What should the president say tonight?

Obama is definitely going to focus on the economy. Obama's administration was tone-deaf last year, because they focused too much on healthcare reform while millions of people were losing their jobs. I'm sure Obama is going to say all the right things, but let's wait and see what happens in the coming months. Lately, Obama has been all talk and no action. It's time for some action! Enough with the empty rhetoric, Mr. President!

Whatever he wants to say..he's the president. But seriously, anything that will motivate people to enterprise and stop waiting for businesses to respond to the recession. Start your own!

Does it really matter what this president says? The repugnants will demagogue him before he makes it back to the White House, and lazy democrats probably won't be watching at all..

@ H. Smart: How can people start their own businesses when banks aren't lending money? That's part of the problem. For the people that are unemployed or under-employed, they've got no chance at getting a loan.

(As Johnny Paycheck plays in the background) President Obama should state with clear dictation......You can take this job and shove it!!!

We can be positive tonight or we can be negative, but the "Gentleman" is going to give us his vision. Mr. President I wish you well.

Palin Brown 2012 !!!!! Lets let the conservatives run it. So when the bottom falls out, who's holding the bag? This country is the "Titanic" and it doesnt matter who's in the oval office. As long as big corporations are able to run their agenda's rampid over the masses. This place is doomed!!! To go from first class, to third world country. I just hate to see it happen right before my eyes.

He will probably focus on the economy. I just want to hear what he intends to do about the poor. We have been hearing about the problems he's having with middle class especially working class whites. He needs to pay more attentiion to low income people of all colors.

That he is going to stop the waste of time 'bipartisan' talk and get to work on job creation, which is what this country needs.

President Obama, I still believe that you are a "transformational' figure. Many transformations are met with stiff resistance especially by powerful entities who thrive where others suffer. You have tried to extend your hand to the other side for cooperation and every time it has been slapped away. You have been lied about, demonized, and disrespected by the Un-Righteous right, The Uncle Tom's Cabin and the Hillbilly fringe. Please lay it down in simple language, because, due to the educational system in this country, most won't understand if you use words that are not monosyllabic. Please reassure us that the evil forces in this country, namely Corporate America, The Republicans and Rush Limbaugh will not prevail in their attempts to destroy your agenda, nor will you allow their complicit, cowardly Blue Dogs and 'conservative' Democrats co-horts to do the same. You got us excited with the idea of real change during the Dark Ages. I know that you can do the same tonight. I will be hanging on your every word.

President Obama is still head strong on appeasing the Republicans. That is what his domestic spending freeze is all about. Economists are trying to tell President Obama that during an economic recession it is the wrong time to implement a domestic spending freeze. Republicans have already told him that his intent in nice, but the amount of his freeze is not enough. I would think he would have learned by now that no matter what he does it will not satisfy the Republicans.

I-Thinker, I did it without a loan and no funds. Think outside of the box and you will find a way. I think we've forgotten how to "think". We've been programed to depend.

