Stephen Colbert

Colbert Mocks Obama's 'Jay Leno In Chief' State Of The Union

David Taintor | January 26, 2012, 10:21AM

Stephen Colbert

It's no surprise Stephen Colbert wasn't satisfied with President Obama's State of the Union address. Perhaps worst of all, it got in the way of Colbert's favorite television show, NCIS: Los Angeles.

"We know this country is in deep trouble, but this clown, to him it's all a big joke," Colbert said of Obama, rolling a clip of the president joking about crying over spilled milk.

Read more »

Jon Stewart

Jon Stewart On SOTU: Obama's The 'Tax Credit Oprah'

David Taintor | January 26, 2012, 9:25AM

Jon Stewart

Jon Stewart on Wednesday took on the best -- and worst -- moments of President Obama's third State of the Union address. First, there was the opening line: I killed Osama bin Laden! It was a bit too early, Stewart said. "Does Rick Springfield open with 'Jessie's Girl'?"

Read more »

State Of The Union

State Of The Union: Obama's Point-By-Point Romney Refutation

Brian Beutler | January 24, 2012, 10:55PM

President Barack Obama

President Obama's State of the Union address was premised on two political bets: that there's a broad national appetite, spanning conservative and liberal ideologies, for certain populist reforms; and that Republicans in Congress are too deeply committed to opposing his agenda to back those reforms along side him.

His speech was peppered with the sorts of proposals that play well across the country. But after executing a three year plan of partisan opposition to his full agenda, Republicans can't possibly support them -- and that puts them on the steep side of an election Obama is framing while Republican presidential hopefuls tear each other down.

It was also sharp-elbowed. It read in a way as a series of critiques of the GOP's most prominent rhetorical attacks on Democratic priorities, and as a piecemeal rebuttal of the talking points his most likely general election opponent Mitt Romney has levied against him in a bid to shore up support among Republican base voters.

Read more »

Republicans

In SOTU Rebuttal, Gov. Mitch Daniels Calls Obama's Policies 'Pro-Poverty'

Igor Bobic | January 24, 2012, 10:46PM

Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels gives the Republican response to the State of the Union.

Presenting the Republican rebuttal to the State of the Union address, Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels (R) attacked President Barack Obama, saying his administration's extreme and divisive policies have held back economic recovery. He said the country must instead be righted by a pro-growth agenda, a simpler tax system, and a balancing of deficits.

"No feature of the Obama Presidency has been sadder than its constant efforts to divide us, to curry favor with some Americans by castigating others," Daniels said.

Following a decision by the administration to delay construction of the Keystone XL pipeline, the Indiana governor said Obama's policies would put America in poverty.

Read more »

Barack Obama

State Of The Union: Obama's Best Chance To Frame The 2012 Elections

Brian Beutler and Sahil Kapur | January 24, 2012, 5:25AM

President Barack Obama speaks on the economy in Shaker Heights, OH on January 4, 2012.

President Obama has addressed the country before a joint session of Congress several times since he was sworn in three years ago. But none have had as much political relevance and agenda-setting potential as his State of the Union address will have Tuesday night.

His aides have been as tight-lipped as you might expect about the particulars. But broadly the administration has signaled that the President will build on themes he's helped draw into the national conversation over the past year, most recently in a speech he gave in Osawatomie, KS -- inequality, economic fairness, and the decades long stagnation of the middle class. He's expected to make a spirited case for addressing those problems -- by building out new protections for consumers and workers, and by undoing existing policies that rig the game for the wealthiest Americans -- all while drawing a stark contrast with Republicans ahead of an election in which the White House and both chambers of Congress are up for grabs.

"We can go in two directions -- one is toward less opportunity and less fairness," Obama said in a video previewing his SOTU speech. "Or we can fight for where I think we need to go: building an economy that works for everyone, not just the wealthy few. On Tuesday night I'm going to talk about how we'll get there."

