Our Union is Strong

President Obama gave a bold deliverance of the state of our Union tonight in an address to a joint session of Congress and, in turn to the American people. Using the occasion to frame the first year of his administration in the context of his historical presidency, the President refrained from issuing new sweeping policy proposals and instead opted to demonstrate his commanding leadership and desire for post-partisan politics. The President delivered a speech that accomplished these goals while connecting with an electorate that has become more cynical, divisive and angry. The Democratic Party, who lost a special election for a Senate seat in Massachusetts last week, face a challenging midterm election cycle this fall and tonight's speech may be seen as part rallying cry past mission directive.

To the substance:

On Tone: The President spoke the way that, I gather, the majority of Americans want their President to talk. In general, he was relaxed and collected, in control and reassuring. On complex issues, he was professorial. On contentious subjects, he sought reconciliation. On base policy, he was clear and concise. Where mistakes were made, he admitted error. Where rewards were achieved, he accepted praise. I think the President captured the essence of the multi-faceted role of the Office of President in his speech tonight.

On Health Care: It didn't come until over 30 minutes into the speech (not counting applause) and it still lacked specificity, but the President renewed his commitment to passing a health care bill and assuring reform in the insurance industry. This issue should be considered in the totality of the speech: it is part of the larger narrative of the Obama Presidency, and the New Foundation that has become its cornerstone.

On Taxes: It may have come as a surprise to many Americans that the President began the policy portion of his speech by trumpeting tax cuts for 95% of working Americans. That was in the stimulus package that the Republican Party unanimously opposed. By beginning with that, the President was trying to do what he should have done months ago: talking up the benefits of the bill & its policies instead of letting them get buried by the opposition of the other side.

On Jobs: Again, this should be considered in the largest narrative. But let's be clear: the President promised jobs tonight. If he does not deliver the next time he reports to Congress, then he will and should be held accountable. There is very little room to walk back on the bold promise he made tonight

On Iraq, Afghanistan, Terrorism and Foreign Policy: This was not a key component of this speech and there were very little specifics. The section seemed added just because its absence would have been damaging. It was a segway into a big announcement the President made, that got less play in the speech than had been expected: the repeal of the Don't Ask Don't Tell military policy of gays and lesbians in service.

At over 70 minutes, this was President Obama's longest speech since he became a public figure, according to ABC's Jake Tapper. At times, it was folksy. At others, it was specific. Will it be a game-changer for the Obama Presidency? Unlikely, but it did succeed in framing the Administration to date and setting a course going forward.

Honoring MLK's Legacy as a Day On, Not a Day Off

Today, I had the pleasure of joining the City Year Washington, DC corps at Ron Brown Middle School and Houston Elementary Schools in Northeast DC who welcomed nearly 600 community volunteers on the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Day of Service. As it always is when myImpact.org partners with CYDC, it as an inspiring experience that affirmed my belief, yet again, in the important work of the national service community.

It was a big day for the service world. The President and his family traveled to SOME (So Others Might Eat) soup kitchen to feed the homeless in the mid-morning. At our site, Education Secretary Duncan and CNCS Acting CEO Nikki Goren came to serve. Robert Egger's DC Central Kitchen had the VA Secretary. Volunteers around the country joined non-profit and service organizations; many stories were captured on a daylong live webcast produced by the Hands On Network.

Through it all, reminders of last week's devastating Haitian earthquake were present. With pictures of such utter devastation just  a few hundred miles from the US mainland, today's day of service took on a more urgent significance. It was, as Steve Culbertson reminded in a Huffington Post essay today, a reminder of the meaning behind the MLK Day of Service and the legacy of Dr. King.

Hopefully, I will have time in the next few days to post pictures & videos - and perhaps a longer-form video - of today's CYDC service in Northeast. In the meantime, here are some of the articles on service, out of literally hundreds that were published today, that captured my attention:

"Youth Poised for Action" by Steve Culbertson, President, YSA (referenced above)

"Capital Culture: Obama cites value of volunteerism" - AP

"King service co-founder: Holiday "has a long way to go" - citing Fmr. Penn. Sen. Harris Wofford, who  pushed for the creation of the King Holiday, saying that last year was the first time that MLK Day took, what he called, a "quantum leap forward" - Washington Post

"A New York Volunteer Effort Will Soon Spread to 10 Cities" - NY Times- about the Cities of Service Initiative, a project of the ServiceNation Coalition and Be The Change, Inc.

