President Obama’s speeches have always been notable for both their exquisite prose and their unusually high intellectual level. Tonight’s speech, while probably as effective as such speeches can be, was neither.
The dropoff between rhetoric penned by Obama and that by his staff, always noticeable, was especially so tonight. When he declared, “health care experts who know our system best consider this approach a vast improvement over the status quo,” I wondered if his budget freeze had already claimed the entire White House speechwriting staff.
Obama suggested that we should embrace alternative energy sources even if you doubt climate science. (I’m pretty sure that, if carbon dioxide were harmless, we’d be better off sticking with the cheap energy.) He embraced some hoary populist tropes, in which “Washington” and “us” are homogenous, mutually exclusive categories, and he belongs to the second. (“Washington has been telling us to wait for decades.”) And his rationale for a budget freeze made no sense whatsoever. “I am absolutely convinced that [the stimulus] was the right thing to do,” he said, “But families across the country are tightening their belts and making tough decisions. The federal government should do the same.” Um, why?
And when Obama announced “I do not accept second place for the United States of America,” I thought I was listening to Otter:
Still, the substance seemed to work quite well. Obama has taken the liberal advice to hold firm on financial reform, either getting a victory or an issue, rather than taking the best deal he can get from the Senate. He insisted that large banks pay back their bailout and, unbelievably, Republicans took the bait and sat on their hands. I guess it’s principled of them. But crazy.
Obama effectively projected his personality, often to the detriment of the opposition. He gently laughed at the GOP’s refusal to applaud his tax cuts. He had a winning moment when he explained his motivation for embracing health care reform: “By now it should be clear I didn’t take on health care because it was good politics.”
Obama’s closing flourish served a double purpose. Putatively, he was urging America to remember its greatness and press on in the face of adversity. The message seemed also to be aimed at his fellow Democrats, who have succumbed to utter panic in the last week:
We have finished a difficult year. We have come through a difficult decade. But a new year has come. A new decade stretches before us. We don’t quit. I don’t quit. Let’s seize this moment – to start anew, to carry the dream forward, and to strengthen our union once more.
For most of the last year, liberals have been berating the administration for things that weren’t its fault. Rhetoric and “leadership” can only go so far in the face of structural realities – Obama can’t turn Ben Nelson into a liberal. But we’ve finally reached a moment where these intangible qualities do matter. The Democratic Party has been verging on total breakdown, and the administration has wilted in the face of the challenge. Stemming the Democratic panic was the primary task of this speech. We’ll soon see if it succeeded. I’d bet that it did.
(Click here to read Jeffrey Rosen on how Obama's war with the Supreme Court just escalated.)
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I liked Obama's speech for its style as well as substance. He dialed down from lofty rhetorical heights to a plainer speech which shows he means business. He sounded determined and resolved to see the battle through to success on his legislative priorities, notably health care (yaaaayyyyy!!!). He also restated and expanded on his objective to bring real and lasting relief to the middle class's still suffering the pernicious effects of the recession the banks built.
I liked Obama's speech for its style as well as substance. He dialed down from lofty rhetorical heights to a plainer speech which shows he means business. He sounded determined and resolved to see the battle through to success on his legislative priorities, notably health care (yaaaayyyyy!!!). He also restated and expanded on his objective to bring real and lasting relief to the middle class's still suffering the pernicious effects of the recession the banks built.
01/28/2010 - 2:52am EDT | Ideaot
A nice piece of rhetoric, adjusted to the moment as always. The problem is Obama hasn’t yet understood that politics isn’t about squaring the circle, but about making choices. Either...or... One cannot keep the present financial system going and simultaneously help the middle class. It’s the same as keeping the lion and the deer in the same cage.
And at the decisive moment, when the choice is between killing the lion and saving the deer, what will Obama do? If he keeps faithful to his actions record -- something always more important than words -- I’m predicting he’ll go for the lion, saying of course, as he always does, that he is going for the lion to ultimately save the deer.
A nice piece of rhetoric, adjusted to the moment as always. The problem is Obama hasn’t yet understood that politics isn’t about squaring the circle, but about making choices. Either...or... One cannot keep the present financial system going and simultaneously help the middle class. It’s the same as keeping the lion and the deer in the same cage.
