When a President steps to the podium to sum up the state of the union, one might expect to hear about the two wars our country is currently involved in, or the increasing threat from Al-Qaeda members as they attempt to ignite bombs on our airplanes and what he or she plans to do about it. We received something much different. We heard a speech full of excuses, explaining why our country is in dire condition. We must never forget that President George Bush dismantled our country so badly that no one could reverse it in just one year, not even Barack Obama.
In one breath President Obama spoke of taxing large banks in order to repay tax payers for TARP, then in another he said he wanted to use TARP funds to create a stimulus for small business. I ask which one is it. The TARP mess is complicated, and yet very simple. The government decided on a fund to give loans to banks that were hurt by the housing crunch which was to be repaid with interest. Then they decided to do further tests on the banks to ensure they could withstand another financial meltdown and many banks were perceived as weak. In the wake of that finding our government now wants to force the banks to repay the money and financial stability was put on a back burner because they want to return the money to the tax payers. Somewhere in the middle of his speech he changed his mind and now wants to give TARP funds to small businesses. The really strange thing is that the money never came from tax payers. The money the government collects from taxpayers is short about one and a half trillion just to cover the bills and when they dream up a program like TARP, the money has to be borrowed. The President needs to try to repay, not the taxpayers, but those countries that loaned us the money.
The President talked about a spending freeze. It seems like a step in the right direction, but would only save about 1% of the budget. I would like to see him cut spending on everything, but I do think we need to give him credit for trying. This will be the first time he made any motion to save money so let’s applaud him so he might continue and actually cut spending next time.
Another highlight from the speech was when he encouraged the Senate to re-instate the pay as you go law. I know it seems foolish because he signed the inflated budget that we are suffering through now, but at least it would ensure some stability. He said if they didn’t, he would enact an executive order to do so which I think showed the first spark of leadership from President Obama. I haven’t seen anything from him in the past that showed he was prepared to stand in front and lead, but that was at least something. I respect him for that. On issues that he wanted to get through he would tell congress to get it done, healthcare, cap and trade, stimulus. I can’t believe he wants to get things done without ever having a plan first. I suppose with the Clinton healthcare proposal it became Clinton’s fault, this time it would be congress that had an inferior plan. I say put it out there and take the credit when it is good, and take the blame when it is bad. Wouldn’t that show signs of a leader?
I am really getting tired of hearing the plea for bipartisanship. It seems to me that if you have an idea that is good for the country then you will get votes from both sides of the isle, when you try to put together a healthcare plan that the people don’t want and is against the constitution then you won’t. Under the first year of President Obama there was a 60% majority in the senate and they couldn’t seem to get bills through. Sure it is convenient to blame the opposition for your failures, but it is merely the opposition in your own party that is holding you back. The last time there was a 60% majority in the senate was in 1979 under Jimmy Carter. Presidents since then seemed to pass legislation just fine. It is only when you go against the will of the people do you need to complain about bipartisan efforts.
During his speech the President attacked the Supreme Court on a judgment they had made concerning campaign donations causing judge Alito break his statue- like pose and mouth the words not true. As it turns out, Justice Alito was right. You would think, since President Obama was a Constitutional Lawyer that he would hold utmost respects for the Supreme Court and their decisions, but it appears otherwise. Obama’s decision to call out and criticize the Supreme Court during his address to the people was unprecedented, and dare I say, un-presidential.
In the end, the status of our country is hopeful which leads me to be anything but. I had expected something a little more concrete, but perhaps next year we can aspire to enlightened, or promising. In this era of hope and change what more could we have expected. Perhaps we can all “hope” the state of our union next year will be more resolute.