The conventions are over, the nominations have been secured, bases have been rallied and each side has made their case to the American people. The race is on.
Last night, President Obama delivered a crucial speech. Expectations were high and many expected him to knock it out of the park. A lot was riding on this speech. After all, Obama's future is hinging on whether or not he can convince us again that he is the man for the job.
Did it work?
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| Image from NPR.com |
As Obama took the stage, he wasted no time pledging to the American people that the path he has set us on will lead to a prosperous future. He assured us that "Our challenges can be met" and that he can lead us to a "better place."
He asked for patience and assured us that he is in the fight to "restore values that built the largest middle class and strongest economy the world has ever known."
It all sounded really nice...hmmm...and remarkably familiar?
Many political pundits have pointed out today, that several of things he said last night were plucked directly out of speeches and State of the Union addresses that he has been giving for the last four years.
No wonder we were a little bored. We have already heard this. No wonder his delivery was a little dry, he has already made these promises dozens of times.
The only thing remarkably different about his speech? It lacked passion and I would argue that it is because he lacks the conviction to know he can actually get it done.
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The president made promises, but these are promises that have already been made and sadly, these are promises that have already been broken.
He already promised us a prosperous future. He already promised us that "change" was possible. He already promised us that his path would strengthen the middle class.
He has been wrong about it all.
It would be difficult to believe that we are truly on a "path to prosperity." Our country is now burdened with $16 trillion deficits, unemployment remains above 8% for almost two years straight, GDP trends now mirror trends of the Great Depression and our federal leaders are completely incapable of finding compromises and solutions.
This president has overseen it all. This is the path to prosperity?
I am not buying it.
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| Image from Daily News.com |
The president is asking for patience---patience that we frankly don't have. He is now pleading for a second chance---yet millions of Americans have lost their chance to pay their bills, find a job and stay in their homes. Obama wants to strengthen the middle class, but under his leadership 2.3 million Americans have slipped out of the middle class and have joined the 1 in 6 Americans now living in poverty.
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By all accounts, his speech last night was not his best.
He has been criticized for a speech that was void of specific changes for a second term. With all the talk of "Fair share...fair shot...fair rules," one can only assume that his "Big Idea" for his 2nd term continues to narrowly revolve around raising taxes on the wealthy.
Does anyone want to remind him that he already tried to pass his "Fair Share" bill back in May? It failed to pass. What if it fails again down the road? Then what? Time and again his promises and "big ideas" have come up short. We are not better off and it is still remarkably unclear if we will be better off 4 years from now.
The president is asking for a chance to make things right. He wants to prove that change just takes time. But can we really afford to find out if he is wrong....again?
No thanks.
I will continue to support the candidate who has demonstrated time and again that he knows how to actually make change happen. The candidate who has shown that he can actually solve difficult problems. The candidate who as a lone Republican in a sea of Democrats turned a $3 billion deficit into a $2 billion rainy day fund. He did it in 4 years and he did it without raising taxes and without borrowing a single dollar.
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| Image from NYDailyNews.com |
The president's speech left even his greatest supporters scratching their heads, saying "That's it?" But I am hoping that the president will soon find out that in America, our leaders aren't judged on the oration of their speeches, but rather the execution of their goals.
This is where the president has come up short.
The Labor Department's dismal job report today showing unemployment remaining over 8% reflects this failure perfectly. Therefore, I am hoping that Obama's days in the oval office have dwindled to 60 because Americans are desperate to really get on a path to prosperity. We just need the right leadership to get us there.
Go Mitt.
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