I can describe President Obama’s State of the Union speech in three words.
Just do it.
I can describe Wisconsin Republican Rep. Paul Ryan’s rebuttal in one word.
Huh?
And, Mr. President, what’s this 1960’s Sputnik moment? Nice try for the metaphoric oratory to goose our nation’s return to excellence.
To my ears, the Soviet space shuttle orbit played second fiddle to Obama’s most significant line of the night which tapped educational excellence:
We need to teach our kids that it’s not just the winner of the Super Bowl who deserves to be celebrated, but the winner of the science fair…
In fact, a lot of words lost me during the annually required address so I will paraphrase.
The president at the same time wants to freeze federal spending while at the same time “invest” — meaning spending taxpayers dollars — on an assortment of mostly worthy liberal causes.
He did talk tough. Once. Actually twice. He said the Bush tax cut for the richest must be ended. He promised to veto hidden earmarks in appropriation bills.
Sorry, Mr. President. You been there before and didn’t do it. Next time, do as you say.
But as the president in charge of rekindling hope to our struggling economy and catapulting us back to greatness as a nation of innovators, he delivered eloquently but far below the bar set by John F. Kennedy.
The address was another in a series of laundry lists from presidents I have heard since Harry Truman.
Although not in the prepared version of his text I saw, Rep. Ryan said an unusual thing, I think. He referred to the constitution and founding fathers providing an economic and social safety net for the impoverished.
I didn’t know that was part of his roadwork to economic recovery.
These presidential addresses have morphed into theater productions for show and perceptions.
I didn’t feel a twit about congressmen from different parties sitting together. By the time you read this, that kumbaya gesture is history.
The best performance of the evening came from House Speaker John Boehner, sitting behind the president’s left shoulder at the chamber podium.
I never saw a grown man look so bored in all my life at such a prestigious event. His occasional perfunctory hand clapping reminded me of the stiff Soviets during a May Day parade in Red Square watching Stalin’s tanks roll by.
I could say he didn’t cry. But I won’t.
Okay, jerk heads, the show is over. Get back to work and do your damn jobs or most of you will be gone in two years.
That includes you, Mr. Above It All who just may have started to figure it out.
Excuse me. Almost forgot. Rep. Michelle Bachmann, head of the House Tea Party caucus, rebutted Ryan who rebutted Obama.
That was weird.
(Photo courtesy NBC News)
Jerry Remmers worked 26 years in the newspaper business. His last 23 years was with the Evening Tribune in San Diego where assignments included reporter, assistant city editor, county and politics editor.