8-31-2010 OVAL OFFICE SPEECH
54INTRODUCTION
Last night at 8:00 PM EDT, I watched President Barrack Obama deliver his address to the nation on the end of combat operations in Iraq. I have watched the video of this speech at least five more times since it was delivered. I am offering my assessment of that speech here and now.
SUMMARY
- President Obama gave proper credit to the military for their sacrifice in fighting this war for all Americans.
- President Obama acknowledged he had differing opinions with President George W. Bush over this war.
- The president acknowledged America needs to become energy independent.
- He also admitted America needs to increase the vital manufacturing sector.
- The president stated we have a huge debt to those who lost loved ones in this war and to those who got wounded, and he pledged to honor their sacrifice by paying that debt in full.
- The president spoke about the huge cost of treasure expended fighting this war.
- He also spoke of the multi-front we need to pursue going forward to a strong America in the future.
MY CONCLUSIONS
It will come as no surprise of you fellow Hubbers that my opinion of President Obama has often been less than complimentary. I’ve been downright critical of the president on more than one occasion.
With all of this in mind I must say that for the first time in his administration I can find no fault with his Oval Office speech. I know most of you are thinking,” My God Tom’s started drinking the Kool Aid!!!!!!!
Well Fellow Hubbers and other readers I will state unequivocally that I have not started drinking the Kool Aid I an just giving credit where I think it’s due. This is the first speech by President Obama where I felt he was talking to the American people and not at the American people!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’ve stated before I’m an eternal optimist and I can always hope that President Obama has come to his senses and will do the best possible job for all Americans!!!!!!!! After all he’s the only president we have at this time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I’m not convinced he will do it but I still can have hope because we need him to do it so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Come on Barry leave the Chicago politics at home like you did last night and lead the greatest nation ever to exist on the face of the Earth to the greatness we all deserve!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Pop,
I agree that's what he looked like, but the only time I've seen him animated was when he was helping announce NCAA basketball. I just hope he's had a "Come to Jesus" moment!!!!!!!!!
Thank you for your visit and comment.
Tom,
I forced myself to suffer through the speech as well. I admire your optimism, but I cannot share in it. I was surprised that he didn't GAG when he said a few kind words about W. At least he got back to blaming him pretty quickly...WHEW!
Sheri,
I guess it's just the eternal optimist in me. I still listen for Santa's reindeer on Christmas Eve!!!!
Thank you for your comment.
It is not about Obama should change or not. He should quit.
Chuck,
THINK of what you are saying!!!!!!! That leaves us in Biden's hands, and then Pelosi, and then Reid!!!!!!!!! I prefer to hope for Obama to change!!! It's a better thing for this Great Nation!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you for your visit and comment.
A lot of his pre election speeches were well-done and in them he seemed to speak to the people. His pre election speeches influenced many people into BELIEVING he meant what he said. Well we've seen how rehearsed THAT was. I"m glad you enjoyed his speech.
Tom- I can see what you saw in this speech however, what I think you have missed is the lost opportunities to provide some significant leadership going forward. It is fine to state the problems and recognize the needs, but to not provide any real solutions highlights the lack of leadership on his part. Doesn't make me angry, just sad.
SusanP,
I didn't exactly say I enjoyed it I said I was hopeful he'ed had a "Come to Jesus" momement and come to his senses to lead this Great Nation to our manifest destiny!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you for your visit and comment.
Hmrjmr1,
I know from where your coming. I guess I prefer to light one candle than to curse the darkness!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you sir for your service and your comment.
Tom, guess you can't make too many mistakes reading a speech with no substance. Only Chris Matthews peed himself over the speech.
jib,
The visual of tingly legged Chris turning into tinkley legged Chris is one I'll carry the rest of my life!!!!!!!!
Thank you for your hilarious comment.
Tom, Last night was not the REAL Obama. He has NO idea what to do or say. His facial and body language said what his words did not. The words as ususl, were written by a writer. He seemed scared, and blasay (sp). He didn't know what to do with his hands. Simply, I don't think he enjoyed saying what he did.
He has fooled people before. H
Harvey,
I know what you mean, and I'm not endorsing a second term, but I'm hoping he will become presidential during his first term. After all look at the alternatives I've stated above!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you for your comment.
I as the speech and thought at least he hasn't bashed the predecessors action.I agree that he was somewhat lifeless but I guess it's the best I can expect.
Obama knows what the polls are, and he knows what Beck's rally means. I do believe he said just as much as he thought he had to in order to reel us back in. You're a trusting man; when I saw him as a liar, I lost all trust. Now, I say 'prove it'. And I don't think Obama will prove anything but he's what we've all seen. I don't even have any hope. Just dread for the next 2 years.
dahoglund,
You mirror my feelings almost exactly!!!!!!!!
