Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

An Exhausting Speech From An Exhausted President
Hugh Hewitt.com ^ | January 26,2011 | Hugh Hewitt

Posted on 01/26/2011 5:39:15 AM PST by Hojczyk

As usual, Americans approve of a State of the Union speech.

But this speech will be remembered not for anything that was said but for where people sat, and for the fact that a new man sat behind the president for the first time, House Speaker John Boehner, who, if he leads well in the next year, could be in that camera shot long after President Obama has retired.

It would be puff talk to label the speech pedestrian. There was nothing new at all in the speech, and quite a lot recycled from old Team Obama rhetoric. In the run-up to the address, the gang at MSNBC were upset that the words "gun," "ammunition," "climate change" and "global warming" were not in the draft leaked before the president even entered the chamber, exclusions that signaled the president's decision to continue his symbolic march to the center.

But with the exception of an invitation for the Congress to send him tort reform legislation, there was nothing centrist about the speech. Its tired old talk of "investments" like high speed trains, the attack on oil companies, and the demands for tax hikes underscored that the president simply lacks the intellectual flexibility to deal with the changed circumstances that both he and the country faces.

President Obama is out of gas. His ideology is not capable of dealing with the economic realities of governing and his emotional commitment to the core beliefs of the left won't allow for the sort of innovation needed right now. He actually called for a government reorganization, the last gasp of a progressive with no chance of moving legislation. He is going to try and move the lines around on the federal flow chart and call it change.

Worst of all, in a speech in which he called for crucially necessary improvements in American education --and in speech made during School Choice Week-- he proposed none. Just a few days ago Detroit announced a move towards a policy of what is essentially warehousing of kids and abandonment of physical capital, and the president is still touting one school in Denver he has been holding up for a year. On the subject of education where he could lead, could pull a "Nixon-to-China," the president failed as badly as the math and science achievement levels he pointed to. President Obama urged parents to turn off television sets and encouraged young people to become teachers. That's it. The president talked innovation, but he is the enemy of innovation that challenges the monopolies that dominate public education in most of the school districts across the country, and by doing so condemns another generation of children to the second-rate (if that) education he condemned in his remarks.

Detroit isn't different, it is first. And given the president's obvious fealty to the teachers' unions, it is the first among many.

The spin may work for a day, but there was nothing in the speech that will be remembered beyond next month. It serves mostly as a signal that the president will be presiding for the next year, at least on matters domestic. It is up to the Republicans to tackle the very serious fiscal crisis, the solution to which has nothing to do with high speed trains and electric cars.


TOPICS: Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: fraudulenttotus; kenyanvillageidiot; obozotheclown
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-57 next last

1 posted on 01/26/2011 5:39:17 AM PST by Hojczyk
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Hojczyk
The spin may work for a day, but there was nothing in the speech that will be remembered beyond next month.

I don't really think Obama has ever given a memorable speech. I can't think of any quotes from his speeches. Sure, I remember that he gave "a big speech on race" and he gave "a big speech in Tucson" but do I remember what he said? Not at all.

I dislike JFK quite a bit, but everyone can quote parts of various JFK speeches. Obama? Quotable? His speeches are completely forgettable.

2 posted on 01/26/2011 5:45:42 AM PST by ClearCase_guy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Hojczyk

I noticed that the Republicans’ reaction to the speech was orchestrated by Boehner. If he just sat there, they just sat there. If he offered half-hearted applause, they did, too.

Which sure explains the Dems’ mindless applause in the last two years - little Nancy Pop-Up was the leader.


3 posted on 01/26/2011 5:48:06 AM PST by chickadee
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Hojczyk

Detroit has a staff: pupil ratio of 1 to 5.

That’s INSANE, especially when you consider how lousy the results are.

The President ignored the disaster that is Detroit, and US education in general. He ignored the crushing Sovereign debt and the coming devaluation of the dollar.

Instead he boldly took the bull by the horns and talked about trains. This is a Hitler-in-the-bunker level of disconnect.


4 posted on 01/26/2011 5:48:18 AM PST by agere_contra (Historically every time the Left has 'expanded its moral imagination' the results have been horrific)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Hojczyk
Obama planned to air this vid at the SOTU-----but the coffee industry nixed it (/snix).

" And I especially want to thank you for bringing me all that
Oolong tea. Tea is very big around here since Nov 2010."

