WASHINGTON POST:
Congress is so last year. As expected, President Obama made clear — both in terms of the policy proposals he outlined and the rhetoric he used to do it — that his focus for the next year would be on what he could do without Congress. “Whenever and wherever I can take steps without legislation to expand opportunity for more American families, that is what I am going to do,” Obama said in the early moments of the speech. Later, he urged “every mayor, governor and state legislator in America….you don’t have to wait for Congress to act.” Obama also dedicated a significant amount of time — including the closing moments of the speech — to foreign policy, a place where he has more leeway to act without Congress. It’s easy to cast this speech as poisoning the well between Obama and Congress. But, that well was poisoned long ago. This speech simply formalized that reality…
Immigration is our only hope. Obama’s rhetoric — guarded, hopeful, insistent — on immigration reform suggests that he genuinely believes there is a possibility of getting something major-ish done on the issue this year. “Republicans and Democrats in the Senate have acted,” Obama said. “I know that members of both parties in the House want to do the same.” That’s an olive branch extension if ever we’ve heard one. Will/can House Republican leaders — many of whom applauded Obama’s line on immigration — grasp it?…
A healthcare showdown: If you were wondering whether President Obama would back down on highlighting the good that he believes has come from the Affordable Care Act, you got your answer — in a major way — tonight. “Let’s not have another forty-something votes to repeal a law that is already millions of Americans,” Obama scolded, repeating the 40 votes line for emphasis. Top Republican Congressional aides immediately took to Twitter — natch! — insisting they welcomed a fight on Obamacare. …. (more)
