Now, Even Speeches Fail President Obama
by Mike FlynnPrior to last night, we could have all agreed that President Obama had one undeniable and great skill; the man could deliver a speech. His national political career, after all, had been launched with a speech, at the Democrat Party Convention in 2004. More than that though, his entire political history–and trajectory–can be mapped by speeches. When his primary campaign for the Presidency was sputtering, a rousing speech at the Iowa Democrat’s Jefferson-Jackson Dinner created the momentum he needed to win that state’s pivotal caucus. When inflammatory video of his long-time pastor, Reverend Jeremiah Wright, surfaced and threatened to derail his campaign, a well-received speech on race allowed him to turn away the controversy. A Will.I.Am video riff of one of Obama’s speeches was such a potent piece of political propaganda that even I developed a bit of a man-crush on the One.
Obama seemed to have a gift for perfectly capturing the tone and mood of the public. It may seem a tired cliche now, but his speeches did much to inspire the hope people attached to his candidacy. Even rather vague or pedestrian phrases seemed to soar in his gifted hands. I had accepted it as a given that, if his political fortunes were ever down, Obama would be able to reverse his troubles by pulling just the right speech from his rhetorical bag of tricks.
No more.
Obama’s State of the Union address last night was not just overly long and dull, it was totally tone-deaf politically. Coming on the heels of a political upset in Massachusetts, with deteriorating poll numbers and anxious members of his own party, Obama badly needed a home-run to change the political dynamics. He struck out.
In many ways, Obama’s SOTU address was the exact opposite of the speech he needed to give. Much as been said about the voters being angry, but the anger is just a symptom of a deeper problem. The voters are scared. Scared about their jobs, their homes and their future. Worse, they’re scared for their children’s futures. Throughout our history there have been other periods where the public worried–mistakenly usually–that America’s best days were behind it. Now, however, that worry is all too real.
Obama’s long laundry list of programs, initiatives and priorities was addressed to a different time. The model for Obama’s speech was pioneered by Bill Clinton in 1995. Coming off his own political disaster, the GOP take-over of Congress, Clinton responded to the times with his claim that “the era of big government is over.” In his State of the Union address at the time, Clinton outlined a long–and much parodied–list of small initiatives and targeted programs. A little tax credit here, a push for school uniforms there. It was the exact opposite of the sweeping, broad changes he had attempted in his first two years in office. It perfectly matched the mood of voters and signaled to me at the time that Clinton would win reelection.
Clinton changed. Obama doubled-down.
The political situation Obama faces is the polar opposite of what it was at the start of his presidency, when he mapped out his agenda. Republicans have recaptured the Governors’ mansions in New Jersey (!) and Virginia and they have won a US Senate seat in Massachusetts (!!). Obama’s approval rating has collapsed and the Democrat lawmakers who haven’t announced their retirement face the very real prospects of being retired by the voters. Democrats will probably lose the House and could possibly even lose the Senate. They will likely be massacred in state Houses around the country.
In light of this, Obama announced not a single change in his agenda or his priorities. Okay, well maybe one; his call for a three-year spending freeze. But, it is clear he isn’t really serious about this, since he also announced a huge swath of new spending initiatives. He still wants to enact sweeping changes to health care, even though it is political kryptonite. He wants another bloated, pork-filled “jobs bill”, even though his “stimulus program” was a joke, and a failure.
Let me be frank, Mr. President, this isn’t how it works. You don’t face rejection by voters and still get to continue pursuing the same agenda.
The Presidency is a dialogue with the American people, not a soliloquy. You can propose, but when they react, you may have to adapt. That he doesn’t understand this is telling.
It does help us understand, though, why Obama is so fond of making speeches. In a speech, he is the only one talking.
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154 Comments
Following up, Spock’s favorite phrase, Fascinating, well no not really.
President Addresses Nation “There’s Seventy Minutes I Can Never Get Back”
Yeah, I’m Just Not Feeling It.
