How Did the President Do with the SOTU?

[Decks]

I fell asleep on it (medication) but thought it was mostly a long campaign speech from what I did see. 

[Bison66]

EB: I  too would love see his adminstration withdraw from these free trade agreements and  be promote goods and services that are made in America..  He finally sound like progressive foward thinking Democrat like Lyndon Baines Johnson, not boring old centerist like Clinton... His aims and goals for future could definitely make this country unto next century...

Caesar & All,

A special item in the speech was Obama's claim that his goal to DOUBLE USA EXPORTS is ahead of schedule.

I'm not an expert on the trade agreements, but last year I asked well-informed Panamanians, including an economist.  The economist told me that the Panama FTA is more advantageous to the USA (SURPRISE!!!), but might open up opportunities for "non-traditional" entrepreneurs.  He criticized his own former boss, the previous Panama president, for not removing the guy who the USA said had to step down as leader of the national legislature before the FTA would be approved.  He eventually stepped down.

The FTA will ease the way for additional US exports to Panama, although it is a small country.  But adding Korea and Columbia to the mix will boost US exports even more.

This is a good thing for the US economy.  Don't send jobs overseas; send US goods overseas!

Here's what could happen for Florida and Virginia via the Panama FTA(SME = Small & Medium Enterprises):
http://www.trade.gov/fta/panama/florida.pdf  (for all the Rattlers, especially)
http://www.trade.gov/fta/panama/virginia.pdf  (for y04)
Other states here:
http://www.ustr.gov/uspanamatpa/jobs

The "downside" for Panama (long a secretive place to bank money) and rich folks trying to hide their money from Uncle Sam & the IRS is that the agreement pretty much guts the bank privacy that has made Panama similar to the Cayman Islands. (Hello, Mitt!)

On April 18, 2011, a Tax Information Exchange Agreement (TIEA) went into effect between the United States and Panama. The TIEA will permit the two countries to improve their tax information exchange transparency networks globally.

THAT agreement was a demand of the US in order to go forward with the FTA.
http://www.ustr.gov/trade-agreements/free-trade-agreements/panama-tpa

[Bison66]

It is not enough for the democrats to just win the White House but also the Congress, governor's mansions, and state houses.  Or else we will see a repeat of the last two years.

I BELIEVE THE POTUS HAS "COAT TAILS" LONG ENOUGH TO DO JUST WHAT YOU SUGGEST.

They cannot depend on his coat tails.  In '84 Reagan won by a landslide, but the democrats nationally won almost or over 60% off the elections that day.  In '86 the GOP lost the Senate.

The democrats will have to work to raise money, get out the message, and get out the vote this fall.

EB,
I agree with you almost completely.
One slight digression re the coat tails.  We may (and hopefully) see an "inverse" coat tail effect.
Some Republicans are SCARED TO DEATH that if Gingrich is nominated, it will kill them in the House and Senate.

Exit polling and vote totals (Pres vs. Congressman) will give us some insight.

[iceman4221]

It is not enough for the democrats to just win the White House but also the Congress, governor's mansions, and state houses.  Or else we will see a repeat of the last two years.

I BELIEVE THE POTUS HAS "COAT TAILS" LONG ENOUGH TO DO JUST WHAT YOU SUGGEST.

They cannot depend on his coat tails.  In '84 Reagan won by a landslide, but the democrats nationally won almost or over 60% off the elections that day.  In '86 the GOP lost the Senate.

The democrats will have to work to raise money, get out the message, and get out the vote this fall.

EB,
I agree with you almost completely.
One slight digression re the coat tails.  We may (and hopefully) see an "inverse" coat tail effect.
Some Republicans are SCARED TO DEATH that if Gingrich is nominated, it will kill them in the House and Senate.

Exit polling and vote totals (Pres vs. Congressman) will give us some insight.

PREACH!!! 

