All Hat No Cattle
Bensblurb #522 1/27/10
All Hat, No Cattle
That was my first reaction to Obama’s State of the Union address last night. In Texas we used to say that about people who talked too much without substance.
“Drugstore cowboy” also came to mind. In other words his most seminal words, in my opinion, were “I don’t quit.”
That was disheartening to hear, especially coming near the end of his lengthy address, which was more like a lecture, and all about himself. How many references to first-person singular? They must have set a record.
His points strayed little from what he had said a year ago, merely defending old positions that few in Congress sitting there would agree to support enough to pass into law. And he figuratively buried the health reform legislation, in his speech, before Congress could pre-empt him.
He acknowledged there are still “deep and corrosive doubts about how Washington works that have been growing for years.” He might have added, “especially since fall,” and the upset senatorial election victory by the GOP in Mass.
He did give lip service to the ideas of nuclear energy, offshore oil drilling and clean coal, which garnered hardly polite applause. Those measures, of course, would doubtless be pursued by the White House as soon as his cap and trade energy bill to fight climate change was passed.
Oh yes, and he took a unique and frontal swipe at the Constitution's federal separation of powers, directly dissing Supreme Court justices sitting there for their freeing up of election speech.
Entertainment was provided by Congress, those attentive performing seals in attendance, and the Veep, who gave every sign of being perpetually enthralled by his boss.
Our new Virginia governor gave the response to Obama’s speech. Yes, the setting was a little hokey, but his message was clearly a contrast: Free enterprise vs. Huge gov’t.
Back to Obama, it seems every time he’s on TV his impact decreases further; he talks so much to so little effect.
Oh well, three more years...
******
All Hat, No Cattle
That was my first reaction to Obama’s State of the Union address last night. In Texas we used to say that about people who talked too much without substance.
“Drugstore cowboy” also came to mind. In other words his most seminal words, in my opinion, were “I don’t quit.”
That was disheartening to hear, especially coming near the end of his lengthy address, which was more like a lecture, and all about himself. How many references to first-person singular? They must have set a record.
His points strayed little from what he had said a year ago, merely defending old positions that few in Congress sitting there would agree to support enough to pass into law. And he figuratively buried the health reform legislation, in his speech, before Congress could pre-empt him.
He acknowledged there are still “deep and corrosive doubts about how Washington works that have been growing for years.” He might have added, “especially since fall,” and the upset senatorial election victory by the GOP in Mass.
He did give lip service to the ideas of nuclear energy, offshore oil drilling and clean coal, which garnered hardly polite applause. Those measures, of course, would doubtless be pursued by the White House as soon as his cap and trade energy bill to fight climate change was passed.
Oh yes, and he took a unique and frontal swipe at the Constitution's federal separation of powers, directly dissing Supreme Court justices sitting there for their freeing up of election speech.
Entertainment was provided by Congress, those attentive performing seals in attendance, and the Veep, who gave every sign of being perpetually enthralled by his boss.
Our new Virginia governor gave the response to Obama’s speech. Yes, the setting was a little hokey, but his message was clearly a contrast: Free enterprise vs. Huge gov’t.
Back to Obama, it seems every time he’s on TV his impact decreases further; he talks so much to so little effect.
Oh well, three more years...
******
posted by Ben Blankenship at
7:55 AM
