E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSS
11:40 pm: That's all for First Read tonight. Look for lots of fresh analysis from the NBC politics team in tomorrow's First Thoughts. Thanks as always for following along!
11:37 pm: One last update as we get ready to sign off from a big night of live-blogging. NBC's Kelly O'Donnell reported earlier tonight that Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, left the State of the Union after finding out that her son needed an appendectomy.
He's okay, the senator said tonight.
"Thanks for all the prayers for Matt. Appendix is out - with just a few hours before rupture - all is well," she tweeted.
11:33 pm: Via Luke Russert, one ardent conservative was pleased that Obama spoke at length about America's greatness.
Speaking to NBC News tonight, Rep. Allen West (R-FL), a spirited retired Army Lieutenant Colonel, commended Obama for his mentioning of "American Exceptionalism."
"When he talked about American exceptionalism and the American dream it was great to finally hear him say those type of things because it does make us unique in who we are," West said.
11:29 pm: More on that "socialism" tweet by Rep. Paul Broun, via Roll Call:
Broun spokeswoman Debbee Keller told Roll Call that her boss tweets about the address every year from the confines of his office, instead of attending the event in the House chamber. “Out of respect, he watches the President’s speech from his office and uses his desktop computer.”
NBC's Luke Russert notes that Broun has said outlandish things about Obama before. In March of 2010 he compared President Obama to "Snooki" from the MTV show "The Jersey Shore," saying "I don't know if we should be insulted or humored at the President's feeble attempts to incorporate Republican ideas into his latest health care proposal, Snookie [sic], from the Jersey Shore, has more substance than President Obama's offer."
11:26 pm: Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California, a Democrat, liked the president's remarks - saying his focus on the economy "hit exactly the right notes" -- but she would have liked more specifics on the debt.
“I think the best thing the President did was explain the transition of the economy so the average person can understand it," she said in a statement. "But I was disappointed by the absence of an overall formula to deal with the very serious and worsening deficit.”
11:18 pm: Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., commented on Obama's Sputnik reference in his response to the speech.
"The president’s biggest push was to advance an argument he has made many times in the past – that the government is a vital partner in making investments and spurring innovation. The problem is we’ve had countless Sputnik moments in recent decades that have created little more than space junk."
11:14 pm: At least one congressman was tweeting his responses to Obama's remarks during the speech itself, and he wasn't happy with what he was hearing.
Rep. Paul Broun, R-Ga., wrote on his Twitter feed during the speech - among other critiques - "Mr. President, you don't believe in the Constitution. You believe in socialism."
11:12 pm: Bachmann camera shot explained: Reports say she was looking into the Tea Party Express camera, not the network pool camera operated by Fox News.
11:06 pm: Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, a Democrat who campaigned against some Obama policies and faces a re-election race in 2012, praised Obama's call for civility but raised questions about his strategy for addressing the deficit. "I appreciate the President’s call for a freeze on existing spending, but I am, frankly, concerned to hear him signal additional new spending by the federal government, and I will carefully evaluate his proposals. The fact is, we must deal with our long-term debt problems in a responsible way that does not burden our children and grandchildren with more debt."
He also disagrees with the president's call to ban earmarks. "I truly believe that spending geared toward infrastructure – when done in a transparent manner – is a commonsense investment in countless communities in West Virginia and around the country," he said in a statement.
11:04 pm: In a tweet, Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., says she enjoyed the seating arrangement at SOTU.
"Liked bipartisan seating tonight.Less like a team sporting event,more serious"
11:03 pm: Ouch - Sen. John Cornyn of Texas: "In Texas we prefer straight talk and promises kept, over grandiose pledges and zero results."
10:58 pm: House Speaker John Boehner, in a statement, said that he's glad Obama "recognizes the need" to reach across the aisle, but he bemoaned Obama's spending proposals.
"As I've stated in the past, when the president is willing to work with us on the people's priorities, we'll be ready to work with him. Unfortunately, even as he talked about the need for fiscal discipline, President Obama called for more 'stimulus' spending without making a commitment to the cuts and reforms the American people are demanding."
Boehner called the "partial" spending freeze "inadequate."
10:57 pm: Republican Sen. Scott Brown of Massachusetts told NBC News that he thought Obama's remarks hit on "good points."
