I guess pretty much everybody did notice the flies in a pot of buttermilk, going on there in Virginny.

Obama makes case for trans-partisanship, promisses to waste his time trying.

“Instant Poll: 90% of Republicans Who Did Not See Obama’s Speech Disagree With It”

The Republicants can’t deal with facts so they will keep saying NO. We have to call them out when they do. No more pussyfooting on filibusters. If they want to filibuster, put them on the floor and make them talk all night in front of C-SPAN.

Another year of bi-partianship to look forward to.

Invent-Tech: Paid Programming

“McCoDonnell’s results are not typical and most inventions do not return a profit.”

Aloha, Thers…! ;-)

Jonah dares to talk about how someone looks? That’s a good laugh since all the pictures I’ve seen of him, he looks like a pudgy mama’s boy.

Thers, you have guts for going to read the reichwing sites.

The Stepford Response Audience. Downright creepy people behaving in a downright creepy manner.

Edit: In VA around Repubi-Gov-For-11-Whole-Days, I mean.

…seeing people who look like them standing around like furniture.

hey, they weren’t just standing – I saw smiles and clapping and stuff.

furniture with a SAG card?

he is a pudgy mamas boy!!

…particularly community college English professors, is just sound policy.

Wha…? No disclosure, Thers…? ;-)

I thought Michelle Obama looked beautiful.

I am indeed very brave & praiseworthy & underpaid.

I am motivated solely by love of Country.

Excellent hair.

Right there is the political and policy win for the Dems. and the country: Medicare For All and a Bipartisanship bonanza to boot.

Bob McDonnell, during his response to the SOTU:
“But most Americans do not want to turn over the best medical care system in the world to the federal government.
Republicans in Congress have offered legislation to reform healthcare, without shifting Medicaid costs to the states, without cutting Medicare, and without raising your taxes.”

I just admire her so. Guess I’m a sucker.

“Americans can always be counted on to do the right thing, after trying all other options.”

So there’s hope.

“Republicans in Congress have offered legislation to reform healthcare, without shifting Medicaid costs to the states, without cutting Medicare, and without raising your taxes.”

…and without any reason to take them seriously.

Sure, they’ll just cut SCHIP, cut school lunch programs, WIC, etc. Kids don’t have lobbyists, not good ones anyway, so they bear the brunt of this GOP bs.

I loved McDonnell’s line, “We Governors know…” as if being Governor for eleven whole days taught him anything at all.

Given the title of this post, this tweet might fit right in.

More here.

Where was Joe “You Lie!” when we needed him?

That tweet came straight out of the “Cliches for stating the painfully obvious” bin.

My fave was line from him about how America is super-rich in natural resources and MUST use them ALL.

Oy.

It really isn’t Nancy’s fault she looked like that tonight, she must have been standing too close when the WH announced their freeze.

…because only then will Jeebus come on the clouds!

Given the title of this post, this tweet might fit right in.

I hope that Bull Moose guy is getting paid in Twinkies.

After watching TV tonight, if I was a cynic I might conclude that politicians are all shameless liars. Oh, they are? Never mind.

Not nearly as catchy as Drill, baby, drill.

I think Sarah Plain [sic] will wipe the floor with him if he tries to run in ’12.

Are your referring to Sponge-Cake Stretch Pants?

If you listen to Obama’s SOTU backwards you can hear Paul MacCartney shouting, “fuck your revolution, John!”

It has been said that cynic is a label invented by optimists to use in bashing realists.

Speaking of wingnuts…

Conservative Supreme Court Justice Alito Says ‘That’s Not True’ During Speech

Why, that is the most cynical thing I’ve ever heard…

Slingin’ Sammy Alito wouldn’t know the truth if it bit him in the ass.

Thank you (VBG)

I’d have guessed it would be the Oscar Mayer Wiener song.

She is in excellent shape, according to any picture I’ve seen.

You’re killing me!

Or if he did he wouldn’t admit it.

