Obama heads to The Hill
James Forsyth 7:16pm
Tonight President Obama addresses a join session of Congress in a televised, prime-time address. It will be in style, if not title, just like a State of the Union speech. So expect special guests—notably Captain Sullenberger who landed that plane in the Hudson, lots of glad-handing as Obama walks to the Speaker’s chair and wave after wave of standing ovations.
One thing to watch for is how much the Republicans applaud the President. The unified Republican opposition to the stimulus in the House and the fact that only three Republicans crossed over to vote for it in the Senate has come to define the Republicans. The plus side for them is that any problems with the stimulus, which has far too many pork barrel and poorly thought-through projects in it, work to their advantage. But the risk is that they look obstructionist at a time when the public wants, as Alex notes, cooperation.
If the nations sees them seating on their hands tonight as Obama reaches out to them it could hurt them. But then again Congressional Democrats didn’t appear to suffer much damage in 2006 for applauding themsleves for their obstructonism when Bush noted that Congress had failed to act on his plan to reform social security.
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TrevorsDen
February 24th, 2009 7:34pm Report this commentObama is President and head of State - so I expect the Republicans will show due respect.
That respect only usually wanes when a Democrat president misuses his office like Clinton, with his intern and a cigar, and Kennedy with Marilyn Monroe.
Dean
February 24th, 2009 10:42pm Report this commentLuckily, the Republicans have consigned themselves to political irrelevance for the next four years because of their stupid, school debating society style opposition to the Democrats' fiscal stimulus plans, which are designed to lift America out of a grave economic crisis created by the Republicans' extreme right wing policies.
Thankfully therefore we don't need to pay any attention to what the Republicans say or do for the foreseeable future. The fact that you evidently fail to see this says more about your mindset (ie that conservatives are 'born to rule') than it does about Barack Obama.
Judith
February 24th, 2009 11:41pm Report this commentThe dems being in power for the last two years, joined by the head dem (Zero) have driven our economy into the toilet, perhaps he will not be warmly received. I notice he is tanking in the polls. It should be amusing to see him try to recreate himself as President Reagan....what a hoot!
Nicholas
February 24th, 2009 11:50pm Report this comment"(ie that conservatives are 'born to rule')"
I thought it was socialists/Labour/New Labour who whose mindset is that they are born to rule?
And I thought the grave economic crisis had its roots in Clinton's socialist legislation to force irresponsible lending.
I know socialists/Labour/New Labour like to re-write history and always blame everything on everyone else but themselves but perhaps you would explain exactly what these "extreme right wing policies" were? The only "extreme right wing policies" I am aware of are the collective assaults on liberty and democracy by our own home-grown national socialists, Herr Braun und Clique. Of course we cannot have any stupid, school debating society style opposition to that can we?
(I don't think you appreciate the extreme irony of your post - Dean)
porkbelly
February 25th, 2009 1:57am Report this commentInteresting that the Dems heaved "post-partisanship" out the window as soon as the Republicans dared raise the slightest objections to their spending rampage. Or do we now live in a one-party state, Dean? I suppose Lenin was post-partisan too in his way.
THX1138
February 25th, 2009 7:39am Report this comment"And I thought the grave economic crisis had its roots in Clinton's socialist legislation to force irresponsible lending."
"I know socialists/Labour/New Labour like to re-write history and always blame everything on everyone else but themselves"
Nicholas didn't you just and do exactly that blame and someone else i.e Clinton. Have you forgotten that we have just had 8 long years of Bush, does he carry no blame or were you just being ironic?
cuffleyburgers
February 25th, 2009 8:59am Report this commentNicolas - beautifully put.
RMH
February 25th, 2009 10:19am Report this commentJindal's response has been poorly received.
Obama's speech has been seen as a good open....
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