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President Barack Obama delivers his State of the Union address on Tuesday. AP PHOTO
By GUY KOVNER
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
President Barack Obama’s harsh criticism of banks for their role in the nation’s economic woes struck a chord with Arlee Geary, a Santa Rosa Realtor.
The banks are “sitting on piles of money” and “trashing the American economy by not doing the things they’re supposed to do,” Geary said, mentioning making loans and modifying burdensome mortgages.
She was one of about 24 Democrats who packed into a northwest Santa Rosa living room Tuesday night for a State of the Union speech “watch party” sponsored by Organizing for America, the Obama campaign group.
Sonny Cordeiro of Santa Rosa found the 71-minute speech inspirational. “There’s no one else who speaks to the 99 percent as well as he does,” she said.
Miranda Dixon, who is signing on as an Organizing for America youth coordinator, said she appreciated Obama’s closing expression of confidence that America “can succeed at anything we do.”
Dixon said she just returned from a course at American University of Paris questioning whether America is in decline. “A lot of people think it is,” she said.
Lawrence Wiesner, a Santa Rosa Republican, said the speech focused on “hope for the future” because there is little positive happening now “and a lot of people know it.”
“The big elephant in the room is debt,” said Wiesner, who has run unsuccessfully for congressional and state Senate seats. Wiesner said he doubts much will come out of Washington in 2012.
North Coast Rep. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, called it one of the best of the 14 State of the Union speeches he’s heard.
Obama focused on “certain things the American people understand,” such as bringing jobs back to the United States and rebuilding public facilities.
Thompson said in a telephone interview from Washington that examples could include widening Highway 101 and maintaining North Coast bridges, efforts he contends would provide 9,000 jobs.
On a broader scale, Thompson said, the need for immigration and tax reform, clean energy and jobs are “not rocket science, but something everybody knows.”
Asked if he thinks a divided Congress is likely to do anything in an election year, Thompson said: “I hold high hopes. I’m going to continue to work to make it happen.”
John Bertucci, a participant in the Occupy Petaluma group, said in an interview that the president’s speech touched on many of the concerns voiced by the Occupy movement.
But he said it sounded like “a lot of election year promises” that may not come to fruition.
In particular, Bertucci said he doubts the administration will press for accountability on Wall Street or get tough with China on trade issues.
“There’s always a question with politicians,” he said.
Near the end of the “watch party,” Barry Hirsch of Organizing for America exhorted the Democrats: “Let’s all work together to get our president re-elected. We need four more years.”
Geary, the Santa Rosa Realtor, said she was concerned that liberal Democrats, “who feel disappointed because Obama didn’t do everything they wanted,” will refrain from voting.
“It’s not the Republicans we have to worry about,” she said.
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So Anderson, let’s talk about ideology. Ideology of socialism, redistribution of wealth, entitlement programs, tax everything, tax and spend, big government, government dependency, weak defense….etc. Or,individualism, personal responsibility, constitution, bill of rights (as they were written and intended), limited government, stong defense,reduced taxes (keeping what you earn and allowing employers to stay in business so they can employ people)….etc. You go ahead and pick your bias… I will admit to mine.. will you admit to yours?
Fox News on top: Network hits 10 years of #1
This is because people understand that the ignorant garbage that the Mockingbirds of the world watch is filled with bias and lies.
It’s obvious, except to those who choose to stay blinded by their ideology.
Wow! Looking at the responses and thumbs up/down differences on this blog has me optimistic about Sonoma County. It appears that some in this overly liberal area havn’t consumed the Kool Aid of liberalism/socialism. I’m sure that even with the disaster of President Obummers term there will be those that because of pride and buying into “change” can’t bring themselves to admitting the truth. The truth that we need to return to what our founding fathers had in mind and stop perverting our Constitution.
Notutoo-of course Saddam had it in the PAST because WE GAVE THE GAS TO HIM. This country was friends, once, with this dictator. I was talking about the BUSH YEARS when he didn’t have any. Bush was more interested in proving his daddy wrong about the first gulf war. And his daddy was right-we’ve been mired is sludge since we invaded and it’s cost us trillions of dollars (MY DOLLARS)..
Same speech as last year. Same comments even. No one else noticed? Nothing changed in an entire year except for anoth $1.1 Trillion in debt. Oh well, we can afford it. We can afford anything. That’s what the voters will be saying if BO is re-elected. The First Lady is up to $2 Mil a year in staff and expenses. Soak the fool girl, soak the fools… They deserve to have every dime taken from them. It’s still payback time in the White House. They have a lot more friends to enrich, with your money.
