One of President Obama’s rallying cries last night was “They deserve a vote.”
And that’s okay. We’ve never had a completely competent government, and we’ve still managed to do some great things. However, even in periods of partisanship and division, the country had a government that at least would put things on the table and vote them up or down. I would much rather put our politicians to the test and figure out what they and their constituents actually believe in, rather than hide behind opinion polls and political maneuvering. If half of Congress wants to say no, let them, that’s democracy. But not putting some kind of bill in front of the American people with a healthy, messy debate just because it might get shot full of holes is an act of cowardice.
The President was referring to gun violence; however, he should have used that phrase throughout his speech from start to finish. The American people deserve a vote on everything and anything.
I agree with him that we need smarter government, not necessarily bigger government, but judging from the elected officials in all three branches of government, that ideal is a long ways off.
Our Founding Fathers didn’t get everything right (just ask any non-white, non-male person, well, ever), so we don't need our laws to be perfect in order to get us back on the right track. Much can be learned from failure, even if that means people suffer. People can put up with plenty of slings and arrows if they know there is a hope that someone is at least trying to bring about marginal change.
While you ponder all of that and forecast our country’s future, enjoy 20 tweets from last night’s State of the Union address:
Fact: people wd rather watch TV story of rampaging rogue cop than a hour-long presidential speech in Congress about jobs he can't create.
— Howard Fineman (@howardfineman) February 13, 2013
I don't think we want to restore the basic bargain that built this country.
— Conor Friedersdorf (@conor64) February 13, 2013
Obama declares State of Union "stronger." Kelly Clarkson stronger or Kanye stronger? #SOTU
— James Poniewozik (@poniewozik) February 13, 2013
The god SimpsonBowles is appeased. No virgins need be sacrificed.
— Charles P. Pierce (@ESQPolitics) February 13, 2013
The diversity of this country is evident in trending topics alone. #SOTU #PLL #NYFW...Americans have priorities!
— Anuli(@akaanuli_tweets) February 13, 2013
Is there going to be a Republican response or will they just rerun the pilot of "Diff'rent Strokes" like usual?
— Mark Harris (@MarkHarrisNYC) February 13, 2013
I am just now getting over hearing the name "Joe Lieberman."
— Charles P. Pierce (@ESQPolitics) February 13, 2013
There's just never going to be a Presidential call to action as awesome as going to the moon. More virtuous, yes. But not as awesome.
— Radhika Jones (@radhikajones) February 13, 2013
"I’m in pecker purgatory over here. Should we call somebody?" – Vice President Joe Biden onion.com/X0Inhq
— The Onion (@TheOnion) February 13, 2013
Obama gives Brooklyn a shoutout, yet inexplicably camera does not cut to Lena Dunham and the guy from fun. #SOTU
— James Poniewozik (@poniewozik) February 13, 2013
Obama calls for an "AIDS-free generation." When is the last time a president mentioned AIDS in a #SOTU speech?
— Charles M. Blow (@CharlesMBlow) February 13, 2013
John Boehner unaware of tarantula crawling across face #SOTU
— Onion Politics (@OnionPolitics) February 13, 2013
Holy shit, IT IS! RT @socratic: @markos Biden’s tie is the color of Mace Windu’s lightsaber.
— Markos Moulitsas (@markos) February 13, 2013
Government, no matter its failures in the past, and times to come, can be a place where people come together. Where no one gets left behind.
— Sorkin Dialogue(@sorkinese) February 13, 2013
The confidence with which he now routinely includes gay people among his public statements is truly remarkable. dish.andrewsullivan.com/2013/02/12/liv… #SOTU
— Andrew Sullivan (@sullydish) February 13, 2013
Wow, Gabrielle Giffords unable to clap, so clasping her hands and shaking them, while everyone claps for gun reform ... unbelievable image.
— Peggy Jo Donahue (@peggyjodonahue) February 13, 2013
Boehner not getting up to applaud the 102-year-old lady is the most Boehner thing that has ever happened. #SOTU
— Jessica Winter (@winterjessica) February 13, 2013
I miss Michele Bachmann's response to the wrong camera.We want her back! #SOTU
— Michael Skolnik (@MichaelSkolnik) February 13, 2013
President Obama's State of the Union speech word cloud, showing the words he used the most #SOTU twitter.com/USATODAY/statu…
— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) February 13, 2013
Obama's #StateOfTheUnion address would have been better if he'd ended it by shooting Force lightning at Luke Skywalker. #SOTU
— Death Star PR (@DeathStarPR) February 13, 2013