2011.01.25 16:15
Obama's 'Union': 'Move together or not at all' By BEN FELLER, AP White House Correspondent Ben Feller, Ap White House Correspondent – 18 mins ago WASHINGTON – Pleading for unity in a newly divided government, President Barack Obama implored Democratic and Republican lawmakers to rally behind his vision of economic revival for an anxious nation, declaring in his State of the Union address Tuesday night: "We will move forward together or not at all." To a television audience in the millions, Obama addressed a Congress sobered by the assassination attempt against one if its own members, Rep. Gabrielle Giffords. Her seat sat empty, and many lawmakers of competing parties sat together in a show of support and civility. Yet differences were still evident, as when Democrats stood to applaud his comments on health care and tax cuts while Republicans next to them sat mute. In his best chance of the year to connect with the country, Obama devoted most of his hour-long prime-time address to the economy, the issue that dominates concern in a nation still reeling from a monster recession — and the one that will shape his own political fortunes in the 2012 election. The president unveiled an agenda of carefully balanced political goals: a burst of spending on education, research, technology and transportation to make the nation more competitive, alongside pledges, in the strongest terms of his presidency, to cut the deficit and smack down spending deemed wasteful to America. Yet he never explained how he'd pull that off or what specifically would be cut. Obama did pledge to veto any bill with earmarks, the term used for lawmakers' pet projects. Boehner and other Republicans applauded. But Obama's promise drew a rebuke from his own party even before he spoke, as Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said the president had "enough power already" and that plans to ban earmarks were "a lot of pretty talk." Obama's proposals Tuesday night included cutting the corporate tax, providing wireless services for almost the whole nation, consolidating government agencies and freezing most discretionary federal spending for the next five years. In the overarching theme of his speech, the president told the lawmakers: "The future is ours to win." Yet, Republicans have dismissed his "investment" proposals as merely new spending. Republican Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, giving the GOP's response, said the nation was at a tipping point leading to a dire future if federal deficits aren't trimmed. Ryan was to promote budget cuts as essential to responsible governing, speaking from the hearing room of the House Budget Committee, which he now chairs. Obama entered the House chamber to prolonged applause, and to the unusual sight of Republicans and Democrats seated next to one another rather than on different sides of the center aisle. And he began with a political grace note, taking a moment to congratulate Boehner, the new Republican speaker of the House. Calling for a new day of cooperation, Obama said: "What comes of this moment will be determined not by whether we can sit together tonight but whether we can work together tomorrow." On a night typically known for its political theater, the lawmakers sometimes seemed subdued, as if still in the shadow of the Arizona shootings. Many in both parties wore black-and-white lapel ribbons, signifying the deaths in Tucson and the hopes of the survivors. Giffords' husband was watching the speech from her bedside, as he held her hand. At times, Obama delivered lighter comments, seeming to surprise his audience with the way he lampooned what he suggested was the government's illogical regulation of salmon. Halfway through his term, Obama stepped into this moment on the upswing, with a series of recent legislative wins in his pocket and praise from all corners for the way he responded to the shooting rampage in Arizona. But he confronts the political reality is that he must to lead a divided government for the first time, with more than half of all Americans disapproving of the way he is handling the economy. Over his shoulder a reminder of the shift in power on Capitol Hill: Boehner, in the seat that had been held by Democratic Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Obama conceded that everything he asked for would prompt more partisan disputes. "It will take time," he said. "And it will be harder because we will argue about everything. The cost. The details. The letter of every law." Obama used the stories of some of the guests sitting with his wife, Michelle, to illustrate his points, including a small business owner who, in the tradition of American ingenuity, designed a drilling technology that helped rescue the Chilean miners. The president cast the challenges facing the United States as bigger than either party. He said the nation was facing a new "Sputnik" moment, and he urged efforts to create a wave of innovation to create jobs and a vibrant economic future, just as the nation vigorously responded to the Soviets beating the U.S. into space a half century ago. There was less of the see-saw applause typical of State of the Union speeches in years past, where Democrats stood to applaud certain lines and Republicans embraced others. Members of the two parties found plenty of lines worthy of bipartisan applause. In a speech with little focus on national security, Obama appeared to close the door on keeping any significant U.S. military presence in Iraq beyond the end of the year. "This year, our civilians will forge a lasting partnership with the Iraqi people while we finish the job of bringing our troops out of Iraq," the president said. The president reiterated his call for a comprehensive immigration bill, although there appears little appetite for it Congress. Another big Obama priority that stalled and died in the last Congress, a broad effort to address global climate change, did not get a mention in the State of the Union. Nor did gun control or the struggling effort to secure peace in the Middle East. |
2011.01.25 17:22
2011.01.25 20:50
I read his address first through chosun.com.
They say he mentioned Korea seven times in his speech.
Each time, they gave him standing ovation.
