Was President Barack Obama's State of the Union address on Tuesday night a true accounting of where this country is and where we are heading, or the jump-start to a re-election campaign?

In truth, it was much more of the latter than the former.

Imagine this scenario: You've been unemployed for a year or so, but hung on to both SUVs, the 5000-square-foot house, and, when you get home from a trip to the Bahama's next week, you are off to buy the newest 60-inch flat screen TV. You get to do all this because Uncle Harry, who has lived frugally and saved all his life, keeps giving you loans.

Now, imagine old Harry shows up for a visit. What might he think when he pulls into the drive in his 10-year-old Chevy Nova? He'll probably be wondering what in the heck he's doing loaning you money.

And Chinese President Hu Jintao probably knows just how Uncle Harry would feel.