Another Day, Another GOO
By Bogus Doug
I watched bits and pieces of the latest Great Obama Oration (henceforth, “GOO”) last night, mostly because the alternative television programming between seven and eight on Wednesday evening turns out to be about as entertaining as the extended director’s cut of Gigli. Also because “So You Think You Can Dance” had to cut to an occasional commercial break.
I was struck by the fact that someone I am assured is one of the most electrifying speakers of our time sounds so monotonous, repetitive, and stuck on his old campaign trail script. As God is my witness, at one point he actually said, “I won’t stand by while the special interests use the same old tactics to keep things exactly the way they are.” Didn’t he use that same line in the GOO he delivered at the Ankeny, Iowa Lion’s Club back on the campaign trail in 2007? And the GOO at the Rutland, New Hampshire “Sun Up Cafe”? And the GOO at the Newberry, South Carolina VFW? Etc. etc. etc. I suppose such a fervent adherence to recycling (in this case of speech lines) probably wins extra support from the environmental lobby, but it didn’t seem quite suited to the moment.
I was also struck by how the post GOO analysis remained nearly perfectly split along partisan lines. It’s not so surprising that the Democratic backers confessed themselves smitten over the stunning power and unexpected (?!!) effectiveness of the GOO. That’s the same script they follow every time Obama fails to impale himself on his teleprompter while simultaneously being caught on tape cursing out a troop of cub scouts. No, that much I knew would be coming.
The striking thing was how the media-proclaimed post-partisan president seemingly did little more than rally his own partisans in, once again, campaign-like fashion. Why, I’ll bet if they had to vote for president tomorrow they’d vote for him again!! Take that, naysayers!
The problem is I’m not sure that particular outcome added anything new or significant to the health care insurance mumble… mumble… reform situation. What exactly was this speech supposed to do? Lay out a clear compromise to break the Congressional stalemate? He didn’t offer one. Win over independents or votes across the aisle? Didn’t seem much attempted. Come down one way or the other on a “public option”? He once again played both sides of the fence.
So anyway, near as I can tell, yet another GOO has passed and once again nothing has really changed.
September 10th, 2009 at 10:22 am
But he mentioned “Tort Reform” !!!!
September 10th, 2009 at 11:52 am
BD, he’s been on the fence regarding the public option since the Town Hall strategy blew up in his face. His goal is to get past this without admitting defeat. He does not stand on his principles.
September 10th, 2009 at 3:25 pm
For all the words flying past each other there is some good common ground between both side that could get enacted with both side eagerly approving. The President claimed in his speech that in alabama 90% are covered by one insurance company. His solution was wrong but many support the correct solution, break down barriers to buying insurance from across state lines. The tax breaks corporations receive for providing insurance should be extended to the individual, should be widely supported.
September 11th, 2009 at 9:38 am
dave_h said:
“The tax breaks corporations receive for providing insurance should be extended to the individual, should be widely supported.”
Indeed.