What a windbag!

[Flynn]

What DCJenn and Shakti said.

The guy stepped into a presidency that was FUBR when he took office. I can't imagine what his daily life is like.

I think certain people/groups are making his life a living hell and he's played nice long enough.

[Sheherezade]

I am constantly amazed at how different our interpretations can be. I never feel like Obama is talking down to me or looking down on me -- but I did constantly feel diminished and demeaned by the Bush presidency. My most popular criticism of his leadership style was "paternalistic". Grated on me like nails on a chalkboard.

I don't get that at all with Obama. The cultural differences within our own country are amazing. I'm sorry that it feels that way for some of you on this board. It is a bad feeling.

That said, I'd agree with Jenn DC, Shakti and Fiona. (Surprise, huh? )

I was happy to hear my Republican representative (who has my vote each election) LaTourette on the radio this morning praising the speech as even handed and inspirational. He even said he had appointments set with White House staff to start a REAL bipartisan effort and was looking forward to it. He disagrees with the White House many things, but agrees with many of the Obama initiatives. He also said he was a part of the party that did "such a great job when we were in power that we got tossed out on our behinds in 2008". Wow. Someone who is actually reasonable and willing to compromise? He has my vote ....like....forever. Even if he is a Republican.

We so need to get beyond this BS.

That is why Alito, completely taken aback at the audacity and outrageousness of the comment and the context, mouthed to himself something like "That's wrong"--which got caught by all the new networks. He was in shock at the blatant mischaracterization.

That is one interpretation of Alito's "air-comment". Another is that HE was being disrespectful. I've heard it characterized as the "Joe Wilson" moment of the SOTU. I find it terribly hard to believe that Samuel Alito was taken so aback that he couldn't restrain himself from mouthing "that's wrong".

I agree w/Angie -- things need to move past this. BOTH parties keep bellowing on about bipartisanship, but the Repubs just want to say "No" and being bipartisan only counts if you do it the way they want to, and the Democrats ... I'd like to grab them and shake them.

If nothing else it would be interesting to see if Pelosi's face moved at all. I'm not one to judge a woman (or anyone) on their appearance, but I'm pretty sure her appearance is not really "her" anymore, anyway. Step away from the scalpel, Nancy.

[JaneDoe]

If nothing else it would be interesting to see if Pelosi's face moved at all. I'm not one to judge a woman (or anyone) on their appearance, but I'm pretty sure her appearance is not really "her" anymore, anyway. Step away from the scalpel, Nancy.

She and Biden sitting next to eachother looked like quite a pair. They smile without their faces moving at all.

[DCJenn]

My husband can't watch most things on TV because the bad botox makes him nuts. They use it (well, one of Botox competitors called Myoblock- it's a different strand of botulism) in the kids w/ CP to help w/ their contractures. He gets so annoyed at the bad techniques. He'll start yelling at the TV, "you know you can relax the wrinkles and still move your face!!!"

But I digress. as usual.

Jenn

[GrayMatterWife]

I find it terribly hard to believe that Samuel Alito was taken so aback that he couldn't restrain himself from mouthing "that's wrong".

I can. Totally. I was in shock when he said it. Literally, I leaned in, wondering if I had misheard. I was outraged for all the justices. This may be a matter of perspective. Having worked for federal judges for so many years, I guess I am familiar with the how the branches are supposed to interact and I have deep sympathy for the Court's position. The judges and justices can't defend themselves and are often treated by the Executive Branch as somehow inferior to them. As if the branches are "weighted" somehow. People at the top of executive branches (whether federal or state) often act as those the judicial branch answers to them.

I'm with you on Pelosi. Scary. Between her face and Biden's hairplugs, it was like watching an episode of a surgical makeover show post-op.

[Laker]

I loved how he blamed the republicans for being obstructionists, when for the last year, he had the votes to pass whatever he wanted. Until last week, the republicans couldn't stop anything. It was his failure to lead his party to pass his agenda. He failed and he blames Bush...a zilly times last night.

At what point does Obama step up and own the Presidency and quit blaming Bush/repubs?

[Meenah]

I'm pretty sure I bashed the Bush Presidencey (both of them) but I did not attack their physical appearance, just their brains and their actions. We admonish our children for that behavior, how can we expect respect for a person's person if we can't give it?


Off my soapbox now!

[SuzySunshine]

Until last week, the republicans couldn't stop anything. It was his failure to lead his party to pass his agenda. He failed and he blames Bush...a zilly times last night.

I voted for him and THIS is exactly what I don't get - you know why he couldn't get anything through? Because of Pelosi, SHE controls their 60 votes and couldn't get them to agree on crap!

[Sheherezade]

The stalemate is what's fueling the independent movement on both sides of the aisle. Tea Party and Progressives. I think a growing number of voters feel that "Democrat" and "Republican" labels have become a liability. You may get money and a machine to run you campaign....and get elected - but once you have these officials in the office, their hands (and more importantly, their ideas) are tied by those same alliances.

"Throw the bums out" applies to both Republican and Democrats that have are thinking old school politics. I really believe that US people are looking for something different. We may not agree on the policies to put in place but I think there is growing agreement that the current methods are madness.

I'd be happy to see Pelosi go - as well as Boehner from my own state. I'd like to replace them with people of any party that will actually work to reach consensus. Which, BTW, will make all of us "lose" a little. And "win" a little.

[Pollyanna]

I voted for him and THIS is exactly what I don't get - you know why he couldn't get anything through? Because of Pelosi, SHE controls their 60 votes and couldn't get them to agree on crap!

Obama and Pelosi are on the same team, a good leader with complete control of both the house and the senate and coming into office on a message of change with a huge approval rating and the backing of the media pumping him up on a daily basis should be able to get things done. But Obama has never shown himself to be a good leader, a good orator, yes, but not a leader. His lack of experience shines through.

[Pollyanna]

"Throw the bums out" applies to both Republican and Democrats that have are thinking old school politics. I really believe that US people are looking for something different. We may not agree on the policies to put in place but I think there is growing agreement that the current methods are madness.

Very true.

[Sheherezade]

Oh...and because "What a windbag" was clearly referring to moi -

I also think the election of Barack Obama and "Change" was not so much about "Change" to liberal policies....but about this change. Change in the insanity in Washington. He hasn't done that yet - but I think anyone that expected that to change in a year has a little maturing to do.

Honestly, I'm stunned that both the Progressives and the Media thought that he could wave a magic wand and just alter the tone that's been rewarded for the last 20 years. Patience. And new blood. New ideas. The courage to try. The courage to trust. That's where I'm putting my "Hope".

(Clearly, there will be no speech writing gigs in my future. )

[SuzySunshine]

I don't think anyone expected major change in a year, at least I didn't, but I don't feel like anything has gotten done in the last year if it didn't have to do with the recession.

I don't think anyone expected major change in a year, at least I didn't, but I don't feel like anything has gotten done in the last year if it didn't have to do with the recession.

But that's a lot! Every day I work on projects funded by the ARRA. I see it providing jobs, keeping small businesses out of bankruptcy, and rebuilding our embarrasingsly decrepit infrastructure. I shudder to think where we would be now if we had not had a government willing to take action. I think Obama is a strong leader who deserves a lot of credit for guiding us through a financial crisis that could be a lot worse. I saw the SOTU address as further evidence of his capacity to lead. I'm only disheartened that people have so much contempt for him. I wish I understood why, but I just don't see it.