5 posted on 01/26/2011 5:50:45 AM PST by Liz (There's a new definition of bipartisanship in Washington -- it's called "former member.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Hojczyk
Partying and vacationing your term away would be exhausting for anyone.
6 posted on 01/26/2011 5:52:46 AM PST by ladyvet ( I would rather have Incitatus then the asses that are in congress today.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Hojczyk

I could not stand to watch it last night. What’s this 5 pillars stuff I have been reading about? Did he really use the word pillars?? I thought for sure I would see a thread bashing him for that, meaning Islam has pillars too and it may even be 5. Help anyone??


7 posted on 01/26/2011 5:54:47 AM PST by MomwithHope (Wake up America we are at war with militant Islam and progressives - 2 fronts.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ClearCase_guy
but everyone can quote parts of various JFK speeches.

That's because he ripped them off from Cicero.

8 posted on 01/26/2011 5:55:51 AM PST by HIDEK6
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: HIDEK6

...except for the one about his being a jelly doughnut.


9 posted on 01/26/2011 5:56:26 AM PST by HIDEK6
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Hojczyk
Regarding liberal speeches and proclaimations, I'll quote John Lennon.

"There is nothing to say that hasn't been said.

There is nothing to do that hasn't been done".

Liberalism as orchestrated in American politics is full of Big Things. The problem is, governing is about an endless string if interdependant small things. When you think Big Things and fail Big, you blame others for the failures. When you manage an endless string of small things, sound policy and leadership empower the fixing to delegated subordinates and even the American people themselves.

10 posted on 01/26/2011 5:56:46 AM PST by blackdog
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MomwithHope

The 10 pillars of Islam.


11 posted on 01/26/2011 5:58:22 AM PST by blackdog
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: MomwithHope

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pillars_of_Islam

Yes, Islam has five pillars.

And there are 57 Islamic states. So, when Obama said that he had visited all 57 states, he was telling us something.


12 posted on 01/26/2011 5:58:55 AM PST by ClearCase_guy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Hojczyk

All those golf games and Hawaii vacations are just so exhausting.


13 posted on 01/26/2011 5:59:25 AM PST by dforest
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MomwithHope

Which by the way is an Islamic message. It’s his way of communicating that there is much more to be done and that he needs their help. There is a deliberate reason why he picked the number five.


14 posted on 01/26/2011 6:00:30 AM PST by blackdog
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Hojczyk

OBAMA will be the ‘forgettable president’, provided we can find enough voters who realize the anarchists have bitch-slapped them with the ‘08 election of this pretender. His overthrow is necessary, but what is even more necessary is that he be filed away into the landfill with the other trash and this country and its’ patriots focus all energy and determination on defining and eradicating the forces that elected him in the first place. These forces need to be strung up on the light pole for everyone to see and a message sent to the world that we are forever embarrased by his election and will never tolerate this shame again - from a Soros, or anyone who panders to him.


15 posted on 01/26/2011 6:00:44 AM PST by arrdon (Never underestimate the stupidity of the American voter.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Hojczyk

Why would Barry be exhausted? He uses a golf cart when he golfs.


16 posted on 01/26/2011 6:00:53 AM PST by crosshairs (The word for actor in Greek is hypocrite (its true).)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Hojczyk
Obama laid an egg. The Frank Luntz panel showed just how disconnected Obama is from America. Of the 13 “Obama voters” only 7 said they would even consider voting for him again.
17 posted on 01/26/2011 6:01:39 AM PST by WellyP
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Hojczyk
No doubt the highlight of the event was Pelosi NOT being seated behind the president. I watched just long enough to see that.
18 posted on 01/26/2011 6:01:46 AM PST by ryan71 (Dear spell check - No, I will not capitalize the "m" in moslem!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Hojczyk

We are all Detroit. The only barrier between us and Detroit now is the tens of billions of Treasury bonds China buys each month.


19 posted on 01/26/2011 6:02:14 AM PST by mo ("If you understand, no explanation is needed; if you do not, no explanation is possible")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ClearCase_guy

Is it me or??? The misguided media whores don’t seem as excited as they used to be about the pretender, nobama, when he utters his banalities. Maybe they are having a collective case of nobama-dysfunction (ND). They just can’t get it up anymore.


20 posted on 01/26/2011 6:03:02 AM PST by hal ogen (1st amendment or reeducation camp?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-57 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson