Tonight President Obama is going to deliver a prime time speech to America tonight at 09:00 PM EDT.
I expect the President to compare and contrast the dueling debt limit bills in front of lawmakers. On one hand is the Speaker’s plan and on the other is the Senate Majority Leader’s plan. Obama has already come out in favor of the plan being offerred by Harry Reid; so the suspense of tonight’s address is largely gone. What remains will be the rhetoric.
The President should stand in front of America and tell us that the leaders we have elected are working around the clock to craft a plan that cares for the future of America while at the same time keeps us in the good graces of our current debt obligations. All American’s recognize that you can not make promises that you have no intention of keeping. We borrowed money and entered into agreement with people from all over. IN some cases this is foreign nations. In others it’s with our own citizens in the form of our social programs.
We have debts and obligations. And we mean to honor those obligations.
That being said, the future path of our economy is not an easily planned and established. Rather, it’s gonna take a lot of work, a lot of courage and a lot of midnight oil. There are ideological differences to be overcome. And in today’s hyper-partisan atmosphere. While it’s unfortunate, it’s reality. And to ignore that reality is dangerous. Rather we should let these people work through their challenges and come to a solution that everyone can be satisfied with; or at least one that everyone can admit some compromise on their part.
That is what he SHOULD say. But he won’t.
President Obama will mention, at LEAST 4 times, that we are suffering through a crisis of some kind that was brought about by the policies of the last decade. [I suspect polling has determined that people are tired of blaming Dubya, so he’s shifted to policies of the last decade. Four times, I’m tellin’ ya. Take it to the bank!] He’ll claim that we need leadership and not politics as usual. Mr. Obama will make claims that he and the Democrats have been willing to compromise on this deal in order that America can make progress and that it’s the Republicans who have come to the table, worked out a deal only to demand further concessions or change the rules.
The President will claim that the Republican contingent has been held hostage to the extreme right element of the party, he may even mention the Tea Party by name. But if he doesn’t, it’ll be clear that it is that group he is referring to. He will remind America that it has been the Democrats that have agreed to set aside partisan politics to reach a deal based on compromise; even agreeing to virtually every Republican demand. Only to be left at the alter at least twice.
Obama will mention that the Democrat’s plan contains spending cuts that result in a stronger economic position. And he’ll mention that the Democrats have agreed that no tax cuts will be implemented; all this at the request of the Republicans.
He won’t mention the fact that the deal pushes the debate out past the next election, but he WILL mention that the Republicans insist on playing politics with the debt by insisting on a “two tier approach”.
I hope I’m wrong. I bet I’m not.