Last night I watched the President’s State of the Union address. I’ll admit to having hesitated to watch. I voted for Obama, but I haven’t been particularly happy with the way things have been going in Washington. But when I heard on the radio that it was time, I dutifully turned off the radio and turned on the TV.
I kept the sound down until the President was actually ready to begin. I hate being told what he’s going to say and then, afterwards, what he said. What kind of morons do the commentators think we are? Or are they afraid that we’ll listen to the speech and hear the words that are said and how they are said?
It was a while before the President smiled, but when he did, it lit up the room. It recalled the enthusiasm I’d had for his candidacy. It was genuine. It was humanizing. It was a dramatic contrast to what the camera showed in the audience, panning the faces of his opposition.
Republican lawmakers
Those stony faces exuded resentment, dislike, perhaps even hatred. Those were the faces of not just political opposition, but belligerent refusal to cooperate.
I don’t think I’ve ever heard a President speak directly to the lawmakers who are screwing up the government in specific and certain terms. This one did it.
The Supreme Court was sitting together down front, robes of office showing their special and exalted status. The President told them what he thought of the outrageous decision they made the other day concerning turning American elections over to the richest corporate entities in the world.
He told the uncooperative members of congress and the senate that it was time to forget their personal agendas and work for the people who sent them to Washington.
He reminded them that the national deficit was already in the trillions when he walked in the door a year ago.
He reminded them that the previous administration had taken office with a large surplus, the legacy of the administration before them.
He stood there, David smiling at Goliath, reiterating the goals he had for the government. His enemies stared back, chewing the insides of their lips, biting back the insults they were longing to shout, closing their minds to reason, common sense, and the needs of their constituents.
I turned off the TV before the commentators could make me forget my impressions. I was reassured in only one thing: we have a capable President. I remained discouraged, however, because I saw, on those grim faces in the crowd, the petty, powerful determination to obstruct his efforts to govern this country as a democracy.
Graham and Sessions