The Clip Show

After a sitcom has run for a few years the producers get lazy and put together a clip show with various bits from the show they think were entertaining.  Some are describing last night's Obama speech as his version of a clip show - we've already seen it before.  Jim Geraghty gathered some other reactions:

The BlondeAmerican lamented, "When presidents give primetime addresses they [traditionally] announce a new policy or say something new. Not Obama, he gives speeches to hear himself talk."

"House Republicans have passed a budget, passed Cut, Cap & Balance, proposed another debt ceiling bill and Obama will deliver a speech. Typical,"sighed RNC research director Joe Pounder. His boss, RNC chair Reince Priebusadded that the president "has offered 4 press conferences and now a primetime speech. Everything but a plan."

CBS News's Mark Knoller informed us, "WH would have preferred that Pres. Obama [had] the national stage to himself tonight without a GOP response." It was enough to get Dana Perino to roll her eyes: "First, how do you put a major policy address together in 3 hours? Second, how can one be mad if someone schedules a response?"

Oh, come on, Dana, as Oprah assured us, he is The One. As Valerie Jarrettassured us, Obama has "never really been challenged intellectually." He assured us all that "I'm a better speechwriter than my speechwriters. I know more about policies on any particular issue than my policy directors." Once you've slowed the rise of the oceans, a major policy address in 180 minutes is a snap.

As for the speech, well, corporate-jet owners, oil companies, and hedge-fund managers all made their traditional appearances.

"He just put previous speeches into a blender. This is the result," concludedDan Gainor.

"This is like a cut and paste speech from his previous appearances. It's like a clips show from a crappy sitcom," groaned Drew M. 

As David Hauptmann summarized, "Obama calls for 'putting country above self' after saying Friday he wants debt ceiling increased past the 2012 election."

"Aren't we perilously close to exceeding the press conference ceiling?" groanedour old friend Mark Hemingway.

With each previous press conference and Obama's numbers have declined. I can't see how this speech is going to change anything.

Obama wants a bill that not only will take us beyond the November election, but will include new revenues for "shared sacrifice". How about asking the 47% who don't pay ANY income tax to "share"?