'President Obama's state of the union 2013: panel verdict' diff viewer (2/3)

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President Obama's state of the union 2013: panel verdict	President Obama's state of the union 2013: panel verdict
2013-02-13 15:35:07 UTC	2013-02-13 16:10:06 UTC (35 minutes later)
Jim Antle: 'Bipartisanship isn't simply agreeing with the president'	Jim Antle: 'Bipartisanship isn't simply agreeing with the president'
President Obama began his state of the union address in a nonpartisan fashion, culminating in a nod to his opponents. "The American people don't expect government to solve every problem," he said. "They don't expect those of us in this chamber to agree on every issue."	President Obama began his state of the union address in a nonpartisan fashion, culminating in a nod to his opponents. "The American people don't expect government to solve every problem," he said. "They don't expect those of us in this chamber to agree on every issue."
The president then began to lay out a comprehensively liberal policy agenda: a $9 an hour minimum wage, various government "investments" (read: deficit-funded spending), new environmental regulations, a mini-stimulus, and gun control.	The president then began to lay out a comprehensively liberal policy agenda: a $9 an hour minimum wage, various government "investments" (read: deficit-funded spending), new environmental regulations, a mini-stimulus, and gun control.
That is his right. Obama was re-elected president and, as his predecessor once said, will have an opportunity to spend the political capital he earned in that campaign.	That is his right. Obama was re-elected president and, as his predecessor once said, will have an opportunity to spend the political capital he earned in that campaign.
But it would be nice if the test of bipartisanship wasn't simply agreeing with the Obama administration. It would be even nicer if the president didn't exaggerate our progress toward a sustainable level of deficit spending or evade his responsibility for the sequester.	But it would be nice if the test of bipartisanship wasn't simply agreeing with the Obama administration. It would be even nicer if the president didn't exaggerate our progress toward a sustainable level of deficit spending or evade his responsibility for the sequester.
Of course, he is not alone in sequestration denial. You would never know listening to Washington politicians that these automatic spending cuts were the result of a law that a bipartisan majority in Congress passed and the president signed. Only Rand Paul, in his Tea Party response, straightforwardly defended the sequester.	Of course, he is not alone in sequestration denial. You would never know listening to Washington politicians that these automatic spending cuts were the result of a law that a bipartisan majority in Congress passed and the president signed. Only Rand Paul, in his Tea Party response, straightforwardly defended the sequester.
Obama pledged not to increase the deficit "by a single dime". He promised tax reform, entitlement reform, and lower healthcare costs. The need to repeat these vows ad nauseam should tell us something about how often these goals have been reached.	Obama pledged not to increase the deficit "by a single dime". He promised tax reform, entitlement reform, and lower healthcare costs. The need to repeat these vows ad nauseam should tell us something about how often these goals have been reached.
His appeal for new gun regulations was impassioned. His case for immigration reform comes as some Republicans seem willing to entertain ideas they once would have dismissed, though Marco Rubio, in the official Republican response, seemed unwilling to concede any voting bloc.	His appeal for new gun regulations was impassioned. His case for immigration reform comes as some Republicans seem willing to entertain ideas they once would have dismissed, though Marco Rubio, in the official Republican response, seemed unwilling to concede any voting bloc.
We shall see how long the president can avoid the lame-duck status that so often befalls second-term presidents.	We shall see how long the president can avoid the lame-duck status that so often befalls second-term presidents.
Michael Cohen: 'Obama's ambitious agenda has no chance'	Michael Cohen: 'Obama's ambitious agenda has no chance'
In his state of the union Tuesday night, Barack Obama laid out an ambitious legislative that is as wide-ranging a policy agenda as we've seen from a president in quite some time. Very little of it has any chance of becoming law.	In his state of the union Tuesday night, Barack Obama laid out an ambitious legislative that is as wide-ranging a policy agenda as we've seen from a president in quite some time. Very little of it has any chance of becoming law.