Silly argument about WMD in Iraq… Did they or did they not use gas on the Kurds? He had WMD’s. Not only that but Saddam had made many references to the possession of WMD’s in an effort to keep us from invading.
@Mockingbird,
Really, where is your proof??? Your claim that Fox lied about WMD’s is not correct. Even MSNBC reported their existance based on both U.S. intelligence reports and UN reports. So the only “proof” you’ve provided is false. And, MSNBC has numerous shows which are the alter ego of Fox shows, just compare Rachael Maddow and Shaun Hannity, both equally slanted from their individual beliefs and points of view. Your inability to point to an actual and intentional “lie” reported by fox news and your blatant promotion of MSNBC is proof enough that instead of employing independent thought that is neither right or left leaning, you are employing biased reasoning towards whatever political view you may hold, and in my humble opinion, makes your opinions about Fox or MSNBC hard to take serioiusly.
Let me clarify things for all you folks.
There is no republican candidate for president whose memory extends further back than 3 years. I’d include a lot of state governors and legislators in that group.
The implication is that none of them are more than 3 years old. The Constitution says you have to be 36 to run for president.
God only knows what the requirements for office are in Wisconsin, Ohio or Indiana.
Commonsense-it’s not the liberal or conservative “perspective” that’s the problem on Fox NO News. It’s the LACK OF FACTS. You actually find FACTS on MSNBC ALONG with perspective.
Ricardo Sorentino-Obama lies because, apparently, FOX tells you that. You teapartiers are knee jerk reactors with whatever you hear that MIGHT be progressive. Everything is suspect even if the facts tell you differently. I’m not exactly happy with Obama, but when I look at who’s running against him, my God. Can’t you people see that you DON’T HAVE A VIABLE CANDIDATE? Find an Ike or a Teddy. Then I’ll pay attention.
RE: Mockingbird – “ANYTHING from FOX NO NEWS is suspect. They lie, insinuate, distort, and don’t report the news. It’s pretty much ALL FICTION.”
Wait, are you talking about Fox News, or Obama? I’ve heard that same description of Obama and his team for three years now.
@Mockingbird,
“Like the weapons of mass destruction in Iraq-nowhere to be found. But FOX kept saying it anyway, over, and over, and over, and over again”
Guess what, everyone was saying it back then, including the Brits and the UN (hence resolution 1441 calling for inspections). My advice is if you don’t like a particular news outlet, then don’t watch. But they pretty much all carry the same stories and headlines, with some excpetions and while I don’t generally watch Fox news, I’ve seen it on occasion and it’s news given from a conservative perspective, much like MSNBC is news given from a liberal perspective (which I’ve also watched on occassion).
Clarification: the word dark in the previous post speaks to dark intention.
I thought Obama being black was awesome.
Great speaker.
It’s the people he works for I take exception with.
Some nights I have this really great dream, that the dark ones realize…
they picked the wrong team.
Once we get past this oppressive chapter, we’ll look after each other for
ever after.
Some of us are active, we hear the calling.
Others just watch as the masks keep falling.
Look up Romney’s contributors.
More of the same.
When Ron Paul was asked about Agenda 21 at a Town Hall Meeting on C-Span, he replied that he was against our involvement with the UN, against all their ideology and policys.
The best part is; the room lit up in applause.
The machine is scared to death of him.
@Mockingbird
As usual, you are wrong about FOX, as you are with about everything else I’ve read from you on these boards- even the British and most other countries thought Iraq had WMDs at the time because of their history in fighting Ian and gassing the Kurds. Educate yourself.
If you want actual lies and distortions, watch MSNBC or NBC, or just listen to the daily White House briefings.
RON PAUL.
GREAT points Commonsense!
That’s exactly where Pelosi needs to be – under a microscope, or in a Petri dish where the slime live. She has got to be one of the biggest hypocrites in Congress, which is saying a lot.
While I”m not a huge fan of Gov. Romney or many of his positions or ideas (Romney Care), the $3 million figure is federal income tax and it is based on the tax rate applied to investment income vs. wages/benefits. There is a distinction there and while one can argue for an increas in that tax (capital gains), one can’t argue he isn’t paying taxes. It also fails to address the $7 million (almost half of his non-taxed investment income of 18 million) he gave to charity organizations. So, while his investments earned him and his family a large sum of money, he also donated a large sum of money. How much did Obama, Biden or Pelosi donate??? Or, for that matter how much does Pelosi pay in taxes? We seem to ask these questions of our President and Presidential candidates, but don’t put many others under the same scrutiny, why is that?
Ricardo-ANYTHING from FOX NO NEWS is suspect. They lie, insinuate, distort, and don’t report the news. It’s pretty much ALL FICTION.