No. (I think)

Marshall Wittman, who used to blog as “The Bull Moose,” then went to work as chief Lieberman toady. A truly loathsome specimen. I don’t actually know what he looks like, though.

Heh, Much of Obama’s difficulties can be attributed to HoJo…!

The problem is she has no say in her husband’s behavior. Or she agrees with it. I was counting on her, but that hope is gone, too.

Wow. They rolled out the 2010 models of Republibots (TM) these last couple of weeks. The prototype, Rebuplibot08 had some bugs, and they’ve clearly decided to bring her back to the shop for tweaking.

The new models appear to have much cleaner code.

I saw a minute or two of this freakshow (no offense to freaks), and there was a dude in the front row who literally clapped like a trained seal. Literally. He’s apparently a big fan of hydraulics.

I’d like to see Roberts, Alito and Nino Scalia impeached.

Leave Clarence — I want to know if he can find his chambers and the Court without Nino leading him by the nose.

I didn’t have anybody real in mind, just a cheap excuse to say Sponge-Cake Stretch-Pants (yes, I am that pathetic).

I googled Wittman, looks like your typical aging college Republican.

Well, at least he’s had his bearings checked.

I think so. And I love to see her in the White House.

That unholy trio makes Rehnquist look like a saint… and that ain’t easy.

Wow, I haven’t read comments yet, but the first comment was from persiflage, who used to be part of this community.

You lie!

Agreed. Michelle is a class act.

They’re all class acts, – a class apart and unto itself.

We’ve seen a steady decline in the quality of our Chief Justices since Earl Warren retired. I hope and pray that Roberts is the lower bound.

She passed away, Loo Hoo…! 8-(

I think Obama called congress yella, (tactfully, of course) and gave the House a one handed applause 5 times, setting them up of course to pass the Senates version of health reform.

Alito would give his life in defense of your right to free speech, preferably in large denominations.

Thanks, Loo Hoo,
I almost fled here.

:(

History suggests that when you think it can’t get any worse it most certainly will.

Obama sat down in the oval office, the intelligence folks came in and told him just how deep the rot goes, he shit his pants, and that was the end of the audacity of hope. You could literally see the bags under his eyes from lack of sleep for that week.

Nah, he was a flim-flam artist long before a vote was ever cast.

Hey, Rat. I just got home from work, so I guess I have some catching up to do. But, your comment is a little on the harsh and snarky side, from what I know of your attitudes.
I’m a little skeered to jump in here tonight.
Was it that bad?

We archived her writings over at Relaxed Politics…!

I just wonder if that isn’t true. But it sure doesn’t make me feel any better.

jeeze, i gotta agree with ratfood for once.

Yeah, I’ve read some of Clarence Thomas’ opinions and it is depressing. He rarely cites precedent and mostly conveys his personal feelings on the subject matter without addressing the legal issues. Souter was correct when he asserted that the supreme court has lost credibility due to the recent decisions.

Nice, thanks.

Can’t buy it. How does one live with a spouse for 20 years, know him inside out, is at least as intelligent and more savvy than he is, and then look the other way when his administration makes nearly every wrong turn in the book? He may have always been a centrist, but there’s no hint of that in her.

Re: GOPTiger [sic]‘s crack implying Michelle Obama is fat – Yeah, I guess that’s why she’s been on so many women’s magazine covers with headlines like, “Get sleek, shapely arms like Michelle’s”; “How Michelle Stays in such Great Shape,”, etc., etc. That’s why articles on firming up your arms, in particular, have proliferated over the last year, invariably starting with a reference to the First Lady’s beautiful look.
That’s why Madame Tussaud’s, even, has made her the 3rd or 4th First Lady to be memorialized in London, in her Inaugural gown.
Yeah, these Repub doughy fatboys, munching cheetos in the basement, really ought not to be talking about anybody else’s figure, but least of all, Mr. OR Mrs. Obama’s.
sheeesh.

