enervating language it is. He's a neoliberal cuckoo in the Liberal Democratic nest and the party will survive to the extent liberals push back - that's pretty clear from this speech.

---

by: kas @ Wed Jan 26, 2011 at 05:18:22 AM CST

uuh - always figuring out - (1.33 / 3)

when and how he left the party line? - How much does it really matter what he says? Hasn't it been said over and over here - it doen't matter THAT much what he says?
'The only thing that matters is what he does'! -
Right?
And he hasn't 'killed' Social Security!
Whew!
- and everything else is hardly a suprise - He is 'gone' dudes - 'Gone' deep into the 'soul' of Americaland to serve ALL the people as the 'shellacking' supposedly told him too - and only a overwhelming vote for progressiveness by 'the people' will bring him back -(if ever!)  

---

by: pieceofcake @ Wed Jan 26, 2011 at 06:02:17 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Uprated because she's not a troll<n/t> (0.00 / 0)

---

by: dedelste @ Wed Jan 26, 2011 at 11:53:47 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Keep watching. (4.00 / 1)

You'll see.

Montani semper liberi

---

by: Sadie Baker @ Wed Jan 26, 2011 at 12:28:00 PM CST

[ Parent ]

There is no public good (4.00 / 1)

In Obama's eyes. He doesn't know that a government for the people, means the public good is the purpose of government, and that a government of the people is a public government.

Oh well, with Obama it's hopeless.  

---

by: Fred Donaldson @ Wed Jan 26, 2011 at 10:01:21 AM CST

Yeah, that was a head-scratcher for me. (4.00 / 1)

We're the only democracy??? Since when? That kind of bullshit helps keep a lot of people stupid. It's kind of like the old, "You better finish everything on your plate, mister! There are kids starving in China!" As long as there are no examples of anything better, us peasants should just be grateful with our bowl of gruel and our "freedom" to agree with our rulers.

miasmo.com

---

by: miasmo @ Wed Jan 26, 2011 at 10:49:44 AM CST

Actually, (4.00 / 1)

It was "India" in my house when I was a kid.  It made me wonder why I couldn't just stop eating when I was full & send the rest to India. I knew about CARE packages.  How hard could it be?

"You know what they say -- those of us who fail history... doomed to repeat it in summer school." -- Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Season 6, Episode 3

---

by: Paul Rosenberg @ Wed Jan 26, 2011 at 11:11:59 AM CST

[ Parent ]

For me it was Africa (4.00 / 1)

and, if my parents were feeling especially bold geographically, Ethiopia.

Of course, when I would counter, "okay, why don't you just give my food to those starving kids then?" the answer would always simply be "NO!" without any further qualification - thus completely contradicting the original argument.

Also, I always found it odd that my parents would pick on foreign places when there were plenty of starving people right here in the USA.  Or, that they would feel the need to specify a geographic location, period.

---

by: liberalmaverick @ Wed Jan 26, 2011 at 13:24:49 PM CST

[ Parent ]

My folks were Cold Warriors (0.00 / 0)

at heart, I guess.

"Eat your vegetables! When the Russians come, you'll wish you had them."

Once, cheeky little kid that I was, I commented that, "if the Russians know that this is what we eat, they won't come!"  I did not have a good weekend.

"It sounds wrong...
     ...but its right."

---

by: SpitBall @ Wed Jan 26, 2011 at 13:50:24 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Yeah, but (4.00 / 1)

Americans will always have the biggest, warmest and creamiest gruel in the Free World because of the competition between gruel-makers that our Free-Market system stimulates. Our wealthy patrons will see to it that we are best fed peasants in the world.

And if that don't work, you can always pray.

"It sounds wrong...
     ...but its right."

---

by: SpitBall @ Wed Jan 26, 2011 at 13:45:35 PM CST

[ Parent ]