Very nice opening volley about "coming together."  Vintage Obama

"struggling but encouraged"   I'm not sure many feel this sentiment. Sure the consumer confidence index has experienced an uptick, but real improvement in the unemployment numbers are still far off.

Transparency = market stabilization.  I'm not following that inference.

Juxtaposed with fees on banks. More mainstreet v. wall street bs.

He Cut Taxes!  Or, he provided subsidies for favored activities--semantics.

Uh-oh "saved or created" stimulus reference. Republicans remain seated. Economists are in full consensus that stimulus was great!

I'm Calling for a New Jobs Bill Tonight!!! Why are Republicans clapping?

"True engine . . .  is America's businesses"  I like.

Laudatory words and promises for "small businesses."   What's so bad about big businesses--they provide benefits?

Bush years = "lost decade"

Math and Science education; infastructure spending; green jobs = economic growth and prosperity

Clean Energy or Statist-directed business. Matter of perspective I guess.

Nuclear and drilling references very nice. I thought Biden said "clean coal" was a lie.

Education Moment

"Best anti-poverty measure is a world-class education" hmm. That is tough. Good grades and education may just mean that particular individual is more ambitious or driven for success. Too many variables to just assert that more education equals less poverty.

The "forgive student loan debt" ideas are horrible. College is getting easier and less relevant to economic productivity.

Health Insurance Reform--

"we still need health insurance reform"

Health care is not good politics. Obama is right on that point

Michelle Obama is going to tackle childhood obesity. She definitely was not too enthused about that reference.

 "don't walk away from reform" I think the writing is on the wall that dems have lost their stomach for this fight

Budget Deficit--

Deficit caused by not paying for wars, tax cuts, prescription drugs. True. Let's create more unfunded liabilities!

Specific steps to pay for Stimulus:

2011 freeze government spending for three years--except for all the major programs (comes with veto threat)

"line by line" reference--Hey! I thought that was Biden's job.

No Bush tax cuts for oil companies, financial guys, and rich people ($250,000 per year)

Bipartisan commission (like the 9/11 commission?) Obama issues Executive Order on the matter

Pay-Go-- I thought we already had pay-go. Wasn't that Nancy's crowning achievement?

SCOTUS hating-- Very unusual repudiation of the Supreme Court.  This is unique. I don't think it is good form for those branches, Congress and Executive, to exhibit such public disagreement with the Court.

Security--

Quick, throw in a reference to national security at the end.

"False choice between protecting people and our values." The issues are difficult and nuanced. Obama's rhetoric is exceedingly unhelpful on these points.

Bring troops home.

Support rights of Afghans, men and women alike. Um. wouldn't that be imposing our value system?

I'm ending this war. All troops out of Iraq by this August.-- I don't disagree

Responsibility to support troops when they come home-- new GI Bill with more college funding

Michelle and Joe will help military families

Threat of Nuclear Weapons and weapons reduction

Multi-national goals and achievements . . . ugh

Conclusory remarks--see first comment.

He said he got the message, but I think he needs a hearing aid.

He said the stimulus worked!  Not true.  It might have allowed the State to balance its budget and saved a few jobs when politicians decided to cut the most important things (police, fire fiighters, etc) instead of the waste.

He said the health care bill was good and needed another look!  Not true.  We looked and found it full of buy offs (Louisiana Purchase and Cornhuster Kick-back), government takeover of a private sector, incentives for business to drop coverage and new taxes.

He said cap and trade needs to be adopted!  Not true.  It is a job killer when the number one job is jobs.

And speaking of jobs... he said it was the focus for 2010 but it should have been the 2009 focus!  And it was not!  

Overall, the President pushed more of the same.  Good for Republicans come the next election... but bad in the short (and long) term for people who need a growing economy and jobs.