This is the sad reality of divided government and the unique dysfunction of American democracy. It's hard to get legislation passed through both Congress; and it's even harder when the House of Representatives is controlled by a group of Republican politicians that views "government spending" in similar terms to how one might view a skunk at a dinner party.	This is the sad reality of divided government and the unique dysfunction of American democracy. It's hard to get legislation passed through both Congress; and it's even harder when the House of Representatives is controlled by a group of Republican politicians that views "government spending" in similar terms to how one might view a skunk at a dinner party.
Still, Obama's speech was not without merit. The hopes of getting a climate change bill passed in Congress are nil, but Obama has now made clear that he will act on his own if he has to. That won't be nearly enough to slow the ineluctable process of global warming, but it's an important step forward that is overdue.	Still, Obama's speech was not without merit. The hopes of getting a climate change bill passed in Congress are nil, but Obama has now made clear that he will act on his own if he has to. That won't be nearly enough to slow the ineluctable process of global warming, but it's an important step forward that is overdue.
Obama used his bully pulpit to frame the sequester in terms that put Republicans on the defensive. That won't get Republicans to magically agree to revenue increases, but it may help around the margins in ensuring that Obama has public opinion on his side. Part of Obama's public persona is that he comes across as the only adult in the room.	Obama used his bully pulpit to frame the sequester in terms that put Republicans on the defensive. That won't get Republicans to magically agree to revenue increases, but it may help around the margins in ensuring that Obama has public opinion on his side. Part of Obama's public persona is that he comes across as the only adult in the room.
Tonight, that image was magnified, not only by his speech but also by Marco Rubio's parched, stale and gasping state of the union response. On the fiscal cliff and debt limit, Republicans showed they are not immune to public opinion so ratcheting up the pressure could pay dividends for Obama.	Tonight, that image was magnified, not only by his speech but also by Marco Rubio's parched, stale and gasping state of the union response. On the fiscal cliff and debt limit, Republicans showed they are not immune to public opinion so ratcheting up the pressure could pay dividends for Obama.
This may be the most lasting impact of not just the state of the union, but also, indeed, this moment in Americans politics. In lieu of legislative accomplishments, Obama and the Democrats have the opportunity to further marginalize and isolate Republicans as national scolds who are uninterested in working to solve the nation's many challenges and are wedded to rigid and uncompromising conservative dogma.	This may be the most lasting impact of not just the state of the union, but also, indeed, this moment in Americans politics. In lieu of legislative accomplishments, Obama and the Democrats have the opportunity to further marginalize and isolate Republicans as national scolds who are uninterested in working to solve the nation's many challenges and are wedded to rigid and uncompromising conservative dogma.
Lucinda Roy: 'Obama will not surrender to gun activists'	Lucinda Roy: 'Obama will not surrender to gun activists'
I tried not to hope for much on the subject of gun control in President Obama's address. It was likely that he would reiterate the proposals laid out by Vice-President Biden's task force and leave it at that. He didn't. Instead, the subject of gun control became the dramatic climax of his address – a nonviolent call to arms, an emphatic declaration that citizens deserve to see key proposals (universal background checks, an assault-style weapons ban, and a limitation on high-capacity magazine clips) brought to the floor for a vote. And though none of these proposals were new, they were delivered in such a way that one could doubt Obama's determination to effect change.	I tried not to hope for much on the subject of gun control in President Obama's address. It was likely that he would reiterate the proposals laid out by Vice-President Biden's task force and leave it at that. He didn't. Instead, the subject of gun control became the dramatic climax of his address – a nonviolent call to arms, an emphatic declaration that citizens deserve to see key proposals (universal background checks, an assault-style weapons ban, and a limitation on high-capacity magazine clips) brought to the floor for a vote. And though none of these proposals were new, they were delivered in such a way that one could doubt Obama's determination to effect change.
