State Of The Union Quotes: Best Lines From Obama's 2011 Address

President Barack Obama stood before a joint session of Congress Tuesday night and delivered his second State of the Union address. Below is a sampling of some of the best quotes from his speech. Take a look, and don't forget to vote for your favorite:

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'Party Or Political Preference'

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"Amid all the noise and passions and rancor of our public debate, Tucson reminded us that no matter who we are or where we come from, each of us is a part of something greater - something more consequential than party or political preference."

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"Amid all the noise and passions and rancor of our public debate, Tucson reminded us that no matter who we are or where we come from, each of us is a part of something greater - something more consequential than party or political preference."

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Comments

[Barton449]

03:54 PM on 01/26/2011

'"The Future Is Ours To Win'"

TOTUS was original with that one!
Teleprompter of the United States.

[tpk]

07:06 PM on 01/26/2011

so, this is your constructive critism... wow, you are such a deep thinker

[Barton449]

08:33 AM on 01/27/2011

Who said constructive criticism here, only?

Most of what is posted here is sycophantic pablum lauding the Messiah.

[eastfernstreet]

03:43 PM on 01/26/2011

As a teacher, I find this a curious notion. Until teachers are treated and compensated like the hard-working, comparatively low-paid professionals we are, encouraging young people to enter the field is misguided. We are always the first targets in scapegoating and the last to get credit.

Crime can go up, but we don't blame the cops. Wars are not won, but we still support the troops. Houses burn down, but firemen aren't to blame. Health care costs skyrocket and life expectancy lags, still we don't blame the doctors. Lawsuits are overwhelming the system, but we still call our lawyers. But when Johnny can't read - it's ALL the teacher's fault.

Nevertheless, you are all able to read this.

[lasse-swede]

12:15 PM on 01/26/2011

“But now that the worst of the recession is over, we have to confront the fact that our government spends more than it takes in. That is not sustainable. Every day, families sacrifice to live within their means. They deserve a government that does the same.”

Remarkable the leader of the mightiest nation on earth does believe that the economy of the state function as a household economy (especially in a fiat-monetary system with free floating currency), one could have thought that those misconception had been long gone.

US federal deficit 1910 – 2010:
http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/5913/feddef2.png

“If we make the hard choices now to rein in our deficits, we can make the investments we need to win the future.”

So there going to be fantastic investment¬s in innovation¬, education, and infrastruc¬ture but first they have to “make the hard choices” then they shall venture into the promised land. How many unemployed will there be, how much have the deficit increased after the “hard choices” have been made.

Obama keep up the usual stuff about “globalization”, it’s an external threat and menace that is hunting USA and its citizens, sort of the cause have nothing to do with the domestic politics it’s those evil Chinese’s and foreigners. But if the people are willing to make sacrifices and hard choices, i.e. slashing Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security those evil foreigners could be fended off and maybe beaten.

[Cookie Monsta]

01:24 PM on 01/26/2011

Speaking of hard choices, is is a hard choice to keep all the WWII era bases in Europe and Japan? We spend a lot of money on being the world's police force. Is cutting that back a hard choice..?

[IronSky99]

11:42 AM on 01/26/2011

Isnt it odd how he talked about the 5 pillars of change, isnt that very similar to the " five pillars of Islam". Maybe he really is a mooslim.

[duckpuddle]

01:01 PM on 01/26/2011

You know what is even odder? He wore a tie and John Boehner wore a tie. Maybe Obama is really a republican!

But Boehner's tie was pink, so maybe he is gay!

[femmyror]

04:09 PM on 01/26/2011

If it quacks like a duck it could be a duck. Or not. So many possibilities.

[FalstaffsMind]

11:03 AM on 01/26/2011

It was a good speech, but at times I swear he was reading the words to the Mary Tyler Moore theme song.

[PamelaH1227]

10:20 AM on 01/26/2011

Right on President Obama, in reference to "Don't be worring about the 2012 election now, the people that sent us here want us doing the job they sent us here to do & get This country moving again instead of fighting each other & looking for scandals to gouge the oppopisite party with!"

