*****SOTU OFFICIAL THREAD***** -- Thread 2

[highplainsdem]

Per request.


First thread was here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002215317

[valerief]

1. Prez, there are plenty of tech workers in the US that can't get hired, because companies

would rather hire H1Bs.

[undeterred]

10. And because they just don't want to hire people over 50.

[valerief]

27. I know that only too well. nt

[csziggy]

33. Or the job "requirements" are unrealistic and the pay a pittance

I've read too many threads where tech jobs ask for 10 years experience for software or a programming language that has only existed for five years, require a master's and twenty years experience but only pay ten dollars an hour. Or the job is not a full time job but an independent contract with no benefits.

Or the tech that DO have the experience are north of fifty and the company does not want to hire anyone over 25.

Just on the few online boards I read messages on have numerous techs that would work for a reasonable salary, decent benefits and a little respect, but they don't even get interviews for the positions that are open.

[undeterred]

100. Yes, here I am.

Or they call something an "entry level position" and when you read the requirements you realize that nobody would possibly have those skills who hasn't been in the field for at least 10 years because you aren't allowed to do certain things without any experience. But they want the sun, the moon, and the stars for $13 per hour and no benefits.

[csziggy]

209. I live in a "right to work" state

High level tech workers with years of experience earn about $15 an hour. I know someone with ten years experience training people for nuclear subs who then went out and got two master's and still had to work for five years to get to $15. Then his job was outsourced and he's been happy to have any work at just over minimum wage.

[The Hitman]

96. false

and if you think so, file a complaint with DOL

[JDPriestly]

211. If you think there is no age discrimination, you are wrong.

It's easier to prove discrimination when you are fired, but very, very difficult to prove it in hiring so going to the EEOC is pretty much a waste of time for most people. Besides, unless you studied employment law in law school, you probably won't know what documents to keep, how to ask questions of your employer to determine that the real reason you are being fired or not hired is age discrimination.

The age discrimination laws are ineffective. It's sad, but true.

[riderinthestorm]

2. Thank you!! those on dialup are grateful nt

[highplainsdem]

8. You're welcome! The first thread was getting cumbersome even with a high-speed connection.

[Control-Z]

3. Thank you.

Scrolling is slow on the laptop.

[BeyondGeography]

4. Love the humble Jackie

[SunsetDreams]

5. Here are links to watch:

http://www.c-span.org/Live-Video/C-SPAN/

Streaming, enhanced broadcast from the Whitehouse, with CHARTS--

http://www.whitehouse.gov/state-of-the-union-2012

[musicblind]

6. He has mentioned NC multiple times. And named Raleigh specifically

They are really focusing on this state. I wonder what their internal polling says?

[ellisonz]

7. "It is time to turn our unemployment system into a re-employment system that puts people to work."

(Applause)

[blaze]

9. ty highplainsdem nt

[musicblind]

11. How can republicans frown on these ideas? How can ANYONE? n/t

[BlueDemKev]

109. Because they're thinking...."Shit, how can we run against these things?"

[elleng]

12. Boner nodded, yes, to 'reemployment.'

[tallahasseedem]

13. The speech has been wonderful so far!

VERY impressed!

[Hotler]

40. It's just a speech. It's all about the follow through and

I guess there will be none just like the first term. This is the President that went on 60 minutes and said the bankers did nothing illegal.

[liberal N proud]

14. I hate, no! I loath these fucking pompous Republicans

They hate America!

[highplainsdem]

15. Love the praise for teachers... He's so right about everything he's saying!

[sfpcjock]

16. Obama stopped Chinese tire dumping

and the leftovers have been snapped up by Newt

[ellisonz]

20. That's HUGH!!! n/t

[ellisonz]

17. Backing merit pay...

Wants to stop teaching to the test...

[elleng]

61. Should get another Secretary of Education.

[nolabear]

18. Yay teachers! Give schools resources!

[rainbow4321]

19. Poor VP Biden

You can tell he has a cold (using the white hankie at the opening of the speech) but now is doing that "trying to be discreet by making it look like I am scratching my nose when I REALLY need to blow it".

[Phoonzang]

48. LOL, and he kept hugging Boner.. nt

[stevenleser]

21. POTUS proposes every state requires that all students graduate or until they turn 18. Wow

Woot!

