Barry Soetoro's vision of America can best be seen wearing rose colored glasses and reading his favorite books like "Rules for Radicals" and the Quran.

Excellent analysis and commentary Mr. Goldberg. His statement in the SOTU of his intent to ask Congress for the "authority" to change what he considers an "outdated" executive branch, in order to make it more "efficient" also speaks volumes to this mans Ceasar complex. I'm sure he'd be just tickled to have the Congress grant him the authority to declare himself Dictator for Life.

What's he going to do when they don't grant him the authority he's asking for? Just do it anyway, just as he kicked the constitution aside and appointed Cordray as head of the CFPB without the advice and consent of the Senate?

"This is why Obama's administration believes a crisis is a terrible thing to waste. This is why Obama has been prattling about "Sputnik moments" and sighing over his envy of China and its rulers. This is why his spinners endeavored to translate the death of bin Laden as some sort of vindication of his domestic agenda: because he cannot lead a free people where he thinks they should go."

When I read this, and thought about what we've become as a country, it makes me immensely sad. And unlike you, Jonah, I believe Obama does want to "impose martial virtues on America." And is in the process of doing so.

Deep down I was bothered by Obamas connection of the Bin Laden assassination and military operations with the workings of our Republic while listening to the SOTU. Now I know why. Remember his military like Citizens Corps or whatever propaganda slogan he called it? He's got at least a year of mayhem left to spawn. Let's watch for this.

If he gets a second term,he gets more nominees to the Supreme Court, and that will be the end of the second amendment. He most likely will abolish term limits, so he can become a lifetime president, once he has disarmed us, he can controll the ballot box. Obama wins, America Is Lost.

Mark down May 2, 2011 as the greatest day in history since August 4, 1961 for two reasons:

1) Osama bin Laden croaked; and

2) Barack Obama did not think about himself.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Didn't Herr Hitler succeed in making everyone in Germany "get in step" some eighty years ago?

"America is great because America is free. It is great not because we put our self-interest aside, but because we have the right to pursue happiness."

It would be MORE correct to say that America WAS free. The Constitution's purpose WAS to LIMIT government (the central government) to prevent it from usurping powers and infringing on American liberty.

The Lincoln murder of state sovereignty followed by the so-called 'reconstruction' amendments, the 16th Amendment (income taxes) and the 17th Amendment (election of US Senators) and FDR's power grabs and the Supreme Court's rejection of Originalism in favor of a "Living Document"... have brought us all to a condition of tax slavery and political slavery.

"We don’t celebrate the day the United States Constitution was destroyed; it didn’t happen on a specific date, and most Americans still don’t realize it happened at all. We don’t say the Constitution has ceased to exist; we merely say that it’s a “living document.” But it amounts to the same thing." ----Joseph Sobran, from essay THE SILENT REVOLUTION, 11/21/2000

Paul Craig Roberts has be pointing out for years that most Americans pay more in taxes than did medievel serfs and they're more on par with 19th century slaves. Instead of working for our masters for three to four months a year (as we do now with Tax Freedom day in mid-April -- it was Apr 12th in 2011), Emperor Obama/Soetero wants us to make it 8 or 10 months.

It's not exactly true to say that American is great because we have the right to pursue happiness. That right, along with Life and Liberty are GOD-GIVEN rights that all humans have, not just Americans.

I presume what Goldberg meant was that the U.S. government once respected and acknowledged that Americans possessed God-Given rights that NO government to rightfully take away.

Now, of course, with Patriot Act, Patriot II and NDAA, neither Americans nor any person has rights not subject to the whim of the U.S. Government where suspicions of WRONGFUL THOUGHT justify the government to dispose of the wrongful thinker in any manner deemed appropriate by the D.C. Emperor and his commissars.

Through a massive and deliberate mis-education campaign perpetrated by Liberals in our educational system, many Americans no longer understand that the Government (constitutionally, at least) does not grant us our civil rights, and has no authority to do so. The Declaration of Independence clearly states that our civil rights are endowed by the Creator; and that Governments are instituted in order to "secure" these rights. WARNING: If there is no Creator, then any civil rights we have are only those granted to us by the current ruling class. These rights suddenly become not rights at all, but merely "crumbs" scattered at the benevolence of the rulers. Then, these crumbs can be taken away by the rulers at their own desire. Recall the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares from Matthew 13:24ff: While Patriots were sleeping, the Liberal enemy sowed Marxism in this country; we are now seeing the results.

