It was more than just a "speech".

[kentuck]

It was a call for courage.

It was a message and a template for our Party to regain its vision. When you believe in something, your fight is much more enduring and meaningful.

The most important thing about the "speech" is whether or not the Democratic Party leaders adopt the message the President laid out.

It is a positive message, not a negative message. It is about "us", not just me. It is about what we stand for as a people. It is a vision for our Party.

If there is still a thread of conscience alive in our Party, they will adopt the progressive principles the President presented to our nation and they will fight for them with a passion.

[Taverner]

1. Damn I wish you were right

But based on previous behavior, its a little hard to swallow

[leftstreet]

2. Voters didn't elect Obama 2+yrs ago to still be 'fighting' today

This tactic will fail, they need to try something else

[jaxx]

5. Why not still fight?

Did people think the problems would be waved away and perfection would be the result? Did people think they could just sit back and criticize instead of helping?

[leftstreet]

6. Why should voters fight if he won't?

He presented a 'problem solving' plan 2 yrs ago.

He and the Democrats trotted right out and said there was opposition.

How were they going to implement their 'plan' without a fight?

[jaxx]

13. I've never lived in Utopia.

This President has been fighting since the day he took office. If you can't see it, and can only criticize, you'll never be able to move forward. Stuck.

[JuniperLea]

8. What a crock!

Those of us with critical thinking skills know without question that all the ills we face will take a hell of a long time to fix, and that the GOTP aren't likely to help.

Give it a fucking break.

I for one want him to fight every stinking day he holds office... all EIGHT YEARS!!!

[leftstreet]

10. Are you suggesting voters didn't have 'critical thinking skills' when they elected him?

:shrug:

[JuniperLea]

14. No

I'm suggesting exactly what I said. Please read again, using your own critical thinking skills... and you don't speak for all voters.

[csziggy]

22. +100000000000000000000

[madokie]

23. Yes me too

every damn step of the way, fight like our lives depend on it because it does.

[treestar]

20. Weird comment. This life, not a movie.

[markpkessinger]

3. I hope you're right -- but history does not bode well n/t

[alsame]

4. I'm glad you came back :) nt

[kentuck]

17. Thanks alsame!

I had to express an opinion on this.

[Dappleganger]

7. Sorry, but I disagree.

It's not "more than" anything. It really was just a speech.

There have been some real liberals who have been speaking the truth for awhile, they follow that up with their ACTIONS.

Pardon me for being skeptical, but here it is two years later and that skepticism was earned. It will take more than just a speech to persuade me otherwise. I want to see the signed bill with no cuts to our backbone programs and tax increases on those top earners.

He's a great guy, a wonderful speaker and gives excellent speeches. But I have been fooled before and there is too much at stake to be lulled into that position once more.

[kentuck]

9. The President is only the President.

The Party has to stand for something. The President has spoken. It is up to the Democrats in the House and Senate and all of us to work with his message. The choice is ours. You can decide what you want to do.

[JuniperLea]

12. +1

I'm so happy to see you saying this... good on you!

[Dawgs]

38. Why did he take him two years to speak?

Could it be the start of campaigning? Let's all hope not, but pretending that he's been talking and walking like this all along is just not true. He's earned the skepticism. That can't be denied.

[Erose999]

26. A-men bruv. Talk (in general) is cheap. Talk from Obama is just about worthless. I mean at least you

can use wooden nickles for fireplace kindling, ya know?

[JuniperLea]

11. K&R, kentuck!

Spot the heck on! Now we need to show Congress no mercy... we need to constantly tell them to stand behind the POTUS on this, because it benefits all Americans.

[SalviaBlue]

15. K&R

[alfredo]

16. And now the Republicans will have to come out for tax cuts for

the rich at the expense of granny. Guns or butter.

[EFerrari]

18. That was the text. Imo, the subtext was

for Democrats in Congress: Don't ask me to gut SS and Medicare too much between now and the election.

And I don't know how progressive it really is to ask for cuts to our social safety net to be limited. That framing is already a concession.

[Bandit]

19. While I agree in principle, but I still hear from them "Everything is Negotiable"

Which is it anyway.. Either tax cuts for the wealthy are Negotiable or they are not. One of the other is a LIE.

[bettyellen]

24. your quote is a lie- he said in the budget all areas were negotiable- not about taxes at all

that was very cleary stated, and restated.

[Bandit]

27. My quote is exactly that, a quote

You can call them a LIAR, but you shouldn't call me one for quoteing someone. That quote by the way was from Rahm Emanuel and I don't think they were discussing any Budget Items at the time. I believe it was during the Health care Debate.

[bettyellen]

28. its deliberately misleading, and has nothing to do with today's speech

[Bluerthanblue]

21. Oh wow-

thank you for posting this.

You put this into a succinct important message.

K and an enthusiastic REC!

:hi:

[OneGrassRoot]

25. I missed the speech....

but I most certainly appreciate your inspiring words.

:hi:

:hug:

[pa28]

29. It seemed to me he finally found the bully pulpit.

No weasel words on taxes: "I refuse to renew" is pretty clear. He presented his vision for repairing the budget and finally looked like he was ready to fight and expose the Republicans for what they are rather than just capitulating for the sake of getting along.

I felt like the tide turned. Like the old Obama had come back or the new Obama had finally found his legs as President. If his actions match his words in the next few weeks he's going to win back a lot of dissolutioned liberals.

[Zax2me]

30. K&R

[Recovered Repug]

31. There seems to be a flaw in your logic.

Quote: "The most important thing about the "speech" is whether or not the Democratic Party leaders adopt the message the President laid out".

Actually, the MOST important thing is whether or not OBAMA truly adopts the message he laid out. That remains to be seen.

[kentuck]

33. No.

It is more important that the Party adopt the message than whether the President adopts it. It is about what we as a Party stand for - not the President.

[ddeclue]

32. Just another pretty speech... Obama is going to need to SHOW me.

[Lorien]

35. Yep, his speeches always sway the base...until he takes (or doesn't take) action

DU will have an Obama lovefest until the next knife gets plunged into our backs. Then there will be another bout of disillusionment until another fine speech is given. It's very Pavlovian.

[Little Star]

34. He always talks the talk. Where has the leadership & action been?

Nice message though if you still have any hope and change left in your wallet.

[Cresent City Kid]

36. I was working during the speech, only heard bits on the Ed Show

I liked the tone of what I heard. It has the potential to be what you say, a rallying cry. Failing that, let's get inspired anyway, this is a throwdown. The right is doing all the same things they've done since Reagan, but things are speeding up. They have lost any patience for long term strategy and piecemeal achievements. They want it all, NOW. End unions, end social safety nets, etc. Look at Wisconsin, they passed an illegal law. They've been building a time machine, destination: 1890. The thing is up and running now, and they're ready to fire it up.

If we can't agree on Obama, whatever, fight republicans with him or without him. I don't care how many angles we come at them from, or who gets the credit. Let's go to work.

[Raine]

37. Unfortunately it was just a "speech" and nothing more

I've heard those speeches before with no action beyond the speech. I can't take him at his word, I've done that time and time again and each time I've been fooled. I'm waiting for the action that goes beyond his words.