Last night, President of the United States, Barack Obama, gave his annual State of the Union address. Speaking for about an hour and ten minutes, the President highlighted the reality of the current situation in the United States, but also forcefully suggested several key changes that need to be and will be made. The President proposed that a jobs bill be passed immediately and gained applause when he announced that he wanted to freeze government spending beginning in the year 2011.

Throughout the live broadcast, television stations encouraged viewers to express their views on the SOTU via social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter. Not surprisingly, the reactions to the speech were mixed, covering a wide spectrum of political and moral viewpoints. The overall theme of these digital comments were hopeful, but urged for more rapid and dynamic change in government policies and regulations.

Here are some comments that I think stood out:

“A year ago, I believed in Obama’s to-do list. With his 1st #SOTU, I know he’s just empty rhetoric and I’ve gone nothing but skepticism.” — Twitter user MattGoldberg

“Obama moves me to make this country better. Bush moved me off the couch to change the channel” — Twitter user russpalmer

“YES! That is very good news! $30 billion in credit for small businesses!” — Megan Whilden on Facebook

“told you obama was biting back tonight. he’s holding folk accountable as he should. wow he’s starting to really resemble caricatures of him” — Twitter user JNez

“Listening to Obama talk about cutting spending is like listening to a fat kid talk about dieting while eating cake #sotu” — Twitter user franklazaro

“can’t he just say, “I blame Bush for everything” and cut out like 45 min of this thing? #sotu” — Twitter user AdrienneRoyer

“Tonight was a reminder that it’s time to set aside our differences and focus on working together to restore the American Dream for families.” — Twitter user, Rep. Russ Carnaham (D-Missouri)

Personally, I think President Obama is truly trying to do the best that he can do restore things. People need to realize that things aren’t going to get better right away. Many were under the impression that change would be immediate, but the reality of the fact is that change is a gradual and painstaking process. Good luck to President Obama!

What are your thoughts?

Source: CNN.com