[Enrique]

22. congress silent through education section

until he mentioned firing teachers. Then big applause.

[Hotler]

23. Too fucking little. Too fucking late Mr. President.

Everything you're talking about should have happened already. I'm turning you off and watching the Daily Show.

[RebelOne]

46. Bye Bye n/t

[one_voice]

60. Cuz he's superman!

[Control-Z]

64. See ya. n/t

[BlueDemKev]

93. There's the door....

...don't let it hit you in the ass on the way out.

[deacon]

24. He's presenting a perfect tone. A HUGE contrast to those in the clown car. n/t

[msanthrope]

25. Congress, get off your ass about the student loan % doubling in July. nt

[nolabear]

26. How will states require kids to stay in school? Will any of them act on that?

[erpowers]

75. Bad Idea

I don't think any school can prevent a student fom dropping out of school if they do not want to be there. In addition, what happens if these students that do not want to be in school start to act up in order to get kicked out of school? I think a better idea is to provide job training for students that drop out of school.

[Cleita]

136. In some countries they have a choice of finishing a minimum level of education or

going into the army. Could that work?

[JSnuffy]

169. Yeah, that's what I need...

A company of misfits who couldn't even deal with high school but somehow I should expect them to handle millions of dollar in equipment and take the lives of other people into their hands.

No thank you...

[Cleita]

181. So you agree that keeping them in high school is a better option then?

That's my point. He didn't say they had to graduate but stay in until they were eighteen.

[JSnuffy]

202. They can figure it out on their own if they should stay or go...

If they ain't gonna.. then they ain't gonna...

The military should not be a dumping ground for rejects though. I've got enough to do.

[kurt_cagle]

214. Oddly, I disagree

Kids drop out for many reasons; drugs, boredom, working too young, broken home life, poor education earlier forcing struggling in more advanced classes ...

Basic training can help to provide discipline and structure, can establish a degree of camaraderie, can give them remedial training in a focused environment and give them skills to make them more competitive. Keep these cadets out of combat zones, and at the age of eighteen they can either choose to re-up (possibly with an automatic jump in pay grade to E-2) or can gain GI benefits towards higher education and a possible career as an officer. If you focus on 16 to 17 year-olds, what this would also do is provide a lot of more basic level support tasks that ordinarily enlistees at 18 would typically be assigned, freeing them up for more advanced work (and training).

In addition to the benefits there, it has larger societal benefits. It's better OTJ training than working at fast food restaurants (which in many cases are now attracting more seniors on fixed incomes who also bring considerably more experience to these places - and consider that until comparatively recently it was not at all uncommon for people in their 60s and 70s to work at restaurants), it may very well provide these kids exposure to technologies and areas of interest that they wouldn't be exposed to in school, and it means that the soldiers that America gets are generally more experienced and mature as well.

Not sure I see a downside to it.

[cherokeeprogressive]

210. I don't think it's at all possible to enforce something like this.

And simply forcing them to "stay... until they were eighteen" means classrooms get disrupted.

[Cleita]

212. Couldn't they be taught a trade?

Most schools have wood shops and auto repair. You could also have beauty school and chef programs. If they are doing things they like, you can sneak in a few classes to meet minimum graduation requirements, couldn't you? I mean having teenage drop outs roaming around in the streets with nothing to do doesn't sound like a very good situation to me either.

[cherokeeprogressive]

215. It's not that I disagree with you...

Remember when you were that age? I remember people who HATED the very notion of school. Auto repair and woodshop aren't new classes.

I just don't see how we go about FORCING 16 and 17 year olds whose home life we know nothing about to go to school every day.

[erpowers]

217. Prefer That

I actually prefer that policy better. Some kids might decide to stay in school to stay out of the military. The other kids that choose to go into the military will at least have a job and a paycheck.

[Cleita]

131. They used to back when I went to school. However, the cut off age was sixteen.

I got into a big fight with the principal of my high school and walked out in the middle of the day announcing that I quit. I went home and she sent a truant officer after me. Yes, we had special police back in those days who made sure kids were in school and not playing hooky, the word for skipping classes. I had just turned sixteen and laughed in his face. However, my parents had a different view of the situation and I was back in school the next day and with a big apology for the principal.

