The State of the Union speech is one of the oldest traditions in American politics. Presidents have used them to confront national challenges, and lift up the nations spirits. They brought to life the harsh realities of oppressed people, and heralded the triumphs of America’s technological might.
Last year President Obama used the opportunity to attack administrations past, lash out at the Supreme Court, and take in accolades from a large Democrat majority.
Now the tables have turned.
Obama will step up tomorrow to a new Speaker of the House, a strong and conservative Republican majority, his signature legislative accomplishment repealed in the house, and lower poll numbers. Despite a small bounce after his speech for the Arizona shooting victims, he could find himself in deep trouble.
Up against Obama will be Wisconsin Republican Paul Ryan, chairman of the House Budget Committee. Ryan, a gifted orator and master of budget facts, will do his best to paint a realistic picture of how the nation will need to tighten its fiscal belt to survive. Lets get it on.
President Obama tomorrow will take the opportunity to try and crush his newly emboldened opponents. The Republicans plan to introduce legislation to cut 100 billion in spending. Using scare tactics, Obama will spin a grim web of grandma loosing her social security and your sick daughter being shoved out a hospital door.
In tough economic times people will cling to those who throw money at problems. The American public is not stupid, but they care for their families and are afraid that harm will come to them. Everyone understands that. Republicans need to show that to still have a country for them to raise their families in, we must cut spending and entitlements. Americans are some of the toughest around, and we’ve done with less before.
Tomorrow, Congressman Ryan should hold up pictures of rioters in Greece and Ireland. “This will be you, America.” It is not a conspiracy-laden scare tactic if it is true. When Obama goes to drop the hammer on Republicans for cutting entitlements, Republicans must counter with all of the unnecessary spending Obama has given us, and how things can be done cheaper, more efficiently, and better. The Republican recipe of tax cuts and spending cuts is just what we need. Tough medicine? Sure. But sometimes the worst tasting kind cures you the fastest.
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