Presidential Leadership - Communication from the Heart

President Obama finally gave a State of the Union message, one in which he believed, and it showed. 

In one of the best State of the Union speeches in recent memory, President Obama communicated his passion for progressive leadership with conviction, during last night's highly rated annual report to Congress. 

American people polled by CNN gave his post speech high marks, even giving as high as 70 percent approval to his call to action in support for the victims of gun violence.  "They deserve a vote", was his emotional clarion call, which received thunderous applause from Democrats and many of the victims themselves, who were evident, seated throughout the House gallery.

In contrast, the official Republican rebuttal to the President's speech, by politically promising Senator Marco Rubio, was unconvincing.  Rather than explaining how Republicans have alternatives to the President's progressive agenda, Senator Rubio used apologetic arguments (he believes in Medicare - but he wants to cut benefits and services!) and melodrama (his family was poor, too)  to garner sympathy for his point of view.  In other words, if Senator Rubio has aspirations about becoming a future President, he needs a lot of practice giving important speeches.  It was painfully obvious that  Senator Rubio did not take much time to rehearse his rebuttal speech and he even interrupted himself by gobbling a distracting gulp of water in the middle of an important segment. In fact, Senator Rubio's speech will go down as one of the worst presentations ever for an important televised speech, because his memorable moment was visibly flawed by the water incident.

President Obama's speech was brilliantly uplifting:  "Tonight, thanks to the grit and determination of the American people, there is much progress to report. After a decade of grinding war, our brave men and women in uniform are coming home. After years of grueling recession, our businesses have created over 6 million new jobs. We buy more American cars than we have in five years and less foreign oil than we have in 20. Our housing market is healing, our stock market is rebounding, and consumers, patients and homeowners enjoy stronger protections than ever before."

Unfortunately, two Supreme Court justices were absent during the rousing speech.  Justice Scalia and Justice Thomas snubbed the event.  Perhaps they have the clout to be arrogant, but their absence is even more evidence of Governor Jindal of Louisiana's description of Republicans being "stupid".  

President Obama's leadership was firmly communicated to the American people last evening. Indeed, it was like his speech was the first one, rather than the 5th, he's given to Congress and the American people.  

Although a menu of progressive issues were supported in the President's speech, the biggest take away is that he finally found wind for his political sails. As a matter of fact, President Obama's leadership is taking the wind out of Republican rhetoric.

It's time the Republicans are all sailed right out of office.