I began listening to the State of the Union speech thinking I would only want to catch the opening statements. But I found myself compelled to listen to the end and was moved by President Obama's openness and clarity. I contrasted his optimism with the unending scowl of Paul Ryan behind him, and there was an instant snapshot of what this country has experienced since the day President Obama was elected. There was the visual summary in front of our eyes of a man who fought to make life better for all Americans contrasted with the destructive forces that serve only the 0.1%. I am profoundly grateful that Mr. Obama he was chosen to be our President. We as a nation cannot afford to let the reigns of power be turned over to the Paul Ryan's of this world.
The day he was elected, the Republican leadership took a blood oath to block every move that President Obama might make and to destroy his presidency during his first term . Obama tried to create a "Big Tent" for all to work together to heal the country after two disastrous terms of GW Bush. But the Republicans set fire to that tent and pursued a scorched earth policy - absolutely no compromise with our first African-American president. Take no prisoners- let the needs American people go to blazes. In spite of this stonewalled GOP opposition, President Obama led the country back from the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, and created the first national health care plan since Medicare. Thank you Mr. President, We as a nation are grateful for your leadership in the face of unending adversity.