I didn’t watch the speech, by the way, so some of your comments are zipping right past me. Let alone, of course, the Repub “response.”

Just responding to a wingnut statement in the post. I don’t really have an ax to grind with Pelosi. She is a big-time spelunker, like all the Dem leaders but she does occasionally tell the truth, which is more than can be said for most of them. Example, when she said several months ago that private insurance companies ration health care.

I don’t know. When do you think he learned about the grassy knoll? Love to know that date.

Well, for some reason I can’t reply to other commenters. Weird that persiflage went to redstate.

Also, Christine, we need to hang on to help influence the progressives like us.

Not really pertinent, he is a corporatist through and through. No danger of him rocking any of the big-money boats.

*heh* It sure caught his attention…! He’s tacked hard right ever since…! ;-)

demi, it was an excellent speech, with lots of funny moments.

How does one live with a spouse for 20 years, know him inside out</blockquote>

Ummm, as a veteran of two marriages, I would say that that ain’t possible. If it were, either I wouldn’t have married the first one, or it wouldn’t have ended. I would’ve sworn the one I was married to at the end was no more than a look-alike for the one I met at the altar.

Wow, C-SPAN must have televised a different speech.

Okay. Didn’t think you were the pile on type. Just trying to catch up. So, Michelle’s body is the topic?
Nancy’s fine by me, btw.

Beginning with Bush v. Gore

Weird that persiflage went to redstate.

Loo Hoo, hon, that’s some other person using the same nom de blog poster. It can’t be “our” persiflage, because she died months ago. You know she would never have been a Red Stater.

Ah, geez. I think I don’t need to catch up. The dust will all be here on the morrow. Y’all take care.

Loo Hoo…
Our friend persiflage.

Yeah. I mean, maybe I see this differently as a dad with young kids, but I do like telling my daughter that she should look up to Michelle Obama, who’s a smart woman who seems like a good mom but who sticks up for herself. There really aren’t a lot of great female role models out there for little girls, and when I see one that works, I don’t complain.

Thanks.

I agree, but we are pretty much alone in our opinion. Sorry my friends.

But ratfood, I did think it was a darn good speech. Let’s see what follows.

Michelle hasn’t been my topic. She’s okay, IMO her husband has been a huge disappointment but that does not detract from her in any way.

I agree.

Newt, take a gander at my #66…! ;-)

I never read your comments!
/a-hole

Sorry, didn’t mean to imply it was your topic. Just….what I saw quickly from others. Like I said, I just got home. Maybe I’ll watch the speech tomorrow and decide for my own self.

I thought even setting aside his lost credibility the speech was unfocused and not up to the standard he has established on previous occasions. Might be the result of having been cobbled together in the last couple weeks after it became apparent the HCR package would not pass (in time), which otherwise would have been his centerpiece.

S’okay, friends can disagree, right?

Okay, thank heavens. Thanks newtonusr too!

OK, sleepy. Niters all.

Loo Hoo, the rest of us are just a bit more cynical and/or jaded, I suppose… It was a great oration, at least compared to the prior occupant, but, talk is cheap, no matter how flowery and ornate it is…! 8-(

For those of you who did watch – is your disappointment because you figure nothing he pledged to do will get done, or did he pledge/promise/say stuff that was disappointing in itself?
I mean, I hear he mentioned a bank tax – is that something new? Is it the one that only applies to the ones that too TARP money?

I mean, I didn’t watch because I figured if he did say great stuff, it would just get my hopes up agaiin (I can be such a sucker for good speech) and make me feel worse when none of it happened.

Oh, and what about “bi-partisan?” Did you use it as a drinking word, and did you get blotto? (because of it, that is)

Is it safe to comment now? *G*

After 800+ coments on the SOTU (GREAT JOB DAVID DAYEN!) address, most of them overwhelmingly criticizing Obama from stem to stern, I was afraid to share MY thoughts.