[Bison66]

It strikes me just tonight - and THIS is tremendously IRONIC - that the Republicans are essentially talking about a malaise across the land and the President is saying that IT IS MORNING IN AMERICA!!!

WOW!!!!

We know what happened the last time it was framed that way.  Americans don't like pessimists!!!

[Blackcaesar2k5]

I hope President Obama continue speaking more boldly on issues regarding infrastructure, education, progressive economic growth and alternative energy.. 

[EB]

I was surprised to find out years ago that a lot of poor and middle class (where they exist) Latin Americans do not like the free trade agreements.  They are like many in the labor movement are in the U.S.  They feel that the elite and wealthy mainly benefit.

I liked what he said about increasing manufacturing but feel that looking at these trade agreements will help his cause.

I am laughing at the prospect of Gingrich being the nominee and will talk about that later.  A thought may eventually wipe that smile off of my face.

[CIAA-FAN]

It is not enough for the democrats to just win the White House but also the Congress, governor's mansions, and state houses.  Or else we will see a repeat of the last two years.

I BELIEVE THE POTUS HAS "COAT TAILS" LONG ENOUGH TO DO JUST WHAT YOU SUGGEST.

They cannot depend on his coat tails.  In '84 Reagan won by a landslide, but the democrats nationally won almost or over 60% off the elections that day.  In '86 the GOP lost the Senate.

The democrats will have to work to raise money, get out the message, and get out the vote this fall.

NO DOUBT.  YOUR LAST STATEMENT IS WELL UNDERSTOOD AND PRACTICALLY GOES WITHOUT SAYING.

[Bison66]

Here you can check out the "ENHANCED STATE OF THE UNION" with charts and graphs (scroll down):
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2012/01/25/president-obama-delivers-2012-state-union

Some good info here.

[Bison66]

Rasmussen polling reflects support for some KEY positions advanced by the President in the SOTU:

President Obama on Tuesday night delivered his final State of the Union speech before Election Day, and the public seems receptive to at least two of his major economic initiatives. ...............

Fifty-five percent (55%) of Likely U.S. Voters agree with the president’s proposal that wealthy Americans pay at least 30% of their income in federal taxes. But 49% also think federal, state and local governments combined shouldn’t take more than 30% of anyone’s income in taxes. These findings suggest that while voters feel generally that the wealthy aren’t paying their fair share, they remain more interested in fairness than in being punitive.

The president in his speech also called for corporate tax credits and tax reductions to encourage an increase in U.S. manufacturing jobs, and 55% of Americans agree that government funds should be used to subsidize U.S. manufacturers this way. An overwhelming 90% say it is at least somewhat important for the United States to have a major manufacturing and industrial base, but just 54% believe it’s at least somewhat likely the country will have that base once again.

But they disagreed on others, for example:

Voters are less happy with Obama’s decision to delay the construction of an oil pipeline from Canada to Texas for environmental reasons. Supporters say the project will lessen America’s overseas oil dependence and create up to 20,000 new jobs. Fifty-six percent (56%) favor building the Keystone XL pipeline and think it will be good for the economy. Fifty-nine percent (59%) say creating new jobs is more important than environmental protection.

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/weekly_updates/what_they_told_us_reviewing_last_week_s_key_polls

However, here's the STUNNER:

68% of Republicans Think Gingrich As Ethical as Other Politicians

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections/election_2012/election_2012_presidential_election/january_2012/68_of_republicans_think_gingrich_as_ethical_as_other_politicians

[Bison66]

It strikes me just tonight - and THIS is tremendously IRONIC - that the Republicans are essentially talking about a malaise across the land and the President is saying that IT IS MORNING IN AMERICA!!!

WOW!!!!

We know what happened the last time it was framed that way.  Americans don't like pessimists!!!

Today a pundit said that usually the smiling candidate wins and the frowning "pessimistic" candidate loses:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/03/rick-santorum-campaign-speech-doomsday_n_1252154.html

See what I mean?