Obama Girl (Amber Lee Ettinger) has been in the media, saying she’s a bit disappointed in the President, giving him a “B-minus” grade. She is still hopeful. Maybe if he invites her for a beer.

Queasy at the thought of watching the “State of the Union,” I resorted to reading the NY Times’s transcript. I won’t rehash the topics beaten to pulp by the media. At least that was my intention.

The State of the Union has become another political exercise, which may have served a purpose decades ago. With constant coverage of politics and daily speeches by the President, it seems unnecessary, certainly not worth preempting “Red Eye with Greg Gutfeld” for. Besides which, it is more a want list than a report. I saw Obama introduce his budget this morning, and it sounded like he lifted portions of the State presentation almost word-for-word.

As we heard, Obama castigated the Supreme Court for quashing a provision of the McCain-Feingold bill, although he misrepresented its significance. I recall his agreeing to finance limits during his campaign. Until he began raising more money than the other candidates, when he said forget the limits, promising that he would fix the law to make it fairer after he was elected. Maybe in his second term, should that occur.

Obama said, “Our union is strong.” He should have stopped there. “In this new decade, it’s time the American people get a government that matches their decency; that embodies their strength.”

That’s hard to object to, even harder to believe. I’m reading Michelle Malkin’s book, The Culture of Corruption, detailing the indecency of members of the Obama administration, beginning with Joe Biden and former Senator Obama.

The speech mirrored Obama’s creative approach to the truth, as when he said, “…if we had allowed the meltdown of the financial system, unemployment might be double what it is today. More businesses would certainly have closed. More homes would have surely been lost.” That’s speculation. More accurately, he might have noted that his stimulus was supposed to restrain unemployment at 8%, not 10%.

“Because of the steps we took, there are about two million Americans working right now who would otherwise be unemployed.” Again, that might be the case, but might does not make him right.

[Glenn Beck pointed out that Obama lied several times in the address.  O'Reilly said he doesn't like that 'L' word. So much for no-spin.]

Fascinating to me, and others who recently saw a report by John Stossel on Crony Capitalism, Obama said, “Talk to the window manufacturer in Philadelphia who said he used to be skeptical about the Recovery Act, until he had to add two more work shifts just because of the business it created.” This would be Serious Materials, whose windows were endorsed by Obama and Biden. They received a special tax credit. Coincidentally, their vice-president of Policy is married to Cathy Zoi, head of the Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, which awarded the tax break. Stossel ended his report noting that the promised jobs have yet to materialise. Oh well.

“People are out of work. They’re hurting. They need our help. And I want a jobs bill on my desk without delay.” If you believe the government can create jobs, you probably voted for Arnold Schwarzenegger. His promised jobs failed to appear as well.

“…it means passing a comprehensive energy and climate bill with incentives that will finally make clean energy the profitable kind of energy in America. (Applause.)” Sure. The Times should have timed the applause by the Congressional dimwits. The president’s party always applaud furiously and give standing ovations, making the home viewer wonder if they’ve got gas or are inhaling it.

“So tonight, we set a new goal: We will double our exports over the next five years, an increase that will support two million jobs in America. (Applause.)” The only government export is wars. Industry export goods, as a byproduct of making or growing things.  Government only get in the way.

Then the President mentioned education, which has deteriorated in proportion to the amount of Federal funding increases. (Not what he said.) “To make college more affordable, this bill will finally end the unwarranted taxpayer subsidies that go to banks for student loans. (Applause.) Instead, let’s take that money and give families a $10,000 tax credit for four years of college and increase Pell Grants. (Applause.) And let’s tell another one million students that when they graduate, they will be required to pay only 10 percent of their income on student loans, and all of their debt will be forgiven after 20 years — and forgiven after 10 years if they choose a career in public service, because in the United States of America, no one should go broke because they chose to go to college. (Applause.)”

Lovely! Colleges have learned to increase tuition as more money becomes available. There is no evidence that a college degree assures a better job, making its cost absurd. Instead of forgiving loans, colleges should be held accountable. If they can’t help a graduate get a lucrative job, she should get a refund. Remember, many of those millions currently unemployed are college graduates.

First health care, now college is a “right.”