I thought it was boring and basicspeech making . . .

I also know, from what I watched, that Obama bitch slapped the Republicans a few times, and SCOTUS, one time, and I LOVED that! I didn’t imagine those bitchslaps, they are on record, they happened, and NO disgruntled FirePups pissed that Obama lied to them can take away those bitchslaps. They are real.

As to the disgruntleds, I got nuttin. Sure, he lied. Sure, he’s not what I wanted him to be yet.

Is he better than what Hilary would have been? Uh, two corporatist cheer leaders, what difference?

Is he better than McCain/Palin? FUCK YES!

Will he be better than anything the pugs put up in ’12? FUCK YES!

You want a Pug Corporatist, or a Dem Corporatist? Cuz I’m hear to tell you disgruntleds, there’s a world of HURT between the two. Both serve the corporate machine, but one will hurt you MUCH fucking less.

So with that in mind, I loved it when he obviously bitch slapped the Pugs, twice, and the SCOTUS.

THAT alone, was worth watching the rest of the propoganda.

Oh, and he’s gonna go Executive Order, on the Pugs!!!!! Come on, THAT’S worth some kudos, ya disgruntleds.

BITCH SLAPPED!

Loved it.

I sure hope the disgruntleds wake up and turn out in ’10 and ’12 for the best possible evil, or we’ll get the WORST possible, and it will be on THEIR heads. And I won’t be real forgiving, either.

Fine by me…! 8-P

Alright. Was an eventful day for me. Received the first dose by IV of a biologic arthritis treatment. Left me feeling a bit… odd. Off to bed now.

Splendid evenings to all.

Sorry, I’m confused . What’s not possible?

Aloha, rf…! Best of luck with your treatment…! *g*

evening, all

Here’s to a better day tomorrow, for all.
Nitey nite.

Aloha, Thers… Aloha, PPD…!

Rightio, we can disagree. I wish that Obama would be more lefty like us, but it seems he just wants to govern. That means being more centrist.

I know that the centrists are el estupido, but that’s life.

Thanks for the chuckle tonight. You helped make it bearable.

Larue,
I have to agree with everything you say. Do we need safe haven?

Oh, sorry – just a snarky throw-away by a bitter divorcee – I meant it isn’t possible to know your spouse inside-out. I swear, the dominant emotion of my last year of the 1st marriage was, “Who is this guy?”, and “I don’t know him at all!”
I came out of it utterly convinced it is not possible to know another person as well as that (because of course, I had thought I knew him really well.)
Really, I shouldn’t h ave typed anything – not really germane to the thread. Just sort of a red flag to a bull….. Sorry.

She brings the next level to the public stage of the CIC’s spouse, and one ups Jackie O, who set the bar really, really, high in her short time.

And Mz. Obama brings life, humor, a personal side, a personality, and is OUT there doing things, like no other before her.

She’s quite a First Lady, and I believe, sets the bar higher than it’s ever been set, across all boundaries.

Gorgeous, down to earth, active, stylish, comfortable, and able to walk with royalty and the common man and woman. That’s a hell of an accomplishment.

Best. First. Lady. Since. Eleanor.

G’nite, rat – hope the treatment works.

I sure hope you get better n what Patrick Henry got.

Loo,

I’m having connection problems here. Remember that when you’re here, you’re pretty much with liberals among liberals. Obama’s SOTU was not directed at us.

The instant polling suggests that Obama’s speech has played well among its intended audience. If that holds, and the speech manages to get the Senate off top-dead-center then good. He doesn’t have to give me a speech.

As I said, I’m having connection probs, so I’m going to sign off.

‘night, pups.

Oh, and the GOoP response was worse than lame.

I know that, CTuttle, and agree. I just don’t agree with some here who have decided that Obama is out to screw us all. I don’t.

Oh, gee – Keith is playing clips of the Repub “response” – I see what y’all mean about the background – one African-American and one Asian. Gee, how diverse this guy is, huh.