If I add one line more to say if everybody,
all the people in the country believe in "Country First",
America will Last For Ever, not like Roman Empire,
Ridding of their Indivisual Greed,
Thinking of "Country First"
Which demands Contribution and Sacrifice.
I am a Born Conservative, believing in "Country First".
2011.01.26 03:13
I listened to the entire speech.
He made me proud of being a Korean.
He praised the teachers in Korea and
Korean people who call teachers "Nation Builders,"
and respect them with good compensation.
President Obama implied that America should be doing the same thing.
Then he mentioned that Korea has near 100% internet connections
to all the homes ahead of USA.
It was rather conspicuous thing that President of the United States
quoted Korea repeatedly out of so many nations around the globe in his most
important speech of the year.
I couldn't help feeling proud of being a Korean.
2011.01.26 11:12
Here's a letter from "Students First" by Michelle Rhee: Supporter, And so the question is whether all of us -- as citizens, and as parents -- are willing to do what's necessary to give every child a chance to succeed.As a member of StudentsFirst, you have already said "yes" to the president's call for action. And I bet you know other parents, teachers, and concerned citizens who also want to do whatever it takes to put students first. Invite your friends and coworkers to join our movement to transform public education. Spread the word through email, Facebook or Twitter now: http://studentsfirst.org/spread-the-word In his speech, the president echoed one of the core principles from our policy agenda: the need to elevate the teaching profession by valuing teachers' impact on students. He said, Let's also remember that after parents, the biggest impact on a child's success comes from the man or woman at the front of the classroom. ... We want to reward good teachers and stop making excuses for bad ones.As you know, this will not be easy. There are powerful adults with vested interests in stopping the reform movement -- people who continue to put the needs of adults before the needs of children. That's why we must continue to grow our movement to put the needs of students first. Take just a minute to help by inviting your friends to join: http://studentsfirst.org/spread-the-word Working together, we can give our children the opportunities they deserve. Thanks for your support, Michelle Rhee Founder and CEO StudentsFirst |
2011.01.26 18:56
미국의 정치제도의 문제점을 대변하는 상황이 우리동네 나파에서
아직도 계속되고있는데..
Napa에서 고속도로에 접속되는 12 마일 되는 글이 꼬부랑 꼬부랑하고 좁아서 일년에
차사고로, 이길에서 죽는 사람이 매년 30 여명되어 주민 발안으로 길을 넓히자고 하면 번번히, 부결.
이유는 주민이 세금을 조금 더 내야하고, 나파에 길이좋아 출퇴근 하는 사람이 많아지면 집값이 떨어지고, 상인들은 사람들이 동네 밖으로 나가 쇼핑을 하니 나파에 상점하는 사람 다망한다고 아우성..
FTA 협정 조인하면
한국에서 경쟁할수없는 직종이 무너지니
절대로 외국 상품에 문을 열지 말라는 주장도 똑 같은 이유,
크게 보지 않고 당장에 이익에 급급한
대기업, 주민의 자기만의 생각..
여기 말한 "for the country first, rahther my interest first "가 적절한 말인데
정권 잡을려고 동조해서, 일할 생각 보나는 상대방 까 뭉개기에 더 관심이 있으니
나라가 전쟁이 일어나 위기에 몰리지 않는한,
두 당이 협력헤서 문제를 해결하려는 노력이 않보니니..
저도 오늘 이 분 연설 라디오로 듣고 공화당 사람 반대의견도 들엇는데..
이 나라에서 부유층들 대변하는 세력이 "애국심을" 역 이용해, 빈익빈 부익부의 악순환을 초래, 목전의 이득만 생각해, 강력한 지도자가 나오질 못하고, 돈많은 사람 손에 놀아나 기초적인 문제를 해결 못하고있다고 생각하는데
한국과 중국의 현재 번영은
4.19 후에 보아온 "민주 난장판" 에서도
"북한같은 독재정권" 속에서도 모두 불가능하다고 생각합니다.
정치인들이 인기전술 재선거만 생각해서 먼날을 생각 못하는게 큰일이라고 생각합니다.
로마제국같이 미국이 언제는 주저 않을지 걱정이됨.
언제 싼프란 시스코 나갈려면
자가용밖엔 다른 수단이 없고
차가 밀려 8 차선 도로가 완전히 주차장으로 변햇는데
지하철하나 연장 못하고,
기차를 타면 차가 하도 흔들려 똑 바로 설수도 없고, 책도읽기가 힘드니
미개국과 차이가 없어보이지요.
정신적 문제가있는사람이 사람을 파리같이 죽여 쏴도 전혀 해결책이 없고..
교육, 의료보럼, 교통, 에너지 문제, 범죄문제 인터넷 전국 보급문제..
산적한 문제를
공동으로 해결하지 않고 사기업으로 해결하자고 미루고있는데
여기엔 정치 체제에 문제가 있지 않나 생각하는데?