Steve: You are correct in your assessment that these God-Given rights are available to all human beings; they must, of course, be secured by each nation for its own Citizens, i.e., The Government of the United States of America can only secure these rights for Citizens of the United States of America. Citizens of any other country must have these rights secured for them by their own government. Thus, a foreign national does not have these rights while visiting here, unless they have been secured for him/her by his/her own nation. Even then, however, these foreigners are, and of necessity must be, subject to the Laws of these United States.

Steve: excellent clarification on top of excellent analysis from Jonah Goldberg. Bravo!

@Emcee:

May I suggest that a) God-given rights are bestowed upon all human beings; b) government cannot secure these rights; c) only God and the individual can secure these rights; and d) only God can eliminate, and the individual relinquish, these rights.

Government is artificial, manmade. It is not reality. The purpose of the US Government is to protect its citizens from enemies - foreign and domestic.

It appears that the domestic enemy is intelligent and cunning, and it has made great strides in infiltrating and subverting the purpose of government. The government can throw you into jail or kill you, but only you can relinquish the rights given to you by God. Freedom exists only in the mind.

So, what is happening now, I propose, is that the GOVERNMENT PEOPLE, the embodiment of the domestic enemy, have the intent to usurp any power that still resides in the AMERICAN PEOPLE via the electoral process by creating an environment in which the Judiciary, Legislative, and Executive Branches support one another instead of operating within the system of "checks & balances". When the GOVERNMENT PEOPLE become completely cooperative with one another, the power of the AMERICAN PEOPLE will be extinguished, and their votes and voices will become meaningless.

Judging from the actions over the past three years, the domestic enemy is escalating its timetable, and the elected representatives, who appear cowards from our perspective, are just biding time for the coup to be accomplished and their seat at the table of power assured.

I was aware of obamas contempt for Americas military before he became President elect. Obama wanted to defund the Iraq war during his short tenure as a US senator. Barac would not wear the US flag on his lapel, he cupped his penis during the playing of the national anthem, he could barely contain his laughter when as President the American military had to salute him. Barac elicited disgust from me everytime he was near the military.

When W was President the Navy Seals were refered to as Cheneys hit squad. Under Obama the Navy Seals are now great defenders of America because of, and thanks to, Obama.

Obama has further decided to commit sacrilege of a patriotic nature by usurping the Navy Seals purpose and using it to further his personal communist, fascist, and or socialist ideology. Everyone working and walking lockstep with Obamas leadership is the same as Hitler and his Nazis, the Russians and Lenin or Mussolinis Italy.

In obamas narcissitic mind, the Navy seals are a testament to Obamas greatness and to his "good sheppard" of the flock philosphy.

Obama, the anti American, pro socialist, pro Islamic, Messianic President is a monster destroying America, the light and hope of the world.

Nobama 2012, vote republican. Thank you.

Barry Soetoro is nothing but a vile creation of George Soros.

The joke is truly on U.S.

The saddest part is too many americans fell for his inane and empty BS rhetoric.

"No. Wrong. It is not so with America"

Good job, Mr. Goldburg.

Y'all are nuts.

Wow. Wow. Wow.

You know what's "disgusting" Mr. Goldberg? The vile and pathetic ignorance of the commenters above.

..."pro socialist, pro Islamic, Messianic President is a monster destroying America, the light and hope of the world." Seriously? And you are fueling the ignorance.

"Obama has further decided to commit sacrilege of a patriotic nature by usurping the Navy Seals purpose and using it to further his personal communist, fascist, and or socialist ideology." Seriously? What do you call using the armed forces in an act of revenge because of ridiculous daddy issues? That's the definition of contempt, my friend. Lying to start wars is so much more admirable that respectfully and successfully using the Seals to take out Bin Laden. Good lord, what's wrong with you son?

