State of the Union – WLA’s Picks of Best SOTU Moments

More blogging on local issues later. In the meantime…

Some good SOTU lines, moments, ideas, points—grabbed based on first impressions.

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BUT FIRST: SOME MEANINGFUL SOTU TWEETS:

@todgoldberg: The alien living inside John Boehner is signaling his planet that they can begin colonizing Biden’s forehead now.

@joanwalsh: Michele Bachmann is looking at my dog Sadie off to my left. That is SO sweet of her!

@keitholbermann: Boehner tear time exactly 10:09:30 – I won the pool! #sotu #ShootingSalmonInABarrel

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NOW BACK TO THE SOTU

This is our generation’s Sputnik moment.

The quality of our math and science education lags behind many other nations. America has fallen to 9th in the proportion of young people with a college degree. And so the question is whether all of us – as citizens, and as parents – are willing to do what’s necessary to give every child a chance to succeed.

When a child walks into a classroom, it should be a place of high expectations and high performance. But too many schools don’t meet this test. That’s why instead of just pouring money into a system that’s not working, we launched a competition called Race to the Top. To all fifty states, we said, “If you show us the most innovative plans to improve teacher quality and student achievement, we’ll show you the money.”

Race to the Top is the most meaningful reform of our public schools in a generation. For less than one percent of what we spend on education each year, it has led over 40 states to raise their standards for teaching and learning. These standards were developed, not by Washington, but by Republican and Democratic governors throughout the country.

In South Korea, teachers are known as “nation builders.” Here in America, it’s time we treated the people who educate our children with the same level of respect. We want to reward good teachers and stop making excuses for bad ones.

Now, I strongly believe that we should take on, once and for all, the issue of illegal immigration. I am prepared to work with Republicans and Democrats to protect our borders, enforce our laws and address the millions of undocumented workers who are now living in the shadows. I know that debate will be difficult and take time. But tonight, let’s agree to make that effort. And let’s stop expelling talented, responsible young people who can staff our research labs, start new businesses, and further enrich this nation.

Over the years, a parade of lobbyists has rigged the tax code to benefit particular companies and industries. Those with accountants or lawyers to work the system can end up paying no taxes at all. But all the rest are hit with one of the highest corporate tax rates in the world. It makes no sense, and it has to change.

Now, I’ve heard rumors that a few of you have some concerns about the new health care law. So let me be the first to say that anything can be improved. ……..

What I’m not willing to do is go back to the days when insurance companies could deny someone coverage because of a pre-existing condition [etc.] So instead of re-fighting the battles of the last two years, let’s fix what needs fixing and move forward.

Every day, families sacrifice to live within their means. They deserve a government that does the same……

I recognize that some in this Chamber have already proposed deeper cuts, and I’m willing to eliminate whatever we can honestly afford to do without. But let’s make sure that we’re not doing it on the backs of our most vulnerable citizens. And let’s make sure what we’re cutting is really excess weight. Cutting the deficit by gutting our investments in innovation and education is like lightening an overloaded airplane by removing its engine. It may feel like you’re flying high at first, but it won’t take long before you’ll feel the impact.

Before we take money away from our schools, or scholarships away from our students, we should ask millionaires to give up their tax break.

It’s not a matter of punishing their success. It’s about promoting America’s success.

….the Interior Department is in charge of salmon while they’re in fresh water, but the Commerce Department handles them in when they’re in saltwater. And I hear it gets even more complicated once they’re smoked.

And because the American people deserve to know that special interests aren’t larding up legislation with pet projects, both parties in Congress should know this: if a bill comes to my desk with earmarks inside, I will veto it. [followed by tepid applause]

…..and with the conviction that American Muslims are a part of our American family. {Didn’t not Congressman Peter King standing up on this one.]

Starting this year, no American will be forbidden from serving the country they love because of who they love. And with that change, I call on all of our college campuses to open their doors to our military recruiters and the ROTC. It is time to leave behind the divisive battles of the past. It is time to move forward as one nation. [Yes, on both points.]

Love the Brandon, Plan B, Chilean minors story.

We may have differences in policy, but we all believe in the rights enshrined in our Constitution.

The idea of America endures. Our destiny remains our choice. And tonight, more than two centuries later, it is because of our people that our future is hopeful…

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Photo from the awesome Mark Horvath