Obama launched an emotional appeal, a throbbing refrain aimed directly at members of Congress. "They deserve a vote!" he repeated, not simply citing the shooting tragedies of Sandy Hook and Aurora, Tucson and Virginia Tech, but also making sure everyone remembered that the victims of gun violence are all around us.	Obama launched an emotional appeal, a throbbing refrain aimed directly at members of Congress. "They deserve a vote!" he repeated, not simply citing the shooting tragedies of Sandy Hook and Aurora, Tucson and Virginia Tech, but also making sure everyone remembered that the victims of gun violence are all around us.
In this case, it was literally true. Members of Congress were joined by those who had endured the horror of mass shootings. Sitting next to First Lady Michelle Obama were the parents of slain Chicago teen Hadiya Pendleton. In the audience were shooting survivor Gabby Giffords and her husband Mark Kelly. On the lapel of Joe Biden and others were green ribbons, worn as a tribute to the 20 children and six teachers killed in December's Sandy Hook massacre. What we saw was every bit as important as what we heard.	In this case, it was literally true. Members of Congress were joined by those who had endured the horror of mass shootings. Sitting next to First Lady Michelle Obama were the parents of slain Chicago teen Hadiya Pendleton. In the audience were shooting survivor Gabby Giffords and her husband Mark Kelly. On the lapel of Joe Biden and others were green ribbons, worn as a tribute to the 20 children and six teachers killed in December's Sandy Hook massacre. What we saw was every bit as important as what we heard.
And though it still seems likely that many Republicans and a number of Democrats will feel compelled to toe the NRA party line, one thing we now know for certain: President Obama has no intention of surrendering to pressure from gun lobbyists and gun rights activists.	And though it still seems likely that many Republicans and a number of Democrats will feel compelled to toe the NRA party line, one thing we now know for certain: President Obama has no intention of surrendering to pressure from gun lobbyists and gun rights activists.
Katrina vanden Heuvel: 'America isn't broke. Its priorities are'	Katrina vanden Heuvel: 'America isn't broke. Its priorities are'
If the big debate in America in the years after the great recession has been between austerity and growth, on Tuesday night President Obama shifted it back to where it must be – to jobs and growth.	If the big debate in America in the years after the great recession has been between austerity and growth, on Tuesday night President Obama shifted it back to where it must be – to jobs and growth.
With 20 million Americans in need of full-time work, the president was right to issue the Kennedy-esque call:	With 20 million Americans in need of full-time work, the president was right to issue the Kennedy-esque call:
"It is our generation's task … to reignite the true engine of America's economic growth – a rising, thriving middle class."	"It is our generation's task … to reignite the true engine of America's economic growth – a rising, thriving middle class."
But left unanswered was how this White House or Congress will create jobs at the scale demanded? With single women, minorities and the young faring the worst, with wages sinking, and with the top 1% capturing fully 93% of the nation's income growth coming out of the Great Recession in 2010, how do we reset our course and compass and find "the north star" the president spoke of?	But left unanswered was how this White House or Congress will create jobs at the scale demanded? With single women, minorities and the young faring the worst, with wages sinking, and with the top 1% capturing fully 93% of the nation's income growth coming out of the Great Recession in 2010, how do we reset our course and compass and find "the north star" the president spoke of?
There was talk of a 21st century WPA – a "Fix-It-First" program to put people to work on urgent repairs, like the 70,000 structurally deficient bridges across America, and the floating of a long-discussed idea of a private-public Development Bank. But while Obama was clear that "deficit reduction is not an economic plan", he also showed an unwillingness to boldly ignore deficit hawks like Simpson and Bowles.	There was talk of a 21st century WPA – a "Fix-It-First" program to put people to work on urgent repairs, like the 70,000 structurally deficient bridges across America, and the floating of a long-discussed idea of a private-public Development Bank. But while Obama was clear that "deficit reduction is not an economic plan", he also showed an unwillingness to boldly ignore deficit hawks like Simpson and Bowles.
What should demand our attention on the morning after are the president's humane initiatives, the ones millions have organized for. There was Obama's rousing call to raise the the minimum wage and indexing it to rise automatically each year with the cost of living. He mentioned the poor and poverty seven times. He called for universal pre-school and pre-kindergarten and cost controls on higher education.	What should demand our attention on the morning after are the president's humane initiatives, the ones millions have organized for. There was Obama's rousing call to raise the the minimum wage and indexing it to rise automatically each year with the cost of living. He mentioned the poor and poverty seven times. He called for universal pre-school and pre-kindergarten and cost controls on higher education.