Read more »

John Boehner

Boehner: Don't Get Attached To Those SOTU Investments Obama Mentioned (VIDEO)

Evan McMorris-Santoro | January 31, 2011, 10:30AM

House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH)

Speaker John Boehner took to the Fox News Sunday airwaves this weekend for his first Sunday show interview since ascending to the top job in the House this month. Previewing what is likely to be bitter budget fight this year, Boehner appeared to dismiss all the new government spending projects President Obama mentioned in his State Of The Union address last Tuesday.

Obama proposed boosting government support for education, internet access and infrastructure as part of a US response to a rising China, what Obama called America's "Sputnik moment." Boehner, who rode into power thanks to a surge of anti-spending tea party voters, told FNS host Chris Wallace not to hold his breath waiting for Obama's requests to make it into a House-passed budget.

Read more »

Barack Obama

Obama Promised Broadband Expansion, But What's The Plan?

Kase Wickman | January 28, 2011, 3:35PM

Barack Obama

In his State of the Union address earlier this week, President Obama promised a new age of internet access for Americans. He said "Within the next five years, we'll make it possible for businesses to deploy the next generation of high-speed wireless coverage to 98 percent of all Americans."

But it's unclear how Obama plans to make good on that promise.

Read more »

Paul Broun

Paul Broun: 'Well, I Think My Tweets Were Civil' (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | January 28, 2011, 12:07PM

Soledad O'Brien and Rep. Paul Broun (R-GA)

In an appearance last night on Anderson Cooper 360, Rep. Paul Broun stood by the live-tweets that he made from his office during the State of the Union address -- most notably the one that declared, "Mr. President, you don't believe in the Constitution. You believe in socialism." But not only that, he said there was nothing uncivil about it.

Substitute host Soledad O'Brien grilled Broun about the accuracy of the tweets. She also pointed out that poll data shows Americans have unfavorable views of both parties, and she speculated that people could be fed up with a lack of civility on Capitol Hill. "What's your strategy for turning that around?" O'Brien asked. "Because with the tweets -- not so civil -- doesn't sound like aiming for more civility is what your strategy's gonna be."

"Well, I think my tweets were civil," said Broun. "I was just stating the truth, that this president has a socialistic type of philosophy and agenda. I believe that very firmly. And -- and, so, it's not uncivil. I was just stating the truth.

"And I think we can do -- I think we can work together. And we should work together. I have worked with Democrats on many issues. And I will continue to do so.

Read more »

State Of The Union

Boehner: The Left 'Rejects' American Exceptionalism (VIDEO)

Jillian Rayfield | January 27, 2011, 6:01PM

House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH)

House Speaker John Boehner was asked yesterday why President Obama didn't mention the notion of "American exceptionalism" in his State of the Union address. Boehner replied: "You can't get the left to talk about it. They don't -- they reject that notion."

Read more »

Infrastructure

Axelrod: Obama To Hit The Road To Push 'Win The Future'

Brian Beutler | January 27, 2011, 8:00AM

If you liked President Obama's "Win the Future"-themed State of the Union address, prepare to hear a whole lot more of the same.

According to one of his top advisers, Obama will take the growth and investment goals outlined in Tuesday's address on the road.

"We have to go out -- and I understand that there is some skepticism on the other side -- but part of what the president did [Tuesday] night, and what he's doing [Wednesday] in Wisconsin and what he'll continue to do relentlessly is make the case for this growth agenda, for this strategy, to out-innovate, out-educate and out-build the world," David Axelrod told reporters and liberal writers at a Roosevelt Room roundtable Wednesday afternoon. "Hopefully there'll be public pressure and support on Democrats and Republicans to support this strategy."

Read more »

Paul Broun

GOP Rep. Paul Broun: 'I Stick By That Tweet' (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | January 26, 2011, 6:33PM

Rep. Paul Broun (R-GA) in his office

In an interview this afternoon with CBS News, Rep. Paul Broun (R-GA) stood solidly by the live-tweets he sent out from his office during President Obama's State of the Union address -- most notably the one that went, "Mr. President, you don't believe in the Constitution. You believe in socialism."

"Absolutely. Everything he does is bigger government, more central control from Washington, D.C," Broun said today. "That's not what our founding fathers envisioned the government to be."