What does the President need to do for a bump in the polls hint this isn’t it.
Did The Phrase the President used “I Won’t Give Up, Don’t You Give
Up” Sound familiar to anyone else? Train “Calling All You Angels.
Well since there has been an Earth – there has been a climate, and it has been changing. How does one Fight mother nature, and make her stop changing the climate?
The progressives won’t use Global Warming anymore because of the hoax so they changed it to Climate Change. This is just dumb. Of course there is climate change and water is wet.
http://youhavetobethistalltogoonthisride.blogspot...
President Barry O is a one trick pony, and that trick has worn thin.
blah blah blah ……… Hussein has the gift to spew out things that delivers him a roar of cheers and claps from Kool-Aid drinkers that have been in office for way too long. The whole speech he spent talking about non-sense that he and his Posse of Clowns implemented and all the good it has done! Oh please!
Please remember to vote in Nov. 2010 and 2012.
Speech, speech, speech…It is time to look at the impact of his policy rather than his reading and speaking skills.
I did not watch, I am tired of being lied too and I could not stand to look at Pelosi any more than I already have to.
I honestly believe the man has every intention of destroying our country through the "Cloward and Piven Strategy". He is just hoping he can bring us to the brink of a catastrophe to finish the job. Unfortunately he is running out of time and probably had not dreamed he would loose the Massachusetts Senate seat. This put him a precarious position of not being able to push through his legacy, Obamacare. The Climategate scandal also tied the progressives hands on the ability to ram through the Cap and Trade. Its like the stars are aligning against the anointed one…his time has not come. He has less than one year to reek havoc on this nation with his ilk. It will be one of worst years the American people have ever dealt with as they try to push through their agenda, and when they are gone and trust me they will be gone, we will have out work cut out for us for a very long time deconstructing the crap they have already implemented. It may seem overwhelming, but God has moved mightily in the last few weeks to help us gain ground, so I don't think God is done with this country just yet. God bless America!
Barack Hussein Obama has had what is supposedly one of the best educations that money (probably paid for by us) can buy. He has been taught all of the words. So very sad that he fails to comprehend the meaning of the important ones and instead dwells in the I and me with all of his wants. This is not his time for wants when the taxpayers have needs. We need less government and taxes so we can create jobs, we want our freedoms back and one of the most important after safety from terrorists, is freedom from re-distributive policies designed to enslave us with debt so he can feel better. This President has exhibited once again that his arrogance precludes the ability to comprehend and is therefore nothing but a foolish educated idiot.
Obama announced luke warm support for nuclear power, clean coal, and offshore drilling. I believe we should hold him to these statements . . .and quickly. We know he doesn't really mean it . . so let's exploit that and go public with plans to construct, mine, and drill.
Drill Baby Drill.
"It does help us understand, though, why Obama is so fond of making speeches. In a speech, he is the only one talking."
He ought to shut the hell up. His gums are flappin', but he sure ain't saying anything.
Other than "Blame Bush."
Obama is just re-hashing the empty promises of the election trail. That rhetoric went a long ways toward getting him elected, but it's not as useful when there is expectation to deliver. We have all heard the talk, and his base expects him to deliver items he will have a tough time getting done. He is in between a rock and a hard place and, unlike Clinton, is prepared to commit political suicide to pander to his base.
Charlie Brown just never did catch on that Lucy was not going to hold that football for him.
The American people are catching on that Obama's promises are no more believable.
Snoopy would be proud.
There is no "hope" of any "change" in this man's dictates. There is no "hope" of any "change" in the entrenched democrat leadership in congress. Each of them have proven themselves to be wholly untrustworthy, and therefore there is no "hope" of any "change" in the downward spiral of our country's fortunes until we remove the malignant "leadership" from their corrupted perches, and replace them with more competent American Patriots.
worn thin? nope totally worn out and in the trash heap….
" even I developed a bit of a man-crush on the One."
