| The weather was indeed fine today. Started out a little chilly as appropriate for mid-September but warmed up nicely. And Hey! No rain!
Much has been made already of the normally obligatory and non-noteworthy introductions. President Obama opened by recognizing the various New York pols in attendance. But given White House intervention in state politics, specifically asking Gov. Paterson not to run for re-election, these introductions tell their own story.
We've got some special guests here that I want to acknowledge, in addition to Jill. First of all, a wonderful man, the governor of the great state of New York -- David Paterson is in the house. (Applause.) Your shy and retiring Attorney General -- Andrew Cuomo is in the house. (Applause.) Andrew is doing great work enforcing the laws that need to be enforced.
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| If you want to confirm what you read between the lines just slip on over to view the video at Capital Confidential to see the facial expressions and body language that go with them.
Also worthy of note was the emphasis the President put into his introduction of the attending Congressmen:
We've got three outstanding members of Congress who are just doing great work every single day -- Maurice Hinchey, Paul Tonko, Scott Murphy -- please give them a big round of applause.
Perhaps it is just because these are the folks he has to work with in DC but it seemed to me he was giving it a good bit extra when praising them.
A short distance into the speech he got right to the heart of the matter across upstate:
And I know that here in Troy, you want and need that chance after so many years of hard times. Communities like this one were once the heart of America's manufacturing strength. But over the last few decades, you've borne the brunt of a changing economy which has seen many manufacturing plants close in the face of global competition. So while all of America has been gripped by the current economic crisis, folks in Troy and upstate New York have been dealing with what amounts to almost a permanent recession for years: an economic downturn that's driven more and more young people from their hometowns.
Emphasis mine.
All of us across upstate can attest that is exactly the case. Once thriving towns and small cities that are a shell of their former selves. Demographic statistics that show clearly how the younger generation is having to move elsewhere to find and build a future for themselves.
He then identified part of the problem. Ronald Reagan once said Government is the problem and not the solution. Well, when it is conservative government in the interests of lobbyists and corporations not citizens then the result is indeed a problem. A problem just like the President described:
For too long, as old divisions and special interests reigned, Washington has shown neither the inclination, nor the ability, to tackle our toughest challenges. Meanwhile, businesses were saddled with ever-rising health care costs; the economy was weakened by ever-growing dependence on foreign oil; our investment in cutting-edge research declined; our schools fell further short; growth focused on short-term gains and fueled by debt and reckless risk, which led to a cycle of precipitous booms and painful busts.
Then he identified the modern day conservative attitude:
And meanwhile, too many in Washington stood by and let it happen. Now, after so many years of failing to act, there are those who now suggest that there's really not much the government can or should do to make a difference; that what we've seen in places like Troy is inevitable; that somehow, the parts of our country that helped us lead in the last century don't have what it takes to help us lead in this one. And I'm here to tell you that that is just flat out wrong.
That last sentence, emphasis his, is one of the things I like about this President. The paragraph concluded:
What we have here in this community is talented people, entrepreneurs, world-class learning institutions. The ingredients are right here for growth and success and a better future.
And this is one of the differences between a conservative and a liberal viewpoint:
So as we emerge from this current economic crisis, our great challenge will be to ensure that we don't just drift into the future, accepting less for our children, accepting less for America. We have to choose instead what past generations have done: to shape a brighter future through hard work and innovation.
Conservatives don't believe in government. Their way... drifts... the magic market carpet will solve all problems. No need for a plan. No need for government action. Cut taxes and trust the fairy godfather CEO take care of everything.
Liberals on the other hand believe that government is a force for creative action and problem solving. It is not the right vehicle for everything but it is the right vehicle for laying the ground work for innovation and directing our common future.
More to come.... |