"It wasn't a ra-ra speech but it was balanced and it hit on a lot of good points," Brown said. "As a Republican I'm looking forward to working with him and finding some common ground to move our country forward."
Brown's up for re-election in blue Massachusetts in 2012.
10:56 pm: Bachmann's remarks now complete. We'll bring you a few more from lawmakers and organizations as we get 'em.
10:55 pm: Lots of Twitter traffic about how Bachmann appeared to be looking slightly off to the right of the camera rather than right into the lens...
10:54 pm: Bachmann shows famous image of six young soldiers at Iwo Jima.
"Our current debt crisis we face today is different, but we still need all of us to pull together. We can do this."
10:53 pm: Bachmann: "Thanks to you, there's reason to hope that real spending cuts are coming. Last November you went to the polls and voted out big-spending politicians and you put in their place men and women with a commitment to follow the Constitution and cut the size of government."
10:52 pm: Like Ryan, Bachmann offers strong words about health care and calls for its reform. "In the end, unless we fully repeal ObamaCare, a nation that currently enjoys the world's best healthc re may be forced to rely on government-run coverage that will have a devastating impact on our national debt for generations to come."
10:51 pm: Bachmann: "Deficits were unacceptably high under President Bush, but they exploded under President Obama's direction, growing the national debt by an astounding $3.1 trillion-dollars."
10:50 pm: She's got charts! Bachmann uses a visual aid to show unemployment rates over the last 10 years.
10:50 pm: Right off the bat, Bachmann notes that she's not the official GOP representative responding to the speech. She says she's speaking at the invitation of the Tea Party Express.
10:49 pm: Bachmann's remarks are starting now.
10:45 pm: If you missed Ryan's speech, you can watch the video here.
10:43 pm: Mayor Michael Bloomberg, also a gun control advocate, is also unhappy that Obama did not mention gun laws.
"... in discussing the terrible tragedy in Tucson, he missed an opportunity to bring the country together on an issue that has support among the vast majority of Americans: fixing the nation's broken background check system that is designed to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people. Its absence was disappointing, but it will not slow the momentum we are building around the country, and in both parties, for common sense measures to strengthen law enforcement and improve public safety."
10:42 pm: Gun control advocate Rep. Carolyn McCarthy says in a statement that she's "disappointed" that Obama didn't speak about gun control laws.
10:37 pm: Meanwhile, the responses from lawmakers continue to pour in.
In a video response, Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky slammed Obama's overtures to moderates as shallow. "President Obama will try to run to the center, to emulate President Clinton after the Republicans took over in 1994. But it hurts him, and he isn't quite as good at it as his predecessor."
10:36 pm: Michele Bachmann will be speaking shortly. You can watch the stream online here:
Only one television network - CNN -- is taking Bachmann's unofficial response live to air.
10:35 pm: Ryan and Obama both spoke about the uniqueness of America. Ryan, tonight: "These are not easy times, but America is an exceptional nation. In all the chapters of human history, there has never been anything quite like America. The American story has been cherished, advanced, and defended over the centuries."
10:35 pm: Notes NBC's Chuck Todd: "Obama was trying to sell optimism, [but] Paul Ryan has a more somber message."
10:34 pm: Ryan: "We believe a renewed commitment to limited government will unshackle our economy and create millions of new jobs and opportunities for all people, of every background, to succeed and prosper. Under this approach, the spirit of initiative - not political clout - determines who succeeds."
10:33 pm: Referencing debt crises in Greece and Iceland, Ryan says "Speaking candidly, as one citizen to another: We still have time… but not much time. If we continue down our current path, we know what our future will be."
10:30 pm: Fun Ryan fact: After the 2008 election, some - including an editorial in the Wall Street Journal - encouraged Ryan to challenge then-Minority Leader John Boehner as leader of the GOP in the House. The editorial said Ryan was equipped, especially because of his "youthful energy," with the ability to "pull his party in a more promising direction." Ryan obviously decided against it.
10:30 pm: On government spending: "We owe you a better choice and a different vision."
10:28 pm: He slams health care reform. "Job creation is being stifled by all of its taxes, penalties, mandates and fees."
He references House Republicans' vote to repeal the law week.