Finally, this press release from The White House listing the locations that various Administration officials served in the Greater DC Region today.

For more coverage of MLK Day 2010, visit www.myImpact.org, and look for our tweets from today, @myImpact 

A Different Approach to Terrorism

Just think where we would be if the Christmas Day terror attach took place as plotted. We now know that intelligence failed. Security failed (before the fact). If it wasn't for the passengers aboard Northwest Airlines Flight 253, the fast-acting crew and calm pilots, nearly 300 people, many Americans, would be dead and a crippling blow would have been dealt to this country, over eight years after 9/11.

Continuing this scenario, one can imagine how all aviation traffic would have been halted, stranding holiday travelers. The vacationing President would have been rushed back to Washington- a long Air Force One flight crossing a country under attack. In the midst of a holiday, government officials would be summoned to mount a united response- even though they would be spread around the country and the world with no form of transportation to get back to Washington. The Fourth Estate (journalists) would not be working, away from their posts during the hours when their oversight was needed the most, and when the American People would turn to them for perspective.

The nightmare scenario of a nation attacked on the one day when peace and goodwill are celebrated and the normal routine of the country comes to a pause was just minutes away from occurring this Christmas. The threat not only was real-it had materialized. Our country came closer to terrorism than any point since 9/11. The fire was literally lit.

But it didn't happen.

Now, we are left with the aftermath. Not of carnage and unthinkable destruction, but with what could have been and how a nation that fought an eight year war on terrorism now transitions to a similar mindset with a new approach. While the Bush Administration considered the enemy to be all forms and acts of "terror" the Obama Administration narrowed the focus: rebranding the fight a "War against Al-Qaeda."

Do we still take the fight to the enemy instead of fighting them on our shores? (a familiar marching refrain of the war-guided Bush years)? Yes, we do. In fact, we have. President Obama's hallmark speech in Cairo this summer in which he appealed directly to the hearts and minds of youth in the Arab World was is evidence of a new, and different, approach to terrorism.

Instead of waging unnecessary wars against invisible weapons of mass destruction, the Obama Administration understands that we must work with, not against, the Islamic World and, through moderation and diplomacy, recognize the aspects of their societies that the Western World also values. This is not appeasement. This is the holistic long-run view that will ultimately ensure that our world is stable and not on the brink of terror.

This does not mean that we won't dismantle and disrupt terrorists, terror organizations and terror states. We will. Our pre-emptive actions in Yemen (including an air strike on Christmas Eve) and the strong approach advocated on the Sunday Shows yesterday by Homeland Security Advisor John Brennan suggest as much. Our efforts in Afghanistan and Pakistan suggest as much. Just last week we suffered the loss of American patriots working in the intelligence community in Afghanistan.

We are on the offense abroad as we are on the defense at home. For all the criticism, Homeland Security Secretary Napolitano was correct when she said that the "system worked." It did. As soon as word came in about a threat to an aircraft, the coordinated interagency response (that did not exist before 9/11), went into effect. Planes in the sky coming from Europe were notified. The TSA adjusted screening techniques before passengers were even finished being questioned. The Situation Room started briefing the President hourly. We should be proud of our response system. Unlike 9/11 and unlike during Hurricane Katrina, (but just like during the H1N1 pandemic), the system here worked.

There are still many questions. We live in very difficult and dangerous times. And we will learn more about the response and the next steps this week. It is clear, however, that, as a country, we are taking a different approach to terrorism.

2010: What's on the Agenda?

It’s time to stop the reflections of the year that was and focus on the year that is, and all that it will bring with it. 2010 is an election year but, as the Christmas terror incident reminded us, we live in extraordinary times so this won’t just be any normal (read: predictable) midterm election.

The President returns to Washington tomorrow facing a full plate. Here are just some of the issues that are going to be dominating his agenda, and that of Congress, this year:

Health Care

In dramatic fashion on Christmas Eve, the US Senate took a historic step forward passing the President’s signature domestic policy initiative. An informal conference between House and Senate staffers started the week after Christmas. Expect those discussions to intensify in coming days and for the announcement of an agreement by the end of January. Final passage could come on or near the date of the President’s State of the Union Address, unless something unexpected causes it be bumped until February. Republicans will likely continue to use procedural hurdles to attempt to stop the bill, which will delay the inevitable passage. The President’s aides expect that his poll numbers will begin to rise after this bill is passed and the Administration transitions to discuss the economy

Jobs

Before leaving for Christmas, the House passed a job creation package (including over 12,000 new AmeriCorps positions). Perhaps in return for major concessions on health care, House leaders will put the Senate under immense pressure early this year to pass the bill and quickly send it to the President.

