Archive for February, 2009
February 24th, 2009
Now it’s time for the Republican response. Gov. Bobby Jindal of Louisiana, the GOP’s rising young star at 37,
speaks from his executive mansion in Baton Rouge.
He starts out by noting the historic nature of Obama’s presidency. “Like the president’s father, my parents came from a distant land.”. (Jindal’s parents came from India.)
He says his immigrant father would tell him, “Bobby, Americans can do anything. I still believe that today. There’s no challenge we can’t overcome when we pull together.”
Jindal says Republicans are ready to work with new president when they can agree, and come up with better ideas when they can’t.
He sets out the fundamental difference between the Republican and Democratic parties:
“The strength of America is not found in our government, it’s found in the strength of our citizens.”
To solve America’s problems, Jindal says, “Washington must lead. But the way to lead is not to raise taxes, but by empowering people.”
The best way to create jobs is to cut taxes, he said. That’s more efficient and cheaper than massive stimulus spending.
Jindal, like other Republicans, misspoke about the $8 billion high speed rail investment in the stimulus package. He said the money is for a mag-lev line from Disneyland to Las Vegas. That’s wrong. It’s not there. Period. The money isn’t designated to a specific project, and it will probably not be used for the Vegas line.
Jindal says Republicans want Americans to have universal access to affordable, private health care coverage. But he doesn’t say how that will come about.
For education, his prescription is to give scholarships to parents to use in private and parochial schools.
And he said it’s no time to cut funding for troops..
Jindal admits that the GOP “got away from its principles” by going along with big government spending. “We lost your trust, and rightly so.”
Jindal’s message is that the Republicans really are in the process of becoming a conservative party.
February 24th, 2009
Altogether, Obama’s speech was detailed, inspiring, challenging. He’s put lots of heavy lifting on the agenda.
February 24th, 2009
Obama ends with an inspirational call to action. Hope is alive:
We are not quitters.
These words and these stories tell us something about the spirit of the people who sent us here. They tell us that even in the most trying times, amid the most difficult circumstances, there is a generosity, a resilience, a decency, and a determination that perseveres; a willingness to take responsibility for our future and for posterity.
Their resolve must be our inspiration. Their concerns must be our cause. And we must show them and all our people that we are equal to the task before us.
I know that we haven’t agreed on every issue thus far, and there are surely times in the future when we will part ways. But I also know that every American who is sitting here tonight loves this country and wants it to succeed. That must be the starting point for every debate we have in the coming months, and where we return after those debates are done. That is the foundation on which the American people expect us to build common ground.
And if we do – if we come together and lift this nation from the depths of this crisis; if we put our people back to work and restart the engine of our prosperity; if we confront without fear the challenges of our time and summon that enduring spirit of an America that does not quit, then someday years from now our children can tell their children that this was the time when we performed, in the words that are carved into this very chamber, “something worthy to be remembered.” Thank you, God Bless you, and may God Bless the United States of America.
February 24th, 2009
Ever since Ronald Reagan brought hero Lenny Skutnick to his 1982 State of the Union speech to recognize for jumping into the cold Potomac River to rescue passengers of a crashed, sinking airliner, presidents have repeated the Great Communicator’s popular gesture. Only thing is, it’s been greatly expanded. Now, governors do it at their state of the state speeches. Heck, even Mayor Larry Morrissey does it at his State of the City speech.
And now, Obama is doing it too, calling out several folks in the gallery to illustrate key themes of his speech. Boring.
February 24th, 2009
Obama says there’s a recommitment to diplomacy:
In words and deeds, we are showing the world that a new era of engagement has begun. For we know that America cannot meet the threats of this century alone, but the world cannot meet them without America. We cannot shun the negotiating table, nor ignore the foes or forces that could do us harm. We are instead called to move forward with the sense of confidence and candor that serious times demand.
To seek progress toward a secure and lasting peace between Israel and her neighbors, we have appointed an envoy to sustain our effort. To meet the challenges of the 21st century – from terrorism to nuclear proliferation; from pandemic disease to cyber threats to crushing poverty – we will strengthen old alliances, forge new ones, and use all elements of our national power.
February 24th, 2009
He says we won’t torture:
To overcome extremism, we must also be vigilant in upholding the values our troops defend – 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. And that is why I can stand here tonight and say without exception or equivocation that the United States of America does not torture.
In words and deeds, we are showing the world that a new era of engagement has begun. For we know that America cannot meet the threats of this century alone, but the world cannot meet them without America. We cannot shun the negotiating table, nor ignore the foes or forces that could do us harm. We are instead called to move forward with the sense of confidence and candor that serious times demand.
February 24th, 2009
Obama says he will raise soldiers pay and give them health care and beneifts they’ve earned when they retire.
February 24th, 2009
Obama talks tough on terrorism:
We are now carefully reviewing our policies in both wars, and I will soon announce a way forward in Iraq that leaves Iraq to its people and responsibly ends this war.
And with our friends and allies, we will forge a new and comprehensive strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan to defeat al Qaeda and combat extremism. Because I will not allow terrorists to plot against the American people from safe havens half a world away.
As we meet here tonight, our men and women in uniform stand watch abroad and more are readying to deploy. To each and every one of them, and to the families who bear the quiet burden of their absence, Americans are united in sending one message: we honor your service, we are inspired by your sacrifice, and you have our unyielding support. To relieve the strain on our forces, my budget increases the number of our soldiers and Marines. And to keep our sacred trust with those who serve, we will raise their pay, and give our veterans the expanded health care and benefits that they have earned.
To overcome extremism, we must also be vigilant in upholding the values our troops defend – 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. And that is why I can stand here tonight and say without exception or equivocation that the United States of America does not torture.
February 24th, 2009
Finally, because we’re also suffering from a deficit of trust, I am committed to restoring a sense of honesty and accountability to our budget. That is why this budget looks ahead ten years and accounts for spending that was left out under the old rules – and for the first time, that includes the full cost of fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. For seven years, we have been a nation at war. No longer will we hide its price.
February 24th, 2009
Obama defends his tax plan:
In this budget, we will end education programs that don’t work and end direct payments to large agribusinesses that don’t need them. We’ll eliminate the no-bid contracts that have wasted billions in Iraq, and reform our defense budget so that we’re not paying for Cold War-era weapons systems we don’t use. We will root out the waste, fraud, and abuse in our Medicare program that doesn’t make our seniors any healthier, and we will restore a sense of fairness and balance to our tax code by finally ending the tax breaks for corporations that ship our jobs overseas.
In order to save our children from a future of debt, we will also end the tax breaks for the wealthiest 2% of Americans. But let me perfectly clear, because I know you’ll hear the same old claims that rolling back these tax breaks means a massive tax increase on the American people: if your family earns less than $250,000 a year, you will not see your taxes increased a single dime. I repeat: not one single dime. In fact, the recovery plan provides a tax cut – that’s right, a tax cut – for 95% of working families. And these checks are on the way.
To preserve our long-term fiscal health, we must also address the growing costs in Medicare and Social Security. Comprehensive health care reform is the best way to strengthen Medicare for years to come. And we must also begin a conversation on how to do the same for Social Security, while creating tax-free universal savings accounts for all Americans.
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