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The Presidential Address
Tonight we'll be using this space for your comments on the president's address and the response from Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, I've been asked to make some comments along the way--in the comments section itself--and give the discussion some direction.
We hope you'll share your thoughts.
Here are a few things on my mind going into the speech. While I have an embargoed copy of the speech, I haven't read it. First, how well can he make the case that we need to fix health care now? Second, will he be able to strike the right balance between optimism and realism about our economic problems? I'm interested in Jindal's response. Is it pure rejectionism? Does he have anything new to offer besides cutting taxes.
Come join the conversation.
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I really do love the walk-in of the cabinet, justices. Great to see Ruth Bader Ginsburg looking so good. Take that Jim Bunning!
February 24, 2009 9:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
Good one on Bunning, Matt!!
February 24, 2009 10:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hillary's looking like she can spit in jetlag's face.
Doogie Howser, Treasury Secretary, less so.
February 24, 2009 9:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
Its great watching everyone come in...but could they speed it up a bit its already past 9:00
I guess this speech, like everything else in government, is going to be a few minutes late...
February 24, 2009 9:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
and Hilary wears PINK??!! ok, who cares.
I am just happy that the Repubs are so Brown after we elected a brown Dem as Prez.
I remember that statistically speaking the Repub Party convention was actually Whiter than Alaska.
February 24, 2009 9:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
not just pink ... but HOT PINK! girl's looking good.
i still cannot believe that he's actually the president.
February 24, 2009 9:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Word word wordy word word.
I don't cry every time I see him now, though. I start smiling and can't stop.
Can you believe - he just stands there for 50 minutes and never looks at a note.
February 24, 2009 10:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Good Lord, Tena, surely you've heard of a teleprompter.
And I for one hope he uses one. There's no shame in it. The man has far more important things to do with his time at the moment than memorize a 50-minute speech.
February 25, 2009 12:41 AM | Reply | Permalink
There is a sense of renewal as I watch. I wish m President good luck for today and the rest.
Update: David MoFo Gregory still sucks.
February 24, 2009 9:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Madam Speaker!!
the prez of the us of a - a black guy!
gawd i love this.
February 24, 2009 9:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
I love the charade of all the gala I must admit
February 24, 2009 9:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Where's Michelle Bachmann? I wanna see the love on the aisle.
February 24, 2009 9:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
in a sea of of white guys i see a black guy - and he's got the power.
i love this.
February 24, 2009 9:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
In a way you are overdoing this, but in another way you are absolutely right!
February 24, 2009 10:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sheldy I guessed asked for the BC there
February 24, 2009 9:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
His campaign style "thank you" will stay with him for Evah, I hope it does anyway
February 24, 2009 9:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
me too. I hope it never goes away. ;)
February 24, 2009 9:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
its an odd combo of confidence and humility that makes BHO so cool.
February 24, 2009 9:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
Fox is talking about how Pres. Obama has been using FEAR in in motivational speeches. Amazing.
February 24, 2009 9:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
I am soooo happy!!!
February 24, 2009 9:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hah, he did it again! I bet you CJ Roberts' year just got a whole lot better...
February 24, 2009 9:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
hey folks - its official now - we have a black prez.
yeah there was that inauguration thing - but that was ceremony - this is a demonstration of power and reality.
it is now real.
February 24, 2009 9:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
I know I'm a little late on this, but did anyone else notice Roland Burris during the walk in? 1) His head is HUGE; and 2) Did everyone in the line snub him, because it sure looked that way to me.
February 24, 2009 9:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
And he came in flanked by Liebermann and McCain. Now there's a threesome looking for a fourth.
February 24, 2009 9:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm just very happy to see Joe Biden rather than Dick Cheney sitting beside Pelosi.
February 24, 2009 9:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
his thesis already is The Creativity of Labor will solve our problems - this is democratic socialism in a nutshell. FDR would be proud.
http://www.dsausa.org
February 24, 2009 9:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
To energy, health care and education add recovery, responsibility and re-regulation. Not a bad start.
February 24, 2009 9:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
Actually, I don't think that was Burris. I don't know. Maybe playing a drinking game based on how many times Charlie Gibson has to go to his notes for a name isn't such a good idea..?
February 24, 2009 9:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
How do you all think he's doing and what would you like to hear from him tonite?
February 24, 2009 9:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
did he say 97% of households will get a tax cut?
