President Barack Obama Speech 12/4/2013 on economy @ Center For American Progress

[Spitfire of ATJ]

Full Version:

Watch how CNN in a PANIC cuts away from the speech when they realize the topic is income inequality.

[RBInMaine]

1. BRAVO ! Just Excellent ! Anyone still think there is no difference between D's and R's?

Could anyone see ANY RePUKE giving a speech like that? No way !

[JDPriestly]

2. The speech starts out to be perhaps Obama's best. I thought it was inspired to some extent

by the thought and language of Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders.

But then, as usual, after correctly assessing the problems facing Americans, Obama offered only vague, overly general, "preachy" solutions. Ideas without substance. Dreams without any plan to realize them.

Increase the minimum wage -- I ask to what, and how? What action will Obama take to change the minimum wage? Will he call for a nationwide strike by minimum-wage workers across the country to bring the message home that we need to raise the minimum wage? And if so, will he march with the workers? Or does he plan to rely on the largesse and generosity of the very employers who have increased their own salaries and bonuses many-fold while cutting jobs and lowering or maintaining wages of their employees? If so, why bother to talk about raising the minimum wage. It won't happen without a concrete plan that people can get excited about and participate in.

We need better pre-school education and we need to make it available to every child in the country. Is Obama going to come up with concrete proposals for a program to provide that benefit for every American child and family that wants it? When? How will he sell it to those who oppose him on every issue?

We need to extend unemployment benefits and change the lot of the long-term unemployed. This was the issue on which Obama actually proposed at least a White House meeting of a group that can make some proposals, maybe, some day, hopefully not too late to help the many, many Americans over 50 who lost their jobs in the past few years and cannot get new ones. There was some sort of proposal that may or may not be concrete on this issue, but??? Again, it is very vague.

Insure economic security for retired Americans. Wow! Beautiful language, but utterly no action plan. How about a penny tax on every stock market trade dedicated to the issues of retirement security and pre-school education for every American child? Might even be able to help educate those who cannot afford college and lift the educational level of the entire nation -- a GI bill of sorts for today's youth?

Why does Obama do this? He sees the problems. He sees them clearly. But he never proposes solutions that really go to the guts of the issues. At least not publicly.

Dreamy, dreams. Honestly. It's really disappointing. Obama raised my hopes at the outset of the speech. I thought. Wonderful! A new, hard-hitting Obama speaking truth to power.

But then, after listening to the speech, I tried to list the concrete programs that he was proposing to deal with our life-threatening and nation-threatening disparity in wealth, a disparity so great that it could utterly rend our country apart, push our people into impoverished idiots --- and I could only list a couple of ideas. They were vague, the mere shadows or ephemeras of ideas.

It's just so disappointing. Such a waste. And I do think that Obama can do better. He is one of (perhaps the most) brilliant, persuasive, loving, sincere and human presidents we have had in my lifetime.

But he lacks the confidence and the mindset to propose with full conviction answers to the questions of our times. How sad. If anyone could do it, he could. Why doesn't he? He seems almost apologetic in pointing out these obvious and very hideous problems in our economy. Why is he so fearful? So ashamed?

[Spitfire of ATJ]

3. Seems a lot of speeches are to the 1%. Pleading with them to stop being assholes.

[RBInMaine]

4. BULLSHIT ! He said right at the beginning it wasn't his State of the Union and he was outlining

"principles" and not specific programs. That will come with the State of the Union, although he has already outlined a number of specific programs and has ENACTED some too, such as the Recovery Act, The Lilly Leadbetter Fair Pay Law, ACA which included help for young people specifically including a rider making college loans more affordable, big investments in renewable energy, small business tax incentives, some increases of taxes on the rich (and would do more if not for the REPUKES), and many other measures. However, he has to contend with a REPUBLICAN-CONTROLLED HOUSE OF REPS and too many REPUKES in the Senate. As long as those REPUKES are there, ANY Dem President can only do so much.

You should be THRILLED that this President is talking about these issues very pointedly and is trying to do something about it. Your Debby-Downerism is unwarranted and STALE. And ask yourself, what are YOU doing yourself on these issues? Writing letters to the editor? Contacting your Congress member to push for certain measures? Joining lobbying groups that will push for better and more progressive laws at the local, state, and national levels? Working on campaigns to elect more progressives at all levels? Using social media to push a progressive agenda? What are YOU doing to help? Obama can't do it alone. The progressives at the grassroots need to help and be engaged, BIGTIME.

[drynberg]

5. Thought this was a good speech, and was angered and still want to know how to send CNN a message

That they missed the most important issue of the day: The Economy (stupid!) I saw this as a sneak preview of the State of the Nation address we'll hear in less than two months. It was also a strong message to the Repubs that they need to get some skin in the game or shut up. Now, they won't shut up, we know that, but voters will hear this message and get some to think about these purveyers of negativity and blockers of the role of government. Y'know, keeping the lights on and the economy growing while keeping us safe. Overall, I was very pleased with this latest address from our President.

[Lil Missy]

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