Bridging Wealth Gap

 

The Sassistas! have not yet watched and/or read

President Obama's State of the Union Address from last evening.

To watch Obama's speech and follow along with fact checks and analysis,

click here for a New York Times interactive feature.

Dish, please.

Comments

[Flannista]

I haven't yet read the entire speech. I read the opening and the closing and see that the death of Osama bin Laden serves as bookends to this speech; more specifically, the courage and teamwork of the Navy SEALS who carried out the mission. They had each other's back. The President is appealing to all Americans that we do the same for each other.

That's not a bad thought, in one respect . . . but to hinge a State of the Union address on the death of bin Laden? I dunno.

I'm pondering. Plus I need to read the read of the speech.

[treesta]

Obama was setting the stage for his campaign rhetoric, that's for sure. I liked the assertive, forceful tone he took. Kind of wish he'd of taken that tone more often in the last four years. I believe he hit a good point in focusing on the teamwork it took to get Bin Laden. I wonder if it wouldn't have been more powerful if he alluded to the situation without mentioning Bin Laden's name - he could have painted the picture so that everyone would have known the moment he referred to without ever saying his name.

Just some early morning thoughts. Hope all is well for you down in Mouseland, Flann.

Take care, everyone.

[Flannista]

Just got back from the Exercise Room where I ripped off five miles on the tread mill. I will be on my feet most of today and tomorrow. Pretty grueling.

Talk about teamwork, though . . .

[Flannista]

treesta -- I think your point about the speech being stronger if the President had never mentioned Bin Laden by name is brilliant. But then he probably would have been criticized by some for being afraid to mention his name.

[treesta]

Flann, yesterday you said, "But I love creative work like this and love so many of the employees." You've given yourself one reminder to help yourself stay grounded. Focus on what you love.

[Justista]

Flann, good to hear you mention the teamwork in Mouseland. Noticing that will help.

I think focusing on the invasion of another country to perform an assassination is not a good way to start. On the other hand, I'm still going to work for the dude.

[Matissta]

I completely missed the speech and haven't read much about it today. However, I received an email today from the organization, MoveOn. They were excited to share that the President announced that there would be a federal investigation into Wall Street.

Although I'm happy about this, I also wonder what took him so long?!

[half-a-sista]

I will work for Obama too because the alternatives frighten me more, but I'm tired of voting for the "Better Than the Other People Running" candidate. When I voted for Obama, I truly felt like he was the best candidate. That opinion has changed. Now I only think he's better (in a BIG way than any of the Republicans still in the race).

I hate the appealing to national pride as a way to garner support, especially when we invaded a foreign country and killed a foreign national like Justista pointed out. Yes, I know he planned horrible things and carried them out, but to not respect treaties and international law seems wrong to me in some, I don't know, democratic way. But then we invaded Iraq on bogus terms and assassinated their elected ruler so I guess we already have been sliding down that slippery slope.

Today's report of Navy SEALS going into Somalia to rescue Americans from pirates shows we plan to go into any country in the world IF we want to go. I wonder if the couple were major contributors to anyone's Congressional campaign? Hopefully not to our current president.

Running the country has become like Mission: Impossible with fast cars, assassinations, and daring do. Too bad nobody's running the damned place.

Flann, hope the video is working out. You're a genius at making sow's ears look like silk purses. I have faith in you.

Matiss, I would probably sit next to the guy to get more info on his story, but then I'm a writer first and certainly not a computer person. You did your best.

Matiss, in answer to your last question: He wasn't running for President until now.

[Matissta]

half-a, I'm with you on your comment.

"He wasn't running for President until now."
And I think that's why it bothers me so much!

And weren't Timothy Geithner and Ben Bernanke uncomfortably involved? Why do they still retain their positions?

[Justista]

Don't hold your breath for Wall Street prosecutions. Prosecutors find it terribly difficult to charge people who look like them. Occasionally they get pissed at someone uppity like Martha Stewart but they know that the federal sentencing guidelines are unforgiving and once these guys are brought into the system they are going to end up in jail.

[Flannista]

Well, we have completed the first day of filming. Thanks for the encouragement, half-a. I intend to read through the State of the Union speech tonight, but may be too pooped.

I love Justista's line, "Prosecutors find it terribly difficult to charge people who look like them." Lemme tell ya, corporate executives don't like being filmed with people who don't look like them. Makes me tired.

[treesta]

Gabrielle Giffords gave her resignation on the floor of Congress this morning. Her colleague and friend, Debbie Wasserman, read the resignation letter on her behalf. It was a very moving moment. I found it especially so when, after the letter was read, Giffords, the determined woman that she is, climbed the four or five steps it took to go to the Speaker's podium and handed her letter of resignation to the Speaker of the House, John Boehner.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/friend-reads-giffordss-resignation-letter-in-house/2012/01/25/gIQAXtEdQQ_video.html

(It takes a moment for the video to load.)

[Flannista]

treesta -- why did I cry like a baby watching this video -- all of it?

So moving.

Run for President, Gabby. Run!

[treesta]

Really, Flann. Me, too. She reminds us all, in this time of polarization, that it is indeed possible to disagree without demonizing, to stand up for one's principles without assassinating another's character. I'd vote for her anyplace, anytime.

[treesta]

Hope everyone has a good day. Take care.

[Flannista]

Thanks for checking in, treesta. I just got back from the Fitness Center. Another five miles on the tread mill. Another long day of shooting. I filmed the new CEO yesterday and he said this to me: "Thanks for dressing up for me" (I was in shorts and a t-shirt because I have to schlep around equipment) and this to the VP of Internal Communications: "I like your new do."

I have no idea what world he lives in.

[Matissta]

I thought West would have something to say about the speech, but maybe she wasn't inspired by it either.

A dreary day here all around.

Hopefully, you'll all enjoy tomorrow's post.

[Justista]

Obama just left Las Vegas. He was speaking at the UPS facility where they have a fleet of energy efficient vehicles. Then he got on Air Force One.

[Flannista]

Finished another day of shooting and am back at the hotel. A quiet day in the sassosphere, I see. I, too, was hoping to lure in Westsista on this . . .

Bad thunderstorms are predicted for my flight home tomorrow morning. I just want to get home.

[Flannista]

We posted at the same time, Justista!

All the Republicans are here in Florida and if I see one more commercial, I'm going to hurl my flatscreen out the hotel window.

[treesta]

Good evening, everyone. It's been a long, hard day. I'm pooped. How 'ya doin' down there, Flann. Funny comment, Just.

[Flannista]

I thought Justista's comment was funny, too.

I think there's a haiku there.

[Flannista]

By the way, we are posting a very funny video tomorrow that I hope will inject some sass into the 'sphere.

Sista C is traveling. PEACE and noway are traveling. I am traveling. Matiss has class tonight. What's HAPPENING??!!!!! Are we having REAL lives??!!

[Flannista]

I can't WAIT for the 19th Republican debate tonight. How about all of you?

[Justista]

Flann: I was going to quit drinking (not for good of course, I just thought it was incompatible with my newly adopted veganism) but decided I can't do that until the Republican debates are over so I have my Gentleman Jack and my plant-based dinner ready and Gruff and I will start yelling at the television in about an hour.