Of course we're talking out of step here, but we just wanted to share a few thoughts we had about President Obama's State of the Union speech, Senator Marco Rubio's (R-FL) response, and then Senator Rand Paul's (R-KY) response to the response. With that said, we'll now respond.
The President covered a lot of ground in his 60-minute speech that began at 9:16, and it only took 2 minutes for the president to declare that 'the state of our nation is strong'... despite the stupid behavior by the occupants of this chamber. We added the last part but the president may have well said it that way. He did tell everyone the greatest country on earth can not move forward if we're drifting from one self-inflicting crisis to another, referring of course to the looming sequester. The worst idea Washington has run with in a really long time, but he's right on that point. But in a State of the Union, as presidents will do in such situations, and Mr. Obama wasn't any different (Why should he be? He's got the podium), he called for compromise 'the nation's interests before party,' and then laid out the argument for his agenda.
What the president has going for him is that most Americans agree with his policies - that's what elections tell you. However, Mr. Obama reached out to Americans who didn't vote for him, name checking Mitt Romney twice in the speech - once with regard to reforming the voting process and once when talking about raising the minimum wage.
Speaking of which, no one saw that one coming, the call for raising the federal minimum wage to $9. However, it's a good point that if you're working (more like busting your butt) 40 hours a week, and you're usually working more than that, you shouldn't be in poverty. The president called for making it proportional to the cost of living as Governor Romney had suggested. Republicans didn't clap.
Another area where the president's Republican colleagues didn't seem too enthusiastic was when Mr. Obama was talking about clean energy, the economy tied to it, and climate change. The president went after this forcefully, using the words 'overwhelming judgement of science' that climate change exists - soundly shooting down deniers. We happen to agree the clean energy is the future, because producing energy is what it is all about really, oil is finite and everyone wants more. Also, these severe weather events give us a look into the future of what our climate could turn into (become the norm) and we should pay attention. We just can not recall when the subject of climate change was given such a grand platform.
With regard to foreign policy, the president touched all the right buttons - steadfast partner of Israel, a non-nuclear Iran, zero-tolerance on threats from North Korea (given their nuclear test yesterday), Syria, Al Qaeda in North Africa and the Middle East, and of course Afghanistan. With regard to the latter, the president outlined a timetable to end the war - by the end of next year. It just strikes us as odd that we would have a timetable to end the war. "By this time next year..." Don't we want war to end as quickly as possible? And what if the other side has something to say about it? The other notable part of his foreign policy points was the oblique reference to the drone program, almost trying to absolve himself of any culpability of nondisclosure. It didn't come off well.
What also doesn't sound good is when the President threatens executive action if Congress doesn't act. If it's within the law, then by all means, take executive action. It's not the act, it's the way the president talks about using it. That said, on cyber security - another conundrum for the near future - the Congress can not be slow to act, and the president should move ahead if they're not swift because one day it could cost people their lives, frankly.
And on the subject on gun control, that's where President Barack Obama made his most impassioned case... for Congress to simply vote on the measures, one being universal background checks on all gun purchases. The people of Newtown, CT, Aurora, CO, Oak Creek, WI and Gabby Gifford do deserve to know whether their elected officials feel something should be done or not.
We're not going to touch on everything the president spoke about but before we get to Mr. Rubio, we wanted to react to one more thing the president said, "What makes you a man isn't the ability to conceive one [a child], but the courage to raise one." That was a Sista Souljah moment for the president as he was talking directly to black inner-city males. It was meant for all men in this country but mostly we think for young black males. Tough love well stated.
Now to Mr. Rubio... Wait one sec., we need a drink of water. That was pretty funny actually in a good way, and the look on his face when he went for the bottle was priceless - eyes popping. Too bad that is going to overshadow the content, but then again Mr. Rubio will be glad it did. You could see it coming almost as he was sweating like crazy, touching his face three times - each brow and his upper lip. (Attention to detail.)
The reason he'll want us to forget the content was because of these two takeaways. Mr. Rubio explained that both his parents benefited from Medicare. It's been great for them he explained, but then he went on to say that he doesn't want future Medicare recipients to have the same kind of care. He did the same thing with student loans. They worked for him but they're not for you.
The other notable takeaway was how petty Mr. Rubio was in attacking the president. He actually attacked the president for essentially being a bully and calling out Republicans. To that we say, if you can't run with the big dogs, then don't get off the porch. Whining never works.
Mr. Rubio kept up with a proven Republican tact, still arguing against what he perceives as too big a government. However know this, when he uses a phrase like 'economic liberty,' that means you're on your own and if you can't make it into retirement that's the way it goes.
Lastly, there was the creepy Tea Party response from Senator Rand Paul who in addition to calling for term limits if politicians can't pass a budget, talked about protecting the second amendment from a tyrannical government then transitioning right into how Mr. Obama acts like a king instead of a president. It sounded like a veiled call to arms against the government. Not a Senatorial-like statement at all. As we said, creepy.
Have a great political evening.
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