He also added: "Mr. Obama believes in a big central government, where the federal government controls everything in our lives. That's socialism. And so I stick by that tweet."

The interview went on. And most notably, Broun said a lot of things that would commonly considered to be vitriolic, but all of it very calmly -- without the slightest hint of rage or aggression in his voice.

Read more »

State Of The Union

Axelrod: Obama Will Enter Public Debate Over Gun Control

Brian Beutler | January 26, 2011, 5:22PM

David Axelrod and President Obama

Conservatives, cling to your guns.

Well, not really. But during a roundtable discussion with reporters and liberal writers Wednesday afternoon, White House political adviser David Axelrod said President Obama will soon enter the gun control debate, his silence on the issue during State of the Union notwithstanding.

"There's no doubt that he will," Axelrod said in the West Wing's Roosevelt room -- it's just a question of how.

Read more »

State Of The Union

Paul Broun's Other Response To The SOTU

Eric Kleefeld | January 26, 2011, 4:09PM

Rep. Paul Broun (R-GA)

Here is an interesting follow-up to the story of Rep. Paul Broun (R-GA), who live-tweeted a running commentary on last night's State of the Union address that included such messages as, "Mr. President, you don't believe in the Constitution. You believe in socialism."

It turns out that right after the address, Broun put out an official statement -- as if he hadn't made his statement already -- that wasn't anywhere near as vitriolic.

Sure, the statement was strongly worded on the subject of the deficit, but it wasn't anywhere near as harsh as the stuff Broun posted on Twitter. Broun tweeted a link to the press release earlier today, and I was shocked to see what I found there:

Read more »

State Of The Union

Ben Nelson: 'Get Rid Of This Aisle!'

Eric Kleefeld | January 26, 2011, 2:46PM

Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE)

At least one senator doesn't want last night's newly-minted State of the Union ritual of mixed-party seating to be a one-time thing -- or even a once-yearly thing, either. Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE), perhaps the most conservative Democrat in the caucus, has put out a press release saying that the whole party aisle system should be ditched entirely -- and he's invoking some serious language in his cause.

From Nelson's press release:

"So, to paraphrase former President Reagan, whose declaration about the need for unity rings true today in a different context, I hope colleagues will join me and say, 'Get Rid of This Aisle!'

"Let's close the Partisan Divide and let the Democrats, Republicans and Independents all sit together. I'm going to advocate--if there truly is an interest in working together--that we get rid of the aisle on the Senate floor. We could sit not by party but by state, or by alphabet, or some other way that erases the partisan divide. Others will probably join in. We've already gone through the exercise of last night so it should not be difficult to get others to sign onto the idea. The idea would be to send a joint letter to the leaders suggesting mixed seating.

And after the aisle comes down, Republicans will be able to buy those forbidden Western rock albums.

Read more »

State Of The Union

Boehner On Bachmann's Response: 'I Had Other Obligations'

Brian Beutler | January 26, 2011, 12:30PM

House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH)

House Speaker John Boehner told reporters Wednesday morning that he did not watch Michele Bachmann's Tuesday night response response to the State of the Union.

"No I did not," Boehner said at his weekly press conference. "I had other obligations."

Burn!

Read more »

Pres '12

Gingrich: Obama 'Assumes The Rest Of Us Are Very, Very Slow' (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | January 26, 2011, 11:56AM

Newt Gingrich

Former Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-GA), who is reportedly about to jump into the 2012 presidential race, is quickly making the rounds to blast President Obama's State of the Union address from last night.

Gingrich appeared this morning on Fox & Friends, and had some stern words of ridicule for Obama -- along the lines of the common attack that Obama is an elitist who looks down on ordinary folks.

"Look, the tragedy of this president is that he's very, very clever -- and assumes the rest of us are very, very slow," said Gingrich. This country's in a constant conversation with itself. Within three or four days, the average American is gonna realize, he didn't offer to cut spending, he didn't focus on jobs, he didn't tell us the truth about reforming government.