I'll try not to hold that against you.
He's an idiot.
is the empty comment a reflection of the empty suit address last night?? lol
If the Democrats had been serious about providing health insurance to the poor and unemployed they could have done it in less than 100 pages. But no, they have to create a bill that would destroy the private healthcare system on purpose. How about this, portability, buy from any state, make those state mandates into options, malpractice tort reform and then give health insurance vouchers to the poor and unemployed.
Simple. I wouldn't agree with it but I bet it would have passed with 3/4 of the Congress supporting it.
Ignore his mouth and watch what the hands are doing.
"Here comes the orator, with his flood of words, and his drop of reason." Benjamin Franklin
Question: How did Ben Franklin know Obama?
Obama is unerringly, contemptibly, and irredeemably so deceitful that not a single syllable of his words can be believed!
I didn't watch the speech last night. I can't stand watching him or listening to him. It's all lies. But right now he's in a desparate mode here. He knows he's loosing but want Obamacare passed anyway. He's a one-term president. Jimmy Carter redux. I listened to McDonnell's speech and he was spot on.
has there been an " I " or " me " count yet?
I thought the same thing. Well said.
Obama's leopard stripes have been revealed as the true marxist radical that he is. Who else would hire a campaign manager just one year into office just to double down his failed bets? He reminds me of the scorpion who stung and killed the frog that gave him a ride across the river! He was, after all, still a scorpion!
I believe you are spot on with the Cloward and Piven Strategy
Imagine that! We've now learned that the emperor is wearing NO clothes!
Yes, the speeches are failing; the AP did a fact check on the SOTU and found Obama light on facts. You know you are in trouble when your own cheerleaders start booing you.
For those that still believe Oba-mao's rhetoric, read Aesop's fable about the scorpion and the frog.
I tried to watch him, but just couldn't endure the pain.
Finally you make a modicum of sense – keep it up!
OBAMA=EPIC FAIL
" I " was used 96 times in the 70 minutes.
ding ding ding—we have a winner!
Took hin 48 seconds to bblame bush. I won my bet that he would in the first min. Thank you Oboner
I think it's fair to say Obama and his speech have never delivered. Many of us never believed he was a great orator in the first place, as did the author. We knew a liar and blowhard when we heard it. Never mind that he coud not and still cannot sneeze without his trusty prompter. The only element in the mix that has changed is the majority are now onto Obama and recognize his lack of skills, including oratory, on every dimension.
Give me a non-sexy speaker who can look me in the eye, tell me the truth, and promote American solutions, not marxist ones any day, like McDonnel in the Republican response. If we could tax the Prez on on the hot air he emits, and his pollution of the air waves and public sphere in general, we could rid ourselves of the deficit he's growing with each beat of his Marxist heart.
What concerns me is that he basically dissed the other two branches of government in favor of the executive branch. 1. The Senate blocked a bill that would have created a fiscal, bipartisan commission. Barack decides he wants it to happen anyhow (for whatever reason) and issues an executive order that will do it anyhow. Message: Congress is irrelevant.
2. The Supreme Court upheld the First Amendment of the Constitution and Barack decides he doesn't like their meddling. So he wants Congress to pass a law to place limits on the First Amendment (although he thinks they're irrelevant – maybe he'll sign an executive order limiting free speech?). Even though the exact wording is "Congress shall make no law….abridging the freedom of speech." Message: Supreme Court is irrelevant.
The only relevant, potent branch of government left is the executive branch – ie. Obama. How long before he declares himself Supreme Leader?
He wants to bring this country to it's knees, then pass out cake.
Mike,
"Let me be frank, Mr. President, this isn’t how it works. You don’t face rejection by voters and still get to continue pursuing the same agenda.
The Presidency is a dialogue with the American people, not a soliloquy. You can propose, but when they react, you may have to adapt. That he doesn’t understand this is telling."