Yes thats why they were sent .. should be like all jobs all politicians should get a work evaluation every six months to gauge their pay.... stuff might just change for our better.

[gobamaaa]

10:03 AM on 01/26/2011

"we do big things"

i like your style, mr. president.

[ellwort]

09:51 AM on 01/26/2011

Platitudes. All sound (no fury) signifying corporate tool.

[kimbearclan]

08:05 AM on 01/26/2011

I'm a teacher. I have a vocation and I love what I do. But I had to go to France to find work.
Teachers, at our best, are the encouragers, guides and rewarders of our students. We really hope they'll fly, and higher than us, into the world and their lives. But it would be time to honor and reward us, if you want more people in the field. If this job is so crucial, then why is it so poorly paid? Why do we have to waste precious brain, heart & body energy just worrying about how to get by? Energy that could instead be used to ever improve our teaching and the understanding of life that we inevitably transmit if we're good, no matter what the subject matter.
Enable teachers to do their jobs.

[bsultan]

07:48 AM on 01/26/2011

Being that Islamophobia appears to be at an all time high, it was nice to see the President remind everyone that American Muslims are as part of the American family as any group. I know I was one of many American Muslims watching and hoping to hear such a remark. Thank you, Mr. President.

[duckpuddle]

01:10 PM on 01/26/2011

He does have a habit of being inclusive. That is a refreshing change I can believe in.

Though it saddens me that some (IronSky99 11:42 AM) are still stuck with their irrational fears.

The line about some in the military are gay was quite nice to hear.
As any other president ever used the word "gay" in a state of the union speech?

[Cookie Monsta]

01:28 PM on 01/26/2011

Maybe it's just me but, when he said that, it was his tone that I noticed. To paraphrase, "And, yes, we realize that some of them are gay" sounded to me a bit like. 'We get it, can you please stop being so flamboyant now.' Perhaps I'm reading too much into it.

[speckitis]

04:11 AM on 01/26/2011

Great SOTU.

[Steve Dexter]

01:52 AM on 01/26/2011

Loved ut

[dorothy bnks]

01:37 AM on 01/26/2011

Boehner had too much to drink again. He was on the verge of tears through the whole speech. Not because he was in agreement with President Obama, but because he is one of those individuals who cries when he drinks. I have a friend like that, only she cries and sings.

[Sydracer]

07:22 AM on 01/26/2011

Lolol!! Fanned and Faved

Watching him I felt I was privy to an epic breakdown at any moment!

[av1drdr]

09:05 AM on 01/26/2011

By the pinched look on his face he looked like the corn cob had turned sideways.

[nmeemn]

01:26 AM on 01/26/2011

""In fact, to every young person listening tonight who's contemplating their career choice: If you want to make a difference in the life of our nation; if you want to make a difference in the life of a child - become a teacher. Your country needs you.""

Just don't become a teacher in California.

[rktboy]

02:52 AM on 01/26/2011

Whoa! Whoa! I'm a California teacher. I may take home chicken feed and fall somewhere below "pornstar" on the social appreciation ladder, but I have to tell you, I sleep like a baby at night.

[speckitis]

04:13 AM on 01/26/2011

Great response!!!!

[Cookie Monsta]

01:30 PM on 01/26/2011

Thank you! I'm sorry about the pay and prestige thing. I hope your community supports your school better than Milwaukee supports MPS.

[Cooday]

12:38 AM on 01/26/2011

Most favorite line from President Obama's 2011 State of the Union --

‎"There are twelve different agencies that deal with exports. There are at least five different entities that deal with housing policy. Then there's my favorite example: the Interior Department is in charge of salmon while they're in fresh water, but the Commerce Department handles them in when they're in saltwater. And I hear it gets even more complicated once they're smoked." President Obama

100 Smoked Salmon Recipes
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipe-collections/smoked-salmon/index.html

Gourmet Alaskan Smoked Salmon | Smoked Salmon, Gift Baskets, Gift Sets, Gifts, Recipes and Holiday Gifts
http://www.alaskasmokehouse.com/51313/Smoked-Salmon.html