Read more »

Anthony Weiner

Weiner: I 'Needed A Drink' After Paul Ryan's Speech (VIDEO)

Jillian Rayfield | January 26, 2011, 11:34AM

Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY) described the contrast between President Obama's "uplifting, unifying" State Of The Union speech, and Rep. Paul Ryan's response, which "was just bumming us all out."

"I felt like I just needed a drink when I was done with Paul Ryan," he said, adding: "And then Michele Bachmann who is clearly not in touch with the mothership."

Read more »

John Thune

Thune Rejects Obama's Call For Infrastructure Investment

Brian Beutler | January 26, 2011, 11:00AM

Sen. John Thune (R-SD)

In a brief interview Wednesday, just above the Senate chamber, Sen. John Thune (R-SD) rejected President Obama's State of the Union call for broad infrastructure upgrades, citing his opposition to new spending projects and claiming that existing mechanisms for funding current transportation infrastructure projects are basically adequate.

"I understand the goal, but right now this is going to be -- anytime you talk about 'investment' it means new spending," Thune told me. "When you talk about new spending at a time when we've got this financial picture, I don't know how he's going to accomplish all the things that he wants to get done, and then still talk about a five-year freeze on discretionary spending. You can't do it all."

Read more »

State Of The Union

Tea Party Newcomers Not Expecting Much From Obama After SOTU

Evan McMorris-Santoro | January 26, 2011, 10:34AM

Rep. Allen West (R-FL)

President Obama spent a little more than an hour last night trying to reach out to the new divided Congress in a State Of The Union that was long on centrism and, seemingly, short on division. But it's not clear Obama made the connection he was hoping to. Two high-profile members of the tea party freshman class on Capitol Hill told TPM after the speech that, while they appreciated the shift in rhetoric, they don't expect much to come from Obama's efforts to reach out to the right.

[TPM SLIDESHOW: 'Win The Future': President Obama's State Of The Union]

"Well, we'll see. We'll see," Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) said when I asked him if Obama had heard the message delivered by the voters in November. "Happy to hear him enforcing an earmark ban. Happy to hear about the possibility of simplifying the tax code and reducing the corporate tax rate. I was a little bit troubled and perplexed by what he means when he says all that and yet talks about new investment, investment, investment."

Read more »

Michele Bachmann

The Michele Bachmann Caucus: How A Star GOP Rep Has Gone Rogue

Eric Kleefeld | January 26, 2011, 9:27AM

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN)

Shortly after the 2010 election, Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) had to give up her short-lived campaign to join the Republican leadership as chair of the House GOP Conference. But drawing some lessons from John Milton, she seems to now be reigning in her own new capacity: As the leader of the Michele Bachmann Caucus.

Last night, Bachmann delivered her own response to the State of the Union address, following Rep. Paul Ryan's (R-WI) delivery of the actual, official GOP response. In her case, it was an address sponsored by the Tea Party Express group, a division of Our Country Deserves Better PAC.

Bachmann pulled out all the stops last night, invoking everything from the debunked assertion that there would now be "16,500 IRS agents in charge of policing President Obama's healthcare bill," to charts -- and even invoking the famous World War II photo Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima, purloining an icon that represents all Americans and turning it into a symbol of conservative policy.

The only thing she didn't do, of course, was look into the actual camera through which we the viewers were seeing her -- instead seeming to focus on a teleprompter that was way off to the side. (Hmm, maybe she should have written it on her hand instead?)

But that's not all!

Read more »

State Of The Union

Steve King: Obama's Immigration Plan Is Not Happening

Evan McMorris-Santoro | January 25, 2011, 11:39PM

Rep. Steve King (R-IA)

Rep. Steve King (R-IA) -- one of the new House majority's most vocal on border issues -- says he welcomed President Obama's immigration talk in the State of the Union tonight, but expects little in legislative action to come from it.

In his speech, Obama tried to build a bridge to anti-illegal immigrant advocates like King, who consider unauthorized population flow across America's southern border to be among the country's most dangerous problems. As he has in the past, Obama said that getting tough on illegal immigration was a priority -- but he asked the Congress to come with him in supporting at least one path to citizenship for illegal immigrants along the lines of the recently failed DREAM Act.

