We don't quit. I don't quit

After his first year as President, Obama gave his first ' State of the Union' address today broadcast on TV from 6.00 PM to 7.30 PM PST. The recent loss of the Senate seat held by Ted Kennedy has given the Republicans a sudden jolt of hope and they seem to think that they now have the Democrats on the defensive. The Democrats also suffered setbacks in the Governor's race for two states. All this had given an opportunity to Obama opponents to start pulling him down. The Press joined in contributing its part by crying hoarse that one Senate seat-loss implies that the entire country has lost confidence in Obama. It is pathetic on the part of the TV and News media to use this one isolated loss as an attractive story to increase their ratings. Every news outlet now wants to be seen or heard talking about what the Massachusetts loss means to Obama or the Democrats or the whole country. The confidence with which the so called experts speak on TV programs gives you the impression that they know what they are talking. I am now totally suspicious of such people. They only know as much as any common man. The only advantage they have is that they have access to the media outlet and they are brash enough to give baseless opinions.



With this background Obama's confident and hard hitting address today was very welcome. He spoke with an authority and clarity that inspired confidence in me. He impressed that he still has the situation under his control. He has such an excellent mastery over the language and idea formation and a brilliant way of sharing his thoughts that he can win over many independent minded people to his side. He gave very convincing arguments for the bank bailout, for the investment in energy research and his push for Universal health care.



In a very combative mood he derided the people whose intention is only to block him from doing his work just to score political points over him. He said "In this new decade, it's time the American people get a government that matches their decency; that embodies their strength. And tonight, I'd like to talk about how, together, we can deliver on that promise.....". That was a very pointed reference to those people who are in the way between him and his objectives.

If anybody had thought that he will back off from his goals because of the loss in Massachusetts or the problems faced by the health care bill, he proved them completely wrong. He implored the republicans to do the right thing and not oppose him for short term gains. He said if our fathers had thought of only short term gains, America would not be what it is today.

Far from sounding disheartened he said he was never as hopeful as he is today about the bright future of US. So that is the man who reminded the voters the Obama during the Presidential campaign. I think it restored the hope and confidence Americans had in him which might have been dented thanks to the Media and his opponents going over board in reading too much into the recent short term losses.

His most reassuring statement was when he sternly said "We don't quit. I don't quit"