It can be done and it works. I would also put together an education force that checks in on private schools and home schoolers to make sure they are maintaining common educational standards.

[hue]

27. EDUCATION is sooo important!! (goes against the ALEC agenda!!) n/t

[blaze]

35. What? No bowing to ALEC?

sarcasm implied....

[NYC Liberal]

29. Republicans don't applaud teachers either.

[lonestarnot]

30. Tee hee fuck you ASU!

[ellisonz]

31. Says states need to make higher education a priority in their budget.

Says tuition needs to stay down, if it keeps rising, federal government will stop subsidizing

Backing the DREAM Act!

[highplainsdem]

32. "Higher education can't be a luxury -- it is an economic imperative"

So many great lines in this speech!

[one_voice]

34. Education cannot be a...

luxury!

[musicblind]

36. I'll be honest thought. Some kids just don't want to learn.

That's the sad truth. And forcing them to remain there until 18 won't make those who refuse to learn... learn.

HOWEVER, I love what he is saying about college interest rates and college education.

I really like what he is saying about colleges.

[blaze]

52. Some kids just learn differently

hands on tech school is great for some learners.... It's not that they don't want to learn

[musicblind]

88. I'm talking as someone whose mother is a teacher and who grew up with a learning disability myself.

I'm not saying that all kids failing in school want to fail.

But there are some kids who simply do not want to learn.

My mother once recommended a girl for honors english and she and her parents refused. They did not want the negative stigma of being in an "honors" class.

So sad.

It is true though, that some kids, just refuse to do any kind of school work.

I love the idea of giving schools more money. I love the idea of alternative education techniques. I love giving families more incentives to keep their children in school no matter what.

I'm just being honest.

Remember... some kids are republican too...

[RebelOne]

68. That is true. My daughter is a teacher

at a middle school in South Florida, and she has had students that just do not want to learn. Someday they will learn that they cannot get decent jobs without a decent education.

[Orangepeel]

85. Those kids should have the choice of a vocational program in high school

.

[msanthrope]

37. Comprehensive immigration reform...NOW!!! nt

[ellisonz]

38. "We should be working on comprehensive immigration reform right now." - POTUS

[NYC Liberal]

39. "Opponents of action are OUT of excuses"

Fewer illegal boarder crossings, more boots at the border.

[BeyondGeography]

41. Get off your ass McCain

[TheDebbieDee]

150. He probably CAN"T get off his ass......

[nolabear]

42. You gotta hand it to him. He's not leaving anything out. Great job!

[Demonaut]

43. McCain, .....that should be me....that should be me....

so sad

[Saving Hawaii]

44. "right now" was clearly the wrong phrase for a drinking game.

burp.

[Saving Hawaii]

58. thank the lord he just said "this year" instead of "right now".

[ellisonz]

72. Ho braddah...

...eat the spam musubi if you need!

[Saving Hawaii]

101. Dangit. I'm not even caught up yet and he says it again.

Should've gone with mavericky.

[MarkCharles]

45. Immigration reform! Wow! About time! n/t

[HipChick]

47. Who knew John McCain would turn looking constipated into a lifestyle choice?

[nolabear]

54. Practicing his hamster face.

[highplainsdem]

59. ROTFL! I was trying to decide how to describe that expression of his!

[Motown_Johnny]

49. check and mate on immigration

man


if we can't get something comprehensive just get me something and I will sign it right away



But you know the (R)s won't do anything

[msanthrope]

50. Women should earn equal pay for equal work....and the repukes don't stand. nt

[Thor_MN]

77. They are trying to figure out how women are going to get the housework done on top of getting = pay

freaking dinosaurs...

[one_voice]

51. Women should earn equal...

pay for equal work!

[musicblind]

53. "Women should earn equal pay for equal work."

What is sad, and upsetting is that this is even an ISSUE in 2012.

And it IS an issue. There are STILL sexist pigs out there and I just don't get it.

How long does it take for sexist idiots to die off...

[hue]

55. "Women should earn = pay for = work!!" YES!! n/t

[Courtesy Flush]

206. OMG

It's 2012 and we're still fighting for this?

