Impact of the First Obama State of the Union

[Seamus Fermanagh]

I thought his speech was pretty well crafted and, though too long, believe it will set a decent tone. However, it is "just a speech." What do you think will be the practical impacts both in the USA and abroad?

Text of Speech

[Kadagar_AV]

I am interested how he will get away with making homosexuality open in the army...

I mean, if you want to please the right-wingers, this clearly isnt a question to put much energy in...

I am also a bit scared about the US torture camps wasnt mentioned.

[rory_20_uk]

At least the ambitions have been adjusted to serve the middle class majority, so on that front it's a winner.

[CountArach]

I am interested how he will get away with making homosexuality open in the army...

Roughly 75% of Americans support repealing Don't Ask Don't Tell:

Public sentiment on DADT has shifted dramatically since 1993. A May, 1993 poll by ABC News and the Washington Post showed that 44 percent Americans favored allowing homosexuals (their wording) who have publicly disclosed their orientation to serve in the military, as compared with 55 percent opposed. An identical poll taken in July, however, shows 75 percent in favor versus just 22 percent opposed. Other recent polling shows similar results; in May 2007, CNN showed 79 percent of Americas in favor of allowing for openly gay troops to serve to 18 percent opposed, and in March 2007, Newsweek had 63 percent in favor and 28 percent opposed.

As for practical impacts (without being able to comment on the substance of the speech, though I know for a fact that Progressives disliked it), don't expect Obama to receive a bounce in public opinion numbers.

[Kadagar_AV]

Wow CA, that is great numbers. I really had no idea

Some kudos to the US then, those numbers are not far from Scandinavian ones... I am very suprised!

I always thought sexual orientation has very little impact on ability as soldier. And from my own time in the forces, having worked alongside openly gay men, I must say I never noticed a problem (well, ok, once I opened a door without knocking and saw something I would have prefered not to, but still, my lack of manners was behind it, and a grown up should be able to see a sight or two he would prefer not to).

Have any idea of how the numbers could swing that fast? Fab 5? Gay army? TV-shows with gays has bloomed the last decade, however, I'd say they havent really shown gays in a positive light from an army stand point (but maybe its more important that the shows has showed the human standpoint?).

[KukriKhan]

Scatter-shot feel-good lecture delivered enthusiastically. Twice as long as needed. By the time he got to: "Third, we need to export more of our goods...", I'd forgotten what 'first' and 'second' were, and although I paid close attention (so as to not miss 'fourth') I can't tell you now what 'fourth' was.

Maybe he should bring a blackboard with him next time, list out the 4-5 points he wants to make, then dwell on them 10 minutes apiece, ala Uni Prof.

I notice he spanked SCOTUS for the corporate free speech thingy, didn't have much good to say about the Senate, and thanked the House several times. The scene was so long, he didn't have time to introduce the cops & soldiers sitting with Michelle - whose choice of gown really did make her butt look big.

Little to no impact, I'm afraid. The entrenched positions are just entrenched deeper.

[Husar]

Michelle - whose choice of gown really did make her butt look big.

Must be very fertile then.

[Lemur]

The scene was so long, he didn't have time to introduce the cops & soldiers sitting with Michelle [...]

Actually, I don't miss the 20-year-old trope of, "Now I'm going to talk about American farms, and to illustrate my point, I'm going to mention a chicken farmer who just happens to be here." Started with Reagan, maintained by both Bushes and Bubba Clinton, never did a damn thing to better the dialogue of the nation.

Nah, that's a cheap rhetorical device that I won't miss. Buh-bye.

[Devastatin Dave]

I notice he spanked SCOTUS for the corporate free speech thingy

Probably the most disgusting display of power envy of another branch of gevernment I've ever seen, and at a State of the Union address? This community organiser has no class. Go back to Chicago, Hawaii, Indonesia, Kenya, where ever you claim to be from when the political winds suit you, you worthless effeminate windbag.

[Louis VI the Fat]

What a wordless speech.

[Aemilius Paulus]

What a wordless speech.

Hmm, very interesting resource. What an embarrassment to Dubya though...