SOTU-lite

You Know What I'm Talking About

I took notes on the SOTU.

(And added a bit of commentary.)

We as Americans have a resilient spirit, even though things suck – we coach little league, help neighbors, yadda yadda

We all hated the bank bailout.

• this received applause. some people stood up.
• presidents don’t do what is popular, they do what is necessary. (cnn.com here focuses on Geithner)
• apparently we recovered most of the money we spent on the banks.
• he wants to impose a fee on the biggest of the banks.
• my uncle @ wells fargo is crying
• actually, my entire family is pissed, right now.
• also, the justices never clap. it’s possible they are just cut-outs.

He cut taxes for 95% of working families, first time homebuyers, small businesses, and Americans paying for college. (the taxes of everyone in that room went up.)

• Boehner’s really tan.
• economists on the L and the R love the recovery act.
• ask people in Phoenix and Philadelphia if they love the recovery act – they’ll tell you they do (in fact, they love it in all P cities)
• Joe Lieberman looks like he’d rather be anywhere but here

JOBS #1 focus in 2010; calling for new jobs bill.

• Sorry, O: the Jobs headline of today has already been taken.

Vague promises to keep more jobs in America – hating on outsourcing –

• mentions the House passing a jobs bill, urges Senate to do the same
• House applauds; Senate boos
• he “want[s] a jobs bill on his desk without delay.” Not the first time jobs were handed across a White House desk.
• China, Germany, India aren’t waiting to revamp their economies
• maybe that’s why they have our jobs…
• but Barry O doesn’t accept 2^nd place for the US. (Careful — it’s that thinking that got China a bunch of 12-year-old gymnasts.)

Financial reform.

• HE’S NOT INTERESTED IN PUNISHING BANKS.
• but our goals can only be accomplished if we punish banks.
• threatens to veto any crappy financial reform bill – cool!

ENERGY.

• need: new generation of safe, clean NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
• offshore areas of oil and gas development
• biofuels and clean coal
• comprehensive energy and climate bill. (whether you believe it or not. –panderer.)
• justices still haven’t moved.

We need to export more goods!

• apparently, the more stuff we sell to other people, the richer we are.
• goal: DOUBLE exports next year.
• what are we going to export? debt?
• and make our trading partners play by the rules.
• because we have a whole lot of room for leverage, here.

Invest in skills and education of our people.

• best anti-poverty program: a great education. (general applause. and rightly so.)
• hey, Senate: pass the community colleges bill like your sister did. (The House is Obama’s favorite child.)
• Jill Biden looks good in blue.
• tell the next generation of students: you’re required to pay only 10% of income on loans – balance forgiven after 20 years – balance forgiven after 10 years if you go into public service. kind of cool.
• AND: colleges and universities need to cut their own costs.
• …ahem…AHEM…

WE STILL NEED HEALTH INSURANCE REFORM.

• “Now. Let’s clear a few things up.” Yeeeeouch.
• “I didn’t take on health care because it was good politics.” Truer words never said, bro.
• (the laugh this got was a little too evil for comfort.)
• FLOTUS creating a task force to combat childhood obesity.
• interesting. No wonder J.Crew loves her. Have you SEEN the crewcuts kids catalogues? They aren’t for chubbos…
• also, I love her in purple.
• Pelosi has a delightfully evil smile on her face at this point. (She must feed on health care debates.)
• failed close-up on ol’ Olympia Snowe – remember her?

Government Spending.

• Obama blames people before him for deficit.
• close-up on McCain and Graham – they’re pretending like they can’t hear.
• actually – maybe they can’t
• prepared to FREEZE spending for THREE years
• except defense, Medicaid, Medicare
• prepared to enforce by veto
• applause tepid: Repubs don’t believe, Dems don’t like; Pelosi looks actually worried, here

• WHOA: issuing an executive order bc Senate didn’t pass the bipartisan Medicare/Medicaid review commission
• and Senate also should restore Pay-As-You-Go
• he is REALLY pissed at the Senate
• Dems argue: can’t freeze spending right now, when hurting; Obama: will freeze spending NEXT year, because “that’s how budgeting works”
• Republicans laugh much too loudly – it’s awkward, again
• “let’s try common sense” gets another too-loud laugh. Biden looks kind of offended

lobbyists. (I was waiting for this.)

• require lobbyists to report who they talk to
• ATTACK ON SCOTUS: reversal of corporation campaign finance restrictions
• JUSTICES ALL LOOK MURDEROUS
• except Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who I’m afraid to look at
• Sotomayor is thinking how fickle men are

He knew his election wouldn’t quell all dissent or resolve all arguments.

• the youth of America scream, “what?!!!”
• “What frustrates the American people is a Washington where every day is an election day.” (PREACH.)
• Repubs grudgingly applaud.
• “I’m speaking to both parties.”
• Dems applause becomes grudging.
• “It’s sowing further division among our citizens.”
• the most somber note yet struck.
• if 60 votes are required to do anything, then the Republicans have to do some governing as well.

CLOSE-UP ON JANET NAPOLITANO

• a cameraman is fired

The wars.

• TROOPS OUT OF IRAQ by END of AUG ‘10
• election support; promote regional peace
• “make no mistake”: Iraq war is ending
• support for vets when they come home. (if you’re not standing now, you’re un-American.)

NUKES.

• seek a world without them.
• reduce stockpiles, launchers
• working with Russia on most ambitious treaty in 2 decades
• April NPT summit has several goals:
• secure all fissile materials around the world in the next 4 years
• those who violate nuclear treaties: we’ve really put the hurt to the DPRK – and Iran, if you keep this up, you are next.

HIV/AIDS; disease; public health

• …well, he thought he should mention them.
• Haiti – you knew it was coming.

ENDING DON’T ASK DON’T TELL, again

• all military personnel present are suddenly carved of stone

“Change we can believe in, the slogan went.”

• “I never suggested change would be easy – or that I could do it alone.”
• “When you try to make big changes, it stirs passions, and controversy – that’s how it is.”

…and he brings it home.

• oh, man – they’re chanting “USA! USA!” in Haiti

• I think he just quoted the Lion King – something about how change lives on in you
• “We don’t quit.” “I don’t quit.”
• It’s the new “Yes, we can.”
• Yes, he can.