President Obama Delivers Unapologetic SOTU Address

It's easy to think that if you've seen one SOTU address you've seen them all; over the years of the Obama presidency, I learned that this hypothetical simply wasn't true as every year seemed to get better.

This past Tuesday, Obama's sixth SOTU address was no exception as he barreled forward totally confident, in control, and unapologetic as he made all aware of his past and most recent accomplishments and his plans in building on those accomplishments. 

The President touted his horn as he talked about job growth being at its fastest pace since 1999, and the unemployment rate being much lower now than during the financial crisis of 2008, the fact that more people than ever before are insured, and bragging that America is now number one in oil, gas and wind power. 

Every SOTU address President Obama extends an invitation to Americans that may have a written a letter to him, or who he may have noticed doing extraordinary things in which to tie their personal story into his speech while relating to their struggles, and allowing fellow Americans the same privilege. 

Rebecca and Ben's story was no different; a hardworking middle class family who made necessary sacrifices for their family and future. As the President told the couple's story of hardship, he also took the time to piggyback his final referendum for the last two years of his presidency -- using the invitees personal story, he acknowledged what would've made all the difference during their struggles if certain laws had been in place. 

Laws like affordable high quality childcare that he described as a "must-have", and further reiterated that "childcare isn't a side issue or a woman's issue -- it's an economic issue." 

Obama pressed on with his mantra of 43 million American workers not having access to sick leave and women still not being paid equal to men, and the fact that America needs a better minimum wage and access to quality education without a price tag attached to it, new trade deals to protect the American worker, having the wealthy pay their fair share of taxes while closing loopholes on companies that ship jobs over seas, and so on and so forth.

The lawyer inside the man was making a firm case for America's future, as votes on the television screen chimed in unanimous agreement during the majority of his speech. Furthermore, because the voting polls during the speech showed democrats, republicans, and independents agreeing with one another the majority of the time, it became that much more confusing to me as to why republicans clobbered democrats during last November's midterm elections?

Republicans in The House and in Congress remain deeply divided on Obama's past and current agenda, and is almost sure to continue giving him a difficult time passing any progressive legislation in these last two years; why did they win again?

The division within the Republican party was even more evident during the GOP response to President Obama's SOTU address, where they had not one, not two, not three, but five republican responses! 

The first response was delivered by newly elected Republican Senator from Iowa, Joni Ernst (the woman's perspective?), then by Rep. Carlos Curbelo of Florida (the Spanish perspective?), then by Rep. Curt Clawson of Florida (the Tea Party perspective?), then by Rand Paul (the 2016 presidential candidate perspective?), and finally by Ted Cruz (the 2016 presidential candidate slash the "Ted Cruz" perspective?).

If the Republican party is "one" united party then why so many responses? Does the GOP really require so many different outlooks within their party instead of one solid vision? Maybe this is the reason why republicans never have a set plan in place, due to the many sides that are in constant feud? Or maybe there is one set plan in place but because it may not have mass appeal, is it necessary to give multiple versions to see how many of their constituents take the bait? And depending on how many take the bait -- ultimately that determines who the new leader of the republican party will be?

I'm beginning to confuse myself, which is probably why the GOP remain so confused. But at any rate, it's still January, which means there's a lot of time to see what direction this new congress plans on taking us. 

#AndWeWait

2015 LA