February 24, 2009 9:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think if Nancy gets any more excited she might blow up...lol
February 24, 2009 9:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
Can anyone say what happened to the Presidential daughter? At first I thought she was a very small rep from a civil rights era period movie. The hair, the earrings.
February 24, 2009 9:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
That's not the Presidential daughter -- it's an invited guest.
February 24, 2009 9:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
thank God (and thanks for the info)
February 24, 2009 9:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hypnotized by the MSNBC dial session; can't get over how high the McCain voter line is. It's topped the Obama voter line several times.
February 24, 2009 9:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's also flatter...blue line has far more peaks and valleys.
February 24, 2009 9:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
I still think our country is giving Obama major points for the simple breath of fresh air that is telling us the truth instead of trying to deny like W's administration. I know I'm giving him at least +10 for this reason alone. Also, I'm more confident that Obama actually understands what the credit crisis is.
February 24, 2009 9:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
We are pretty ordinary middle class, and I figured from what I could find that we'll get about $50/month in his tax cuts. We'll take it!
The very broad tax cuts in this bill are targeted at ordinary working people. That may not be quite 97% of the country, but it's probably close to that.
February 24, 2009 9:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
With a daughter starting college next year, the $2500 tax break for tuition sounds good, but I'm betting that those families eligible for financial aid will just see that same amount subtracted from any aid offer.
February 24, 2009 9:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
Matt:
I love how he's explaining to us, make us understand how it works. How he is connecting to the people and their stories.
February 24, 2009 9:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
It is a shame justice and rule of law issues can't command similar concern and attention, inside or in many areas outside the administration. Maybe unfair, since Justice ain't necessarily carrying their own message yet, but hell, Treasury isn't fully staffed at the top either and while "the flow of credit is the lifeblood of our economy", rule of law is the lymph system.
February 24, 2009 9:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
Karl: great point, but it doesn't seem like this speech is the time or the place.
February 24, 2009 9:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
I hope he says something at the end while looking at the Republicans, like "Hey guys, why don't you just stand up once for America?"
February 24, 2009 9:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
'we cannot yield to anger or the politics of the moment'
brilliant.
February 24, 2009 9:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
The principle financial industry regulatory reforms needed are in the un-and under-regulated areas: hedge funds, credit default swaps, etc., not in reorganization of the dual banking system, which has functioned pretty well regarding commercial banking.
February 24, 2009 9:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wow. Is Joltin' Joe Lieberman sucking on a lemon? (And did I just yell "Bite me, Joe" out loud?)
February 24, 2009 9:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
How do you like the historical riffs--GI Bill, Civil War, etc?
February 24, 2009 9:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's easy for people to fall for the incessant rhetoric about how government is the source of all ills, so it's critical for us to remember the many instances where government played such critical roles in the development of our nation--folks just seem to take it for granted.
In addition, I think the media and our leaders could do a better job of pointing out that just because government may play a role in various aspects of society, or just because President Obama wants government to lead in areas of education, health care, or whatever, doesn't mean that he is a "Socialist" as if he is some sort of Stalinist. It seems that every time a Democrat proposes some sort of government action or policy, the Fox News types, Lush, etc. throw around the term with impunity as if it's somehow legitimate. To put this nonsense in perspective, consider how Sean Hannity and Neil Cavuto would act if every Democrat that turned up on a television started accusing the Republicans of being "fascists." We'd never hear the end of it.
February 24, 2009 11:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
I love the historical analogies he just drew to the previous crises. "Government as the catalyst of private enterprise" - YES!
February 24, 2009 9:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
Zero, you're absolutely right. I was jes sayin'.
February 24, 2009 9:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is a great argument for the value of government. He's hitting on all the universally beloved government programs that are all too often lost in GOP hyperbole.
February 24, 2009 9:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
The man just called for a cap and trade program. There could (and probably will be) an entire speech just on that topic, but again, my God am I glad W is gone. No more switchgrass here, but instead actual solutions to our most dire problem.
February 24, 2009 9:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
I love that he is holding to the idea that "It begins with energy," through "TIme for America to lead again." Long hill to climb there, but with the federal government pushing, maybe...
February 24, 2009 9:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
Nice pivot.
February 24, 2009 9:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
Very curious to hear what you think of his health care argument. Do you think it will be convincing to Republicans? Can he get business on board?