[Snarkoleptic]

56. Boner keeps licking his lips. Seems stressed- in need of bourbon and chap stik.

[Cleita]

77. Maybe saddle soap will help. Isn't that what you use to condition old leather? n/t

[msanthrope]

57. "Put it in a bill and get it on my desk..this year." nt

[Saving Hawaii]

67. Think he wants an immigration fight during the election year?

[msanthrope]

74. Yes. He wins it. nt

[ellisonz]

86. I've been saying for months...

...we don't win wedge issues by running away from them in an election year.

[stevenleser]

62. Whoever gives the response is going to look so small if they go on the attack. n/t

[Mister Ed]

97. When it's time for the GOP response, we'll have to close this SOTU thread...

...and open the STFU thread.

[AnnieBW]

63. Support research and innovation!

Yeah, baby!

[Motown_Johnny]

65. Drill Baby Drill !

[Matariki]

66. Oh, BOO to offshore oil.

say it isn't so.

[nolabear]

69. He never fails to make me realize he loves this country.

All of it.

[Matariki]

70. Nice response to alternative energy!

[amuse bouche]

71. How fantastic is it

to have a speech with no references to 'mushroom clouds' That speech made me vomit

[MarkCharles]

73. Republicans applaud natural gas and offshore oil? Of course! n/t

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

76. Oh no

He slammed fracking.

[IamK]

79. DRILL BABY DRILL!

[sfpcjock]

80. Paul Ryan toolishly laughing at Obama proposing an All-Of-The-Above strategy for energy development

[ellisonz]

81. Calling for more clean energy...

[NYC Liberal]

82. "It was PUBLIC RESEARCH DOLLARS that developed this technology"

[hue]

83. Hmmm, Boehner must have taken His mood stabilizers tonight!! n/t

[AnnieBW]

84. LOL! Remind them that Government research led to fracking

Government doesn't do anything? Right?

[Mojorabbit]

95. I can't believe he is for fracking. nt

[IamK]

87. any solandya workers in the house?

[Motown_Johnny]

97. there are no solandya workers anymore

[Robb]

89. "We've subsidized oil companies for a century. THAT'S LONG ENOUGH."

[Matariki]

121. Yes! That was awesome!

[FirstLight]

90. did he say natural gas? as in FRACKING? right?

nooooo!
If he's talking about cleaner energy, where the ALTERNATIVE power sources?

(granted, I am coming to the party late, and having loading issues so I have only gotten a few sentences...but that doesn;t sound right)

[GReedDiamond]

125. He said that...but he "qualified" it with...

...the mutha-frackers need to disclose the chemicals they're using (even as they generate "small" earthquakes).

[TroglodyteScholar]

91. The Duke of Orange makes Big O look yellow!

Truly unsettling.

[highplainsdem]

92. Time to end subsidies for oil industry!

[stevenleser]

94. Wow, he went there on the Oil industry being subsidized!!! Woot!

[lonestarnot]

99. Thank you thank you thank you Mr. President!

[sfpcjock]

102. ...Congress ass-kicking in progress

[Matariki]

192. +1 for a well deserved ass-kicking!

[renate]

102. OT--my little daughter thought the Supreme Court weren't clapping because they're nuns

She also asked, perfectly seriously: "You know how Obama was the first black president? If the guy with white hair wins, will he be the first... well, stupid president?"

[Gidney N Cloyd]

118. Ha! Who was the guy with the white hair?

[renate]

143. Gingrich :)

I don't know how she picked him out of the (R) field as the stupidest... I guess because those mental giants Cain, Perry, and Bachman have dropped out.

[BeyondGeography]

104. Obama: You won't get off your ass, so I will continue to kick it

[joshcryer]

105. I like this line on clean energy:

It’s time to end the taxpayer giveaways to an industry that’s rarely been more profitable, and double-down on a clean energy industry that’s never been more promising.

[malaise]

106. Watching Obama here reminds me of a famous Bill Maher line

Obama will fuck you up

[ellisonz]

133. "Obama will fuck you up"

[msanthrope]

107. Holy shite--he's using the military to purchase clean energy....

Nice move...

[valerief]

114. Now that's defense spending I can get behind! nt

[highplainsdem]

108. You can tell how great this speech is by the unhappy looks on Republicans' faces.

[AnnieBW]

110. Infrastructure!

Including high speed broadband. Fuck, yeah!