"I am prepared to work with Republicans and Democrats to protect our borders, enforce our laws and address the millions of undocumented workers who are now living in the shadows. I know that debate will be difficult and take time. But tonight, let's agree to make that effort," Obama said in the prepared version of his SOTU remarks. "And let's stop expelling talented, responsible young people who can staff our research labs, start new businesses, and further enrich this nation."

King would have none of it.

Read more »

Michele Bachmann

Bachmann Denounces Gov't Spending, Cites Debunked Health Care Myth

Eric Lach | January 25, 2011, 11:28PM

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN)

In her Tea Party response after the Republican response to President Obama's State of the Union Address tonight, Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) offered a critique of the President and his policies, and said she believes "we are in the very early days of a history-making turn."

She also threw in a debunked myth about the health care law for good measure.

Read more »

Paul Broun

GOP Rep. Paul Broun Heckles SOTU On Twitter

Eric Kleefeld | January 25, 2011, 11:12PM

Rep. Paul Broun (R-GA) in his office

Rep. Paul Broun (R-GA) appeared to be giving his own response to the State of the Union -- during the address itself, in the form of tweets that were posted right on his account as the speech went along.

Earlier today, Broun teased on his Twitter account:

Please join me tonight at 9 - I'll be live-tweeting my thoughts and reactions during the #SOTU address.

And the man known for warning in the past that Obama's health care reform would leave "mama" dying in bed in agony, and who boldly declared that "you're not going to eat this rotten stinking fish that is -- Pelosi health care!" -- did not disappoint this time.

Read more »

State Of The Union

Paul Ryan's SOTU Response: Our 'Day Of Reckoning' Is 'Around The Corner'

Jillian Rayfield | January 25, 2011, 10:46PM

Rep. Paul Ryan (WI) delivered the Republican response to President Obama's State Of The Union, and focused on the country's economic problems and government debt, which he said can be solved through "limited government and free enterprise" which "have helped make America the greatest nation on earth." That's opposed to how the current administration has "engaged in a stimulus spending spree that not only failed to deliver on its promise to create jobs, but also plunged us even deeper into debt."

Read more »

State Of The Union

Obama's State Of The Union: We Must Work Together To 'Win The Future'

Jillian Rayfield | January 25, 2011, 10:15PM

President Barack Obama

In his second State Of The Union address, President Obama emphasized the changes the country needs to make in order to have a shot at "winning the future," a phrase that was both the title of the speech and one that was repeated frequently throughout.

Read more »

State Of The Union

Big Oil: 'The Administration Seems Poised To Stifle' Our Job-Creating Industry

Eric Kleefeld | January 25, 2011, 10:10PM

An oil rig at Port Arthur, TX

The American Petroleum Institute, the industry association for the oil and natural gas companies, is out with a new statement responding to President Obama's State of the Union Address. And while their statement doesn't directly refer to Obama's pointed line, "So instead of subsidizing yesterday's energy, let's invest in tomorrow's," it's not exactly a friendly response, either.

"The American people spoke loud and clear in the last election and directed the President and new Congress to focus on one main issue-job creation. It's unfortunate that the administration seems poised to stifle what remains one of America's strongest job creating industries," says the statement from API president and CEO Jack Gerard.

Indeed, as the statement later adds, they're not really getting subsidized at all: "The U.S. oil and natural gas industry also pays taxes at effective rates far higher than most other industries, and does not receive payments from the government to support oil and gas development. The tax deductions it does receive are similar to those enjoyed by other industries to encourage energy production and new jobs. We need policies that help the 9.2 million hardworking men and women in the industry, not hurt them."

Read more »

State Of The Union

Republicans Have Already Signaled Their Response To The State Of The Union Address

Brian Beutler | January 25, 2011, 7:13PM

President Barack Obama

By all accounts, President Obama's State of the Union address will include a little something for everybody. A call for a partial temporary spending freeze to ameliorate conservatives. A call to renew investment in infrastructure and education for Democrats, and maybe even some Republicans.