I supposed in your upside-down, black is white, ignorance is bliss hate-fueled world of right-wing lunacy this all makes perfect sense. To those of us with live brain cells and a sense of pride and optimism for this country, this denialism and outright irrational venom is just laughable.

Wow. What a testament to miserable existences in a totally self-construted faux reality.

Wow! I know Obama hatred was a palpable force with wingnuts but this just makes no sense. I thought wingnuts are in love with playing solider. You mean to tell me you guys aren't in love with General Petraeus? What happened to salute the flag and shut up? Oh I get it, the Commander in Chief is a Black Democrat so we can trash the Presidency even during a time of war and it will no longer aid our enemies.

It's too bad neither Romney nor Gingrich is going to beat Obama, but you guys already knew that, right?

I'm confused by the fact that your entire analysis of the SOTU is to underline that the POTUS wants us to work together to the point where he can be a dictator, the title of the piece is "Obama's Vision for a Spartan America," then you end with "Nor do I think he truly seeks to impose martial virtues on America"?

So do you believe it or don't you, because you wrote a whole piece saying you believed that, then turned around and cap that fine piece of writing off by saying that you don't actually think so? Are you sure you're not just falling into lock-step like he wants?

Mr. Goldberg, this is a vile, contemptuous outright falsehood. Your evaluation of the SOTU could not be further off the mark.

How can you take something like this speech, and (by inference) this President, and turn turn them so completely on their heads? This is, truly, in-credible writing. Were it to come across my deak, as an Editor, I would put it into the trash, where it so rightly belongs.

Our Founding Fathers advocated non-intervention in foreign affairs.

We have the greatest military power in the world and for some time we have been bred to believe that we must invade and slaughter those in foreign countries to "defend our nation". The only thing this defends are the warped political establishments and the profits of our military industrial complex.

"War is Good Business"

Our Founding Fathers advocated non-intervention in foreign affairs.

We have the greatest military power in the world and for some time we have been bred to believe that we must invade and slaughter those in foreign countries to "defend our nation". The only thing this defends are the warped political establishments and the profits of our military industrial complex.

"War is Good Business"

You should, each and every one of you, go read Richard Hoftstader's work.

I feel sorry for you. So much fear. Ridiculous, paranoid fear.

You should, each and every one of you, go read Richard Hoftstader's work.

I feel sorry for you. So much fear. Ridiculous, paranoid fear.

What I can't forgive is a Republican Party that still acts like it is business as usual. Obama will win again if the Republican Party fails to get behind Ron Paul. We will not vote for another Washington and media selected candidate. We will not put another non-functional Republican in power just because the Republican elite gives us non-functional candidates and refuses to support the only functional candidate available.

If you want another 4 years of socialism, let the democrats carry the water for you. I will not participate in it. Stop black balling Ron Paul and start supporting him.

LOL...

Well, Mr. Goldberg, you seem to have gotten some liberals all in a huff.

As I said before, "Good job".

So many ignorant comments, so little time...

@Jilli: Some people are afraid of what this president may have in mind for the people of this country, what with his continual attempts to re-invent it and all. Why are you so quick to dismiss their concerns with your childish name-calling?

@Gerald: Yeah, people don't like Obama 'cause he is black. You just keep telling yourself that; that way you will not have to deal with their arguments in a rational way.

@Church: Don't be too sure of that.

@Bud Fields: And yet here you are, reading it. Feel free to go back to Huffington Post where you belong.

@Veteran Patriot: Isolationist claptrap like that is how World War II got started. That worldview went out sometime around 1941. It hasn't been realistic in a long, long time. That's simply not the world we live in.

@Sherry: RON PAUL RON PAUL RON PAUL! Yeah, the Paulbots always come out in force on any topic, don't they? Why, so we can replace one "savior" with another? Seriously, I've about had a belly full of your kind. Ron Paul will NEVER be president. Deal with it. Accept it. Get over it.

The president is out of touch with the majority of people in America. He talked of equality for all in his SOTU speech and failed to mention that equality doesn't apply to him, his fellow legislators or cronies. How could Obamacare be passed only to allow so many 'exemptions' to this legislation? Where is the fairness in that? There should be no exemptions to any laws passed or they shouldn't be allowed. If any law is passed and if it's good enough for the American People, it should be good for legislators also!