After watching the State of the Union address a couple of days ago, I conclude that it looks like Obama has finally found a sense of voice. What I mean by that is that when some people speak, their words carry a certain weight, have an impact. I think it comes from the person’s own sense of their substance, their gravitas. For a long time, Obama seemed to have lost his voice, and seemed to be speaking as just another guy with an opinion, and all he could do was pretend to be significant but was really just hoping that others would agree.
But, now, he seems to have been freed of some self-imposed restriction, and seems to have found his voice, indeed perhaps has found himself. I think by losing big in the 2014 elections, he has decided it was important to let people know that he was still important, still president, still a power to be reckoned with. Plus, I think he finally has decided that he might as well be who he really is rather than try to find ways to twist himself into a pretzel trying to appease Republicans in order to get things done. I believe he has used the veto pen remarkably seldom compared to other presidents. If he follows through on his new authenticity I expect that to change.
Very little of his proposals from the speech have any chance, but his proposals wasn’t what the speech was about.
His speech was about presenting his vision of the future of the Democratic Party and liberalism – empower the middle class - which creates demand and grows the economy, help the poor, and stop bowing to the demands of the Oligarchy. Pretty clear message. Very different from the Republican vision of empower the wealthy and they will create jobs and prosperity.
This should be an interesting couple of years in D.C.