But through selective leaks and hints to the press the White House has already introduced the themes they hope stick. Out of nowhere, legislators began debating the merits of "investment," some reversed course on infrastructure spending, and Republicans pre-emptively nixed Obama's expected call to cap domestic discretionary spending.

In that way, we've already experienced the bulk of the impact of the State of the Union. And the legislative terrain on Capitol Hill may be largely unchanged.

Read more »

State Of The Union

Obama SOTU Excerpts: This Is 'Our Generation's Sputnik Moment'

Evan McMorris-Santoro | January 25, 2011, 6:36PM

President Barack Obama

In tonight's State Of The Union address, President Obama will call on the members of his divided Congress to lay down their political arms for the moment and greet what he'll call "our generation's Sputnik moment."

According to excerpts from the speech released by the White House this evening, Obama will say America is "poised for progress" two years after the recession, pointing to a stock market that "has come roaring back," and rising corporate profits.

"At stake right now is not who wins the next election," Obama will say. "After all, we just had an election."

"The economy is growing again," Obama will say.

But the country still faces serious challenges -- ones that Obama will say cannot be faced unless the partisan sides choose to face them together.

"With their votes, the American people determined that governing will now be a shared responsibility between parties," Obama will say. "We will move forward together, or not at all - for the challenges we face are bigger than party, and bigger than politics."

Read more »

State Of The Union

Bachmann Previews Her State Of The Union Response

Evan McMorris-Santoro | January 25, 2011, 5:27PM

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN)

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) will call on President Obama to back a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution and will promise tea partiers that "there's reason to hope that real spending cuts are coming" in her post-State Of The Union speech tonight.

Late Tuesday afternoon, Bachmann released excerpts of the speech, which Bachmann has said is not intended to usurp the official Republican response, which will be delivered by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI). The excerpts suggest a speech that's focused on core conservative values of drastically shrinking the size of government, slowing environmental regulations and drilling, baby, drilling.

"For two years President Obama made promises... He claimed that he would find solutions to fix our economy and help create jobs," the excerpts read. "Well, here are a few suggestions."

Read more »

Earmarks

Reid Rejects Obama's Purported Anti-Earmark SOTU

Evan McMorris-Santoro | January 25, 2011, 4:15PM

Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV)

President Obama is reportedly planning to join with Congressional Republicans and call in tonight's State Of The Union address for a ban on earmarking. In response, the leader of the Democrats in the Senate is saying the same thing he said when Republicans proposed an end to earmarking: Bad move.

At a press conference today, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid summarily rejected the idea of a ban on the Congressional practice of tagging federal dollars for projects in members' home districts -- a staple of lawmaking in Washington that has become increasingly unpopular over the years.

"I don't think that's helpful. I think it's a lot of pretty talk and it's only giving the president more power," Reid said when asked about the earmark language set of the SOTU. "He's got enough power already."

There's not a lot new here -- Obama has been calling for an end to earmarking for quite a while now, and Reid said just last month that he'd publicly oppose any president who tried to curb the practice. But with the House Republican majority already operating with a ban and the Senate minority living with their own earmark restrictions, Obama's criticism of earmarking tonight will once again make Congressional Democrats the lone defenders of the practice in Washington.

Read more »

State Of The Union

Obama To Back Spending Freeze

Eric Kleefeld | January 25, 2011, 1:09PM

President Barack Obama

President Obama will be making a move towards fiscal austerity in tonight's State of the Union.

Obama will call for a five-year freeze on non-security discretionary spending, according to an administration official. The administration will also look for further cuts and efficiencies in areas outside the freeze, such as Defense Secretary Robert Gates's plan to save $78 billion in the defense budget.

As ABC News pointed out, from the news: "The FY 2011 budget was $3.8 trillion; $1.415 trillion of which was discretionary spending. The president's proposal would save, according to estimates, roughly $400 billion."

Mitch McConnell

SOTU Prom Seating Thing Totally Meaningless, McConnell Says

Evan McMorris-Santoro | January 25, 2011, 12:25PM

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY).

Don't count Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell among the members scrambling for bipartisan buddies to sit with at President Obama's second State Of The Union tonight. Asked this morning about the endlessly reported developments on who's sitting with whom at the big speech, McConnell threw cold water on the scheme and dismissed it as more or less completely ridiculous.