10:27 pm: "Since taking office, President Obama has signed into law spending increases of nearly 25% for domestic government agencies - an 84% increase when you include the failed stimulus."
10:26 pm: Ryan: "Tonight, the President focused a lot of attention on our economy in general - and on our deficit and debt in particular. He was right to do so, and some of his words were reassuring. As Chairman of the House Budget Committee, I assure you that we want to work with the President to restrain federal spending."
10:26 pm: "We all miss Gabby and her cheerful spirit; and we are praying for her return to the House Chamber."
10:25 pm: Here's Ryan. He's speaking from the House Budget Committee meeting room.
10:18 pm: We'll be live-blogging reaction to the president's State of the Union speech here, including the official GOP reaction from Rep. Paul Ryan and the (unofficial) Tea Party response from Rep. Michele Bachmann.
As one of us wrote earlier today, Ryan was first elected to the House in 1998 at age 28. He was once offered the job of budget director for President George W. Bush. (He turned the job down to stay in Congress, where he rocketed to the top of the budget panel two years later.)
Leave a Comment:
I love our President, he is a grear oroator. So what did he really say? Well, nothing. We are a great country, still strong and everything will be alright.
You know I voted for him and I am a Democrat but I am not buying this cool-aid, seems to be toxic to me.
It seems our president is now a Republican and spewing the same crap the last clown in chief was spewing. What happened?
Evidently he believes he cannot win re election without pandering to Republicans. I am here to say, let's start looking for a replacement now. Maybe Hillary, who knows. All I really know is that nothing will change with this guy, I don't want a government more closed, I want a more open government. All of this is coming from a hard core Democrat who now see's that this guy is not the way. I also don't want to hear from you Palin and Paul freaks because they are as nuts as this guy even more so.
Tonight's speech made me ill. I am a disgusted Democrat in Florida. J
No, you are a republican playing the internet forum game... so let it be written, so let it be done
@!$%# off Sky, What I wrote is true. I just don't get this President. So wishy washy.
I hope that Obama can get some of his plans enacted. I hope the Republicans will try to think past the next election and work with the President at least in the areas of where US business can benefit and start to hire again. Obama sounded willing to work in that area. I know Health Care is not going to be an easy fix but Obama sounded like he wanted to give it a try by helping small business by making it easier to work with the Health Care plan for them. Putting a freeze on spending was a compromise the was offered and should be a beginning. Simplying the tax codes is a good idea.
Look, both parties have made this situation we find our selves in and not working together is only going to hurt the country. Obama needs to protect the middle class. The Republicans needs to understand that the middle class are the ones who are suffering the most from the lack of cooperation that exists now. Stop fighting innovation and new developement and let's go forward.
Hell of a speech and he sounds kinda pissed off at the obstruction of repubs and rightly so. The repubs are still us versus them .Now the repubs are preaching conservatism to underfund HCR as if they have ever balanced a budget..Sat there and said nothing about spending trillions in Iraq for ten years but when fixing our own the GOP act like they know what they're doing..they don't
It's actually hard to imagine what has happened in the US in just the last 24 hours and almost ALL related to Bachmann-Turner-Boogaloo-Overdrive-a-mania...
We're talking about a total mental break with any form of reality that can be described by any human on the planet. I truly believe that she is trying to remake the classic "One Flew over the CucKoo's Nest" with her playing all the parts... She is truly the laughing stock of the planet.
Ryan will loose and go down in history as the single person that brought the Rethuglicon party to it's knees - and turned it into basically a non-thing.
Thanks Paul.. Awesome stupidity.
Oh, and PS, if you guys didn't hear Ari Fleischer spew his line on CNN about the Rethuglicon party finding it's one voice and hitting it's stride tonight when asked his opinion of the evening and then being taken apart by EVERY ONE else on the panel - you gotta go find it and watch.. WHAT a giggle to watch mental patients out and allowed to speak without their meds...
Yes, I agree all are mental patients. We are surely doomed. Obama is nuts. The Republicans are nuts. These guys are in a self congradulatory death spirial, spinning our way to the bottom.
I am a Democrat but I see we need someone new, someone who will actually do what needs to be done. Hillary where are you?
"The rich get rich and the poor get children..in the meantime, in-between time, ain't we got fun"!!
