Obama’s State Of The Union Speech: Confrontation Wrapped In Kumbaya .On first listen, the State President Obama's address to the Union had all the characteristics of the kind of bipartisan, let's-make-the-right-thing for the American tone that characterized his 2008 presidential campaign.
But, listen to more of a hard-edge, the tone is difficult, an overview of what the incumbent will probably look as he seeks a second term in November.
"We made too far to turn back now," Obama said at one point. "As long as I'm president, I will work with anyone in this room to keep the momentum going. But I have intended to fight against the obstruction to the action, and I will oppose any attempt to return to the same policy that brought on this economic crisis in the first place. "
Later, he offered an even more direct challenge: "With or without this Congress, I will continue to take steps to help grow the economy." He also urged Congress repeatedly "send me a project law ", adding that the bullet, legislative and political, was in their camp.
Even in his tone - a forceful and energetic delivery - said Mr. Obama had a simple message for Republicans: Game on.
The State of the Union speech was in keeping with the rhetoric coming out of this president and this White House dating back to the fight payroll tax cut extension late last year.
It seems as though the fight debt ceiling, which Obama described as a "fiasco" in his address tonight, convinced him once and for all that the only way to deal effectively with the Republicans was to show them that was ready to talk harder and push harder than they were.
He worked in the fight cut payroll taxes that Republicans folded after it became clear that their attempt to pass a long-term extension was convicted. (Obama made special mention of the tax on payroll in the State of the Union, "Let us be clear here, right now. No questions No drama side Pass the payroll tax cut without delay, "he said.)
Obama and the polls have increased in parallel with its desire to look down Republicans in Congress. His favorable rating in a Washington Post poll in the area last week had jumped 53 percent - including 51 percent with the independent electorally critical.
Given the success of its pivot rhetoric, it is not surprising that President Obama largely stuck to it during the State of the Union. While this was not the same speech he would give to a group of democracy activists and donors, it was also far from the addresses of the ideals that only come with a regularity of the election campaign in 2008.
This is version 2.0 of Obama: Harder, more cynical, but perhaps more effective. This is the Obama who will seek a second term this November - a ready to grant at least as good as it gets in a fight bare knuckles which is the American policy of Obama.
But, listen to more of a hard-edge, the tone is difficult, an overview of what the incumbent will probably look as he seeks a second term in November.
"We made too far to turn back now," Obama said at one point. "As long as I'm president, I will work with anyone in this room to keep the momentum going. But I have intended to fight against the obstruction to the action, and I will oppose any attempt to return to the same policy that brought on this economic crisis in the first place. "
Later, he offered an even more direct challenge: "With or without this Congress, I will continue to take steps to help grow the economy." He also urged Congress repeatedly "send me a project law ", adding that the bullet, legislative and political, was in their camp.
Even in his tone - a forceful and energetic delivery - said Mr. Obama had a simple message for Republicans: Game on.
The State of the Union speech was in keeping with the rhetoric coming out of this president and this White House dating back to the fight payroll tax cut extension late last year.
It seems as though the fight debt ceiling, which Obama described as a "fiasco" in his address tonight, convinced him once and for all that the only way to deal effectively with the Republicans was to show them that was ready to talk harder and push harder than they were.
He worked in the fight cut payroll taxes that Republicans folded after it became clear that their attempt to pass a long-term extension was convicted. (Obama made special mention of the tax on payroll in the State of the Union, "Let us be clear here, right now. No questions No drama side Pass the payroll tax cut without delay, "he said.)
Obama and the polls have increased in parallel with its desire to look down Republicans in Congress. His favorable rating in a Washington Post poll in the area last week had jumped 53 percent - including 51 percent with the independent electorally critical.
Given the success of its pivot rhetoric, it is not surprising that President Obama largely stuck to it during the State of the Union. While this was not the same speech he would give to a group of democracy activists and donors, it was also far from the addresses of the ideals that only come with a regularity of the election campaign in 2008.
This is version 2.0 of Obama: Harder, more cynical, but perhaps more effective. This is the Obama who will seek a second term this November - a ready to grant at least as good as it gets in a fight bare knuckles which is the American policy of Obama.
