Actually I have a lot of stuff I have to get done this week so, while I was waiting for him to come up on the teevee, I wasn't waiting breathlessly. I like Obama, but it's qualified by the fact that, on a number of issues, he seems not only to be protecting Bush but upholding evasions of the law and the constitution. And, frankly, I don't like the bailout. Yeah, I don't know what else I would do instead, I'm just not much of a financial person beyond keeping a budget, but I definitely think the way to fix things is not to throw money at a problem without strict controls. And I'm not convinced that those controls are in place. I mainly stayed out of the room while Obama was talking about all the elements of all the money he wants to give to whoever for whatever and heard mostly blah blah blah. When I finally started listening, it was such a pleasure to hear someone who is clearly intelligent and articulate. I don't know how he could say We Don't Torture when he is entering in with the UK on that Gitmo torture case to keep the evidence withheld. After all, Bush also said We Don't Torture... and he was lying.
I was much more interested to see who the Republicans would trot out as the answering commenter. bobby Jindal. heh. I was wondering why him? Did the Repubs not want to put in a white guy and wanted someone ethnic, but didn't have any blacks in office to do it? I was highly amused at how Jindal started with the Story Of His Life (um, what exactly did that have to do with Obama's speech or really was that HIS I Wanna Be the New Ethnic Presnut in 2012) and then went into this long winded baloney about New Orleans and saving people. Then, and I had to laugh out loud, he said something like "The Republicans went along with the earmarks"-yeah, right. Anyone believe that the Poor Poor Innocent Republicans Were Led Along By the Nose By the Democrats That Forced Them To Put Earmarks Into the Bills? Please. You can't be talking about how your party sucks, and that you're going to do better, and then say crapola like that. Makes you look stupid.
I also thought his argument about government was ridic, too. At least to me, one main reason we got into the huge mess we're in now is because there wasn't ENOUGH government regulation, at least over the greedy corporations and those associated with them that were having a field day with our money. It was like putting the crooks in charge of the banks and now we're providing them with getaway cars. The answer isn't to just say Gee, We Have Too much Government but to acknowledge that government has a purpose but then decide how much government we need and in what fashion-but regulation ought to be part of it. Jindal was out on some old Ronald Reagan cloud when most people realize now that Reaganism is not only flawed but dead.
Here's some more- laughing because hub said "Didja see his hands during that?" and made this up and down motion. It was like Jindal didn't know what to do without banging his arm up and down. Very distracting.
And, heh, listen to his patronizing tone. It was like an Indian Mr Rogers!
And another ... Chris Matthews says "Oh God"....
bwahahahah-click link 4 lines up for the videos for a real hooterama.
I've never been a fan of David Brooks, however, I've noticed a certain change in him these last few months since the election. I think he really admires and appreciates Obama.
Like you, I only watched bits and pieces of the State of the Union address. I thought his speech was in line with what we have been hearing. But having to watch Nancy Pelosi grinning in the background was sort of sickening. And then when Bobby Jindal appeared, I had to flip it after about the first 90 seconds. (And he's supposed to be the new hope for the Republicans!!).
