State of the Union After Thoughts

Hm-m-m-m. What did you think of it? Did it make you feel any better? Did it inspire you? Make you hopeful? Or angry? I would imagine it did all those things to different people. For me, I came away feeling as though I had been lectured to by an angry, stern, but caring father---who has no intention of backing down on what he feels is best for us and is quite irritated that we do not quite see it his way. Rather, than accepting that the evidence is there, via the Mass. election, the polls, the polarization on Health Care, the controversies that rage over the bail-outs, the government interference with corporate pay and bonuses, the terrorist issues, including the hugely expensive trial that is to be held in New York City for one of the main perpetrators of 911, that perhaps he should reconsider his position on several fronts. But true to Obama form, he came out swinging for the fences, confident that the masses will follow if he shows enough confidence, articulation, determination, and a small amount of apology for not living up to the very high expectations set before him in this, his first and very difficult year. He blames not a small part of this failure for the Republicans' stubbornness to go along with his party's ways. He also managed to shake his finger, almost literally, at the Supreme Court and Judge Alito, for their recent decision on corporate campaign ad funding. Judge Alito, who had no choice but to sit and take it, must have felt like the victim of a bullying teacher in a classroom, being reprimanded for having done his job. I guess the President and Mr. Alito's animus with each other goes back a long ways, but it was an uncomfortable moment. It is, however, a free country still, and there was nothing illegal or even original about Obama taking on the judge, while having the national pulpit. It just didn't seem very Presidential. But, I guess we should cut President Obama a little slack----after all, he's frustrated, stressed, and quite cross with some of us! We really should shape up and get behind what needs to be done----which is getting this economy going again!!! I agree with him, totally, but it starts NOT with a good talking to, but a President who recognizes when to show a little humility, dial down the soaring rhetoric, and instead show us something besides left wing politics, pandering to his political interests, and a feeling that our country is being sold down the river. I am ready to follow, even admire, if he would show me that he is willing to compromise, move more to the center, and give me reason to believe that he is truly interested in making our country stronger and better---not re-born to his terms. He is not our father, and we are not his children.
Well, there you have it-- this is just me, one small business owner, who has watched her world crumble around her. This is not all Obama's fault, by any means. There is plenty of blame to go around---and perhaps it was just time for a re-set of our economic values. But, at this point, I am very worried, concerned, and question Mr. Obama's lack of experience and his world view, which seems not in sync with many of us who grew up in a different America. No one can cure this country over night, but neither can we, nor do we want to change so dramatically over night. Mr. Obama needs our prayers and Solomon's wisdom---may we and God grant him that as we proceed.