Social safety nets appear to be under great siege from both parties.

If the Dem’s don’t get that it’s the social safety nets that gets them votes, we’re all doomed, whether we need the nets or not.

I’m with you all the way on this one.

Maybe Obama can use that for his campaign slogan in ’12: “THE BEST POSSIBLE EVIL!” That’s sure to get the progressives fired up.

Night Rat, hope the treatment helps.

That’s just plain insane, there isn’t a SHRED of fucking evidence that lends any credence to such an inane and incorrectly false brazen claim as you’ve made.

Cuz if there was, you’d have referred to it or posted a linky . . . she’s toast.

…is your disappointment because you figure nothing he pledged to do will get done, or did he pledge/promise/say stuff that was disappointing in itself?

Yes…! Both…! 8-(

Yup. True dat.

I confess I’m relieved that Congress shot down the “commission” to destroy social security, I mean, cut the deficit.

I know Pres. O plans to do an executive order, but that kinda commission can be ignored; no power to force that damn “up or down vote w/ no amendments” like they were talking about. I’m fine with some kabuki for the idjits who think cutting the deficit is so important, as long as they don’t actually do it. I really don’t want to repeat 1937; I like having a roof over my head and food to eat.

Wow. When you have time, please explain this procedure. Best of every wish, ratfood.

T-shirt!

Such partisan rancor, with out evidence or research or science to back it up . . . sigh.

Disgruntled, or, just always casting shit at the fonts to stir it up?

Aloha, ES…! Do you have the LLN honors…?

“The truth is, the American people are not angry because of all the money the government has spent this year — except, of course, the people who believe Obama was born in Kenya, is a Muslim, and a Socialist. The rest of the people, the ones Obama has a chance of reaching, are angry because the vast majority of that money went to — and continues to go to — rescuing Wall Street, which has thanked taxpayers by reducing lending, recording record profits, paying out massive bonuses, and using our money to pay lobbyists to scuttle financial reform. That is what is putting voters on the electoral warpath.”

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/arianna-huffington/obamas-state-of-the-focus_b_439732.html

Arianna nails it.

evening, CE

Unless I’m wrong, the fucker WROTE the majority opinion on campaign funding. Fuck Alito and the four who voted with him.

Obama smacked them good tonite, and called for immediate legislation to combat their insanity.

I don’t care if any traditionalists say Obama was out of life for smacking them, they fucking needed it.

Of course, I’ll be MUCH happier when I SEE that legislation and what it entails. But hey, for now, we got some mo on that shit.

Sigh. Keith just ran a clip of the part where he compares the govt “living within its budget” to families doing the same. I am really sick of this teabagger Repub ignorant=citizen meme – hear it a lot on call-ins (to NPR! not RW stations) who can’t see the difference, who don’t understand that when families and business isn’t/can’t spend money, the government is all that’s left to put money into circulation.

Also caught Rachel telling Valerie Jarrett, who was spouting much the same language, that this is an idea that polls well, but is a really stupid idea.

OMG–did I just hear that O “opened the door to off-shore drilling?” OMG.
This is getting waaaaay too Clintonian.

Hey!
I’m very unhappy. I feel like a freak here. I liked the SOTU speech. Should I just go to bed?

Of course not! Stay here. ((Chris))

Great SOTU liveblog tonight

Uh, you mean a paraphrase, or quote?

She passed away last year, ya know . . . . . bless her.

They’re upstairs, guys

Naaah, it’s just that we all come here to vent, and that tends to be negative.

Just skimmed the link on Alito’s mouthing “not true.” Don’t know what he meant – seems like Obama made a pretty good synposis of his decision.

Notice Chris Mathews is getting plenty of well-deserved flack for his “I forgot he was black” speech. I caught that – my mouth fell open as the naivete, arrogance, ignorance, and stuck-in-the-DC-bubble-ness of that wacky ramble of his. What that said to me was it is de finitely time to take ol’ Chris off the air.
Of course, if Pat Buchanan hasn’t been removed, Tweety isn’t likely to be. But they should both be gone, ASAP. We’d all benefit.

