A PAUSE….FOR THE CAUSE
(plus a rousing chorus of….Tomorrow….Tomorrow)

The President’s state of the union speech to Congress, yesterday, was a good one. Though long on evocative and inspirational themes, and short on –what- and –how to- specifics, it was probably just what the country needed at this moment. A pause….for the cause…. to look at where we are today, and where we need to be tomorrow.

But the best part of this annual ritual of ours, however, was watching the way his congressional audience squirmed and wiggled during his performance. Unconventionally jumbled all together throughout that chamber, they were thus unable to indulge in their usual clownish partisan versions of – The Wave – , and, it was hard not to chuckle at the way many of them seemed confused and dumbfounded to find themselves standing and applauding various parts of that speech, alongside their political opponents. From their expressions it was obvious these kinds of bi-partisan moments weren’t to their liking, and they were longing for good old in-your-face partisan hooting and hollering instead. No matter, we could make book on the certainty that they’d all go back to their normal ways of doing business….as soon as this big show was over.

In large part, perhaps, such uncharacteristic non-partisan behavior was due to the President’s style of performance. One redolent of an old-timey preacher man addressing a packed big tent revival meeting….way back in the day….with the intent of that preachig being to get that big tent a-rocking. And he surely did that with a range of soaring exhortations, rumbling, if not roaring, castigations, praiseful extolling of our country’s virtues and exceptional character, well larded with bits of rollicking humor, and poetically uplifting asides. All in all a grand performance which everyone was able to enjoy.

But the most positive aspect of that was the way it showed the rest of the world that, while America may be facing some sticky moments, it certainly won’t just start falling apart at the seams because of them. So it was the proper kind of leadership display for the occasion. The kind that might restore a higher level of foreign confidence, reassuring everyone that, America, not only has the capacity to overcome its problems, but can also recharge itself…. both financially and otherwise. In short, President Obama did a great impersonation of a Daddy Warbucks giving a rousing chorus of…Tomorrow….Tomorrow (all of which could leave a red-headed orphan girl to wonder if she still was employed in the show).

As for the response to his speech by the loyal Republican opposition, what can one say? It was not only dull and uninspired, but left us wondering….where’s that damned dog Sandy when we could use a good ….woof….or two!

CENTURION