"I campaigned on the promise of change—change we can believe in, the slogan went. And right now, I know there are many Americans who aren't sure if they still believe we can change—or at least, that I can deliver it."The speech seemed to be more about the state of his presidency and the Democratic party than the union.
Moreover, the speech didn't soar, like the ones he gave during his campaign. It ran along the ground, quickly, like a roadrunner, never taking flight. It seemed to generate little enthusiasm, even among Democrats. It was pretty much boilerplate stuff, the typical laundry list of initiatives.
The couple of things meant to be red meat to party's left-wing base, ending the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy and the blasting of the recent Supreme Court ruling meant to end years of government supression of political speech, didn't play well with the institutional representatives of either the military or the court.
The brass and the justices sat there stone-faced as Democrats robotically clapped. Justice Sam Alito had the termerity to quietly shake his head after President misrepresented the ruling as allowing foreign corporations to contribute to candidates and affect U.S. elections.
Alito appeared to mouth the words "Not true."
Taking on the military and the Supreme Court may be tonic to his base, but not to the country as a whole.
On the whole, the speech was uninspiring and, I think, ineffective. Too many "I"s not enough "We"s. It certainly wasn't a confidence builder.
The ship of state is adrift and the captain has no idea how to right its course.
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