OK for a bit. Snowing like a blizzard (we like). But really Margot, after working an 11 hour day, and coming home to watch SOTU. Gosh. I want to like the President. And no FDL support seemed available.

I’m not an ObamaBot, but I think you have crossed the line when you reject the reality of what he WAS handed, when he WAS sat down, by the intel folks. Foreign, and domestic intel.

Political intel.

And details and intel of the corruption and buried moles from Bush/Cheney, in all of the departments from State on down the line.

I’m not siding with Obama’s doings, I’m just saying you are ignoring a harsh reality that was presented.

And again, Hilary would be the same, and McCain/Palin worse.

So why the harsh? Keep him and them honest, criticize them? YES!

But the snarky and such? Serves no purpose to get us out of the shit we’re in.

I keep waffling on it all, but I just can’t cross the road and say, I’m staying home, I’m against Obama on all counts, I hate my party, and such, when I look at the other party and THEIR options.

Till I have another option, I have to wish MY president and MY party, do better, if I lean on them daily.

Sorry, guess I’m being pissy tonite . . . best to Bob, chirps and crackers to ya both . . .

No, it wasn’t Demi, but the Pups during the SOTU went 800+ comments deep with the snark and hate and anger.

And more and more Pups are doing the same, every day, for the past couple of weeks.

I’m not a Bot, but I AM saddened at the anger and hate, and despair that I don’t hear any of these Disgruntleds offering realistic solutions.

I’m not sure any given day who and what I believe in, I’m as mad as any . . . but I’m not quite ready to give it all to the right wing publican facists . . . I prefer my dem faciscts, still, given a bitter pill to swallow.

A fine job done, too . . . didn’t know you were part of that . . . good on yas.

She had a great voice to share with others . . . .

Nobody forced him to run for President. He wanted the toughest job in the world. Was Obama unaware that the job might require extraordinary courage?

I’d say we can believe it’s true, and yes, we can still be sad about it all.

Still, the corporate stranglehold is an issue, I heard some blowback from Mr. Obama tonite on that.

Either way, we use what we have, and cast out nets for others perhaps, who might in the future decide to be bolder in their change.

It’s a big hill, a tough battle and we are sorely outgunned, and behind by decades, reform wise.

I’m sorry Chris, just came back to this thread this minute. Someday, when you have time (if that ever happens!) maybe you could do a diary about your Christmas fruitcake. I must be weird but I love fruitcake, any kind. Would love to make one.

I thought there were some great moments, and the rest was political speak.

He DEFINITELY smacked the pugs twice, and the SCOTUS once, HARD!

That alone, made me happy.

Obama won the 2008 election on speeches like tonight’s.

Unfortunately, he and his closest advisors are blind and deaf to certain distinctions that are essential to our republic’s survival.

1) Rhetoric, no matter how powerful, is worthless if it doesn’t move the agenda into action in the public arena.

2) Promises once made, in a Googled youtube world, cannot be ignored, disputed, or disclaimed without serious losses in credibility.

3) It’s one thing to do something right. It’s completely different to do the right thing. This administration can’t get either right.

4) When dealing with terrorists, negotiation simply isn’t a productive strategy, period. This includes cajoling Wall Street/Pharma/Big Insurance/etc., coddling whore blue dogs, and trying to shame republicans into cooperating in the best interests of the nation.

Reversing the polarity on these distinctions would be a good start.

Nah, don’t forget, we cook. They need us.

Cheetoh’s in their jammies in their mom’s basement just won’t cut it for the long haul.

They need us. *G*

You can snark all you like, but if we end up with a GOP Prez and Congress, I’ll be holding you to blame.

And YOUR life, it will be much, much more miserable under THEIR rule, than under the Dem’s.

Lemme know when you have a real reply.

