For what it’s worth, I wanted to share some thoughts about the quasi State of the Union last night:
There’s no doubt Obama is an exceptional orator, but much of the content was a mile wide and an inch deep and it will be hard to translate so many policy priorities into first year accomplishments.
First some general audience observations. Rep. Sanchez was falling out of her chair to hug, handshake and buss the president; despite what some say we are a nation at war and Congress could do better to keep the celebrity president hysteria to a minimum. I also noted several familiar GOP and Democratic members seeking autographs toward the end of the ceremony. Speaker Pelosi on more than one occasion seemed uncertain when to applaud–reforming social security, good idea–oh wait. One reporter we heard said members got their as much as 12 hours early to hold their aisle seats for a handshake chance. Fortunately Congress’ results are not matched against billable office hours.
President Obama repeated the phrase or iterations of "we inherited" on three occasions that I counted. We all know what he was saying and for an administration looking forward to so much post partisanship it was an unnecessary–and too oft repeated–phrase that is far from post and far from non partisan. Reagan famously said there’s no end to what you can accomplish so long as you don’t mind who gets the credit. When it comes to solving problems, we’d all be better served with a look ahead and not that age old political look-back blame game. It just doesn’t need to be spoken.
President Obama’s speech writers are prone to soaring rhetoric that plays to the Chief Executive’s strengths, but they are likewise prone to bends of truth in pursuit of the sound byte.
He said: "[A]nd yet, it is China that has launched the largest effort in history to make their economy energy efficient." Here’s what the World Nuclear Association says about energy in China: "Mainland China has eleven nuclear power reactors in commercial operation, seven under construction, and ten more about to start construction." Wouldn’t it be exceptional to do the same here? Carbon free power generation to power the electrical devices (including cars) of tomorrow! To say nothing of the considerable use of coal fired power in China and that nation’s exemption from the much heralded Kyoto climate treaty. Don’t ask Obama’s party about their position on nuclear power or coal for that matter.
There is also a touch of irony when a commander in chief uses cheap partisan rhetoric like "This time, CEOs won’t be able to use taxpayer money to pad their paychecks or buy fancy drapes or disappear on a private jet." Merrill’s Thane was the decorator in chief and my read of coverage in FT and WSJ on this was it was paid for long before bailout funds became available–as outrageous as it is, it’s a rhetorical jump the facts can’t hold aloft.
But there is a deeper concern here. I recently read the following: "The cabin area is equipped with a crew rest area, distinguished visitor compartment with sleep accommodations, two galleys and business class seating with worktables. The C-40B is designed to be an office in the sky for senior military and government leaders. Communications are paramount aboard the C-40B which provides broadband data/video transmit and receive capability as well as clear and secure voice and data communication." The latest corporate jet? Not likely, it’s the C-40 from the Andrews Air Force Base-headquartered squadron that flies members of Congress, Speaker Pelosi, military leaders and others. It’s the same type of jet used for all those "official" ‘Co-Dels" or Congressional Delegation trips. Most members of Congress fly commercial to commute but business travel for CoDels is often aboard these planes as is the travel of the Speaker for those that remember the controversy a year or two back. So let’s not pick fights that–pardon the pun–take the rhetoric high but leave the substance on the ground. Not to mention, I’ve been on commercial flights with an L.A. member who exited from the jet way to the tarmac! On a recent flight from Chicago where Justice Ginsberg and her husband were aboard, she walked on and off via jet way like the rest of us. People who live in glass Capitols….
President Obama sailed through his hour-long address with the oratory ease and style of Clinton and Reagan. His next challenges are translating a litany of political promises into an actionable legislative agenda and moving on from early, potentially shallow, rhetoric and making good on his campaign promise to govern and enact policies that are truly post-partisan, and not just more of the same by another name.