President Obama's speech to the nation Monday night, August 1st:
"My fellow Americans. Tonight I have signed an order raising the debt ceiling for the next two years. I have taken this extraordinary step because I had no other choice. My duties under our Constitution include being commander-in-chief of our armed forces. Our forces are presently engaged in two long wars as well as hostilities in North Africa. I have taken a solemn oath to 'preserve, protect, and defend' our Constitution. To jeopardize in any way the well being of our troops, especially while in conflict, to endanger their pay and the housing and care of their families, to place in doubt our ability to pay for the care of the wounded, to place in doubt all the logistical support armies in the field depend on, would not only be unconscionable, it would be unconstitutional.
"My counsel and some of the finest Constitutional scholars in the land have expressed ambivalence about this step. There will be time for them, and our judicial branch, to debate, and quite possibly overrule, my decision. But that will take time and we do not have time. Lives are at stake. I know with certainty that at least one segment of American society, the parents and loved ones of our brave soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines serving abroad, will understand and hopefully support this extraordinary action.
"This must be made clear: I do not support any notion of what some have called an 'imperial presidency' or executive authority that unbalances our Constitutional balance of powers. But when Congress cannot or will not act, and when the lives of our forces in conflict are at stake, I must exercise the full responsibilities of the office I have undertaken to execute. I simply have no other choice. And I fully expect those Justices of our Supreme Court who have previously defended extraordinary executive power to understand and appreciate the necessity of this action in our nation's security interest.
"No American is more confident than I in our elected representatives resuming their legislative responsibilities. When extreme passions are spent, and angers and frustrations at our purposefully convoluted democratic process run their inevitable course, Congress will once again do its duty. And to all those in various movements and the media who find it convenient to blame 'Washington' for our troubles, let me remind you that the President and everyone in Congress were elected by a majority of the voters in the nation or in their respective States and districts. We are you. And you are us. We are here because you sent us here. And neither a single individual nor small group of zealots should or will dominate our process or dictate the national interest. No single group should or will have its way.
"I close tonight with this prayer: God in heaven protect our troops, the dedicated young men and women who defend our country. Be with them and guide and protect them and all those they defend in foreign lands. Bring them home safe...and soon. And as you do, dear God, please continue to bless this land, even when we have not deserved your blessing."
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Stephen LeDrew: Obama, Stop Lecturing and Start Leading
Except they did.
Your imaginary speech would have represented a move with deep principles and political courage.
It turns out that Obama has neither.
Politically it may have been enough to temporarily squelch the extreme right wing. But they would have turned it around accusing him of using our troops for political gain.
Instead, he could have included a much broader picture of America. For instance, the elderly on Social Security or Medicare. Disabled Vets. The unemployed.
And then he could have gone into a cresscendo of American Dream imagery. Hammering home the idea that intentionally pushing the economy into a depression based purely on the extremist view that the United States government should be gutted (except for defense of course) is simply reprehensible.
For example, democrats in general are by now what used to be called moderate republicans. The high cost of election campaigns may be part of it because both parties need the suppport of business to win.
The extreme right wing, a minority within congress and the country as a whole, are prepared to do anything necessary to get their own way. Whether or not its ethical or even constitution is irrevlevant. They follow the ethical guideline thay "if we're doing it, then its constitutional."
Obama seems to be remaining intentionally neutral on issues, as if he believes that's what the president's constitutional role should be.
One the other hand, as Robert Reich wrote the other day, Obama may just lack the courage to lead the American people by speaking truth to them and explaining what needs to be done. Courage to take political risks of leadership.
Authorizing the hit on bin Ladin took guts, but it was low risk for him politically.
You answered, "Ten. If they're really dedicated, they quickly become 10,000."
You were a great candidate - I worked hard on your campaign in 1984 - in Alabama, in Pennsylvania and in Tennessee. I was a surrogate escort for your sister in law, Martha's Keys, too.
But one thing you were better than all else in - and that was writing a great speech. You demonstrated that in your contribution on Huff Post today. Thank you.
You were asked that question by
The problem with that statement, Mister Hart, is that there are in fact small groups of zealots bent on dictating the national interest. And they have enablers with government access, like Karl Rove.
Hello President Perry ( who will run as an Economic Populist with Koch $$$)
I disagree with the TP87 150%, but I can admire their conviction, democrats could learn volumes from them, but Republican would straight ignore them if they were in the minority, and marginalize whoever thought about speaking up with proven talking points.
But it will never happen. We have a President without real courage. When we need an FDR we have a Hoover.
What a shame for America and the world.