A few quick thoughts on the SOTU: 1) Obama began by building on his keynote political strength, which is that voters trust him far more than the Republicans to work in good faith with the opposition. He came to national prominence by stressing national unity; he reaffirmed his ability to hit that note at highest pitch in the memorial service in Tucson; and he came into the SOTU riding his productive negotiation in the lame duck session. Rolling all that up with a gesture toward the Tucson imperative toward civility, he in a sense bid to turn the Republicans' electoral success in November against them:
In SOTU, Obama pushes his "good faith" advantage
In SOTU, Obama pushes his "good faith…
In SOTU, Obama pushes his "good faith" advantage
A few quick thoughts on the SOTU: 1) Obama began by building on his keynote political strength, which is that voters trust him far more than the Republicans to work in good faith with the opposition. He came to national prominence by stressing national unity; he reaffirmed his ability to hit that note at highest pitch in the memorial service in Tucson; and he came into the SOTU riding his productive negotiation in the lame duck session. Rolling all that up with a gesture toward the Tucson imperative toward civility, he in a sense bid to turn the Republicans' electoral success in November against them: