How Did I Do on My SOTU Predictions?

I have not had a chance to read the entire speech carefully, so I can’t tell you how my prediction about Lincoln references did.  (I can’t stand to listen to SOTU speeches.  They are pretty much of a waste of time to listen to, especially when you can read in 15 minutes what it would take an hour or more to listen to.  I never listened to Bush SOTU speeches, either – either of the Bushes, that is.)

But my prediction that the President would talk about long lines at polling places was right on target:

"When any American, no matter where they live or what their party, are denied that right because they can’t afford to wait for five or six or seven hours just to cast their ballot, we are betraying our ideals.

So tonight, I’m announcing a nonpartisan commission to improve the voting experience in America.  And it definitely needs improvement.  I’m asking two long-time experts in the field – who, by the way, recently served as the top attorneys for my campaign and for Governor Romney’s campaign – to lead it.  We can fix this, and we will.  The American people demand it, and so does our democracy."

There is little more I can say about the idea that long lines at polling places are a national issue.  We have a federal system of government for a reason.  Different problems are the responsibility of different levels of government.  If state or local government isn’t doing its job, such as not providing enough polling places or election judges on election day, and therefore there are long lines to vote, then those voters need to elect a more competent state or local government.  It’s not up to the government in Washington to solve every problem in the country, even every governmental problem.  With any degree of luck, this commission’s proposals will go the way of those of the Bowles-Simpson commission (though it was unfortunate in the case of that commission).

With respect to the Lincoln references, I will check the speech more closely in the next couple of days to see how I did.  Maybe President Obama used up his supply of Lincoln references, at least temporarily, in his inaugural address.  I will get back to you.