He touched briefly on health care, beginning with the “epidemic of childhood obesity.” I believe it was Nick Gillespie who recently observed (also on the John Stossel programme on FBN) that obesity is not contagious, so it is not an epidemic. I’m not sure how to develop lighter children, but I am sure the government haven’t a clue. Nor have they a right be involved.

On Obamacare, he insisted it was unpopular because he didn’t explain it better. In my humble opinion, the more Americans understood it, the more they loathed it.  As far as the lobbying and horse-trading, he forgot it was Democrats who needed arm-twisting and bribes to support the supposed reform. Even then it floundered.

Probably his most disingenuous statement (lie): “But if anyone from either party has a better approach that will bring down premiums, bring down the deficit, cover the uninsured, strengthen Medicare for seniors, and stop insurance company abuses, let me know.” I’ve seen and heard many proposals, several of which seem more effective than anything in Obamacare, which won’t solve most of the problems he defines. He should pay attention.

In Obama’s world, health care costs caused the deficit, banks caused the financial crisis, while government spending and policies are panaceas. Fact is that a huge portion of the deficit does come from health care, the portion managed by the government, especially Medicare. Government policies contributed to the financial meltdown, particularly their refusal to reign in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, who have been excluded from the harsh treatment promised to real banks, and promised more money.

On the deficit, Obama said, “At the beginning of the last decade, the year 2000, America had a budget surplus of over $200 billion.” He loves repeating that, but it is misleading at best. First, it was a surplus for that fiscal year. The enormous deficit did not evaporate. Second, government accounting ignores vast swaths of debt, including Social Security liabilities. Yes, spending has increased at a frightening pace, particularly in 2009.

Obama’s solution: a spending freeze in 2011, after the 2010 election, with plenty of pork now to help faltering incumbents. “Let’s try common sense. (Laughter.) A novel concept.” Yes, let’s! Make Glenn Beck an adviser.

Then he discussed Trust. “That’s why we’ve excluded lobbyists from policymaking jobs, or seats on federal boards and commissions.” Really? Read Michelle Malkin or the daily newspaper. Lobbyists reign in the current administration.

“But what frustrates the American people is a Washington where every day is Election Day. We can’t wage a perpetual campaign where the only goal is to see who can get the most embarrassing headlines about the other side — a belief that if you lose, I win. Neither party should delay or obstruct every single bill just because they can. The confirmation of… (applause) I’m speaking to both parties now. The confirmation of well-qualified public servants shouldn’t be held hostage to the pet projects or grudges of a few individual senators. (Applause.)” So absurd, I am at a loss for words.

“And if the Republican leadership is going to insist that 60 votes in the Senate are required to do any business at all in this town — a supermajority — then the responsibility to govern is now yours as well. (Applause.) Just saying no to everything may be good short-term politics, but it’s not leadership. We were sent here to serve our citizens, not our ambitions.” If the proposals are shitty, saying “no” seems sensible. It was the Democratic wing that excluded Republicans by using their 60 vote “nuclear option” to end any discussion of, or amendments to, their insane bills. Remember, delay was unacceptable.

Foreign policy. “And as Iran’s leaders continue to ignore their obligations, there should be no doubt: They, too, will face growing consequences. That is a promise. (Applause.)” An Obama promise? Now I feel safe.

“We have gone from a bystander to a leader in the fight against climate change.” Note that he has switched from global warming to the more ridiculous proposition of governments preventing the climate from changing. Talk about overreaching!

“We find unity in our incredible diversity, drawing on the promise enshrined in our Constitution: the notion that we’re all created equal; that no matter who you are or what you look like, if you abide by the law you should be protected by it; if you adhere to our common values you should be treated no different than anyone else.” A lovely sentiment. However, it is the Declaration of Independence which says all men are created equal. Not really surprising that the President is fuzzy on the Constitution he swore to uphold.

Hate crimes? “We finally strengthened our laws to protect against crimes driven by hate. (Applause.)” Now it applies to everyone who commits “hate” crimes, except Islamic terrorists, who can hate and kill at will.

Finally, and even more egregious than the Supreme insult, he slammed MSNBC, saying, “The more that TV pundits reduce serious debates to silly arguments, big issues into sound bites, our citizens turn away.” That seems harsh. What happened to the free speech actually enshrined in our Constitution? Sure the pundits can be silly, but the politicians have them beat by a trillion miles.

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