February 24, 2009 9:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
...and he wants to cure cancer.
February 24, 2009 9:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wow Nancy looks like she is tearing up - or is it just that the botox is wearing off.
Seriously, the Dems looks really really proud tonight. I know how they feel.
February 24, 2009 9:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
I love his tough talk on Healtcare.
February 24, 2009 9:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm sort of surprised there wasn't a deeper connection between healthcare and the auto industry. The latter is the prime example of the lack of the former dragging it down. We need to stop subsidizing health care companies that sell cars.
February 24, 2009 9:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
definitely. This is not only true, but how health care reform has to be sold
February 24, 2009 9:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
he just said 'prescription for economic decline' in regards to the current education system - wow.
February 24, 2009 9:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
This speech is essentially, "Yes we can," and it's daring the GOP to say, "No we can't." It's really amusing watching the GOPers sit and refuse to applaud for things like S-CHIP. Do they think that will impress anybody? Opposing health care for kids? Huh?
I hope Bobby Jindal's wearing a cup.
February 24, 2009 9:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
Not sure Jindal has anything worth protecting by a cup!
February 24, 2009 9:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
Joe looks he his past his bedtime
February 24, 2009 9:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
I thought maybe without Bush at the podium the incessant clapping would be less annoying. I was wrong. (okay - a little less but still highly annoying)
February 24, 2009 9:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
C'mon, Matt. Is *anything* convincing to Republicans? At the same time, yes, he can get business on board because the cost of insurance is killing them. This will be the watershed issue that separates business from the redundant Repug party at last.
February 24, 2009 9:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
I hear ya. I've always been surprised that business hasn't pushed harder for a system that would get more people covered and get more of the burdens off of them. I think more Repubs will sign on to health care than they did the stimulus.
February 24, 2009 9:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
Man, this dude just has his shit together. He's coming across like he gets the problem, is smart and is very confident in his solutions. He's got a very populist vibe going on-a "spokesman of the people" speech so far. Could be a political calculation I guess, but it seems real.
February 24, 2009 9:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
Charter schools??! - bah! puhleeeze!
February 24, 2009 9:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wow. He talked about school dropouts.
February 24, 2009 9:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
I like what he says about college education.
February 24, 2009 9:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
Either MSNBC's Audience Reaction line is broken or the Republicans are really screwed.
McCain voters are showing to be even more positive about Obama's speech than his own for minutes at a time.
February 24, 2009 9:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
Anyone notice Sen. Shelby's facial smirks, his inability to applaude - even when ALL others do?
He may in fact be the very least courteous opposition anyone could ever tollerate.
February 24, 2009 9:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
Americorps! VISTA! Woo hoo!!
February 24, 2009 9:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
Tough talk --- "if you're quitting on high school, you're quitting on America".
February 24, 2009 9:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
I liked it.
February 24, 2009 10:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
A more accurate paraphrase was:
"if you dropout of HS, you're not just quitting on yourself, you're quitting on your country"
Said in context of the need for citizens to be culturally and academically literate, for obvious reasons, and becasue most all of the new jobs require a HS level education, at the minimum, which he had just mentioned.
So yeah, it makes perfect sense. It also got some of the loudest applause and is almost universally supported.
February 24, 2009 11:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
Dude, Hatch, when you get a shout-out by the President on national television, you can look up. You can even smile. It's your bill he's talking about!
February 24, 2009 9:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is an excellent speech. I'm not sure if he's going to be able to deliver everything he's promising, but boy, what a change from the last eight years.
February 24, 2009 9:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
Absolutely! A terrific speech, hitting on all cylinders. Excellent content, excellent presentation...and coherent, full sentences unlike the past 8 years!
And to think Jindall is going to talk about how all this is "irresponsible"! How laughable. I am glad the Republicans keep digging a bigger hole for themselves every day. How equally laughable they are.
February 24, 2009 9:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
I love the parental responsibility riffs.
February 24, 2009 9:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
And closely followed by the "deficit we didn't create"
Some Daddy talk there!
February 24, 2009 9:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah! School dropouts -- When did George, The W ever go there, no? Finally the truth!!
Education not a Democratic issue or a Repub issue but an American issue.
Don't pass on the debt!! Yess!!
February 24, 2009 9:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
I have to say that one of the fringe benefits of having O as President is that the man knows how to ad lib.
