Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
I'm tired, so I'm not going to spend time right now trolling around for reactions. The text of the speech is at NYT via Memeorandum. My biggest takeaway policy-wise clearly is the president's discussion of the economy. I frankly want to check all his numbers on tax cuts and will look those up in the next couple of days. His claims to transparency in implementing the financial bailout are pure bull, and his call for posting congressional earmarks all together on one website for everyone to see, before a bill is passed, is essentially an a priori lie. Obama talks a good game, but he may have screwed up in asking for suggestions on healthcare. Mitch McConnell was all too happy to stand and applaud at that point, so look for possible gotcha moments on that down the road. (This administration is not known for soliciting outside opinions.) Also memeorable were some of the reactions in the audience of assembled congressional members, Supreme Court justices, and the Joint Chiefs. John McCain looked over to Lindsey Graham and said "blame Bush," Obama's "blaming Bush" for the economic crisis (and this is after the president swore off blaming others previously). Justice Samuel Alito rejected the president's comments that the ruling on campaign finance would "open the floodgates" to special interests. And the Joint Chiefs of Staff sat like cold stones while the president pledged to repeal "don't ask, don't tell" (almost twenty years later, and this seems like something from the first Clinton administration).Also quite noticeable was the president's faux outrage at the nation's partisan temper. This administration failed at post-partisan transformation all by itself. Thank goodness the GOP's been as unified as it has. I'd expect no less in the face of the Democratic-socialist onslaught.
I should note too that while I can sit and listen to an Obama address, because he really is a talented communicator, up there with Reagan and Clinton, in my opinion, it's not fun at all to have Vice President Biden and Speaker Pelosi back there with their s***eating grins and hubristic nods all night. That was almost too much. Fortunately, Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell gave an awesome speech hitting all the right notes. And the Jeffersonian touch -- stressing federalism and states rights -- was perhaps the most important volley of words launched all night. I'll have more on McDonnell's speech later. That man is presidential material, and I hope sooner rather than later.
2 comments:
This First-Clown-In-Chief had the witless effrontery to attack the Supreme Court's decision while the Nine sat in front of him. Here's G-Town U. Law Prof:
To call upon the Congress to countermand (somehow) by statute a constitutional decision, indeed a decision applying the First Amendment? What can this possibly accomplish besides alienating Justice Kennedy who wrote the opinion being attacked. Contrary to what we heard during the last administration, the Court may certainly be the object of presidential criticism without posing any threat to its independence. But this was a truly shocking lack of decorum and disrespect towards the Supreme Court for which an apology is in order. A new tone indeed.
My guess is that this arrogant half-wit of a POTUS can talk a talk, but is a veritable cripple in actually walking anything except a moonwalk double-clutch shuffle on real policy.
Like a rotten mackerel, shining in the moonlight.
This First-Clown-In-Chief had the witless effrontery to attack the Supreme Court's decision while the Nine sat in front of him. Here's G-Town U. Law Prof:
To call upon the Congress to countermand (somehow) by statute a constitutional decision, indeed a decision applying the First Amendment? What can this possibly accomplish besides alienating Justice Kennedy who wrote the opinion being attacked. Contrary to what we heard during the last administration, the Court may certainly be the object of presidential criticism without posing any threat to its independence. But this was a truly shocking lack of decorum and disrespect towards the Supreme Court for which an apology is in order. A new tone indeed.
My guess is that this arrogant half-wit of a POTUS can talk a talk, but is a veritable cripple in actually walking anything except a moonwalk double-clutch shuffle on real policy.
Like a rotten mackerel, shining in the moonlight.
Post a Comment