Thank you for your comment.
sheila b.
I haven't taken the bait hook, line, and sinker. I am also waiting for proof, but I still hope and pray. I also see fear in his eyes like a man who knows he's been wrong!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you for your visit and comment.
I have to admit that I didn't even turn the t.v. on for the speech. I am kinda sick of his speeches because they are all the same old thing. I appreciate your hub though and filling me in.
Minnetonka Twin,
I am at your service in providing informaion.
Thank you for your comment.
Personnally, I can't bring myself to watch the speech.
Keep on hubbing!
eovery,
It was a chore, but I managed.
Thank you for your comment.
I agree on the points of the speech. I also agree with the assessment that he might as well have been reading the instructions on how to put together a bike.
Jim,
I think the lack of affect is his showing fear knowing he's wrong. I see the fear of knowing he's been a dufus in his eyes!!!!!!!!!
Thank you for your visit and comment.
I agree he's been wrong. Maybe he even knows he's been wrong. Hmmm. Perhaps you are suggesting his lack of excitement was the result of the agony of defeat? Very interesting.
Jim,
As I said before, I hope he may have a "Come to Jesus" moment!!!!!!!!
Thank you for your return comment.
Tom -
The O-Bomb just wanted to close this chapter so people won't be distracted from the issues in the mid-term elections, just about 60 days away now.
All the Best,
Tim
Tim,
You may have a point, but I don't know exactly what to make of that man he's an enigma to me!!!!!!!!
Thank you for your visit and comment.
Tom, Don't let people sway your opinion. Some people just see negativity because of their dislike for Obama. Many people saw what you did. We saw a president deliver a real message, with important points, delivered to the people and not "at them.'
Writing a hub against the popular opinion of many of your followers shows that you are more open minded than I thought. Kudos to you Tom for sharing an opinion that may be unpopular with your peers.
I certainly have my issues with Obama on different points but overall, I support the president. I think it is good to see people support the president when he earns it as you did.
LCRBlogger,
Yes I'm open minded, but on one subject I'm not. That subject is you are a weasel who cried to your mommy about me and your opinion doesn't mean spit to me. Go away and leave me alone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I saw little girls with more intestinal fortitude than you growing up in Moundsville.
Yeah, at least we were never tattletales or cry babies.
SusanP,
You got that right!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I thought Obama was rather wooden in his presentation and I think he is trying to say anything to save the elections which is not going to happen. As for LRC Blogger, I have see him on several web sites with a very arrogant, condescending attitude and I wouldn't give him the time of day.
I agree with the observation of bland affect.
As for LCR it's not worth a fig!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you for your comment.
Dear Tom,
You are the man!
Pop,
Thanks a million. That thing is pond scum!!!!!!!!
Thank you for your visit and comment.
Wow Tom, this is an interesting comment from you! I like it. One thing I just found out today, the Tea Party has its roots in the old John Birch Society. The brothers Koch whose dad Fred was a founder of the society, are the main bankroll for the Tea Party. I don't think that those guys oppose securitization of crappy loans. If they do, then they should come out and say it. I think they are more interested in fighting communism than the fascism of corporate abuse. Perhaps this is why Ron Paul told the Tea Party people that Beck and Palin were taking them for a ride. Stay tuned.
Gary,
I hadn't heard that aspect. Please keep me informed as I only want what's best for ALL the AMERICAN people. The ORGANIZED POLITICAL PARTIES all seem to be in someone's pocket and I'm in favor of conservative CONSTITUTIONAL government.
BIG HUGE GOVERNMENT is anathema to the survival of the AMERICAN PEOPLE eveywhere!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks for the input.
You are welcome Tom. I think because of the fear of economic slowdown the parties are in a state of flux.
Conservative constitutional government has been a halmark of Ron Paul. I respect him even if I don't agree with all his views. But when he says things like that I listen. Again, I will try to find out more. I realize that the John Birch Society has some views that many would be satisfied with, until you find out that they have a serious paranoid streak and most have discredited the McCarthy witch hunt. Ron Paul is more sensible.
I reject Paul's views of social security. I don't think it is inconsistent with promoting the general welfare. But Paul opposes what the banks have done to mainstreet and I am with him on that 100 percent. Some Dems and Repubs are with him on that but they are a minority.
Gary,
I like Ron Paul's stand on abolishing the Fed and I'm not sure where his son Rand stands on that subject, but I think he favors it also.
On Social Security I believe if we don't reform with means testing the country will go bankrupt!!!!!
Thanks for the comment.
breakfastpop Level 8 Commenter 21 months ago
Well, I know we watched the same speech, but what I saw was a lifeless Obama with no energy reciting some words he didn't feel . Honestly, I thought he looked like a robot,.