February 24, 2009 9:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
New Sen. Gillibrand's taking notes :)
Maybe she expects a quiz
February 24, 2009 9:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Anybody counting the number of times he's said "with the deficit that we inherited?"
February 24, 2009 9:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obama is on fire. Wonder if Gov. Bobby is starting to regret his decision to give a rebuttal speech?
February 24, 2009 9:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
I love this honesty. Finally, honesty from the well of the Senate. Finally.
February 24, 2009 9:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
did he just attack AgriBusiness? AND Haliburton in one sentence??! fuck.
February 24, 2009 9:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
heh. Yeah. Never thought I'd see the day. Seriously. ;)
February 24, 2009 9:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
yes to elim agribusiness subsidies--he's getting down to it!
February 24, 2009 9:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
coming from a corn-producing state, the proof will be in the elimination of the ethanol subsidy.
February 24, 2009 9:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
Agribusiness! My pants are getting tight.
February 24, 2009 9:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
....and the audience reaction line is off the charts!! I think the MSNBC reaction thing is dead, and has been for a while...
February 24, 2009 9:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
key phrase: 'the wealthiest 2% of Americans.'
February 24, 2009 9:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
on to agribusiness. wooohoo!
yeah! No tax breaks for corps that move abroad!!! Wow.
No tax breaks for the wealthiest 2% of Americans and a follow up clarification to kill of the fearmongerers rhetoric.
February 24, 2009 9:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
"for seven year's we've been a nation at war, no long will we hide it's price!"
money line.
February 24, 2009 9:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
The Republicans hesitate to stand and applaud his middle class tax cuts! They have no integrity.
February 24, 2009 9:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
no longer will we hide the price of the iraq war??!
there are powers that be that will not like this.
February 24, 2009 9:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
O's ID'd more than 2 trillion in needless $$ to cut in his first 30 days + eliminating top 2%'s tax breaks AND not raising taxes = at this rate... I wonder if "W" can follow the new MATH.
OK, if he's logged in it's called full disclosure and math that adds up - ca-ching!
February 24, 2009 9:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
I bet "W" isn't watching. He is probably wrapped up trying to finish My Pet Goat. ;-)
February 24, 2009 10:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
Anyone notice the applause generally runs three times the duration "W" received?
February 24, 2009 10:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
The example of America and Guantanamo to be closed. Will he do it though? Will he?
Wow. Committing to "does not torture."
February 24, 2009 10:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, for what it is worth, the previous administration insisted they did not torture, too.
February 24, 2009 10:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
'living our values makes us safer and stronger' 'america does not torture'
fuckin wow - he better live up to this.
February 24, 2009 10:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
We may not agree with every decision he makes or policy he embraces, but what a joy to have someone as our President that is both smart and articulate. He can express himself so that Americans understand. He has said more tonight than Bush said in eight years. He is tackling so many problems at once.
February 24, 2009 10:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
Matt,
Do you think Cheney's watching?
February 24, 2009 10:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
I bet he didn't.
February 24, 2009 10:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
good to hear that he has committed America to NOT torturing - but will he commit America to not TEACHING torture?
This is the real question - a pre-W Bush Status Quo is simply NOT enough...
The School of the Americas:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Hemisphere_Institute_for_Security_Cooperation
Read: http://www.soaw.org/
February 24, 2009 10:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Republicans applauding a banker who gave away his bones? I think my head just exploded.
February 24, 2009 10:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Bones?
February 24, 2009 10:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, that should have been bonUs. Typos are a curse.
February 24, 2009 10:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
I've experienced the same curse from time to time.
February 24, 2009 10:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
That one made me drown my laptop in Sierra Mist. Out my nose!
February 24, 2009 11:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
Goodness, what would Ayn Rand say? Couldn't he have bought an island instead and "shrugged" off his ties to loathsome humanity?
February 24, 2009 11:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
Reagan started the salute-the-guests-in-the-box tradition in '81 with Lenny Skutnick who rescued people from a plane crash in the icy Potomac that winter. No prez will abandon it.
February 24, 2009 10:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
you mean it did not exist at all before that?
February 24, 2009 10:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
No. And the State of the Union wasn't given in prime time until LBJ. It used to be in the afternoon in the first part of the 20th century. Before Wilson, presidents just sent a statement up to the hill.
February 24, 2009 10:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
green energy and green jobs as a way of revitalization and investing in America. We are not quitters.