And then, there was his urging that Congress pass the Paycheck Fairness Act; his singling out of the overdue renewal of a strengthened Violence Against Women Act; his honoring of the 102-year-old Desiline Victor, who waited three hours to vote last November – and, with it, a vow and a plan to fix our flawed voting systems; his determined, spirited, though oddly vague words about immigration reform. And then, there was the remarkably emotional call to end gun violence:	And then, there was his urging that Congress pass the Paycheck Fairness Act; his singling out of the overdue renewal of a strengthened Violence Against Women Act; his honoring of the 102-year-old Desiline Victor, who waited three hours to vote last November – and, with it, a vow and a plan to fix our flawed voting systems; his determined, spirited, though oddly vague words about immigration reform. And then, there was the remarkably emotional call to end gun violence:
"They deserve a vote."	"They deserve a vote."
Now, Washington goes back to work. What must be remembered is that America isn't broke. It's the priorities that are.	Now, Washington goes back to work. What must be remembered is that America isn't broke. It's the priorities that are.
Chelsea Welch: 'Minimum wage is an insult and must be raised'	Chelsea Welch: 'Minimum wage is an insult and must be raised'
President Obama's message was clear: we've got work to do, and we must do it together. There are plenty of obstacles to tackle, but after his speech, I feel confident that positive change is on its way as soon as Congress can start working together, instead of bickering internally.	President Obama's message was clear: we've got work to do, and we must do it together. There are plenty of obstacles to tackle, but after his speech, I feel confident that positive change is on its way as soon as Congress can start working together, instead of bickering internally.
I sat down to watch the address with many things weighing on my mind. I was happy to hear President Obama address wage equality for men and women in the workplace. It's almost funny to think that it's 2013 and a gender equality wage act hasn't been signed yet. However, even more comical is the state of the minimum wage in America.	I sat down to watch the address with many things weighing on my mind. I was happy to hear President Obama address wage equality for men and women in the workplace. It's almost funny to think that it's 2013 and a gender equality wage act hasn't been signed yet. However, even more comical is the state of the minimum wage in America.
As a waitress, I worked for half of minimum wage. My employers, the government, and I all hoped that the rest would be made up with tips from customers as I waited tables. The nights I worked eight hours and walked home with $30 were supposed to be "made up" by the nights where I walked home with $120.	As a waitress, I worked for half of minimum wage. My employers, the government, and I all hoped that the rest would be made up with tips from customers as I waited tables. The nights I worked eight hours and walked home with $30 were supposed to be "made up" by the nights where I walked home with $120.
Now, the bills that came in didn't seem to care one way or the other if I'd had bad nights or good nights; they still needed to be paid. And across the country, entire families are being supported by people in my situation.	Now, the bills that came in didn't seem to care one way or the other if I'd had bad nights or good nights; they still needed to be paid. And across the country, entire families are being supported by people in my situation.
I'm not alone. I know more people that are struggling than are succeeding. Most of my friends and colleagues depend on programs like food stamps just to get enough to eat. It's tough, knowing that you work hard and do well at your job, but you could be replaced in an instant by a huge number of people who are desperate to make any money at all. People who are desperate enough to gratefully accept this insult known as "minimum wage".	I'm not alone. I know more people that are struggling than are succeeding. Most of my friends and colleagues depend on programs like food stamps just to get enough to eat. It's tough, knowing that you work hard and do well at your job, but you could be replaced in an instant by a huge number of people who are desperate to make any money at all. People who are desperate enough to gratefully accept this insult known as "minimum wage".
I hope Congress can set their differences aside and pass the bills we need, as individuals, as families, and as a country.	I hope Congress can set their differences aside and pass the bills we need, as individuals, as families, and as a country.