[denbot]

111. On DOD renewable energy

The West Los Angeles V.A. Hospital is installing solar panels over all it's parking lots. Yeah!!!

[musicblind]

112. Obama loves this country. Newt/Mitt love themselves.

That really is the difference, and it shows here.

[BlueDemKev]

134. Amen.

[Drunken Irishman]

113. Obama is fucking killing it!

[highplainsdem]

123. +1,000,000

[amuse bouche]

115. I have to laugh at the light shining on him from the heavens

I am sick of seeing sourpuss Republiclowns sitting on their rears pouting

[Phoonzang]

124. I saw that too....awesome. nt

[Motown_Johnny]

116. a peace dividend

[lonestarnot]

117. Bouncy Bouncy Bounce

[BlueDemKev]

119. Look At Boehner's Face.....

....the dufus looks like he's swallowed a lemon.

[ellisonz]

120. "Take the money we're no longer spending on war, use half of it to pay down the debt...

...and use the rest to do some nation-building at home."

[Gidney N Cloyd]

146. But how much of that war money have we been borrowing?

[ellisonz]

158. We are not going to cut our way out of a depression. n/t

[Gidney N Cloyd]

216. Agreed. I just don't like to suggest there'll be a 'peace dividend.'

[nolabear]

122. Nation Building! Fuck yeah!

[BlueDemKev]

126. We Need Nancy Pelosi back in the Speaker's Chair

[elleng]

151. That's a MUST!

Would help if grinch ran for POTUS, instead of mittens.

[AnnieBW]

127. Nice purple tie there, Geithner

Too bad the Ravens lost on Sunday.

[IamK]

128. Sweet... another chance for banks to rip people off on "refinance"

[hue]

129. Infrastructure!!! Construction!! Rebuild!! Refinance!! Screw the 1 %!!!

[highplainsdem]

130. "We'll give those banks that were rescued by taxpayers a chance to repay a deficit of trust."

[Robb]

135. It's like his staff reads DU.

I distinctly remember someone floating that idea.

[mopinko]

132. timmy looks like he swallowed a lemon.

[Orlandodem]

137. Obama/Duncan education policy is total bullshit. He can't call for merit pay at the same time he is

calling for an end to teaching to the test. Merit pay is based on test scores.

I HATE Arne Duncan. He is such a smarmy ass jerk.

He can shove Race to the Top up his ass. Notice he didn't use the phrase but he isn't changing his failed policies which are turning off a significant voting bloc - teachers.

[sfpcjock]

138. Bombs going off all over Camp Pen tonight for clean energy projects on public lands

ending oil subsidies and investing the peace dividend!

[stevenleser]

139. Fellow DUers, let me just say, THAT is MY President. nt

[musicblind]

184. +1

[lonestarnot]

140. Did Droopy Dog just call Mr. President a son of a bitch?

That's what it looked like to me.

[elleng]

164. Who? Where?

[lonestarnot]

195. Lebermanheavepileof shit. Too late now (MSNBC)

[elleng]

203. OG, glad I missed it!

[AnnieBW]

140. He's approved less regulations than Boosh!

Ooooh, that's gotta hurt the Repugs!

[Snarkoleptic]

140. Barack Obama...meme killer!

Makin' the pugs very uncomfortable.

[malaise]

153. I'm lovin' it

[joshcryer]

144. Welp, Obama 2012's POLICY PROPOSALS are certainly to the left of Obama's 2008's RHETORIC.

[ellisonz]

152. lol

Join the team, Joshua.

[joshcryer]

156. If he keeps it up I won't feel bitter voting for 'em.

But damn it's going to suck having to defend The Most Consistent President Evar.

[ellisonz]

145. "I am not backing down from making sure an oil company can contain a spill like we saw in the Gulf."

+Mercury rules.

[Rosco T.]

147. I do believe the term here is ...

Kicking ass and taking names!

[deacon]

148. Fighting the war against womens rights. n/t

[nolabear]

149. Yay Health care! "I will not go back!"

[BlueDemKev]

159. Damn F--k--g Right!!!

The Affordable Care Act MUST be preserved.