Damn, he is good.
February 24, 2009 10:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
We are not quitters.....Big finish!
February 24, 2009 10:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, if only that was the actual big finish. It was the line of the night, but unfortunately he kept going. That would be my criticism of the entire speech: there was fantastic stuff in there, to be sure, but sometimes it felt like he just kept going and going, washing away some of the points he made previously.
February 24, 2009 10:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Agree that it could have been tighter. But still pretty solid esp the finish, I think
February 24, 2009 10:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Agree, the finish was very strong. He tied it up powerfully.
OTOH, to nitpick: I think he wanted to summarize with bullet points, generally a good idea. But, his speaking style builds to crescendos due to his delivery and compelling arguments assembled piece by piece to be greater than the sum.
I think the summary would be even more powerful if he creates a shorthand for his issues and agenda, a "buzzphrase" so to speak, and then repeats them in summary.
Though, OTOOH don't want to dumb it down, delivering zingers at the expense of credibility. It's a fine line.
Still, a great speech.
Jindal by comparison, with his whining and wormy grimace. Just sad.
February 24, 2009 11:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
Are you kidding? I wanted more. I loved his little jabs.
February 24, 2009 11:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
O: "I know that every American in this room loves this country..." OK, loyal opposition show us please
:)
February 24, 2009 10:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh boy, do I hope that MSNBC keeps the dial poll running when Bobby J. gives his "response."
It'll be the only way to know for sure whether the "negative" side of their gizmos are working.
February 24, 2009 10:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Stay tuned for Jindal!
February 24, 2009 10:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hahahahah...Kudos for Dry Humor.
February 24, 2009 10:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
After the last 8 years, I'm starting to doubt if I really could have heard what I just heard. I think I might be having a stroke or a psychotic break....
February 24, 2009 10:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wow...it may well be remembered as the "We are not quitters," SOU speech.
February 24, 2009 10:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Folks - we have a Black President.
and he's pretty cool too.
remember all those lame 'moderate' Dem media fav 'black dems' and black repubs' that have been pimped out but the media in past years for our approval - to hell with the Wilders!
We have a good guy as president - I will and do oppose him on some and perhaps in the future many things - but this is a decent guy.
meet me on my blog: http://LMV.hu/redjade and on my FaceBook page: http://tinyurl.com/redjade-facebook
see you there.
February 24, 2009 10:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
Matt,
Overall, how'd you rate his first time in the well?
February 24, 2009 10:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
I thought it was very strong. I imagine it will be very well received by the public. A couple of small quibbles. I thought he didn't seem quite sure of where the cameras were when he first got there and I thought, per one of the comments above, that there were a couple of extra rhetorical flourishes. But overall very strong.
February 24, 2009 10:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Some powerful shit at the end here.
We are not quitters indeed.
*Michelle looks wonderful and like a caring mother for the country.
February 24, 2009 10:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
Jindal would be utterly foolish to run in 2012. He's got a much better chance in 2016 when he's not running against an incumbent (unless things really tank in the next 4 years). He's not even 40 yet, so he can afford to bide his time.
Of course, it 2012 could be the last hurrah of the right-wing of the Republican party, so by 2016 America could have passed him by.
February 24, 2009 10:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wow, Jindall is going to sound absolutely awful tonight with his negative speech and tone following Obama! Can't wait to hear him whine and lie about Obama "raising your taxes", furthering the Republican minority.
February 24, 2009 10:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
I know--what the hell can he possibly say?
February 24, 2009 10:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
I love you for saying the last five words.
February 24, 2009 10:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
Michelle is so graceful, intelligent and strong. What a couple.
February 24, 2009 10:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
WOW! WOW!
February 24, 2009 10:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Great Speech.
Now lets the cable chatter begin. After all we have to inject poison in our debate, distort his statements and weaken the country's ability to move forward.
February 24, 2009 10:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
This felt good. Calling for us to do what works, not just what feels good, and showing both realism and optimism. I can't remember ever feeling this in synch with government. You know, like "government of the people, by the people and for the people" actually refers to an actual practical reality.
February 24, 2009 10:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think I just heard Brit Hume say that this speech was not a good one.
February 24, 2009 10:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm surprised, not about what Hume said of course.
