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.

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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'?"

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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.

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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.

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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."

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