Financial Reform

The House took the first step in 2009 in passing comprehensive financial reform legislation. Senate Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd has said he expects the Senate to act early this year on that package. However, with an already full agenda, it does not seem as if the body will until after health care and jobs-so perhaps not until March or April, when appetite for a politically difficult vote will be less.

Global Warming/Energy

This is the big question looking at the Senate this year: will John Kerry and Barbara Boxer convince Majority Leader Reid to force consideration and a tough vote on global warming legislation. Senators facing re-election this year, especially moderate Democrats, will find this vote very difficult to swallow--as will their counterparts in the House should the bill get to a final Conference version. Progress will depend on the leadership of the President and how much he is insistent on passage.

Immigration

There have been reports in recent days of the White House reaching out to allies in the immigration debate, promising action in 2010 on immigration reform. Neither the House or Senate have acted and there are no clear proposals out there. Again, this will come down to Presidential leadership. One possibility: the Administration ties immigration to the economy & jobs and is able to pursue a reform overhaul.

Afghanistan

Liberal Democrats opposed to President Obama’s new Afghanistan war policy will find it hard to vote for additional funding. A Defense funding bill is likely to be needed in March and the Administration may have to expend a lot of capital convincing members of its own party to support the Commander-in-Chief’s decision.

Terrorism

After the failed Christmas Day terror attack, terrorism and homeland security are again at the very top of the national agenda. The Senate is under pressure to quickly confirm President Obama’s nominee for TSA Director, despite a hold by South Carolina Sen. Jim DeMint. Majority Leader Reid has said that he will file cloture when the Senate reconvenes and force a vote on his nomination. Also, there will be more debate on the closure of Guantanamo Bay and the proposal to transfer inmates to Illinois, as well as aviation security. Congress will hold hearings into the attack, possibly issuing subponeas to intelligence officials in the Administration and may vote on funding for full body scan machines, which will again pit liberal Democrats, who are fierce privacy proponents, against their party leaders.

Other Issues

After passing a short term increase in the federal debt ceiling, the Senate will vote again on a more permanent extension on January 20th. The House will also need to approve the measure. President Obama is expected to make fiscal reform a key component of his State of the Union Address in late January (or early February).

How much this plays into the annual Appropriations Process remains to be seen. Given it is an election year, do not expect Congress to finish work on the 13 annual bills before the end of the fiscal year on September 30th.

Finally, Congress passed short term extensions of many programs in 2009 and will have to decide whether to continue to extend, or pass reauthorization measures, in 2010. These include highway funding, the FAA, the Patriot Act, and No Child Left Behind.

Obama Statement on Daschle Withdrawal

Statement from President Obama:

"This morning, Tom Daschle asked me to withdraw his nomination for Secretary of Health and Human Services. I accept his decision with sadness and regret.

"Tom Daschle has devoted his life to public service and health care reform, so that every American has access to health care they can afford. I had hoped that he could bring this passion and expertise to bear to finally achieve that goal, which is so essential to the progress of our economy and the well-being of businesses and families across our nation.

"Tom made a mistake, which he has openly acknowledged. He has not excused it, nor do I.

"But that mistake, and this decision, cannot diminish the many contributions Tom has made to this country, from his years in the military to his decades of public service.

"Now we must move forward, with our plan to lift this economy and put people back to work."

Daschle Statement on Withdrawal of HHS Secretary Nomination

Statement From Senator Daschle
Statement from former Sen. Tom Daschle, D-SD:

"I have just informed the President that I am withdrawing my name from consideration for Secretary of Health and Human Services.

"To be chosen by President Obama to run the Department of Health and Human Services and to lead the reform of America's health care system is one of the signal honors of an improbable career.

"But if 30 years of exposure to the challenges inherent in our system has taught me anything, it has taught me that this work will require a leader who can operate with the full faith of Congress and the American people, and without distraction.

"Right now, I am not that leader, and will not be a distraction. The focus of Congress should be on the urgent business of moving the President's economic agenda forward, including affordable health care for every American.

"We need the best care in America to be available to all Americans. We need this effort to succeed. Lives and livelihoods are at stake.

"I will not be the architect of America's health system reform, but I remain one of its most fervent supporters. Thank you."

The Obama Cabinet

Video by Politico