[Honeycombe8]

154. Shout out to Consumer Protection Agency!

[BadgerKid]

155. Pledging no more Wall St. bailouts?

[DinahMoeHum]

189. "No bailouts, no handouts, and no copouts."

n/t

[EarlG]

157. I must say

This is quite refreshing after wall-to-wall RomGrich the last couple of weeks.

[ellisonz]

163. For real...

...I just saw Eric Cantor clapping.



CHURCH!

[Alameda]

174. yes, I saw it too, but it looked really really painful....and it was with a frown.

[LongTomH]

188. When I see Republicans smiling...

I get really scared!!!!

[Honeycombe8]

160. He's not on solid ground talking about shaky lending practices...and A.G. Holder. nt

[Honeycombe8]

161. No tax hike on 160M Americans!

[hue]

162. Obama's going to overstep, sidestep and step over the Repukes.!! Stop the tax hike!!!!n/t

[stevenleser]

165. Obama says No Drama regarding passing the payroll tax cut bill!

Woohoo!!!!!

[Honeycombe8]

166. Bush's tax cuts were supposed to be temporary! I knew it at the time...was really permanent.

[Alameda]

167. What is wrong with Cantor? Geez....he looks like he just ate something really disgusting.

[one_voice]

176. He doesn't like the feel..

of Obama's foot up his ass!

[hue]

168. eeewwwww! Eric Cantor!!! *gag* Time to hit the top 1%!

[Honeycombe8]

170. Oooooh....sour GOP faces when talking taxes.

[joshcryer]

171. "so long as those programs remain a guarantee of security for seniors"

There. Obama just promised not to gut any of those programs.

[Matariki]

172. This is good.

[NYC Liberal]

173. Obama: Members of Congress should pay their fair share in taxes. Republicans sit on their hands.

[Honeycombe8]

175. He's on solid ground with this tax talkin'.

[amuse bouche]

177. How can any American

not love the guy?

He's so personable and has so much common sense

[ellisonz]

178. ***GO TO THREAD 3!!!***

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002216128

GOBAMA!

[riderinthestorm]

185. THANKYOU!! PLEASE SWITCH OVER!! NT

[Honeycombe8]

179. I don't envy the rich. Taxes should be fair, though.

[erpowers]

180. Boehner and the Republicans Look Pissed

A short while ago both John Boehner and John Cornyn. Boehner was squirming and looking angry. Cornyn just looked angry.

[hue]

182. Lol! This is getting too complex for Boehner!

[MarkCharles]

183. Obama going after Romney's idiotic "O. hates the rich" meme!

Nicely done!

[Johnny2X2X]

186. Nice

He hit that out of the park on the tax inequality issue. Hardly can be accused of dividing anyone.

It begins, Obama is starting to motivate the masses once again.

[Saving Hawaii]

187. Man, Obama looks angry. Reminds me of getting lectured by my father there.

[HangOnKids]

200. Your Dad Must Have Been One Cool Dude

That was your point right?

[elleng]

190. Ban insidertrading by Members of Congress!!!

[musicblind]

191. I'm starting to cry. This man needs to be in the White House for four more years.

If only they would have worked with him for the first four years IMAGINE how much more he could have done to save us.

[Matariki]

194. +1

[Politicub]

208. +1,000,000

[musicblind]

193. Bohner doesn't applaud the words of Abraham Lincoln?

WTF?

[hue]

196. "We should all want a smarter more effective government!"-except the oligarchy that controls Repuks

[Alameda]

197. What's with McConnell ....sour face...it's like a mask of bitterness

[HangOnKids]

204. Obama Is Capping On His Rich BFF's

He has his inner third grader dialed in.

[sfpcjock]

198. Yertle will only vote for 33,000,000 turtle tunnels in the Senate

[HangOnKids]

205. Yertle is still confused as to why he has no chin n/t

[MarkCharles]

199. Republicans (like Newt and Romney) don't know what they are talking about ..

when it comes to the image of America abroad.

Well stated.

[Courtesy Flush]

201. Nothing about domestic unrest/ OWS?

[Cleita]

213. That was conveniently ignored by both sides, wasn't it? n/t

[Politicub]

207. Love the optimism

Such a contrast with the vision that the GOP has for America.