It's Like the Oscars for Ugly People: Reaction to the State of the Union

Tonight, President Barack Obama gave his final State of the Union before standing for re-election later this year. Obama alternately celebrated the United States Military for its work in Afghanistan and Iraq and for the killing of Osama bin Laden, appealed to the need for finding common ground in Washington, and offered a preview of the election year agenda he will seek to promote as he begins to draw a contrast with his eventual opponent (read the text of Obama's speech here). In this week's debate, Stephen and Matt recap the SOTU and analyze its goals and policy provisions within the context of what we can expect to see politically in 2012.

Posted by Matt (1/24/12):

First of all, I'd just like to point out that for all of our political differences, Stephen Siena and I are both fans of the New York Football Giants, who are going to the Super Bowl, so let's just have a moment of acknowledgement for how awesome that is. Tom Brady, watch out (again).

On to the speech. As a liberal, one of my core disappointments in the Obama presidency has been his inability, or unwillingness, until recently, to put our current economic troubles in context. I thought he finally took care of that tonight. After congratulating our armed forces for their work in Iraq and for killing Osama bin Laden, the president began his speech by talking about the American dream, and how the basic promise that our grandparents and parents were raised on - work hard, get a good job, raise a family and save for retirement - has been eroded by the combined economic trends of new technology, outsourcing, and stagnant middle class wages. The president didn't openly criticize these trends; he merely acknowledged them, gave an account of their consequences, and then presented a blueprint for how to bring our country forward and restore the middle class that so many voters are afraid is slipping away.

More after the jump...

Debating the Obama Defense Cuts

Recently, the President announced $487B in defense spending cuts over the next 10 years. Meanwhile an additional $500B could be coming from Congress next year after the deficit supercommitee failed to reach an agreement on debt reduction. This debate seeks to determine if the US can afford to cut spending at a time when defense budgets are already on the chopping block. Still recovering from a severe economic recession and two military misadventures in Iraq and Afghanistan, Americans are noticeably weary of spending money on overseas intervention. But should we be? And more importantly, can the US afford to pursue this course of action?

Posted by Stephen (1/12/12):

I'd like to start this week's debate by using my six years of Latin. "Si vis pacem, para bellum" which translates to "If you wish for peace, prepare for war". I'd also like to observe that the periods of time where wealth, science and culture flourished were also periods where a state completely dominated the known world militarily. Examples including the Pax Romana, the early Muslim Caliphates, the Pax Britannica and then the Pax Americana. Therefore, my argument essentially becomes that the US must maintain the sole military superpower for both itself and the world. Thus, if defense budget cuts would hamper our ability to maintain this Pax Americana, then they are something we cannot afford.

My first argument is that the US has an obligation to protect its people. This is a basic tenet of our government, outlined in the Preamble to the Constitution. Thus, the Defense cuts were shown to limit the government's ability to do so, it would fail my basic test. I believe that the 10-15% reduction in our Army and Marine Corps outlined in President Obama's plan will harm our ability to protect Americans and their interests. While we do not face threat of attack by an invading army, there still exist terrorists who wish to do us harm. According to the White House's own admissions the troop reductions will not allow us to participate in two simultaneous major wars.

More after the jump...