Politic 1/29/2010

1) 44: Judging success of Obama's speech will require two yardsticks After the theatrics and the rhetoric and the canned responses, two questions remain from President Obama's first State of the Union address: Did he succeed in persuading nervous Democrats not to cut and run on his presidency; and will he succeed in making Republicans think twice about their united opposition to almost all things Obama? » Read full article 2) THE FIX: Obama sends a message to Congressional Dems: Stand and fight In a state of the Union speech notable for its conciliatory tone and generally centrist policy focus, President Barack Obama saved his harshest words for the members of his own party. » Read full article 3) ACHENBLOG: Justice Alito mouths not true Obama is wrong: It's not true that every day in Washington is Election Day. Every day is The Circus Has Come to Town Day. » Read full article 4) Senate approves raising federal debt limit to $14.3 trillion The Senate agreed Thursday to raise the legal limit on government borrowing to a record $14.3 trillion, a total that would permit the Treasury Department to cover the nation's bills through the end of this year. » Read full article 5) 44: Obama brings jobs message to Tampa, will announce $8 billion for high-speed rail Fresh off his first State of the Union address, President Obama is bringing his reframed message, focused narrowly on jobs, out into the country as he heads Thursday to this Florida city. » Read full article

QUOTE OF THE DAY

Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke is to receive a vote on the Senate floor on his renominiation to the Fed. Senators weighed in today on his prospects: "He was asleep at the switch while Wall Street became a gambling casino," said Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). "He has kept a steady hand on the tiller in a perfect economic storm," Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., said.

COMMENT OF THE DAY

RD_Padouk, on Joel Achenbach's post Justice Alito mouths not true: It seems to me that the doctrine of separation of powers doesn't preclude one branch of government from criticizing another as much as it dictates a lawful way for such criticisms to be resolved. Indeed, it appears to me that the system of checks and balances is predicated on the assumption that criticism between the branches will be frequent and intense. In fact, I would assert that such criticism is am implied duty of the branches. You can't keep in check something that you aren't willing to criticize. The real question is if the mechanisms used by a branch are consistent with those allowed by the Constitution. Now, if the President had asserted that the Supreme Court ruling was null and void just because he said it was, well, there would be Constitutional issues. But he didn't say that. Rather, he encouraged Congress to do what it is supposed to do and create some appropriate legislation to buffer what he feels is a bad ruling. Now, whether it was rude or politically unwise for the President to call out the Supreme Court is a valid question. And certainly the substance of the President's criticisms can be legitimately challenged. But to claim that he somehow doesn't have the right to criticize a ruling he doesn't agree with seems absurd.

Q&A Discussion

The Post's Ezra Klein on economic policy and health-care reform: Washington Post blogger Ezra Klein was online today to take questions on health-care reform, economic and domestic policy. Read the entire discussion.. Roswell, Ga.: Ezra: Why oh why do broadcast "journalists" continue to allow one of the recalcitrant Republicans' most distorted and used talking points to go unchallenged. It happened constantly last evening, from Boehner to Palin to McConnell and McDonnell; i.e, "allowing the government takeover of healthcare." There's no such thing, and since it's a TP that an uninformed/misinformed public has seemingly embraced to explain their opposition, why does it go unchallenged?! Ezra Klein: Because many journalists see it as their responsibility to ensure their readers get a sense of the conversation in Washington, not that their readers get a sense of what is true and what is false within that conversation. » View full Q&A session