I sure like what you wrote. Even Newt Gingerich, commenting on Bill Clinton, said: " He always remained teachable, and was the most teachable man I ever met. (Paraphrased). Obama, through his ego, his arrogance, his hubris IS NOT teachable. He has symptoms and characteristics comparable to Hitler, Stalin, Mao, Saddam Hussein, and Idi Amin. He is frightening.
And Hilliary and McCain couldn't beat this guy? serously they could not beat this guy?
Thank God that the main stream media is in its death spiral!! Next time we get to pick our own leaders with out dictates from MSNBC/CBS/NPR/ABC/NYTIMES/LATIMES/CNN/Mcclatchy PAPERS etc
Die main stream press die a slow corporate death of lost wages lost profits Bankruptcy for all you vermin!!
Nancy Pelosi had ants in her pants. She was up and down 48 times.
I was waiting for her to shout " Oh God, I'm a coming…………."
One word sums up Obama: COUNTERFIT.
Please remember: "God helps those who help themselves"!
We need to remember his words from the campaign when he promised that anyone who wants to start a coal fired power plant can, but they will be bankrupted by the fees that he will demand. This is what makes his words on expanding domestic energy production completely empty. Like saying you are free to build a nuclear power plant, but you will never be allowed to recoup your investment. Nobody will be willing to do it, and that is exactly the goal of his administration.
Obama has had everything HANDED to him. He has worked for none of it.
He does not know how to deal with failure, because other people have always propped him up or paved his way.
Now he is alone. he will get more dangerous and unbalanced as he continues to fail and not understand WHY he is failing.
Watch it all unravel.
Obama seemed to have a gift for perfectly capturing the tone and mood of the public. It may seem a tired cliche now, but his speeches did much to inspire the hope people attached to his candidacy. Even rather vague or pedestrian phrases seemed to soar in his gifted hands.
This is true for the weak minded imbeciles that are swayed by laughable platitudes. Liberals are intellectual adolescents.
I see Obama is on the tube giving a speech to his minions in Florida. Just what they need, a high speed rail line, to Haiti………
Barry just promised them he was going to come down and ride the rails with them. Morons.
http://img.webmd.com/dtmcms/live/webmd/consumer_a...
I'm aghast! Did the TOTUS finally fail the POTUS?? ……………….Hanzo
Oh man, that is one disturbing thought.
And now he's on tv again, pushing is 8 Billion dollar train…ugh
Separation of Church and State would not allow it. "Oh Me, I'm coming….", perhaps.
*Sigh* I know. I tried to talk sense into some of them before the election. Banging my head into a brick wall would have been more effective.
The SOTU address was pathetic. However, it was clear Obama intends to pursue the same agenda as he has the last year. He has to, since he is Soros' puppet. He has to so he can "support" the Dems up for re-election. What he does not understand is he is now kryptonite at the polls. He cares not. It is all about him and the agenda he is compelled to push, which is to reduce the stature of America throughout the world. He is not one of us.
"He struck out." But…..but…..this is OBAMA! MSNBC will have your scalp for this heresy! Besides, a baseball
metaphor doesn't work with Obama, He can't reach homeplate from the pitcher's mound.
From you, Syntax, that was absolutely Brilliant…!
A +1 for you!
Inarticulate Chicago Thug!
This speech could have been received as a home run providing we had good reason to believe him and trust him. Forget that shit. We know who he is now.
speeches should fail him, he utters nothing but lies or distortions. His only true words have been I will fundamentally change the country. He is working to do just that.
He is a moron with all his little minions following him. They will all soon be out of a job like millions of citizens. I hope they have good security because they are pushing the American people to the brink of who knows what. That is scary. Yeah, we have hope; Hope and a Prayer that you will all soon be out of there.
Got a new music mix for my man Barry, featuring James Brown's "Payback".
Will.I.Am
That's absolutely true, BUT, its worth the political capital to put him on the spot of saying he's for those things, and forcing him to support them, (which he won't)…
It would also be helpful to visit the various environmental sites and goad them over the Obama tossing them under the bus now…
Just as an aside; has anyone else looked under there lately? Who's gonna clean all that up…?
