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President Obama at the State of the Union Address 2012 with Vice President Biden and House Speaker Boehner.
While Republicans squirmed during one of Barrack Obama's best speeches, it was the other telling signs that make this an election year to watch and Obama's to lose. The leading theme moving into this campaign year is maturity. Obama now has it. And Republicans do not. After all is said and done, we want a mature president. One who shares our values. And one who can guide us to new frontiers.
The signs of immaturity lay all over the Republican debates during the past two months. Most recently, we have Mitt Romney holding his tax returns back, Newt Gingrich with his open marriages and attacks against the media, and the whole huge field at the debates, with most having no chance to win the Republican nomination, just there for show.
But these immaturities pale compared to the immature Republican Supreme Court justices who are so school ground slighted that they simply cannot even come to the one show of governmental unity given every year. For Justices Alioto, Thomas and Scalia, attendance is wrong because they were insulted by Barrack Obama (Alioto) or believe that the State of the Union is "too political."
Obama did overstep his bounds in January 2010, acting immaturely, when confronting the campaign financing case allowing unlimited corporate expenditures by insulting the Supreme Court justices who authored and voted for the majority opinion in that case.
But for these Justices to stay away from the State of the Union message, a sign of disrespect for all government and the President, is like being back in the school yard. We will shun you because you acted so wrong or because we are above you all. For Alioto, he is unforgiving, do not believe in turning the other cheek, will bring the wrath of God on you and make certain you and everyone else sees how principled we are.
There is no turning the other cheek or compromise for most Republicans. They play their playground games daily on Fox News. They are visible every day they come into contact with Democrats. Theirs is the Newt Gingrich Congress versus Bill Clinton once again.
While Republican immaturity first appeared with the Republican justices absence, it did not end there. Walking up to the podium to shake the Vice President's and House Speaker John Boehner's hand, Boehner pulled an Obama once again. The practice began in 2011, presumably after Obama had physically pulled Boehner towards him one time too many. Boehner tried to pull Obama across the podium into his lap. Obama resisted, had a few words for Boehner, and moved on to one of his best speeches ever.
Maybe Obama still pulls people toward him, reaching out and holding his hand near himself the other person must either come forward or wrestle for position. But there is no need to show this in front of the country as a tit for tat moment before the State of the Union speech begins. And it was there for all to see.
Equally true, the immaturity of refusing to stand even when something good is said on which all can agree, and sitting stern such as the way House Majority Leader Eric Cantor sat throughout the proceedings, has been shared through the years by Democrats when attending Republican president State of the Union speeches. If you are the opposition party, do not agree with anything is the motto of this group of Republicans. They took the theme to new heights last year, and are poised to show the country how compromise is nothing compared to their own goals for the rich and powerful.
Is it not time to bend a bit?
Some Republicans did on some topics. Speaker Boehner does not have to stand, but was seen repeatedly clapping his hands. Why not everyone for the comments they can agree with?
Of course, this is just more of the same for the Republicans sitting last night in the House Chamber for Obama's speech. They have failed to compromise on much for more than a year, and will continue to fail to do so.
And that is the very heart of Republican immaturity. This is what will send the Republicans to certain defeat this year.
Failure to work together. Failure to act maturely. And failure even to present someone who has the prospect of being better than Obama.
Obama has grown into his job. And has always been Republican at heart.
His national security positions are Bush III, not George McGovern.
His mentor relationship with US Senator Richard Lugar from Indiana is well-documented. And Lugar is and has been one of the most conservative Republicans in the Senate for the past three decades.
His absurd categorization of the middle class as including millionaires making $250,000 is a sign of his inclination toward those making money. He favors the rich, leaving in place lower taxes that allow Romney to make his tens of millions every year.
His hawkish views have played out over his first four years at the cost of added trillions in making war in the Middle East. These are as Republican as they come.
But he has some modest feelings about everyone. He is an internationalist. And he has a vision for America that we can all share.
Perhaps this is what Republicans despise so much. That he has stolen their thunder and is as Republican as they are.
Except on one, ultimate immaturity. The one dealing with keeping your marbles. You know. They are my marbles and I will not share them with anyone, or especially give them away to those who have none. If you try to do that, I will go home.
Obama does not believe that billionaires are paying enough. He feels Bill O'Reilly needs to pay more taxes.
And last but not least, Obama is a moral man in a Republican field that prefers an immoral Newt Gingrich to a Mitt Romney or Rick Santorum.
Except of course for Ann Coulter who blasts Gingrich in favor of Romney because Gingrich cannot win while O'Reilly appears to favor Gingrich, both making arguments in favor of their candidates while blasting the other candidate on national TV.
Republicans are not an immature lot waiting for disaster to hit.
These days Republicans are a disaster already happened.