Yep. Thanks for the reply.

Like they said in The Corpse Bride — Are we taking this party upstairs?

What’s your point? Other than questioning his courage?

It’s a Rovian comment you make, that ignores the topic, and allows you to speak ill of the target.

What, he’s weak on defense?

Please, yer a shill, and bad one at that.

You haven’t answered my question. As for snark, there is nothing snarky about questioning Obama’s courage. I’m being dead serious. And you are lashing out and making it personal. I’ll be logging off now because frankly sir, I’m well above such childish bullshit.

Let’s see where his speech tonite, and the results to come from his actions, end up.

I’m greatly disappointed, but I was hoping for much more. My bad? Likely. Buyer’s remorse? No. Why?

McCain/Palin! That should say it all, no buyers remorse, and HRC would have NOT been any better or worse, just another corporatist, but a Dem one.

I’m now a bit wizened about my self induced delusion of hope, and willing to wait to see what happens. While criticizing.

The final outcome of HCR awaits, and should offer a GREAT measure of how much we progs can influence anything.

If we get shit on HCR, after tonight, and Pelosi’s statements today, then I’ll assume we need another plan, cuz this one ain’t woikin . . . .

Yer pretty much full of hot air, and have proven it . . I answered yer question, and you didn’t like it, and chose to crawl back with your tail tucked . . . pure FAILed Rovian.

Wow – more nuclear plants and more offshore drilling! I can’t wait!

Did anybody see Keith O. kissing David Axelrod’s ass repeatedly afterwards? I threw up in my mouth several times…

“It’s the Economy, Stupid!” Yes, the DLC is back in control at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Shoot me now.

By and large a good speech. I laughted a little when he said he didn’t run for President to punish bankers… definently a “mission accomplished” moment.

The Republican response was sadly comical. The vibe was definently: no matter how far you wander into the right wing wasteland you’ll never find us! True enough, the Republicans policy positions are like mirages on the desert horizon.

http://www.hellblazer.com/media/goldberg.jpg

I thought the speech was all over the map. The president threw a bone out to all those who are dissatisfied with the current state of the union (EVERYONE!)hoping placate them for a while, and then appeared to double down on unpopular policies while actually voting ‘present’ on any meaningful, substantive reform.

I also find it laughable that Obama continues to try and portray himself as a Washington ‘outsider’ absolving himself of responsibility for the backroom deals, payoffs and protection he has offered to the special interests who so transparently signed into the WH. He has been a consummate DC insider.

He is not listening to the voters, not really. He is paying them lip service, not leadership.

He really does believe that we ‘just don’t get it’ and I’m just shaking my head.

Little in the speech to restore my trust in this administration. The anti-Washington, anti-incumbent mood will grow. Congress will continue to operate in its own self-interest. Incumbents facing tough elections will do what they will to keep their jobs. The Dems will continue arguing amongst themselves until they lose big in November.

Wouldn’t it just be better to actually find a genuine candidate with a core set of principles and convictions who actually means what he says or doesn’t get your support?

While Obama because is surely a product of the left, he is not a leader. He is a slick salesman who first sold progressives, then opportunistically sold a different bill of goods to moderates.

He won. But what has this country gained?

This man was NOT vetted, NOT challenged, NOT scrutinized.

He was allowed to get away with saying anything to anyone at any given time and no one bothered to see the inherent contradictions in his pure, brazenly political pandering.

No one seemed to care that he had no real experience, no real record of accomplishment. He looked great, sounded great and the country became enthralled. But now we see what all of his ‘present’ votes have gotten us. His political opportunism may meet his personal needs and desires but the American people will never top his list of priorities.

This self-proclaimed B+ president, this man who desires to be a ‘really good’ one term president, has never considered that he is failing or may fail.

American should nominate and elect AUTHENTIC candidates, from any and every value on the political spectrum.

Progressives and Democrats deserve what they get in Barack Obama. Our country deserves better.