The only true words I have ever heard the fraud utter is We will fundamentally change the United States of America or words to said effect. Precisely what he wants and intends to do. With or without the aid of Americans.
Can anyone name one thing Obama has done to warrant a title of success?
Seriously…
No.
Do you?
Fifteen yard penalty for "Roughing the Reader"…!!
Need. Brain. Laundering.
I've already used the ice pick on my eyes…
Nope.
I still do not understand how this empty suit got elected. Shame on all who contributed to this crime.
I really don't see a downside, (other than the obvious damage to the Nation), to that…makes it easier to finally put them out for good…
Good I am going to have a highspeed rail to not to ride. just like everyother form of mass transit, floridians are loathe to give up their cars. Its a three hour ride or less to miami from mouseville and 5 hours from the central coast. who is going to ride this thing. such a waste.
No they can't. Until he resigns there won't be anything that warrants success.
Pelosi was ghastly. First she was chewing gum.
Then after a while, it looked like she was crying.
Then, it looked like her face lift was actually melting, or the strings were letting loose and it was fixing to fall offf. Hideous!
They didn't play baseball where Barry grew up.
The socialist cretin Hussein said he's going to appoint a committee to see how we can reduce the deficit. Is this guy clinically insane? [rhetorical question].
Hussein, the American people know how to reduce the deficit and create employment: we will vote out all the leftwing parasites in Nov and then you'll be getting crushed in a landslide in 2012.
You're a lame duck Hussein.
An inspirational speech last night, well done Mr. President.
Can somebody get me some aloe vera?
Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab
Lorben has said it for me exactly! Truly, I have never been very impressed with O's speech-making,
especially after a few months of his campaigning in 2008. When one gets a grip of what he is all
about, including his deep roots in socialism, the mask comes off. Actions speak louder than words!
My trust is that Almighty God will continue to undertake for America. This time last year was more
troublesome than now, because it seemed that hardly anyone was seeing through him. Now there
is a strong groundswell of grassroots (not astroturf) that has awakened and continues to do so.
"read my lips, no new taxes" (ya, right)
"i have to abandon free market principles to save the free market" (I have to keep the corporate oligarchy alive)
"all combat troops will be removed from Iraq" (all non combat troops will remain in Iraq)
See a trend?
" I'm going to close GITMO"
No. No trend.
Oh, I forgot Clinton, i did not have sexual relations…. i did not inhale….
The High Speed Rail system to NOWHERE.
I live in Florida the last thing we need is a high speed train from Tampa to Orlando it's Florida it's hot, attractions and businesses are spread out, no one wants to get to Orland or Tampa without their car. No One
Florida, Charlie Crist you want to be senator? tell Obama No Thanks, No Bullet Train.
Obama has now taken on the American people with his threat…"I will not give up!" Mr. Obama, the American people have spoken and they clearly do not want more of YOU! Guess what…"We, the American people, will not give up!" Bring it on!
oh, i forgot Clinton, i did not have sexual relations… i did not inhale…
Exactly!
We can't let up. No falling asleep at the wheel!
He must be crippled by the upcoming election!
Then when we take back our country…lets eat pie! Its probably more in keeping with our history anyway!
Pie anyone?
This seems to be the modus operandi of the political class these days. They all seem bent on telling the American citizens rather than allowing the the citizens to tell them. We are not being represented at least not in the way the founding fathers intended. The reason they seem tone deaf is because they are. They all have selective hearing and only when their re-election prospects are threatened do they seem willing to pause long enough to give the appearance that they care what the citizens think. Even then, as the left is now showing us, they care so little of what the people think they are willing to do as they please in spite of how angry we get. It's this contempt for the average citizen, I believe, that is becoming increasingly and abundantly apparent to the majority of voters. The voters have trusted our "representatives" to do what is ours and the nations best interest. This is proving to be a mistake as our supposed leaders become ever more intolerant of input and criticism from what they consider the peanut gallery. What's worse is that over time the political class has managed to embed itself in the seats of power by creating various firewalls of red tape intended to make their removal all the more difficult. Time and time again term limits have been proposed and each and every time these "leaders" have voted against such limitations. As such they restrict the flow of new ideas and perspectives entering Washington further germinating the corruption already present.