And at the decisive moment, when the choice is between killing the lion and saving the deer, what will Obama do? If he keeps faithful to his actions record -- something always more important than words -- I’m predicting he’ll go for the lion, saying of course, as he always does, that he is going for the lion to ultimately save the deer.
Will folks keep believing even after watching the deer being ripped? Perhaps, but then it will be their problem. Not Obama’s.
01/28/2010 - 9:42am EDT | raylward
As I listened to his understated (my view) speech, I wondered if someone had forgotten to give him the memo, the one that said his Administration was on the line and that he had better use his greatest rhetorical skills to save it. Wrong, both me and those who wrote the memo. Obama's greatest skill is to remain calm when everybody else is in a panic. His Administration was not on the line. Not based on one election in one State (though a blue State). Not based on one piece of legislation (though an important one). He will be judged based on achievements over the long term. This ability to look over the horizon is Obama's greatest talent. Most likely the product of a childhood where ... view full comment
As I listened to his understated (my view) speech, I wondered if someone had forgotten to give him the memo, the one that said his Administration was on the line and that he had better use his greatest rhetorical skills to save it. Wrong, both me and those who wrote the memo. Obama's greatest skill is to remain calm when everybody else is in a panic. His Administration was not on the line. Not based on one election in one State (though a blue State). Not based on one piece of legislation (though an important one). He will be judged based on achievements over the long term. This ability to look over the horizon is Obama's greatest talent. Most likely the product of a childhood where success isn't a gift that is guaranteed but rather the reward for achievements over the long term. Now about those small-bore economic proposals, somebody needs to send a memo to Obama's economic advisors and political advisors and let them know it's okay for them to talk to each other.
01/28/2010 - 11:55am EDT | ellenandro
--I was just so pleased with how well President Obama did on his first State of the Union address.. He's so smart, has reasonable ideas, charm and grace, a wonderful sense of humor, a great smile and is a great communicator. He looked in charge, and unflustered by the negativity of the Republicans.
I was happy with his support of the middle class, tax relief proposals, clean energy job creations, fees on the big banks, and funding small banks to lend to small business. I was delighted that he went after the lobbyists, chastised the Nihilistic Republican "Just Say No" attitude and slammed the Supreme Court. And of course his promise again on killing Don't Ask, Don't Tell was a bonus!
--I was just so pleased with how well President Obama did on his first State of the Union address.. He's so smart, has reasonable ideas, charm and grace, a wonderful sense of humor, a great smile and is a great communicator. He looked in charge, and unflustered by the negativity of the Republicans.
I was happy with his support of the middle class, tax relief proposals, clean energy job creations, fees on the big banks, and funding small banks to lend to small business. I was delighted that he went after the lobbyists, chastised the Nihilistic Republican "Just Say No" attitude and slammed the Supreme Court. And of course his promise again on killing Don't Ask, Don't Tell was a bonus!
I don't like the off-shore drilling and the nuclear energy plants ideas, but you can't win them all.
The Republicans looked so foolish, sitting there with their noses in the air. May they roast on a hot spit until they turn redder than Boehner, and break out in blisters. (Is there something the matter with Boehner's skin, does he use too much make-up or does he spend too much time under the tanning lamp? If the last, maybe it has also fried his brain.)
01/28/2010 - 12:34pm EDT | blackton
I thought it a bit long, and to be honest, not very memorable. There were no lasting declarative statements (ok, maybe his worthy shot at the supremes). Even when he said we will be "out" (combat troops, kinda) of Iraq, he could at least have mention we are leaving victorious (or as victorious as it will ever be), which would have knocked Republicans for a loop because how the hell can they criticize withdrawal in victory? It was a way too safe speech.
On the plus side, the best Republican response in years still couldn't hold a candle to Obama. McDonnell was visibly nervous, and doing a mini SOTU address at the Virginia State House made the whole thing look mini-me. Like going from Broadway ... view full comment
I thought it a bit long, and to be honest, not very memorable. There were no lasting declarative statements (ok, maybe his worthy shot at the supremes). Even when he said we will be "out" (combat troops, kinda) of Iraq, he could at least have mention we are leaving victorious (or as victorious as it will ever be), which would have knocked Republicans for a loop because how the hell can they criticize withdrawal in victory? It was a way too safe speech.
