The State Of The Union Address

Excerpts from the Remarks of President Barack Obama As Prepared to Address the Joint Session of Congress Tuesday, February 24th, 2009 on the State Of The Union.

"As soon as I took office, I asked this Congress to send me a recovery plan by President's Day that would put people back to work and put money in their pockets. Not because I believe in bigger government - I don't. Not because I'm not mindful of the massive debt we've inherited - I am".

"So the recovery plan we passed is the first step in getting our economy back on track. But it is just the first step. Because even if we manage this plan flawlessly, there will be no real recovery unless we clean up the credit crisis that has severely weakened our financial system".

"And tonight, I am grateful that this Congress delivered, and pleased to say that the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is now law. It's an agenda that begins with jobs".

"Over the next two years, this plan will save or create 3.5 million jobs. More than 90% of these jobs will be in the private sector - jobs rebuilding our roads and bridges; constructing wind turbines and solar panels; laying broadband and expanding mass transit".

"Given these realities, everyone in this chamber - Democrats and Republicans - will have to sacrifice some worthy priorities for which there are no dollars. And that includes me".

"In each case, government didn't supplant private enterprise; it catalyzed private enterprise. It created the conditions for thousands of entrepreneurs and new businesses to adapt and to thrive".

"As for our auto industry, everyone recognizes that years of bad decision-making and a global recession have pushed our auto makers to the brink. We should not, and will not, protect them from their own bad practices. But we are committed to the goal of a re-tooled, re-imagined auto industry that can compete and win".

"This budget builds on these reforms. It includes an historic commitment to comprehensive health care reform - a down-payment on the principle that we must have quality, affordable health care for every American. It's a commitment that's paid for in part by efficiencies in our system that are long overdue. And it's a step we must take if we hope to bring down our deficit in the years to come".

"Yesterday, I held a fiscal summit where I pledged to cut the deficit in half by the end of my first term in office. My administration has also begun to go line by line through the federal budget in order to eliminate wasteful and ineffective programs."

"To overcome extremism, we must also be vigilant in upholding the values our troops because there is no force in the world more powerful than the example of America. That is why I have ordered the closing of the detention center at Guantanamo Bay, and will seek swift and certain justice for captured terrorists - because living our values doesn't make us weaker, it makes us safer and it makes us stronger". 

Here is the State Of The Union one year later:

The reported unemployment rate in January of 2010 is over 10%. The real unemployment rate is nearly 18%. Gitmo is not closed and won't be for years.  The detainees are scheduled for a show trial this year in either New York or Washington.

The banks are still not adequately lending despite the fact that they were bailed out and are now subject to taxation and populist rhetoric from the Administration. 

The budget deficit continues to spiral out of control. Congressional spending has not been restrained and there has been no fix to the entitlement problems. The nearly trillion dollar stimulus package has not stimulated the economy and was laden with political pork. Small business was never the beneficiary of economic stimulus and there were not enough shovel ready projects.

There is still no action to reform Congress or get a handle on out of control government spending or  trillion dollar budget deficits as far as the eye can see. This administration and the Democrats are proponents of expanding government. The government now owns General Motors and has attempted to take over the entire health care system through the private option.

The health care bill in Congress that would do little to reduce future medical cost and had accounting gimmicks to appear revenue neutral is currently on life support due to a voter revolt in Massachusetts. The bill featured Congressional bribes in order to pass both Houses of Congress.

The President's programs suffer from a lack of transparency since deals are made in back rooms, bills are not placed on line to read before action and most have been voted on in haste without proper review by Congress.

There has been no bi partisanship with Republicans to this point at all. As a result, the popular support of this President has fallen from over 75% one year ago to the 46% area currently. With Independents fleeing the Party, the Democrats Congressional majorities may be at stake in the November elections.

There was really no need to watch another speech of political fiction last night. Remembering the Presidents last State Of The Union Address from one year ago was more than enough.

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