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That was an incredible speech. I was glued to the TV as he wrapped his arms around America and offered up the hope and courage this country so desperately needs.
President Obama: I’ve come here tonight not only to address the distinguished men and women in this great chamber, but to speak frankly and directly to the men and women who sent us here.
I know that for many Americans watching right now, the state of our economy is a concern that rises above all others. And rightly so. If you haven’t been personally affected by this recession, you probably know someone who has – a friend; a neighbor; a member of your family. You don’t need to hear another list of statistics to know that our economy is in crisis, because you live it every day.
It’s the worry you wake up with and the source of sleepless nights. It’s the job you thought you’d retire from but now have lost; the business you built your dreams upon that’s now hanging by a thread; the college acceptance letter your child had to put back in the envelope. The impact of this recession is real, and it is everywhere.
But while our economy may be weakened and our confidence shaken; though we are living through difficult and uncertain times, tonight I want every American to know this:
We will rebuild, we will recover, and the United States of America will emerge stronger than before.
CNN's David Gergen said this about President Obama's speech:
...This was the most ambitious president we've ever heard in this chamber in decades. The first half of the speech was FDR, fighting for the New Deal. The second half was Lyndon Johnson, fighting for the great society and we've never seen those two presence rolled together in quite this way.
I think he silenced those few critics that said he was too negative from the right and gave this nation a lift when it needs it most. And the chamber looked so lively with Pelosi and Biden at his side, a stark contrast from Dick Cheney's plodding prescence.