We the people must chose to address corruption by removing those who have proven themselves open to it's influence. What we mustn't do is continue to naively trust that they will willingly address these issues of their own accord. We must do what the political elite are apparently unwilling to do……and that is get out of America's way!
PISSED OFF A LOT OF VOTERS…..
ESPECIALLY IN MASSACHUETTS……..
CAUSING HELL TO FREEZE OVER AND MASSACHUETTS TO ELECT…….
A REPUBLICAN SENATOR FOR THE KENNEDY SEAT.
Yes please, I'll take some
Liberals only push high speed rail because they have it in the SOCIALIST states
of the EU.
Wow, profound words, Syntax! For once, I agree with you. Empty suit, empty rhetoric.
How about that billion dollars Florida gets for the train, excuse me, rail system. Will they need to move the turtle crossings? What a freakin joke.
I am a true believer in hard work and will spend the rest of my days working on this mess we have sown and reaped. I love pulling weeds out of the garden-literally and metaphorically. I want my children and future grandchildren to have the same freedom we grew up with and were afforded by our Forefathers. I have found my purpose in my empty nest years….
Exactly, all he has done is wake people up, an unintended benefit of his systematic attempt to crush us.
What's sad is that Obama's indecisiveness and pension for doing what is politically expedient was obvious to any who looked at his voting record in the Illinois senate. How the man won the presidency is a complete mystery for those of us who are still having a hard time believing that many people in our nation could be so blatantly gullible.
I too have gotten to the point I can't bare to look at many of these political hacks. Primarily Obama but Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi are also two people I would rather not look at if it can be avoided. Their obvious contempt for the people is very exasperating.
How 'bout a high speed rail for Guam?
Could flapping one’s lips excessively cause them to turn purple?
Is the purple lip syndrome curable?
I happened upon the speech as he was doing his stand up comedy routine, cracking sarcastic jokes, chuckling, and preening with attitude as to his speechmaking abilities. Words, are just words without action and none of his actions will result in much good for the unemployed. The jig is up. I hope the country can make it til the elections throw the Marxists out.
Prior to last night, we could have all agreed that President Obama had one undeniable and great skill; the man could deliver a speech.
Um, let me be clear, um… errr………I um….
No, the first time I saw him give a speach rather than a teleprompter read, I knew he couldn't even pass a high school speach class.
Same thing was noted about hitler, he mesmerized people, as it's reported.
how about he repay the American taxpayer for all of his trips over the last year absolutely wasting millions of dollars!!!!
No.
Wanna go shoot at some cans?
sounds like fun to me….shooting cans that is….
Yes… he was certainly successful VIA ACORN convincing 62 million fools into making him the POTUS. That makes him a successful LIAR/CON-ARTIST/SNAKE OIL SALESMAN…
I'm with you a hundred percent. We need to hold up to the light every claim and promise from every politician. Whether we gain by achieving the desired action or by exposing the fallacious lies in their promises, we win.
Now that these people have aroused the attention of the American People, I believe we will be doing exactly this.
I wish more people could see through this game they are playing….its a deadly one. I often wonder where the point of how far we can be pushed around is? Do I underestimate the freedom loving citizens in this country? I honestly think at times the second amendment will be the one area people will finally say enough is enough. This gives me hope when I think of the possibilities of a disaster and Martial Law being enacted and confiscation of guns….it will never happen…..Its our checkmate! I stand amazed at the brilliance of the constitution!
And beyond…..
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