If you listen to the media all you hear is negativity. Here's what Obama has done. This is refreshing. While we may or may not agree with the actions of some things on the list, there are significant deeds here which we may not be aware of and may need to weigh before making a personal assessment. The author is Professor Robert Watson of Lynn University who was once a writer for the New York Times. Professor Watson writes: Hi friends, I am always being asked to grade Obama's presidency. In place of offering him a grade, I put together a list of his accomplishments thus far. I think you would agree that it is very impressive. His first six months have been even more active than FDRs or LBJs the two standards for such assessments. Yet, there is little media attention given to much of what he has done. Of late, the media is focusing almost exclusively on Obama's critics, without holding them responsible for the uncivil, unconstructive tone of their disagreements or without holding the previous administration responsible for getting us in such a deep hole. The misinformation and venom that now passes for political reporting and civic debate is beyond description. As such, there is a need to set the record straight. What most impresses me is the fact that Obama has accomplished so much not from a heavy-handed or top-down approach but from a style that has institutionalized efforts to reach across the aisle, encourage vigorous debate, and utilize town halls and panels of experts in the policy-making process. Beyond the accomplishments, the process is good for democracy and our democratic processes have been battered and bruised in recent years. Let me know if I missed anything in the list (surely I did). Robert 1. Ordered all federal agencies to undertake a study and make recommendations for ways to cut spending 2. Ordered a review of all federal operations to identify and cut wasteful spending and practices 3. Instituted enforcement for equal pay for women 4. Beginning the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq 5. Families of fallen soldiers have expenses covered to be on hand when the body arrives at Dover AFB 6. Ended media blackout on war casualties; reporting full information 7. Ended media blackout on covering the return of fallen soldiers to Dover AFB; the media is now permitted to do so pending adherence to respectful rules and approval of fallen soldier's family 8. The White House and federal government are respecting the Freedom of Information Act 9. Instructed all federal agencies to promote openness and transparency as much as possible 10. Limits on lobbyist's access to the White House 11. Limits on White House aides working for lobbyists after their tenure in the administration 12. Ended the previous stop-loss policy that kept soldiers in Iraq/Afghanistan longer than their enlistment date 13. Phasing out the expensive F-22 war plane and other outdated weapons systems, which weren't even used or needed in Iraq/Afghanistan 14. Removed restrictions on embryonic stem-cell research 15. Federal support for stem-cell and new biomedical research 16. New federal funding for science and research labs 17. States are permitted to enact federal fuel efficiency standards above federal standards 18. Increased infrastructure spending (roads, bridges, power plants) after years of neglect 19. Funds for high-speed, broadband Internet access to K-12 schools 20. New funds for school construction 21. The prison at Guantanamo Bay is being phased out 22. US Auto industry rescue plan 23. Housing rescue plan 24. $789 billion economic stimulus plan 25. The public can meet with federal housing insurers to refinance (the new plan can be completed in one day) a mortgage if they are having trouble paying 26. US financial and banking rescue plan 27. The secret detention facilities in Eastern Europe and elsewhere are being closed 28. Ended the previous policy; the US now has a no torture policy and is in compliance with the Geneva Convention standards 29. Better body armor is now being provided to our troops 30. The missile defense program is being cut by $1.4 billion in 2010 31. Restarted the nuclear nonproliferation talks and building back up the nuclear inspection infrastructure/protocols 32. Reengaged in the treaties/agreements to protect the Antarctic 33. Reengaged in the agreements/talks on global warming and greenhouse gas emissions 34. Visited more countries and met with more world leaders than any president in his first six months in office 35. Successful release of US captain held by Somali pirates; authorized the SEALS to do their job 36. US Navy increasing patrols off Somali coast 37. Attractive tax write-offs for those who buy hybrid automobiles 38. Cash for clunkers program offers vouchers to trade in fuel inefficient, polluting old cars for new cars; stimulated auto sales 39. Announced plans to purchase fuel efficient American-made fleet for the federal government 40. Expanded the SCHIP program to cover health care for 4 million more children 41. Signed national service legislation; expanded national youth service program 42. Instituted a new policy on Cuba, allowing Cuban families to return home to visit loved ones 43. Ended the previous policy of not regulating and labeling carbon dioxide emissions 44. Expanding vaccination programs 45. Immediate and efficient response to the floods in North Dakota and other natural disasters 46. Closed offshore tax safe havens 47. Negotiated deal with Swiss banks to permit US government to gain access to records of tax evaders and criminals 48. Ended the previous policy of offering tax benefits to corporations who outsource American jobs; the new policy is to promote in-sourcing to bring jobs back 49. Ended the previous practice of protecting credit card companies; in place of it are new consumer protections from credit card industry's predatory practices 50. Energy producing plants must begin preparing to produce 15% of their energy from renewable sources 51. Lower drug costs for seniors 52. Ended the previous practice of forbidding Medicare from negotiating with drug manufacturers for cheaper drugs; the federal government is now realizing hundreds of millions in savings 53. Increasing pay and benefits for military personnel 54. Improved housing for military personnel 55. Initiating a new policy to promote federal hiring of military spouses 56. Improved conditions at Walter Reed Military Hospital and other military hospitals 57. Increasing student loans 58. Increasing opportunities in AmeriCorps program 59. Sent envoys to Middle East and other parts of the world that had been neglected for years; reengaging in multilateral and bilateral talks and diplomacy 60. Established a new cyber security office 61. Beginning the process of reforming and restructuring the military 20 years after the Cold War to a more modern fighting force; this includes new procurement policies, increasing size of military, new technology and cyber units and operations, etc. 62. Ended previous policy of awarding no-bid defense contracts 63. Ordered a review of hurricane and natural disaster preparedness 64. Established a National Performance Officer charged with saving the federal government money and making federal operations more efficient 65. Students struggling to make college loan payments can have their loans refinanced 66. Improving benefits for veterans 67. Many more press conferences and town halls and much more media access than previous administration 68. Instituted a new focus on mortgage fraud 69. The FDA is now regulating tobacco 70. Ended previous policy of cutting the FDA and circumventing FDA rules 71. Ended previous practice of having White House aides rewrite scientific and environmental rules, regulations, and reports 72. Authorized discussions with North Korea and private mission by Pres. Bill Clinton to secure the release of two Americans held in prisons 73. Authorized discussions with Myanmar and mission by Sen. Jim Web to secure the release of an American held captive 74. Making more loans available to small businesses 75. Established independent commission to make recommendations on slowing the costs of Medicare 76. Appointment of first Latina to the Supreme Court 77. Authorized construction/opening of additional health centers to care for veterans 78. Limited salaries of senior White House aides; cut to $100,000 79. Renewed loan guarantees for Israel 80. Changed the failing/status quo military command in Afghanistan 81. Deployed additional troops to Afghanistan 82. New Afghan War policy that limits aerial bombing and prioritizes aid, development of infrastructure, diplomacy, and good government practices by Afghans 83. Announced the long-term development of a national energy grid with renewable sources and cleaner, efficient energy production 84. Returned money authorized for refurbishment of White House offices and private living quarters 85. Paid for redecoration of White House living quarters out of his own pocket 86. Held first Seder in White House 87. Attempting to reform the nation's healthcare system which is the most expensive in the world yet leaves almost 50 million without health insurance and millions more under insured 88. Has put the ball in play for comprehensive immigration reform 89. Has announced his intention to push for energy reform 90. Has announced his intention to push for education reform Oh, and he built a swing set for the girls outside the Oval Office! b Robert P. Watson, Ph.D.Coordinator of American Studies Lynn University