On the plus side, the best Republican response in years still couldn't hold a candle to Obama. McDonnell was visibly nervous, and doing a mini SOTU address at the Virginia State House made the whole thing look mini-me. Like going from Broadway with an all star cast to a Rochester community playhouse. It can only work if the speaker is better than Obama, which McDonnell is very far from.
01/28/2010 - 1:11pm EDT | hygold
I must disagree strongly with the author's statement that, "I’m pretty sure that, if carbon dioxide were harmless, we’d be better off sticking with the cheap energy." Energy is cheap today only in the sense that $80 a barrel oil is "cheap" relative to $150 oil. With electric rates in New Jersey, for example, having risen more than 40% in five years, you can hardly call electric "cheap" either, and virtually no oil is used to generate electric in this state. Water and sewer charges have no impact on climate change, but they have risen as fast, and sometimes faster, than oil and electric costs.
The fact is that a dollar spent on energy efficiency will result in far more "bang for the buck ... view full comment
I must disagree strongly with the author's statement that, "I’m pretty sure that, if carbon dioxide were harmless, we’d be better off sticking with the cheap energy." Energy is cheap today only in the sense that $80 a barrel oil is "cheap" relative to $150 oil. With electric rates in New Jersey, for example, having risen more than 40% in five years, you can hardly call electric "cheap" either, and virtually no oil is used to generate electric in this state. Water and sewer charges have no impact on climate change, but they have risen as fast, and sometimes faster, than oil and electric costs.
The fact is that a dollar spent on energy efficiency will result in far more "bang for the buck" than a dollar spent on fossil fuel. Until all buildings are made reasonably energy efficient, spending more dollars to heat and cool them is a waste of money.
Hy Gold
Trenton, New Jersey
01/28/2010 - 3:11pm EDT | parnest
Mr. Chait,
You write:
“The dropoff between rhetoric penned by Obama and that by his staff, always noticeable, was especially so tonight. When he declared, “health care experts who know our system best consider this approach a vast improvement over the status quo,” I wondered if his budget freeze had already claimed the entire White House speechwriting staff.”
As I read that sentence, I thought you were suggesting that Obama writes better than his staff -- however, the following comment about the “entire speechwriting staff” seems to imply the opposite, namely that his speeches are better when someone else writes them.
“The dropoff between rhetoric penned by Obama and that by his staff, always noticeable, was especially so tonight. When he declared, “health care experts who know our system best consider this approach a vast improvement over the status quo,” I wondered if his budget freeze had already claimed the entire White House speechwriting staff.”
As I read that sentence, I thought you were suggesting that Obama writes better than his staff -- however, the following comment about the “entire speechwriting staff” seems to imply the opposite, namely that his speeches are better when someone else writes them.
Would you clarify what you meant?
BTW, I liked the speech, like many others hope it translates into more results than we’ve seen in the past year. I do think that the President overuses the first person singular pronoun (in general, not necessarily in the SOTU). I think he should mix in more “my administration” and “we” (if he can do so without being accused of royal pretentions, a definite risk in his case).
01/28/2010 - 9:50pm EDT | atlasqq
I was very relieved. It was a great and reassuring speech. (Seriously.)
...
But come now, it didn't REALLY strike you like that scene out of ANIMAL HOUSE, did it?
(Or was it just an excuse to post a really cool scene from a great classic in the pantheon of American high cinema? Thanks for the detour down that little lane.....)
I was very relieved. It was a great and reassuring speech. (Seriously.)
...
But come now, it didn't REALLY strike you like that scene out of ANIMAL HOUSE, did it?
(Or was it just an excuse to post a really cool scene from a great classic in the pantheon of American high cinema? Thanks for the detour down that little lane.....)
Print
COMMENTS (8)
I liked Obama's speech for its style as well as substance. He dialed down from lofty rhetorical heights to a plainer speech which shows he means business. He sounded determined and resolved to see the battle through to success on his legislative priorities, notably health care (yaaaayyyyy!!!). He also restated and expanded on his objective to bring real and lasting relief to the middle class's still suffering the pernicious effects of the recession the banks built.
I liked Obama's speech for its style as well as substance. He dialed down from lofty rhetorical heights to a plainer speech which shows he means business. He sounded determined and resolved to see the battle through to success on his legislative priorities, notably health care (yaaaayyyyy!!!). He also restated and expanded on his objective to bring real and lasting relief to the middle class's still suffering the pernicious effects of the recession the banks built.
