Cato Scholars Address Obama's First Address to Congress

[allietacker]

Pretty good post...

[spidermanandsnape]

I agree with the guy in the beggining. he made a good point. I agree with most of the other things too, but just remember, Obama has come in at a really hard time in our economy, and he has problems without everyone hating him and putting him down all the time.

[edwardpf123]

Will Obama ever shut up!

[hootchy]

I especially like the comment regarding the "budget as a blueprint for our future". This sure sounds like we are headed towards the federal government entering into increased collectivist planning. In a capitalist society shouldn't the free market decide these things? More and more social spending is not the way to preserve our liberty.

[bweazel]

Can someone tell me why the executive branch is even making a budget? It's suppose to be CONGRESS' budget!Congress needs to stop being pussies and take their job back! Seriously. What has the been the point of Congress over the last 20 years? The executive branch now makes the laws, interprets the laws, and enforces the laws. It's sad that checks and balances have now been consolidated into one branch. Creeping really close to a dictatorship here people. Be watchful!

[xfvkemosx]

when congress went all pussy...hmmm

lets check out the abuses of power in the last 100 years

i think ol dick cheney and bushy boy were the last big cock punch to congress. You know illegal wars, illegal spending, illegal torture, illegal detainnaining of pow's AND civilitions, illegal secret CIA prisons, patriot act & freedom act wtf is that bullshit

got to love his IM GOING TO CUT TAXES DURING WAR DURHURRR cause thats brilliant

[illmagnified]

Thats what im saying, its the simple questions that seem to really get Obama. Obama wheres your actual birth certificate? Wheres the money coming from for your almost trillion dollar bailouts. Whats the situation with Larry Sinclair? Why are you spending hundreds of thousands on legalities to hide his college transcripts, real birth certificate, and medical records? Maybe they would reveal his actual identity and original place of origin? WAKE UP PEOPLE!

[Auggie56]

Obama. Wheres the money coming from ?

[Surhotchaperchlorome]

We seriously need to get out of all the foreign entanglements: Iraq war, the bases, etc.

[xfvkemosx]

hmmm and lose our empire...now lets be a realistic here...

[RenShiWu]

There should be no more SOTU addresses. The president should simply write a letter to Congress concerning affairs within the executive department - as every president between Jefferson and Wilson did.

"Not because I believe in bigger government; I don't." What a crock.

[n2motocross]

Obama + Teleprompter = Fake Speech

[herbs814]

Rush said it best (at CPAC):

I have not needed a teleprompter for anything I have said. Nor do any of us need a teleprompter because our beliefs are not the result of calculations and contrivances. Our beliefs are not the result of a deranged psychology. Our beliefs are our core. Our beliefs are our hearts. We don't have to make notes about what we believe... We can tell people what we believe off the top of our heads and we can do it with passion and clarity and we can do it persuasively.

[n2motocross]

herbs814:

Absolutely! That was well put by Rush at the CPAC event and it went directly to the heart of the matter.

[cafevideo]

Nice work again, Cato but indeed the commentary about clapping was unnecessary because that's been happening for years.

I heard you seemed to agree with Obama's use of the new "Extremism" vs "War on Terror". Perhaps the word "War" legitimizes these extremists in a way we don't like. But using the word "War" does do one thing: mobilize people in THIS country. Which is more important?

[lordaltay5]

While all of this commentary was accurate, the first part in particular struck me as fundamentally important. Congress really is becoming irrelevant now that our Supreme Leader presidents call all the shots and just turn to congress for approval as a formality.

[CPAsheldon]

I just went over to recovery. org and was quite disappointed. Little transparency, it offers no public oversight, very little details, and almost nothing for the average small business owner.

[VinceP1974]

Wow we don't torture. That'll make the Jihad go away.

[conorhennessey]

Right. All the terrorists in caves gave each other high fives when they heard about that.

[jokertim777]

Who are these extremists?

Congress is the "lead dog?" in our system. Did that one guy say "Constitutional?"

Doesn't they understand that if you question His Most Exulted Majesty you can be labeled an enemy combatant, all your rights can be stripped, and you can be held indefinitely while being tortured?

This radical talk makes me think this must be one of those White Al Qaeda terrorist cells.

Where's Homeland Security when you need them? Declare CATO a terrorist organization.

[66605]

Yes, Congress is the lead dog in our system. They make the Laws, control spending, and can remove the President and any Federal judge.

[DillonX]

Did CATO make a video about Bush having too much clapping when he gave his speeches?

Of Couse Not!

I was a supporter, contributor, & delegate for Ron Paul, so I'm on the conservative side.

