“I don’t quit.”
It was a message heard around the country Jan. 28, the day after President Barack Obama’s first State of the Union address. It’s funny how the message in just a year has changed from “Yes We Can” to “I Don’t Quit.”
It seems like the president has a three-word quotable phrase from every significant speech. It could have been another one, though. His quote could have been “More Jobs Now.” Obama spent about two thirds of his address speaking to economic recovery and asking Congress to look past their respective party to pass the latest economic stimulus bill for job development.
“Do not walk away from reform,” he implored Congress. “Not now. Not when we are so close.”
For something that was intended to draw two parties together, just the response of Republican members of Congress was enough to show that Obama’s hopes might be an insurmountable task.
Consider this excerpt from The Associated Press’ report: “Republicans applauded the president when he entered the chamber, and even craned their necks and welcomed Michelle Obama when she took her seat. But the warm feelings of bipartisanship disappeared early. Democrats jumped to their feet and roared when Obama said he wanted to impose a new fee on banks, while Republicans sat stone-faced. Democrats stood and applauded when Obama mentioned the economic stimulus package passed last February. Republicans just stared.”
Talk about insurmountable tasks. An election “gone wrong” in Massachusetts. Every talking head on television news programs saying the president’s programs and agenda are stalling. An economy that is crawling back instead of running.
But as the man says, “I don’t quit.”
So we asked our readers, the ones who log on faithfully to vote in our online poll question each week, to weigh in on the address. We asked, “How would you describe the tone of President Barack Obama’s recent State of the Union address?”
For 6.14 percent of our voters, the results were “tepid.” Those readers said, “It was nothing we haven’t heard from previous administrations.” We’ve heard a lot of speeches from a lot of presidents, sure. Of course, you’ve got to give Obama a few extra points — like a bell curve grading scale. When was the last time a president faced so many obstacles in just the first year of presidency alone?
For a few more voters, 32.46 percent or about one out of three, Obama’s tone was “optimistic.” Those readers said, “He really seems like he wants to bring both parties together for a change.” And that statement might be a little optimistic, too. After all, when was the last time we saw both parties put aside politics and come together for the greater good?
And then for 61.40 percent, the supermajority the Democrats are now missing in the Senate, the answer was “defensive.” You see, these voters think Obama “seemed like he was trying to excuse away a year of poor decisions.”
The Republican response to the address seemed to mirror that. “What government should not do is pile on more taxation, regulation and litigation that kill jobs and hurt the middle class,” said Gov. Bob McDonnell of Virginia, the GOP representative chosen to respond to the speech.
We sure are on the edge of our seats to see what the next year of presidency brings and how the tone of Obama’s mid-presidency address is interpreted.
Speaking of “Big Government,” let’s talk this week about the national Tea Party movement.
Log on. Vote. E-mail me.
Misty Poe
Managing Editor
mpoe@timeswv.com
Opinion
Any chance for bipartisanship?
- Opinion
-
-
Quit playing games; ‘do what is right’ in renewing extension of the payroll tax cut
Once again, lawmakers in Washington, D.C., are working on a deal to extend a payroll tax cut for 160 million Americans beyond the end of the month.
And once again, debate has ensued. -
Superintendent, BOE must find accord if schools are to progress
We’re a little confused.
In October, an item appeared on the agenda of a Marion County Board of Education meeting to hire an administrative assistant of Human Resources and Student Support Services. But the item was pulled from the agenda with no public discussion about why, and the position was not filled. -
George Esper: Outstanding man as correspondent and WVU professor
Many West Virginians would no doubt be shocked to learn that the outstanding correspondent from the Vietnam War was a West Virginia University graduate from Uniontown, Pa.
His name was George Esper, one familiar for many years around the WVU School of Journalism for his tenacious coverage of the Vietnam War that established him as a highly revered print reporter of the 20th century. -
Hiding state records has no place in a democracy
In private business and personal life, people may hide some activities, exercising their right of privacy. But government is different.
-
Results about Twitter, free from censorship
So Twitter announces that it will allow country-specific censorship. What followed was #outrage, #disbelief, #protest, #RighteousIndignation, #TwitterBlackout and #rage.
-
West Virginia must develop plan to fulfill highway needs
There is no dispute that improving West Virginia’s roads is one of the state’s biggest needs.
We use them daily — out of necessity and for pleasure.
They’re also vital to West Virginia’s economic health. -
Best interests would be served if FGH and city both move on
In December, Marion County Circuit Court Judge David Janes ruled that the Fairmont General Hospital Board of Directors can appoint its own members and that the City of Fairmont’s charter no longer applies to the hospital.
-
Educational partnership a step in the right direction
Officials involved in a new educational partnership between Pierpont Community & Technical College and FirstEnergy Corp. call the endeavor a “great opportunity.”
We think it’s even more than that. -
Meth causes senseless waste, terrible damage in West Virginia
Terrible damage is inflicted on West Virginia — and upon abusers and their families — because dopeheads feel compelled to blank out their minds with drugs of many sorts. We can’t understand the sad need that impels them. It causes a senseless loss to society and individuals, filling prisons and wrecking jobs.
-
Limited funds for workforce training can’t be wasted through drug abuse
There’s only so much money to go around when it comes to workforce training. And with the national economy still in a bit of a slump, there’s even less money to go around and even more of a reason to make the money invested in these programs count.
- More Opinion Headlines
-
Quit playing games; ‘do what is right’ in renewing extension of the payroll tax cut