"I mean the seating arrangement at the SOTU in the end is going to mean absolutely nothing," McConnell told a gathering of journalists and DC observer-types gathered by Politico this morning. "The question is can we come together on substantive issues."

Later McConnell described what that process looks like from his perspective, but before then he took time to diss the plan for bipartisan BFFery tonight.

Read more »

State Of The Union

Which Supreme Court Justices Are Skipping The SOTU?

Eric Kleefeld | January 25, 2011, 12:19PM

Supreme Court Justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, Antonin Scalia

The Supreme Court appears to be dividing 6-3 -- on whether the nine individual Justices are attending tonight's State of the Union address.

As you might recall, last year Justice Samuel Alito got into some controversy when he reflexively mouthed out the words "not true" in response to Obama's criticism of the Citizens United ruling, which overturned a variety of limits on corporate spending in political campaigns.

Several weeks later, Chief Justice John Roberts said he was "very troubled" by the whole environment of the State of the Union: "To the extent the State of the Union has degenerated into a political pep rally, I'm not sure why we are there."

And as it turns out, some of the conservatives justices won't be there this time, either -- a new practice for Alito himself, and a long-standing one for others. But interestingly enough, Roberts is still going.

Read more »

State Of The Union

Bachmann: My SOTU Response Is Not 'Competition' With Paul Ryan

Eric Kleefeld | January 24, 2011, 6:23PM

Reps. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) and Paul Ryan (R-WI)

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) attracted a lot of attention when it was announced last week that she will deliver her own response to the State of the Union address. But as she says, she is not competing with the official Republican response that will be delivered by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI).

Bachmann was picked by the Tea Party Express group -- compared to Ryan, who was picked by the GOP leadership.

The Star Tribune reports:

But speaking to reporters Monday, she distanced herself from Beltway rumblings that she was challenging the GOP establishment by addressing the Tea Party Express. Rep. Paul Ryan is offering the official Republican response.

"I'm just reacting to what President Obama is saying, to the Tea Party Express group," Bachmann said at the State Capitol. "It's not meant to be in competition in any way. Paul Ryan is the official GOP response and he'll do a wonderful job."

State Of The Union

Sanders Hails Decision To Go Light On Social Security In SOTU

Evan McMorris-Santoro | January 24, 2011, 4:42PM

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT)

On a conference call with reporters Monday afternoon, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), a leading progressive voice on Capitol Hill, praised reports that President Obama will not endorse the changes to Social Security suggested by his deficit reduction commission.

According to the Washington Post, Obama "has decided not to endorse" the panel's call "to raise the retirement age, and otherwise reduce Social Security benefits" in his State of the Union address.

Instead, Obama will keep his comments about Social Security vague. The paper reports "he is likely to urge lawmakers to work together to make the program solvent, without going into details, according to congressional sources."

Read more »

State Of The Union

Poll: Americans Don't Expect State Of The Union Will Alter Their Outlook

Jon Terbush | January 24, 2011, 12:56PM

President Barack Obama

A majority of Americans do not expect President Obama's State of the Union speech to alter their opinion of the country's direction, according to a Marist poll conducted in the run up to Tuesday's address.

Fifty-nine percent of respondents said they thought the address would not change their level of confidence in the direction the country is heading. Only 28% said they thought the speech would boost their confidence, while 8% said they expected to feel less confident following the speech. An additional 11% said they were unsure how the address would impact their view of the nation's future.

Read more »

State Of The Union

Christie Turned Down Offer To Deliver State Of The Union Response

Jon Terbush | January 24, 2011, 11:00AM

Gov. Chris Christie (R-NJ)

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) declined an offer to deliver the Republican rebuttal to the State of The Union address, according to a top Christie aide.

William Palatucci told the New Jersey Star-Ledger that Congressional Republicans had contacted the governor to see if he'd be interested in countering Obama's speech on Tuesday. Yet Palatucci said that Christie felt it would be inappropriate to address federal issues when his state has its own pressing problems.

Read more »