When I watched the President's State of the Union speech a week ago, the intro gave me a wince and a chuckle in much the same manner as Jon Stewart took it -- opening with Bin Laden's dead? Damn. And that was about as much thought as I gave it...
...until today. I am thankful for opportunities to learn something, even if they are provided by the most ridiculous arguments.
So, there's the transcript of the SOTU speech, and this much was taken to be a punch in the face to liberals everywhere.
Mr. Speaker, Mr. Vice President, members of Congress, distinguished guests, and fellow Americans, last month I went to Andrews Air Force Base and welcomed home some of our last troops to serve in Iraq. Together, we offered a final, proud salute to the colors under which more than a million of our fellow citizens fought, and several thousand gave their lives.
We gather tonight knowing that this generation of heroes has made the United States safer and more respected around the world.
It's always easier to build some black-and-white contrast of views, as if there were no other valid opinion. False choices make for easy arguments. Not a big fan of war myself, I found little to enjoy about this, and some fault, but I can understand why Obama may have thought this necessary.
Now, I understand that it is a stretch to claim any of our 'war on terror' adventures made us 'safer and more respected'. But I also understand that Obama campaigned on the 'right war' in Afghanistan and all that, and that we have some, let's say, prior examples of what not to do in regard to politicking about war. It would be foolish for Obama to give Republicans a free talking point about anti-war activism that they can play out and embellish and lie about. So, to me it seems this opener about the military will reach the most eyes and ears, and frames the issue before Republicans can even begin to fabricate.
Also, it's not as if 'this generation' limits the conversation to just Iraq, although I can understand why some of Obama's critics would try to make it look that way. Iraq is the easiest war to hate -- but like it or not, Obama campaigned in part on a war, and won. I don't like it, but that's reality and easy for me to ignore, but not for him. Maybe he believes what he's said about Afghanistan, who am I to say? But the undeniable reality is in the votes. He would ignore that at our peril.
However...the speechifying about the army didn't end there. I'll skip over the obvious zinger --
Ok, maybe not. It would have been nicer if he didn't die. But I'm not going to feel real bad that he's gone. Anyway. There was a point to bringing up the military that went beyond mere patriotism, or jingoism and etc., whatever you prefer.
These achievements are a testament to the courage, selflessness, and teamwork of America’s armed forces. At a time when too many of our institutions have let us down, they exceed all expectations. They’re not consumed with personal ambition. They don’t obsess over their differences. They focus on the mission at hand. They work together.
Imagine what we could accomplish if we followed their example.
Oh yeah...there was the part about how Congress could learn some functionality from the military's example. And I realize, Obama paints a pretty picture of the military that may not be entirely, without exception, accurate. And it could be picked apart. And...and yet, can I stop picking scabs long enough to notice: that was his point. And it seems worth considering, not just for Congress, but here as well.
What is our mission as it were? I have been here about a year, not too long at all. And in that year I have learned that the mission is something like 'more and better Democrats,' or maybe just 'better Democrats,' I'm not sure. When it comes to the Presidency we seem to have a limited set of options at the moment, only one of which involves a Democrat, and that's getting President Obama re-elected.
So what are you here to talk about? I'm not interested in telling anyone to shove off or fall into line, but is the mission here all right with everyone? If not, can we talk about that? And at some point, can we stop talking about that and get to work?
For my part, there is much left to be desired about the Obama presidency so far. Maybe he would agree with me. I see no reason to dwell upon that, because so many already do. But I like progress, not compromise. I don't like holding actions, and voting for future Supreme Court nominations isn't real sexy. But at some point it's worth questioning one's words and how they serve the mission; if obsessing over the past will let the future slip away.
Or to put it more simply, this month I'm going to get an Obama 2012 sign to stick in my yard, to go with the sticker on my car. Is this going to be taken as some full-throated defense of the worst excesses of the Obama administration? Is someone going to take the picture the wrong way? And...and...and...? Yeah, probably. Oh well.