Style Over Substance

Now that we have an orator as President, the only thing that matters is giving a good speech and how people "feel" about it. Fox News has a focus group where democrats and republicans turn a little dial so they can record how people feel about every word and phrase in the speech. Commentators express their disappointment that Bobby Jindal didn't "perform" to the level of Obama. What about the content of what they said?

Obama, amidst a bunch of historical obfuscation (great word, huh?), seems to just throw out whatever words he thinks people want to hear:
"Not because I believe in bigger government - I don't." For someone who doesn't believe in bigger government, he's been spending every waking hour creating one. And in the very same speech, lets us know that we're irrevocably heading toward a National, government-run health care. If that's not bigger government, I don't know what is.

"Not because I'm not mindful of the massive debt we've inherited - I am." Apparently, he's mindful of the massive debt he's inherited, but conveniently sweeping under the rug the massive debt his adminstration and congress have created since they've been in power. In little over a month, they've managed to spend more money than we've spent in total on the war in Iraq, the war in Afghanistan, and the recovery from Hurricane Katrina.

Bobby Jindal hits the nail on the head:
"Democratic leaders say their legislation will grow the economy. What it will do is grow the government, increase our taxes down the line, and saddle future generations with debt. Who among us would ask our children for a loan, so we could spend money we do not have, on things we do not need? That is precisely what the Democrats in Congress just did. It's irresponsible. And it's no way to strengthen our economy, create jobs, or build a prosperous future for our children."