On Tuesday, President Barack Obama delivered his second-to-last State of the Union Address. Considering the election results — only two months removed — the President had a real opportunity to extend an olive branch to the newly sworn-in Republican House and Senate. Instead, we had a president who rightfully deserves the moniker “President of No.”
Since January 1, Obama has threatened to use his veto a total of seven times. That is akin to making a new friend, yet when your new friend suggests going here or going there your only response is “no.” Our mothers told us that is no way to make new friends.
In a telling part of his address, he peevishly said, “I have no more campaigns to run. I know because I won both [of my elections].” The President failed to recognize Republicans took over the Senate and have a record number of Republicans in the House — again, only two months removed. Our mandate — from the people — to govern conservatively by way of fiscal restraint is strong.
The mere construction of the Keystone Pipeline is expected to contribute $3.4 billion to our GDP, according to a State Department review. The President essentially mocked Republicans and Democrats who, in true bipartisan spirit, support the Keystone Pipeline. His answer? No.
The President’s position on bipartisan legislation that would restore the 40-hour workweek? No.
Something he did say: “And no challenge — no challenge — poses a greater threat to future generations than climate change.”
Americans across all political persuasions were wondering if the President forgot what happened in Paris. The president figuratively said no. No, terrorism is not the greatest threat to future generations: climate change is the real threat.
“We believed we could reduce our dependence on foreign oil and protect our planet. And today, America is number one in oil and gas.”
The President’s rhetoric is at odds with his record on weaning our dependence from foreign oil.
According to Forbes, a nonpartisan report by the Congressional Research Service (CRS) quantified the administration’s “hostility towards America’s oil and natural gas industry.” From 2009-2013, oil production on federal lands has fallen by six percent. The decline, due to hostile policies by the Obama administration, is in stark contrast to the 61 percent increase of oil and gas production in private and state-owned lands.
His administration has said no to oil or gas exploration in federal lands, repeatedly.
On the economy, certain statistics may work to the President’s advantage; however, those statistics will not work to the advantage of over 17 million Americans who are currently unemployed, underemployed, or those who lost hope altogether and stopped looking for work.
The labor force participation rate in December of last year was at 62.7 percent. The last time it was this low? 1978, before I was born.
The economy is not on sound footing, especially when so many of our brothers and sisters are hurting. And “no challenge — no challenge — poses a greater threat to future generations than climate change.”
Again, the President figuratively said no. No, our astronomical national debt does not pose a greater threat to future generations: climate change is the real threat.
According to the U.S. Treasury Department, when Barack Obama became President in January of 2009, the national debt was $10.6 trillion. Six years later, the debt is $18.1 trillion. The President has singlehandedly added $7.5 trillion to our debt, this even when he called $4 trillion of debt “irresponsible” and “unpatriotic” in 2008. How is this irresponsible and unpatriotic debt not the greatest threat to future generations?
Congratulations, Mr. President: You have rightfully earned the title “President of No.”
