In the first one, President Obama calls out the Supreme Court for their lame-ass ruling last week:
But we can’t stop there. It’s time to require lobbyists to disclose each contact they make on behalf of a client with my Administration or Congress. And it’s time to put strict limits on the contributions that lobbyists give to candidates for federal office. Last week, the Supreme Court reversed a century of law to open the floodgates for special interests – including foreign corporations – to spend without limit in our elections. Well I don’t think American elections should be bankrolled by America’s most powerful interests, or worse, by foreign entities. They should be decided by the American people, and that’s why I’m urging Democrats and Republicans to pass a bill that helps to right this wrong.
I'm happy to see the President address this travesty and call on both parties to pass legislation to help change it. Whether or not they will, remains to be seen; but at least he did say something and call it what it is: a WRONG.
But of course, Justice Samuel Alito was caught on camera, shaking his head and mouthing something that sure looked like "not true" during this part of the speech! WTF!?! Now I'm curious, just which of the President's words did Alito find to be "not true"?
In the next quote, the President calls out the obstructive Republicans:
But what frustrates the American people is a Washington where every day is Election Day. We cannot wage a perpetual campaign where the only goal is to see who can get the most embarrassing headlines about their opponent – a belief that if you lose, I win. Neither party should delay or obstruct every single bill just because they can. The confirmation of well-qualified public servants should not be held hostage to the pet projects or grudges of a few individual Senators. Washington may think that saying anything about the other side, no matter how false, is just part of the game. But it is precisely such politics that has stopped either party from helping the American people. Worse yet, it is sowing further division among our citizens and further distrust in our government.
So no, I will not give up on changing the tone of our politics. I know it’s an election year. And after last week, it is clear that campaign fever has come even earlier than usual. But we still need to govern. To Democrats, I would remind you that we still have the largest majority in decades, and the people expect us to solve some problems, not run for the hills. And if the Republican leadership is going to insist that sixty votes in the Senate are required to do any business at all in this town, then the responsibility to govern is now yours as well. 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. So let’s show the American people that we can do it together. This week, I’ll be addressing a meeting of the House Republicans. And I would like to begin monthly meetings with both the Democratic and Republican leadership. I know you can’t wait.
Again, I have to wonder....will his words make a difference? Will any of the Party of NO finally step up and work for what would benefit the people? Or will they continue their agenda of "just say no" to anything and everything this administration tries to get done?
Is there hope? Or will they just continue to fight everything? Once again, only time will tell.
And the work, as well as the dream, goes on!
Read full text of the speech here.
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