We don't quit. I don't quit.

Just when I thought he was down for the count after a right hook by Massachusetts and an uppercut from health care reform, President Obama's State of the Union address showed that he's not giving up on his agenda just yet. As with all of his speeches, the speech was eloquent, humorous, and inspiring. Also in line with Obama's other speeches, the State of the Union laid out an overly ambitious agenda that leaves me hopeful, but also skeptical. There were some pieces that, if implemented, can help to turn the tide of the economy by decreasing unemployment, spurring economic growth, and improving the political process. However, as we've seen over the past year, that is a big IF.

In the financial sector, President Obama proposed taxes on big banks, cutting tax credits for outsourcing, and investments in small businesses. The taxes on the banks is a goodwill gesture that will garner a lot of political support for the Democrats who have to face voters as angry at them as they are at the million dollar executives on Wall Street. If passed, it will increase revenue and gain some political capital for Democrats. However, I'm not sure how the stock markets would feel about that. Cutting tax credits to companies that are outsourcing is a bold move, but necessary. No longer will we have to deal with customer service agents from India!!! This intitative will help return many of the blue and white collars jobs that could be filled with Americans but are instead given to random people in random countries. The investment into loans for small businesses is one of the best proposals to come from the President to help stimulate job growth. Loans to small businesses that are still profitable in these tough times should help to lower the ranks of the unemployed. Its funny that this is an idea that has been touted by the GOP for awhile...

If legislation passes that implements these intiatives, the jobs created won't be the same ones we lost. Sorry Detroit but the American car manufacturers will probably never rehire the thousands they terminated during the recession. The news jobs that are created will require higher education and specialized training. I would imagine these careers will be in education, energy, and health care; All were areas President Obama stressed in the State of the Union as priorities in securing America's future. Obama proposed tax credits for families paying tuition and student loan forgiveness for careers in public service which was music to the ears of every college student, graduate or undergraduate, and graduates struggling with student loan payments. The President also continued to stress the need for health care reform, which Congress completely dropped the ball on. He noted that health care reform has never been this close to passing and there is no need to quit now.

For all the inspiring iniatives proposed by Obama two proposals seemed completely unrealistic to me. Removing lobbying from Capitol Hill is as realistic as President Obama inviting Glenn Back over for a beer. For all the bad press lobbying receives, it's necessary to keep legislators informed on the numerous topics they vote on. President Obama also stressed bipartisanship efforts in producing legislation in congress. The GOP said no to almost everything over the past year. Their reward...the coveted Senate seat of the late Ted Kennedy. Good luck on those Obama...

The President inspired me last night to believe that he still has a plan to get us out of this mess. Now, he has to make sure that these intiatives come to pass or the Democrats will be Obama's whipping boy in November. As President Obama stated last night, "We don't quit. I don't quit" I just hope the Democrats don't quit while they're ahead...literally...with a huge majority in the House AND the Senate.