Like the weapons of mass destruction in Iraq-nowhere to be found. But FOX kept saying it anyway, over, and over, and over, and over again.
I give Obama. speech a solid B+ for delivery, and a solid F for content.
First, the guys been saying basically the same thing for 3 years, with no results. All sizzle and no steak.
Second, I wish he had addressed he “Do-Nothing Senate” controlled by the Democrats that 1) has not passed a budget for more than 1,000 days and 2) serves as a morgue for nearly all legislation passed by the Republican-controlled House. The Senate is supposed to be a proud, independent body, but is acting as a tool to help get Obama re-elected. By stopping all House bills, the Senate allows Obama to “blame Republicans” as do-nothings – a big lie – while in reality it’s the Democrats in the Senate who are obstructing legislation and refusing to negotiate.
Third, enough of the class warfare rhetoric and empty promises about jobs, while at the same time stopping the Keystone pipeline and harming small businesses.
President Obama reveals who he really is — and this picture isn’t pretty
http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2012/01/23/president-obama-reveals-who-really-is-and-this-picture-isnt-pretty/?intcmp=obnetwork
He can say whatever he wants, spend however much he wants, it doesn’t matter too me.
If my choice in November is Newt Romney or the re-distributor-in-chief…
I’LL BE VOTING FOR OBAMA!
4 more years of hard lessons on the consequences of alienating your conservative base autta do the trick!
…gingrich! You people have to be friggin kidding me!
RE: Roger Carrillo- “Romney pays 3 mil in taxes on 21 mil in income a much lower tax rate that wage earners.”
But at least he PAID $3 million in taxes… 50% of Americans pay NOTHING at all. If everyone had to pay at LEAST the same rate as Romney, would the federal government be bankrupt? (Trick question: Of course it would; it will spend more than every last dime.)
Too bad people spend so much time claiming ‘the rich’ don’t pay enough when the other half of the story is the people who don’t pay at all.
More empty promises and blame-the-Republicans game. Obama could have accomplished more if he actually did what he claims to do, and that is to work with others, which isn’t even close to his real work-ethic. It’s his way or no-way, but what can you expect from someone who spends far more time campaigning to BE president rather than doing the job OF president.
But he’s got the letter ‘D’ by his name, and that’s all that matters to the voters of California and Sonoma County. Obama could be the worst president ever and the Democrats / Liberals / Unions will still keep him in office, where the motto is ‘The worst Democrat in office is still better than any Republican or Conservative…’
Only a ‘good’ Democratic president like Obama can raise taxes, bloat government spending to trillion dollar deficits and with failure all around, then tell us that he’s best for America.
For all those that voted him the first time around, how’s it working for you? Are you better off than 3 years ago? Probably not, but no one likes to admit to making a mistake, so Obama will still be your answer on the ballot box.
An American For America.
Sounds like a Democrat, Sounds like Republican – Whatever happened to sounds like an American for all of the People? Shocking historical fact for some: there were Americans BEFORE either of those political parties or some of the others running today.
America is squarely headed for its appointment with Destiny. Look how far America has developed in only 200 years, it could not have been boldly imagined even 100 years ago.
Barack H. Obama, our President now and hopefully again in 2012 for 4 more years, is the Right Man, in the Right Job, at this supremely critical time for all of America. And I pray that the next four years will produce another dedicated and capable AMERICAN statesman to take charge of leading this nation after him; and that America will not be left in a void of only partisan leadership.
For America to succeed and grow it must be of and for all of the people, Americans.
For all of the above! Your arrogance in referring to people in this country as “sheeple” is astounding! Yes people are easily mislead at time and that needs to be pointed out. But lets look at the bottom line here. Romney pays 3 mil in taxes on 21 mil in income a much lower tax rate that wage earners. Something is wrong here and the millionaires are getting away with murder by not paying at a higher rate. And the Republicans want them to pay less! I know where my vote is going and it certainly isn’t to someone who wants to lower taxes for the rich!
@Joe – “It was brilliant, but he sounded a lot like a republican.”
.
That’s because he is not much different from where the Republican party was not so long ago. Most liberals are upset with him, so far. He is a moderate, and he would be able to get more done if the partisans on both sides in congress would let him.
Boring, boring, boring. The same old class warefare arguments. Much of his speech could have been written by the occupy rabble.
He didn’t cover his prized, Obama care. I wonder why? Maybe because it is so hated by the majority of the American people who understand the social and economic costs this socialistic plan would bring.
