My wife and I watched President Obama’s State of the Union address this evening.  We chose PBS because we felt it would have the least amount of inane commentary on the speech.  We wanted to be free to engage in our own inane commentary.  Such as, do the president and vice-president confer on who will wear the red tie and who will wear the blue?  You know they have to talk about these things.  It was a good speech, I thought.  The ending with the SEAL team flag was powerful imagery.

I supported Obama in ’08.  His voice was reassuring during the debates with McCain.  With the economy in free fall, that was a scary time.  On his record, I approve his attempt to move the US toward universal health care.  Access to quality medical care is so important.  I was discouraged, though, when he rejected the oil pipeline from Canada to Texas.  That is a lost (or delayed) chance to put thousands of men and women to work building it, helping families have breadwinners again.  My feelings on other things he has done are similarly mixed, but my opinion of him is generally positive.

After reading Dreams From My Father, I understand better what motivates President Obama.  With a few reservations, I am still inclined to support him again in the fall.  He will be the most experienced candidate running, and he will remain a counterweight to conservatives in Congress.  As a political agnostic, I am fine with divided government.