I basically agree with Mark: it was a good speech, and hit the right notes. And I’m not sure I care.
I care what happens over the next few days and weeks.
When the likes of Bayh, Lincoln, Ben Nelson, Landrieu, Holy Joe, and Rahm start saying, “let’s go slow and not try to do too much,” will the President listen to them?
When Congressional leaders ask the President to give them leadership and direction on health care, will he provide it?
When they try to hollow out financial regulation, or destroy the bank tax, will the White House go along?
When Lisa Murkowski tries to attach her egregious rider to an appropriations bill to stop EPA from regulating climate change, will Obama threaten a veto?
When the going gets tough in Washington, will Obama take to the hustings and campaign as if his Presidency and the nation depend upon him winning (because it does)?
Will he fight?
[...] there is a sense in which the speech is inconsequential. I agree with Jonathan Zasloff: I care what happens over the next few days and [...]
[...] there is a sense in which the speech is inconsequential. I agree with Jonathan Zasloff: I care what happens over the next few days and [...]
Based on his behavior over the past 12 months, the prognosis is not good. And there are Dems who don’t want to get too far out in front of the President, lest he cut them off at the knees, as he has already done to some.