The Balancing of the Union

There is a lot of toxic and untrue fiction surrounding our President. The Birther movement is strong and afoot, and the crazy notion that he is a Muslim, and that he is a Socialist. All of these fictional thoughts have painted our President as someone that isn't worthy of our respect and honor. Despite that this President, won by a stronger electoral majority than Bush did in 2000 and 2004. I have spent two years wondering why in the world, there is so much hate towards Obama. After all, the man hasn't leered that much from what Bush wanted to do in Afghanistan and Iraq. And he continued some of the same spending that Bush was instituting at the end of his term. The only real conclusion is that a media has preyed on the ignorance and fear of the people.

Despite this, the last two years my faith in Barack Obama has not been sound. His year and a half devotion to Health Care, and coming up with a bill that is not agreeable to any American has been the biggest disappointment to me. The fact that he has not stood strong in storms. The fact that he has abandoned those, us-- the ones who believed in "Change We Can Believe in" with a tax compromise that will leave us further in debt. These things have been very frustrating to me about Barack Obama's presidency.

However...

I believe that this President as of late, has made great strides in regaining the trust of Americans. It's a long road ahead, but this President has finally got the message. The Republican House has made a great change in this President. The People have spoken, and he has heard.

Tonight President Obama spoke to core values in Americans. First was to address our debt. The President has pledged to cut spending in anyway we can. He has ordered a 5 year spending freeze. He has pledged to veto any law that has earmarks.

The President has struck the prospect of clean energy jobs, and fostering a new era of clean energy. He has pledged that this is, "Our Sputnik Moment."

The President has pledged that in 25 years we will have a strong infrastructure. We will have a High Speed Rail that will help our travel, and stop carbon emissions.

He has told the Republicans he is open to their ideas on Health Care. And even pledge he would do something on Tort Reform. He did stay on the facts that this bill, eliminates the Insurance companies from denying people coverage with Pre-Existing Conditions. And that it has already given our country good things. Don't tell me you are against Children, having health insurance. I dare you to tell me that's a bad idea. We do need to re-work this bill, and there really is no choice but to tweak it now.

But the greatest moment in the President's speech, was his mention of Education. When he spoke of Education, my ears perked up. We are in a great dire danger in the area of Education. But I think the problem is not going to go away by spending money at it. We need to rework the education system to be more exciting and compelling for the youth of the 21st century. If you don't think this is a big deal, you need to look around. 1/4 of our kids, do not graduate high school. This is unacceptable and abhorrent for our nation. We need to make sure that every child has a great foundation of education that is current, engaging, and technological advanced for the current times. He called on Teachers to come to arms, and I want to say Mr. President, I am coming to arms.

But despite all of the good things that Obama has said tonight. There were things that were omitted in his speech. That I would have liked to see more of and even mentioned.

I would have to say in wake of the Tuscon tragedy. That we should fight the much needed reform for making sure that Guns do not end up in the wrong hands. I am not saying we need to do away with them. But does anyone really need an extended magazine in a pistol? This was outlawed up until 2004.

I would have like to hear him say that he would work with the ground base of communities. That he would help community centers, churches, and other religious institutions serve the community. That he would let those that have passion for people, be enabled and be friends with their elected officials--instead of adversaries.

And, I know he would never talk about it... But, I would have loved to hear how he would care for the lives of the unspoken. How this congress can be the ones, to make sure that Abortions are a rare thing in our society. I know that he cannot speak of that, because of the Democratic Party platform. But, we need to do something about it. It is indeed, one of the greatest problems in our country. It is our slavery issue of the new century. I pray for the day Unnecessary abortions, to be a thing of the past. But also, I would have liked to hear him talk about the needs of our elderly and mentally disabled. How our care for them is the greatest duty for our people. That cutting Social Security is unacceptable, and that we can make it and cut other things before hurting the ones that are the most vulnerable.

I wish he would have talked about how vile Partisan speech are going to hurt our country. And some of this speech isn't in the chambers, not naming names. But I think you know who I am talking about.


And...

I guess this brings what I really think of the man. There is a lot of confusion from people when they know that I voted for Obama. I really did believe this man was the man who would bring forth these things that he promised. And I think that those that stood with him, believed he would do it. He has spent most of his political capital on things that Americans couldn't agree with. Forget all the broohahaaha about all the birther stuff, socialist stuff... etc. That's not the real issue. The President didn't devote his time to the economy, to energy ,and to things that would improve our lives in the first half of his Presidency. But now, he has vowed to change that. I am a believer in second chances. But, this is his last chance. He must work with the Republicans, listen to the People-- or we may wake up to a nightmare... President Palin. (just kidding.)

But despite all of this. I love my country as much as any gun toting Republican does. My eyes fill with tears when the Star Spangled Banner plays. I have so much pride and hope for my nation. The last two years, that has been tested in ways that I never thought would be tested. But, I do believe we will bounce back and be a strong nation. We cannot let the fear and those that want us to be divided to hurt us and keep us back. We have to move forward, and realize that our mistakes can be fixed by ideas and hard work (like the President has said.)

May God Bless you and America,

Dave.