Why didn’t Obama speak to what his accomplishments were for the past 3 years? Too embarrassing comes to mind. He had a big democrat majority in his first two years and did nothing but increase the debt by 45%. Where are the jobs and the economic recovery? What happened to the billions he spent?
It was brilliant, but he sounded a lot like a republican. If he does what he says, things will be fine and he will be re-elected. What he says and what he does are usually two different things.
What did I think of Obama’s speech?
Uh, which one ? He gives a speech every day. Every single day. DAILY. I’m sick of his face.
Besides, it was an electioneering speech. He is literally begging us to give him a job when the current term expires.
More snake oil from an oily salesman. He talks of energy independence but rejects the Canadian pipeline that could make this a reality and produce 10s of thousands of jobs. He pretends he’s pro-consumer but his transportation secretary wants $5 gallon gas and is well on his way to getting it. He says he wants to simplify the tax code and yet proposes a whole raft of new distictions (how does one distinguish between a “high tech” company that gets his double break, a multinational that has workers here and abroad, etc.)
Full me once shame on me, fool me twice…
More hot air from the king of BS. It amazes me that Sonoma County people fall for this continued crap. All the guy does is promote class warfare, blame others for his incompetence and stupid policies, and make empty promises that do not reflect the reality of the dire financial situation we are in.
Wake up before it’s too late, so you’re making excuses a few years from now about why the country failed. The sheeple CANNOT be this dumb.
President Obama is a great speech giver, but his follow through leaves much to be desired. Those who claim that he is above the hate-filled speech of other politicians, have a very short memory. He too has made his fair share of accusations and slung his fair share of mud at opposing politicians. In my opinion, both sides are pretty worthless at this point, and the majority on both sides are more “self-interested” in their careers then interested in doing the right thing. His speech was high on campaign type rheortic and I’m sure he’ll get a lot donations but I’m not holding my breath that anything will get accomplished. And, he is a hyprocite when it comes to the banks as his biggest campaign contributions come from banks, and other financial corporations/organizations (Goldman Sachs, Citigroup, JPChase Morgan, etc.)
Most of Jim’s comments are completely irelevent to me. I compare Obama’s speech to the hate-filled vitriol of the Republican candidates and fine it a breath of fresh air. It is clear that the speaker is thoughtful, intelligent and wants to do what is best for the country. No Republican candidate–especiially a egomiacal retread like Gingrich–has even aspired to rise to that level.
Exactly what was expected…a campaign speech with the same old talking points.
It is funny…he creates a dog-and-pony show by bringing in Buffett’s secretary and completely fooling the Sheeple with the “she shouldn’t pay more than a billionaire!”. No mention that Buffett, while vocally promoting the “rich” pay more to the Federal government, has shelters ALL his wealth to go to charity when he dies. If giving to the government is such a great idea, why wouldn’t he give $50 billion to them? He is a hypocrite. He benefited from the low capital gains tax rules for decades and now, after hiding his money from the estate tax and the capital gains tax, champions paying more to the government. Typical Democrat…everyone should pay more in taxes except them. Like Kerry, Frank, Pelosi, Edwards, etc, etc. ALL hypocrites.
Obama knows the idiots don’t understand the tax code. Long-term capital gains tax has been lower than the highest income tax bracket since at least 1987. Seems the Democrats love to parade “Clinton’s economy”, even though the same tax situation existed then. But now, after spending trillions more than they took in, WE need to pay more taxes.
Obama also loves to use “fairness” when talking about the “rich” not “paying their fair share”. Then he blends in terms like “millionaires” and “billionaires”, even though high income doesn’t equal “millionaire”, high WEALTH does. The government doesn’t tax wealth (not yet anyway). So how does a “millionaire” have anything to do with the lie that the “rich don’t pay their fair share”?? No one will ask the liar this. And the Sheeple are too stupid to understand that he is double talking. While the Democrats give him one standing ovation after another for fluffy political talk, nothing of substance is said.
And related to “fairness”…how is it “fair” that 50% of the country PAY NOTHING? How can a “fair share” be ZERO when they have income?? No one will ask the liar this either. What about the bottom 20% that actually have a net NEGATIVE tax rate via the Earned Income Tax Credit? NEVER a mention of this. How can it be a “fair share” for EVERYONE when 20% get WALFARE from the IRS?? No answer, just crickets chirping here also. Lets give him another standing ovation, what the heck.
The Sheeple will blindly vote for Obama. Let him redistribute wealth. Take from those who earn and give to those who will vote for him. Then let him talk out the other side of his mouth by saying he wants America to be prosperous again. The government does not influence prosperity. The government’s involvement in anything depletes prosperity. Government programs make people dependent, not independent. Too bad people are too stupid to understand this.