A nice piece of rhetoric, adjusted to the moment as always. The problem is Obama hasn’t yet understood that politics isn’t about squaring the circle, but about making choices. Either...or... One cannot keep the present financial system going and simultaneously help the middle class. It’s the same as keeping the lion and the deer in the same cage.
And at the decisive moment, when the choice is between killing the lion and saving the deer, what will Obama do? If he keeps faithful to his actions record -- something always more important than words -- I’m predicting he’ll go for the lion, saying of course, as he always does, that he is going for the lion to ultimately save the deer.
Wi ... view full comment
A nice piece of rhetoric, adjusted to the moment as always. The problem is Obama hasn’t yet understood that politics isn’t about squaring the circle, but about making choices. Either...or... One cannot keep the present financial system going and simultaneously help the middle class. It’s the same as keeping the lion and the deer in the same cage.
And at the decisive moment, when the choice is between killing the lion and saving the deer, what will Obama do? If he keeps faithful to his actions record -- something always more important than words -- I’m predicting he’ll go for the lion, saying of course, as he always does, that he is going for the lion to ultimately save the deer.
Will folks keep believing even after watching the deer being ripped? Perhaps, but then it will be their problem. Not Obama’s.
As I listened to his understated (my view) speech, I wondered if someone had forgotten to give him the memo, the one that said his Administration was on the line and that he had better use his greatest rhetorical skills to save it. Wrong, both me and those who wrote the memo. Obama's greatest skill is to remain calm when everybody else is in a panic. His Administration was not on the line. Not based on one election in one State (though a blue State). Not based on one piece of legislation (though an important one). He will be judged based on achievements over the long term. This ability to look over the horizon is Obama's greatest talent. Most likely the product of a childhood where ... view full comment
As I listened to his understated (my view) speech, I wondered if someone had forgotten to give him the memo, the one that said his Administration was on the line and that he had better use his greatest rhetorical skills to save it. Wrong, both me and those who wrote the memo. Obama's greatest skill is to remain calm when everybody else is in a panic. His Administration was not on the line. Not based on one election in one State (though a blue State). Not based on one piece of legislation (though an important one). He will be judged based on achievements over the long term. This ability to look over the horizon is Obama's greatest talent. Most likely the product of a childhood where success isn't a gift that is guaranteed but rather the reward for achievements over the long term. Now about those small-bore economic proposals, somebody needs to send a memo to Obama's economic advisors and political advisors and let them know it's okay for them to talk to each other.
--I was just so pleased with how well President Obama did on his first State of the Union address.. He's so smart, has reasonable ideas, charm and grace, a wonderful sense of humor, a great smile and is a great communicator. He looked in charge, and unflustered by the negativity of the Republicans.
I was happy with his support of the middle class, tax relief proposals, clean energy job creations, fees on the big banks, and funding small banks to lend to small business. I was delighted that he went after the lobbyists, chastised the Nihilistic Republican "Just Say No" attitude and slammed the Supreme Court. And of course his promise again on killing Don't Ask, Don't Tell was a bonus!
I ... view full comment
--I was just so pleased with how well President Obama did on his first State of the Union address.. He's so smart, has reasonable ideas, charm and grace, a wonderful sense of humor, a great smile and is a great communicator. He looked in charge, and unflustered by the negativity of the Republicans.
I was happy with his support of the middle class, tax relief proposals, clean energy job creations, fees on the big banks, and funding small banks to lend to small business. I was delighted that he went after the lobbyists, chastised the Nihilistic Republican "Just Say No" attitude and slammed the Supreme Court. And of course his promise again on killing Don't Ask, Don't Tell was a bonus!
I don't like the off-shore drilling and the nuclear energy plants ideas, but you can't win them all.
The Republicans looked so foolish, sitting there with their noses in the air. May they roast on a hot spit until they turn redder than Boehner, and break out in blisters. (Is there something the matter with Boehner's skin, does he use too much make-up or does he spend too much time under the tanning lamp? If the last, maybe it has also fried his brain.)
I thought it a bit long, and to be honest, not very memorable. There were no lasting declarative statements (ok, maybe his worthy shot at the supremes). Even when he said we will be "out" (combat troops, kinda) of Iraq, he could at least have mention we are leaving victorious (or as victorious as it will ever be), which would have knocked Republicans for a loop because how the hell can they criticize withdrawal in victory? It was a way too safe speech.
