One thing the speech didn’t do, though, is sound new. Obama sounds similar calls often. What hasn’t happened is actual action. He spoke of the climate change bill the House passed last year, but declined to chastise the Senate on its health care-bill-like posturing and inaction. That’s probably the biggest source of frustration over the administration’s handling of the oil spill. Contrary to many others, I doubt the dissatisfaction has much to do with the president’s failure to bang a fist on a lectern. I think it’s more that even the best speeches, in the face of a witheringly endless disaster, are starting to sound hollow.
I couldn’t have put better myself. Everything just sounds hollow and empty. Even the Organizing for America email that was sent immediately after the speech felt that way:
Critics will say that a real transition to clean energy is a challenge that can’t be met. But the President made it clear tonight that he will not back down — even if the path forward is not easy. And, as this movement has shown time and again, neither will we.
Washington has put this off for far too long — now we must act. If you haven’t already, please stand with the President for a clean-energy future.
Hell, with a few edits, it’s the same damn email that’s gone out every damn time. Just substitute “jobs” or “health care” for “clean energy”, and you get an idea of what I mean.
*Sigh*.
