On Pins and Needles is understating my feelings about the speech tonight.

[Mira]

"The whole Nation is watching" would be quite appropriate.

Our President along with us knows full well that he is unable to provide what we need, which is the "first things first" of the plugging of the gushing and leaking oil.

He nevertheless is called upon to provide some future hope for the Gulf states, financial promise and follow through, along with emotional sustenance.

He is entering the traps of those who still put the harming of him above all other needs, and try to do so by dissecting every nuance and sentence and motive and movement.
Traps laid by the entire minority party, and continued by their offshoots of the dangerously weird who do not wish him well.

It is a tragic state of affairs when a country cannot pull together and underlying ill will can do such harm to the unity we need now.

Let's look at this collage again and remember the promise we felt.

Can any of us imagine being in his shoes?

[dixiegrrrrl]

1. He has a HUGE opportunity, on a silver platter.

BP could not have done more to give him the chance to show serious leadership and even some of that slightly mythical "change".


Let us hope.

[AtomicKitten]

2. The weight of this mess is on his shoulders.

He's the hardest working person on government.

[eleny]

3. Seems like whenever I feel that way, he does exceedingly well

[monmouth]

4. He will be superb, as usual so I'm watching re-runs of NCIS. The

media and DU will re-hash his speech to oblivion so I get the best of both worlds....

[Mira]

5. To me,

there always is the immediacy of "Being there" in the moment, which is important to me way more than the rest.

I wish I could shed that, but it's probably not going to happen.

[EFerrari]

6. Do you really think it's that big?

It's a speech.

[Mira]

7. I do

and your comment leaves me speechless.

[EFerrari]

10. Then you are likely expecting too much.

I'm all for Obama and his admin being in better touch with the public but one speech is not going to solve anything. If you keep that in mind, you might be able to enjoy the actual event a little more.

[WillyT]

15. Oh... I'm Hoping To Enjoy It Immensely !!!

I'm hoping he's going to kick ass and take names.

I'm hoping that he's going to provide a plan that makes perfect sense, and gives us some sense of relief.

I'm hoping that he doesn't come out as Professor Pragmatica preaching bi-partisanship.

That would be a CHANGE... and I'm once again, HOPING for it!

:shrug:

[Mira]

18. I think, quite genuinely,

that under no circumstances "enjoyment" will have anything to do with my emotion tonight.

The need for leadership, and the conveying of credible competence in the face of unprecedented odds has never been higher.
I can't think of a time a speech has mattered this much. Not just to Americans.
The home of all citizens of the earth is being fouled more by every passing hour.

[ShamelessHussy]

9. the topic, is an ongoing CATASTROPHE, the importance of this speech is significant

but the content is paramount.

[EFerrari]

12. And?

Aren't you the same folks that tell lefties like me that Obama doesn't have a magic wand?

Which way do you want it?

[ShamelessHussy]

14. he MUST use this 'opportunity' to take BOLD action

i have no idea what you are talking about in the body of your reply though.

i am just a regular american... i voted for obama, and got many other to, too.

though i understand politics is an unavoidable framework we all must live in, i see this as a MONSTROUS, ongoing, catastrophe, that demands BOLD leadership, which includes ACTIONS and DECISIONS that will have a real impact, that matches the SCALE of this crisis.

i do not care who is in office, i expect to see an ARMADA in the gulf, of invasion force scale e.g. D-Day, and ARMIES on the beaches, at least, and it should include ALL OIL INDUSTRY PLAYERS, as well as the international community.

[WillyT]

11. I Do Too...

This could determine the difference between one term or two.

:shrug:

[EFerrari]

13. Well, you may be right. But, isn't it a little early for that kind of determination?

I don't want to put down the event in any way. It just doesn't seem to me a matter of political life and death. I may be out of touch. :shrug:

[ShamelessHussy]

8. unless he use this opportunity to announce something BOLD

vs a rehash of what has been going on (CYA) for the past couple months, it will be a FAIL, imo.

people are looking for, even expecting, that their gov TAKE CHARGE of the situation at the very LEAST.

i also am willing to bet that most people are expecting the SCALE of his response, to match that of the ONGOING disaster.

[sendero]

19. If talk will do the trick..

... Obama's your man. Actual action, not so much.

[lamp_shade]

16. He hasn't disappointed me yet. I look forward to another outstanding speech tonight.

[flamingdem]

17. I hope he doesn't encourage us to see the Gulf as half empty rather than half full nt