Union of the State

Very cleverly, last night Obama called on Republicans and Democrats to start getting along. Moreoever, he told them to stop selfishly trying to advanced their careers, and start legislating FOR the people who elected them. He told the Democrats to stop being pansies (finally), and he told the Republicans to take some responsibility for legislating instead of blindly saying no to everything. Nobel words, and I hope he keeps his promise to constantly and publicly engage the Republican party to bring more cohesion across the aisle.

To paraphrase the President, there are some issues we just won't agree on, but we can agree on some basic things that all people deserve, like better access to doctors, a more stable economy, access to more jobs, and yes, equal rights for people who are willing to die for America. I can shoot a rifle as well or better than the other armsmen in the lanes next to me at Blue Ridge Arsenal, I go to the gym more than most of them, and I can run faster than most of them. Yet, I'm not allowed to save their ass from international threats while maintaining honesty with my peers. It's asinine (thanks a lot Clinton).

Obama made some good, direct suggestions for Congress. One of my favorites was getting rid of the capital gains tax for small businesses. Like DADT, it's about time. He also suggested some republican-like energy options (coal and offshore oil drilling). This was smart smart smart. If you want to bring cooperation across the aisle, then it has to come from both sides.

I would have liked him to speak more to the American people and say something like, "Dear Americans, your elected officials owe it to you to spend their time legislating and not campaigning. Call, email, write to them to tell them to start spending more time on the Hill and less time on Meet the Press."