The President delivered his State of the Union address last night and challenged the country to “win the future”. In a speech free of controversial rhetoric the President urged Americans to unleash their competitive spirit and “outdo the world”. He focused on education, innovation, infrastructure, deficit resolution and government reformation as areas where the country can right itself and reclaim its’ rightful place as world leader. His tone was positive and filled with hope for a country now struggling with high unemployment and record debt.
The mood in the chamber was much more subdued than in years past. Absent were the cheers and standing ovations at every pause in the President’s remarks. Perhaps that was due in part due to members of the different parties intermingling and sitting together rather than on opposite sides of the aisle has had been done for over ninety years. Or perhaps it was due in part to the memory of their colleague Gabby Giffords who was wounded in the Tucson shooting and still fighting to recover; her empty chair standing in silent tribute. No matter the reason, the atmosphere was much different. The President, known to feed off the crowd reaction, struggled at times with the lack of response to key points in his remarks.
Like most State of the Union remarks, this speech was long on the “what” but short on the “how”. In some cases there seemed to be conflicting assertions. For example, the President proposed a five year freeze on discretionary spending and then proceeded to recommend a whole host of new spending initiatives. Afterwards one pundit described the speech as “a math problem without a solution”.
But this was a big picture speech. He gave both Democrats and Republicans something they can feel good about.
Today pundits and politicos will parse his every word. Three days from now no one will remember what he said.
Then let the games begin.
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