On the plus side, the best Republican response in years still couldn't hold a candle to Obama. McDonnell was visibly nervous, and doing a mini SOTU address at the Virginia State House made the whole thing look mini-me. Like going from Broadway ... view full comment
I thought it a bit long, and to be honest, not very memorable. There were no lasting declarative statements (ok, maybe his worthy shot at the supremes). Even when he said we will be "out" (combat troops, kinda) of Iraq, he could at least have mention we are leaving victorious (or as victorious as it will ever be), which would have knocked Republicans for a loop because how the hell can they criticize withdrawal in victory? It was a way too safe speech.
On the plus side, the best Republican response in years still couldn't hold a candle to Obama. McDonnell was visibly nervous, and doing a mini SOTU address at the Virginia State House made the whole thing look mini-me. Like going from Broadway with an all star cast to a Rochester community playhouse. It can only work if the speaker is better than Obama, which McDonnell is very far from.
I must disagree strongly with the author's statement that, "I’m pretty sure that, if carbon dioxide were harmless, we’d be better off sticking with the cheap energy." Energy is cheap today only in the sense that $80 a barrel oil is "cheap" relative to $150 oil. With electric rates in New Jersey, for example, having risen more than 40% in five years, you can hardly call electric "cheap" either, and virtually no oil is used to generate electric in this state. Water and sewer charges have no impact on climate change, but they have risen as fast, and sometimes faster, than oil and electric costs.
The fact is that a dollar spent on energy efficiency will result in far more "bang for the buck ... view full comment
I must disagree strongly with the author's statement that, "I’m pretty sure that, if carbon dioxide were harmless, we’d be better off sticking with the cheap energy." Energy is cheap today only in the sense that $80 a barrel oil is "cheap" relative to $150 oil. With electric rates in New Jersey, for example, having risen more than 40% in five years, you can hardly call electric "cheap" either, and virtually no oil is used to generate electric in this state. Water and sewer charges have no impact on climate change, but they have risen as fast, and sometimes faster, than oil and electric costs.
The fact is that a dollar spent on energy efficiency will result in far more "bang for the buck" than a dollar spent on fossil fuel. Until all buildings are made reasonably energy efficient, spending more dollars to heat and cool them is a waste of money.
Hy Gold
Trenton, New Jersey
Mr. Chait,
You write:
“The dropoff between rhetoric penned by Obama and that by his staff, always noticeable, was especially so tonight. When he declared, “health care experts who know our system best consider this approach a vast improvement over the status quo,” I wondered if his budget freeze had already claimed the entire White House speechwriting staff.”
As I read that sentence, I thought you were suggesting that Obama writes better than his staff -- however, the following comment about the “entire speechwriting staff” seems to imply the opposite, namely that his speeches are better when someone else writes them.
Would you clarify what you meant?
BTW, I liked the speech, like man ... view full comment
Mr. Chait,
You write:
“The dropoff between rhetoric penned by Obama and that by his staff, always noticeable, was especially so tonight. When he declared, “health care experts who know our system best consider this approach a vast improvement over the status quo,” I wondered if his budget freeze had already claimed the entire White House speechwriting staff.”
As I read that sentence, I thought you were suggesting that Obama writes better than his staff -- however, the following comment about the “entire speechwriting staff” seems to imply the opposite, namely that his speeches are better when someone else writes them.
Would you clarify what you meant?
BTW, I liked the speech, like many others hope it translates into more results than we’ve seen in the past year. I do think that the President overuses the first person singular pronoun (in general, not necessarily in the SOTU). I think he should mix in more “my administration” and “we” (if he can do so without being accused of royal pretentions, a definite risk in his case).
I was very relieved. It was a great and reassuring speech. (Seriously.)
...
But come now, it didn't REALLY strike you like that scene out of ANIMAL HOUSE, did it?
(Or was it just an excuse to post a really cool scene from a great classic in the pantheon of American high cinema? Thanks for the detour down that little lane.....)
I was very relieved. It was a great and reassuring speech. (Seriously.)
...
But come now, it didn't REALLY strike you like that scene out of ANIMAL HOUSE, did it?
(Or was it just an excuse to post a really cool scene from a great classic in the pantheon of American high cinema? Thanks for the detour down that little lane.....)