February 24, 2009 10:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
A very, very good political speech which is probably what he needs to do at this point. It was not much of a budget speech in any conventional sense. We will have to wait to see a budget document before we really know what the story is.
February 24, 2009 10:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
to jindal's creepy smile i think i just heard olbermann murmer "my god..."
February 24, 2009 10:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Gov. Jindal sounds like an infomercial. It's just awfullllll....
February 24, 2009 10:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
He sounds like he's talking down to us! As if we're stupid dumbasses. Obama's intelligent elocution is better.
February 24, 2009 10:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
Gawd.
Jindal is doing a Sara Palin imitation.
February 24, 2009 10:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
Chris Matthews, on open mike as Bobby J. walked up to the camera.
"Oh, my God!"
And the dial poll is off....yup, that negative side of the gizmo works while this guy is talking.
February 24, 2009 10:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
I heard it too. lol
February 24, 2009 10:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
It seems very fast to me.....TPM readers, putting aside your own feelings, how do you think Jindal is doing?
February 24, 2009 10:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
He seems irrelevant after hearing Obama's powerful speech.
February 24, 2009 10:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's like zombie woke up and walked into your living room- that's the best I cand o putting my own feelings aside.
Sorry- I can't watch him anymore.
February 24, 2009 10:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
He sounds like a poor imitation of Reagan.
February 24, 2009 10:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sheesh, the fate of the Republican Party rests on reminders about Katrina! Funny, the Republican Party does remind me of Katrina.
February 24, 2009 10:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
He said government couldn't solve our problems because Katrina was so negligently handled!! WTF?
February 24, 2009 10:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, what an idiot. I can't believe I am ruining my night by listening to this crap...
February 24, 2009 10:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
To be fair, Jindal was implying that government is inherently a bungling bureaucracy regardless of the party in power. Any large organization might at times have an annoying amount of bureaucratic inertia, but that government *must* be incompetent compared to other endeavors is a silly article of faith.
What's funny is that Republicans will use the incompetency of the previous administration as proof that government is necessarily incompetent.
Who needs government funded scientists to monitor volcanoes when the local (and locally funded) sheriff can gather a posse to help rescue people after the volcano blows.
February 24, 2009 11:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh puh-leeze
February 24, 2009 10:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
Jindal -- THE government of Louisiana -- is dissing government. Why would anyone put these guys in government when they're out to destroy it.
February 24, 2009 10:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
Kinda sounds like he's reading to a kindergarten class.
February 24, 2009 10:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
Now I KNOW I'm having a stroke. There's no way this dude is The Future Of The Republican Party. There's folksy, and then there's this. I'm waiting for him to start whistling the theme to The Andy Griffith Show.
February 24, 2009 10:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
Bobby J. using governmental response to Katrina to support his argument?
Does chutzpah translate into cajun?
February 24, 2009 10:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
'The eruption of government spending'!? Talk about cringe-worthy.
February 24, 2009 10:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Jindal sounds like he is talking to first graders! What a doofus! He is a terrible speaker! Oh! And he's got nuthin'
February 24, 2009 10:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Third time he's gotten the 'americans can do anything' line out.
February 24, 2009 10:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
What a nimrod....calling out volcano monitoring as wasteful spending.
Monitoring hurricanes, on the other hand....
February 24, 2009 10:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
What about magnetic levitating trains? Isn't that some sort of new-agey hocus-pocus? WWJD?
(of course, maybe Jindal feels that the train is an inefficient and non-sustainblr way to get around stretches as this very large country)
February 24, 2009 11:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
the democrats in louisiana worked together with the republican executive to pass bipartisan legislation...jindal asks, why can't we do that in washington?
that's a good question.
February 24, 2009 10:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
zOMG. Drill, baby, drill. It's like someone just dug up a time capsule with this dude in it.
February 24, 2009 10:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Here we go with the beginning of the massive divisions on healthcare.
February 24, 2009 10:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
I wish. He sounds too much like the centrists to me. I'm still afraid health care is going to get reformed but not provided.
February 24, 2009 10:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
THIS is the guy people think will run in '08? Really? You've got to be kidding me!!
February 24, 2009 10:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm still reeling from how creepy the first two seconds were, as Jindal walked to the mic. It really was jawdropping.
February 24, 2009 10:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
LOL! I'VE read the stimulus bill! Most of Congress sure has read it!
What a total **cktard
February 24, 2009 10:34 PM | Reply | Permalink