But CATO is run by biased, narrow-minded radicals -- I wouldn't have anything to do w/ them.

[LittleShepherd]

If you check their page, CATO has only been on Youtube since November of 2008. If you watch this video, they in fact *did* mention the applause and interruptions that happened during Bush's speeches, and were clear that it was a bad thing no matter what President it was happening to.

[n2motocross]

DillonX:

You say CATO is biased, narrow-minded radicals....and you say you voted for Ron Paul.

CATO is a Libertarian think tank. Ron Paul is a Libertarian. although he ran as a repub this time. He ran on the LP ticket in 1992.

..you might need to re-think your response.

[dcm05002]

I love who you refer to substantive opposition to the republicrats as "radical". I guess your just used to your false choices, you know, between which bridge to no where you want to spend .0045% of the federal budget on, or whether or not the people want a 35% or 39% top tier income tax. Its like choosing between what strain of cancer you want.

[xfvkemosx]

well cato is biased...they think laissez fair capitalism is fun and fair for everyone..

then they forget to open a history book and look up the gilded age

working 12 hours a day 6 days a week earning $1 a day at a steel factory sounds fun to me...damn those unions wanting fair pay and 8 hour days and 2 days off...

[n2motocross]

xfvkemosx:

First of all... We no longer live in the gilded age.

Secondly, Your biased. Find anywhere in History where Government ran businesses and corporations, which is Facism, have flourished like they have in a Capitalistic society.

Thirdly, We have labor laws on the books already... the Unions have ran their course.

[xfvkemosx]

technically Fascist germany flourished pretty well. even though they were d-bags.

2ndly laissez fair capitalism means no regulations what so ever including labor laws

that doesnt mean capitalism doesn't work

progressive capitalism works great

(points to western Europe with there high IQ's long life span good wages ect ect)

/opens history book again and looks at the equal distribution of wealth in the 40's - 70's then i begin to lawl at ronald regan look at the charts of distribution

[bamagirl369]

Great job Cato Institute! Thank you for the honest analysis.

[Shumagaki]

I couldn't stand watching the address to Congress due to all of the morons, er.. excuse me, Congressmen, interrupting and clapping/cheering non-stop every 5 seconds.

[paulastevenz]

I'd tweet this if it wasn't for the first minute (criticizing all the clapping), which detracts from the rest, more important points.

I want to put this out for my liberal friends to see. Can you reverse it? Start with the war on terror stuff they'll agree with so I can get them watching it, then hit them with economic stuff. That might get them open enough to hear what's said.

[CPAsheldon]

I agree that the clapping is a minor issue. To some extent I think it brings interest to the institution of this speech. Witness how little interest the Republican response gets with no audience or clapping.

But we do need to get control of the out of control government spending or it will be our destruction.

[paulastevenz]

thanks for the reply - yep, we're in a bit of trouble. Unfortunately, the Republicans who are now the mouthpiece for restrained spending and limited gov't lost most of their credibility due to the last 8 years under Bush, which resulted in increased spending, increased exec power, and loss of individual liberties.

So it's going to be a long hard road back.

[t4705mb6]

Watching these shots of Obama I see three paid zionist shills: Obama, Pelosi and Biden.

If you want to know their agenda simply read the writings of Henry Kissinger, Evelyn Rothschild, George Soros and Zbigniew Brzezinski.

You are being subjugated under a Marxist and zionist oligarchy headed out of the London City State world bankers (the British 'Crown'). If you want to be ruled by a few inbred idiots, do NOTHING. Just keep eating your big macs & watching AMERICAN IDOL.

[x37green]

I agree that the founders intention was that Congress, esp. the House, is the voice of the people. Unfortunately, we can only be heard at the election. Vote 'em out.

Why does Congress continually give up its duties to the Executive? I still hold them responsible.

[iTellYouNoLie]

6:17 he should have said suspects, not terrorists, nobody there has really been convicted yet.

[learninglemur]

The term 'extremism' is an empty smear that lumps the extremely good with the extremely bad.

It's a pragmatist anti-concept that, for example, groups the principled defense of individual rights with the destructive actions of fundamentalist religions.

[AwesomeShoreham]

Applause is how this starts out? Freaking joke. Who is that guy and who cares about how the speech is delivered? What about what he says? I fell asleep after that.

[aires12345678]

they dissect his speeches very good......

[whoo689]

Lol!

I mess with Joe.

[HarryNRubin]

when watching the speech, i just kept thinking, WHY CAN'T THEY BE SERIOUS FOR FIVE MINUTES!!!

[CarryANation]

I'm glad the title pointed out these were scholars because otherwise I would have thought they were propagandists.

[dbigboy161]

Excellent commentary!