Backward State - Barack Obama State of the Union 2010

Analysis:

He mostly appears to be not congruent in reversals. His reversals seem to be indicating the course of action(s) he is taking, will not work in helping the U.S. economy. And it doesn’t matter to him. Even if a course of action on a subject is the right thing to do, it will not happen if that means he and others in his circle won’t get what they desire.

He may pacify his opponents to make it appear like he is doing what they want, but he is prepared to fight any deviance to his agenda. Therefore nothing is really going to change if he perceives it being “ineffective” to his policies of record spending, higher taxes, and bigger government.

Brackets [ ] indicate where the reversal occurs. Click on the mp3 to hear the reversal.

{Introducers of the President}

(Barry Sullivan - Majority Floor Services Chief: Madam Speaker...)

Wilson Livingood - House Sergeant at Arms: …[The President of the United State]s

It's not evil. It is awful.

(This could be an example of coincidental sounds. Nancy Pelosi said the same words in her introduction, but her sounds in reverse speech are different. According to David J. Oates Metaphors in Reverse Speech Dictionary list of Coincidental words “President” normally sounds like “Deserve this”.This was different enough to be a potential reversal where I wanted to make note of it.)

[Our Constitution] declares that from time to time the President shall give Congress information about the state of our Union. For 220 years our leaders have fulfilled this duty.

Misuse the saga.

(My impression with this reversal is, he believes the U.S, Constitution is improper, or wrong, as a reference to a notable deed in U.S. history. And he doesn’t feel he needs to conform to the Constitution by giving information about the State of the Union. Through reverse speech analysis you now know the person who is sworn to uphold the Constitution is the very person who finds it contemptuous. Most of his speech was spent talking about new legislation he wants passed, vs. the current State of the Union, and each piece of his legislation potentially by-passes the Constitution. Hear more about how he feels about the Constitution, and a speech reversal from a 2001 radio interview on WBEZ: click here.)

One year ago I took office amid two wars, and an economy rocked by a severe recession. A financial system on the verge of [collapse, and a government deeply in debt].

I now heed the miraculous spiral.

Experts from across the political spectrum warned that if we did not act [we might face] a second Depression. So we acted, immediately, and aggressively.

See it damn you.

For these Americans and so many others, change has not come fast enough. Some are frustrated. Some are angry. [They don't understand] why it seems like bad behavior on Wall Street is rewarded, but hard work on Main Street isn't.

An answer not wanted.

And what the American people hope, and what they deserve, is for all of us, Democrats and Republicans to work through our differences, to overcome the numbing weight of our politics. For while the people that sent us here have different backgrounds, different stories, different beliefs, the anxiety's they face are the same. The as[pirations they hold are shared].

They shot at all heads in this show.

And to encourage these and other businesses to stay within our borders, [it is time to finally slash the] tax breaks for companies that ship our jobs overseas. And give those tax breaks to companies that create jobs right here in the United States of America.

The child sealed off, in our city.

So tonight I'm proposing specific steps [to pay for the trillion dollars] that it took to rescue the economy last year.

Sail on the ocean, all effort.

(Sail: move forward fast. Ocean: your life; your world; your environment; the waters of life. Source: Metaphors in Reverse Speech Dictionary)

Starting in 2011 we are prepared to freeze Government spending for three years. Spending related to our national security, Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security will not be affected. [But all other discretionary Government programs will].

Helps my wolf from bygone sharks under the water.

(Wolf: prime motivator behind behavior; the state of the Wolf metaphor directly influences success and control of life; ones ability to be self motivated and firm. Sharks: external reference to con men or someone who is imposing for selfish means. Source: Metaphors in Reverse Speech Dictionary. Even though finding a way to pay for the trillion dollar spending in 2009 is a good idea to him, freezing record spending is not a proposal to pay for it, and other costs will be allowed to rise. It's all smoke and mirrors to make him feel good while appearing to disarm his opponent’s objections, which he doesn't seem to look at very favorably.)

To help working families we'll extend our middle class tax cuts. But at a time of record deficits we will not continue tax cuts for oil companies, for investment fund managers, and for those making over $250,000 a year. [We just can't afford it].

It often excite you.

I know there are some in my own party that will argue that we can't address the deficit or freeze Government spending when so many are still hurting. [And I agree]. Which is why the freeze won't take effect until next year. When the economy is stronger (laughter from Republicans). That's how budgeting works. (more laughter from the Republicans) But understand...

You got it.

(No freeze on Government spending?)

...understand, if we don't take meaningful steps to reign in our debt. It could damage our markets, increase the cost of borrowing, and jeopardize our recovery. All of which [would have an even worse effect] on our job growth and family incomes.

I've assumed to be in a battle.

(Is this reversal in response to the Republican's laughter, when he knows he is not going to freeze spending?)

Rather than fight the same tired battles that have dominated Washington for decades, [it's time to try something new].

Wouldn't give myself the nasty.

(Nasty: unpleasant; ineffective. Does it seem like he might try something new, as long as it doesn't make any changes that might affect his own policies?)

It's time to put strict limits on the contributions that Lobbyists give [to candidates for Federal off]ice.

All efforts didn't make it.

(His campaign slogan was changed from "Change We Can Believe In" to "Change We Need". Based upon this reversal you can believe there will be no changes that limits Lobbyist's contributions!)

Some members of Congress post some of the earmark requests online. Tonight I'm calling on Congress [to publish all] earmark requests on a single website before there's a vote. So the American people can see how their money is being spent.

All shall love it.

Our administration has had some political setbacks this year. And some of them were deserved. But I wake up every day [knowing that they are nothing] compared to the setbacks that families all across this country have faced this year.

The thunder had been known.

David J. Oates has additional reversals from this speech. Hear them on his web page: State of the Union - January 2010