My Reaction
That was his best SOTU speech of his Presidency. My reaction is the same as John Cole’s of Balloon Juice:
I gotta say, every time I get some one on one time with that guy, which is basically what the SOTU is- an opportunity for the President to speak to America, I just want to vote for him early and often. The contrast between Obama and the crowd of miscreants in the GOP running to replace him is just striking.
One of the things I found interesting is that if you are a political junkie, you will find the speech from Obama a little bit feistier than those who are casual observers of the political process. I caught the references to Solyndra and telling the Republicans to back off on that nonsense, I got the DADT references, and so forth.
But most of all, every time I hear him speak, I am still aware of all the things I disagree with him on, but think “That is a good man doing what he thinks is best.” That is really all you can ask for from someone, because as far as I can tell, I’m the only one who agrees with me 100% of the time. And as you all know, if you give me a week, I’ll disagree with myself.
We really don’t deserve him. We really don’t.
I also enjoyed the multiple digs at Romney, whom the White House clearly thinks will still be the GOP nominee this fall. But the way he wrapped tax fairness as patriotic (and it really is, because the selfish greed of the 1% is not in any way patriotic), for the first time making the Democratic case that if you give tax cuts to the wealthy you have to take away a hell of a lot from everyone else, was brilliant.
Speech was amazing and good point about some of the more combative lines being coded. The rebuttal was awkward. Did I hear Mitch Daniels say that when people in Indiana ask him what they can do to help out, he tells them to make money?
Yea… Let them eat cake.
But Daniels was good. Other than some of that “the sky is falling” rhetoric, I’d say that is perhaps the best Republican speech I can ever remember hearing. And I mean ever…
I wonder who wrote it? Daniels himself?
Red meat for the Democratic wing. Let’s see if the legislation makes it to the floor. Also no explanation why many of last night’s proposals were not introduced in 2009-2010, when they were just as necessary and relevant, and would have been producing jobs by this year.
Obama also said he would do what he could with or without Congress. But I didn’t hear him say the easiest and most powerful thing he can do: promise to let the Bush tax cuts for the rich expire. That was a significant omission. It is a sign that he won’t dare.
It was nice to hear Obama talk about the Buffet rule, but what he should have said:
I know, right?? Who knew he could give a good speech??? I’m stunned. STUNNED!
It is perfectly fine for obama to take jabs at mitt romney.
I have two comments, first this continued use of warren buffett as some one who says himself that he should be paying more taxes is ridicohlus. Warren buffett has been argueing with the irs for a decade over a billion dollars the irs says he owes. He is just using obama as a patsy, just like george soros is.
And second, mitt romney has paid more taxes in the last two years than president obama has EARNED in his lifetime.
And second, mitt romney has paid more taxes in the last two years than president obama has EARNED in his lifetime.
I think Mitt should run on this line, Rusty.
I had an interesting revelation while watching this speech. Military policy…. something that the GoTP has very little ability to shit on… the ONE THING … they cant really stop (at least without angering their base) has gone.. “well”. I know that is a point of debate… even for myself, but deadlines are being met, legal or not our “War on terror” is at least racking up a larger and more prestigious body count. If Obama can highlight for the general public that areas where his agenda has been allowed to be carried out rather than filibustered have gone well… (also, think auto industry) he can make a very strong case that it has been republican obstructionism all along.
I didn’t see it. Quick question. Did President Bartlet show up, at long last?
I literally dozed off for a minute and missed the part about the Buffet Rule. I had to go back and read the transcript.
That’s “Buffett” rule. Freudian slip.
what exactly IS the Buffet rule? dont be an ass-face when they bring out the King Crab legs?
I just lol’ed. SB FTW !
Warren Buffet’s unfairly taxed poor deprived secretary? Give me a fucking break already. Apparently she’s been working for the guy since she was seventeen. If she isn’t a multi millionaire by now then Warren Buffet is a bigger asshole than I thought.
I’d like to see her tax returns.
Typical conservative thinking: She should have used her inside knowledge of Buffett’s business dealings to make herself rich.
Talking with these people is pointless. Cf. Aesop, the fox and the scorpion.
I wanna see YOUR birth certificate.
“Typical conservative thinking: She should have used her inside knowledge of Buffett’s business dealings to make herself rich.”
I’m was actually thinking that a guy that ridiculously rich should pay a lifelong secretary a pretty hefty salary , but now that you mention it, she should be pretty good at picking stocks at this point.
To be honest, using Warren Buffet as an example of anything is pretty unrealistic.
She probably does make a great salary. But wouldn’t that be considered earned income, and therefore taxed at the high rate?
Pandora is right. The issue isn’t her income; it is her tax rate. Paying her a higher wage just makes her pay an even higher tax rate than Buffet’s 15%.
Well if she is a multi millionaire and is taxed at a high rate then what is the problem?
FBH, you do realize Warren Buffetts secratary is an example? we aren’t crafting legislation around one person and her tax rate. It is the idea that a person who has found a way to turn on a money spigot so they never have to do any actual work again pays a much lower tax rate than the person who manages their money spigot.
“Well if she is a multi millionaire and is taxed at a high rate then what is the problem?”
Multi-millionaires don’t pay high tax rates. Once their income gets to a certain point they are advised to take most of their income in equities, precisely to access the lower tax rates for investments.
If Buffett wanted to make his secretary a multi-millionaire, he wouldn’t pay her a wage of $1 million per year. He’d pay her $250K plus a package of stock and options.
He’d pay her $250K plus a package of stock and options.
Exactly, but I’m not sure FBH is aware that this is how it’s done.
All I’m doing is knocking Obama’s unrealistic and disconnected example or scenario he chose to use.
And not very well, as it is being pointed out to *you*, FBH.
“using Warren Buffet as an example of anything is pretty unrealistic.”
How so? He’s very well known, having been deified in the business press for years as an oracular genius. Of course, he’s never treated that way by the business press anymore, because he’s an apostate on taxation.
The only thing exceptional about him as a billionaire plutocrat is that, unlike most of them, he has not contributed to Mitt Romney or his Super PACs.
Does this qualify as an “appearance of impropriety” or at least shady?
http://www.bloomberg.com/…/buffett-s-burlington-northern-among-winners-in- obama-rejection-of-pipeline.html
If you knew anything about the subject, you’d realize that no, it’s not shady. The pipeline probably will be approved once the state department has a chance to study the new route. Meanwhile, rail remains the cheapest way to ship anything, which is why Buffett bought Burlington Northern a couple of years ago — you might remember that he’s an oracle and investment genius.
There are winners and losers in any such decision, and there’s no reason to think that Warren Buffett is in line for any major special favors. Unless, of course, you think Obama made sure to fund Solyndra to protect one of its biggest private investors, a Walton Family trust. Oh, wait, they’re conservative…
Seriously, the world is too complicated for a conservative to understand. You might want to simply crawl back in a cave and cast an absentee ballot for Gingrich.
Pandora, ” I think mitt should run on this line”.
HE IS. He has been hundreds of times more successful than president obama, and has accomplished hundreds of times more things than president obama. He is solutions orientated.
Oh, Rusty,
No Republican is solutions orientated.
While talking about Warren Buffet’s secretary,Rush Limbaugh said, “I want to se HER tax returns”
Uncanny, isn’t it.
FBH says the same thing as Rush Limbaugh…. in other news, bears found to defecate in the woods.
I am sorry I missed president obama’s final state of the union address