@H. Smart: I agree with your statement about depending too much on others. I hope things work out for you and your business.

Ostend Street: I follow events in national and local governments closely. I knew about 75% of the accomplishments of President Obama on the list. However, most of us need reminding every now and then. The President needs to toot his own horn more clearly and more often to the American public..

I follow the President as closely as anyone in this blog, but you must admit Mr. Street is blinded because his head is so far up this administration's behind he can't see anything they have done wrong. Bush had blind loyalists like this and so did other nameless figures in history. Can we be objective for America's sake? If you find yourself in a hole when do you stop digging? President Obama said, "We don't quit." That should scare the crap out of you. He doesn't get it. Oh, on healthcare reform I've got some ideas. Healthcare and insurance reform are two different issues. Cutting insurance is good for business and until that paradigm changes nothing will. I'm laughing because Harry almost voted against that bad bill. Obama didn't listen.

Cecil you continue to do whatever it is you do. You seem to have all the answers. Show yourself.

Mr. Street, clearly "I don't quit." Pres. Obama decided to play these silly games with me just like Presidents Clinton and Bush did. It may be one of the few perks of the Office? I never asked for this fight. I would gladly go back to loving my wife living a boring, mundane life. How many people are granted an opportunity to serve and make history? By the grace of God, we can be called upon to do anything. With Him we cannot fail. We don't get our Nobel Prizes, fame and fortune or invitations to the White House. If this is what you do to the people who got you elected imagine what it's like inside? My work stands the test of time because it's the truth.

Cecil Jones: I happen to agree with the President when he said he does not quit, especially when he is RIGHT. I am only in disagreement with him playing nice guy to accomplish his agenda, and not always clearly explaining to the public the end results of his agenda. As far as I am concerned, the general public has been brain washed by those right wing nuts.