Republican Response

Paul Ryan drives me crazy.  Why?  Because he has managed to get himself considered the "responsible" Republican on spending.  Meanwhile he voted for tax cuts that weren't paid for, Medicare drug benefits that weren't paid for, and it goes on and on.  He says he wants spending cuts first- sounds great! But of course there are no details there at all, and I predict he won't actually propose realistic spending cuts that can pass- he knows spending cuts are much less popular than tax increases on the Rich when you actually start cutting stuff- everyone likes cuts in the abstract, until it affects them.

State of the Union

I'm really really trying to watch and listen to the SOTU tonight, but it's so hard to do. Last administration I thought I just hated listening to GW Bush talk (which I did).  But now I realize that it's just hard to sit through political speeches in general.  Maybe it's just me, but I don't find political speeches exciting or inspiring- I'm much more a creature of the written word.

But as to the content: more of what we've learned to expect from Obama; playing the role of the Reasonable Adult in a room full of squabbling children.  And I guess that's appropriate for SOTU, which isn't a time for Fire and Brimstone.  I just hope that comes later when he hits the road.  I was glad to hear the push to end the tax cuts eventually.  I was less glad to hear about freezing government spending, as I think that just cedes too much ground to Republicans right now.

But it's so hard to listen to, that I couldn't pay full attention.  Got my checkbook balanced, though!!