I was hoping that Obama would state that they will start taxing the hell out of those sleezy Corporations that have outsourced so many jobs to India, Indonesia and Asia as well as Mexico in the hopes that we can get back some of those jobs that they have farmed out.
Also if the government is telling you that the unemployment is almost 10%...they lie. It is almost 20% when you count up all the people that are still unemployed after their unemployment benefits ran out, or those that are working temp jobs ( which is probably a huge share of the people - since companies are NOT hiring new people) where you work for a couple of months and then you're out of work again and looking for another temp job.
Even if you get a full time job, the fact is that most American businesses are so frigging CHEAP and their goods are made like CRAP and their services are shoddy because god forbid anyone make anything of QUALITY that would mean using materials/ingredients of quality or time to TRAIN an employee in a real skill and that would cut into the 10000% profits and multi-million dollar CEO salaries. Corporations want a bunch of mindless, skill-less employees that they can pay subpar wages to yet reap maximum profits and benefits from.
What happened to apprentices and quality craftsmen and learning the business ? What happened to paying employees FAIR wages which enabled an employee to reap the rewards of THEIR hard work? That's all gone the way of the Dodo bird. There is no pride in workmanship/craftsmanship and quality just doesn't exist because no one teaches anyone anything anymore. People don't take pride in a job when they feel they're being EXPLOITED. People don't need a set of skills anymore, they've been reduced to one cog in a machine and are only taught to do one thing which is incentive for employers to pay them the lowest possible wage.
If you want to "Buy American" buy from local SMALL business people, farmers, co-ops, craft artisans, artists, etc... screw the big corporations who want to reap the profits of YOUR labor yet give you nothing in return but inferior crap and wages no one can live on. Stop buying from businesses that pay and treat their employees like serfs. That's why I NEVER set foot in stores like WalMart and shop big stores like Home Depot/Lowes that let their employees share in the profits. THE WAY IT SHOULD BE.
Yes they are on an island:
From David Gilmour's Album, "On an Island"
''Children again, on rusting swings, getting higher,
Sharing a Dream, on an Island, it felt right.''
Indeed, these guys are high if they think they're going to get anything positive accomplished.
P.S. Gilmour is the lead guitarist for all of Pink Floyd's recordings.
Props to President Obama. Even with the somber mood that permiated the House with what happened to Rep. Giffords, the man struck the right tone as always.
Is it just me or did the WOH Boehner looked uncomfortable in that chair because his cronies and lobbyist are about to get the biggest bite in their wallets?
I almost thought that Boehner was about to get all misty-eyed AGAIN when President Obama talked about him working his way sweeping the floors of his father's business to being the Speaker Of the House.
Paul Ryan's Republican Rebuttal was so sappy and cliche' that it felt like a 1950's suburban TV show. The only thing that was missing was the theme music to "Leave It to Beaver"!!!!
I almost couldn't stomach watching Ryan's Rebuttal ANYMORE because he looked too damn much of a cross between Opie Taylor AND "The Beev" COMBINED!!!!!
And as for Michelle Bachmann: Overhead projectors?!?!?!? A slide show??!?!?!?!? Goofy and CLUMSY History Lessons?!?!?!?!? A weak-assed attempt to re-write what happened before President Obama took over?!?!?!?!?!?!? ARE YOU SERIOUS?!?!?!?!?!? THIS IS THE BIG TEA PARTY REBUTTAL I HAD WASTED MY TIME FOR? ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?!?!?!?!?!? And you want to complain about President Obama using telepromters? SMDH!!!!!!
i'm uncertain what your age is, but i've been around awhile, and frankly, while obama said some things i liked, it was also very reminiscent of things said by other presidents in their state of the union messages.
if boehner makes you nervous, then it must really disturb you everytime you remember he is only two heartbeats away from being president.
Yeah, you could say that it would concern me...It would concern me greatly because then I would have to wonder if he's going to be blubbering more than governing.
And as for my age... well, let's just say that I'm old enough to remember the policies from Reagan to Obama, and wise enough to research the policies of previous presidents before them.
well... then i am surprised that you thought this speech was unique in its overall tone. ---- my state of the union speeches began with kennedy. ---- and not that it's a bad thing, but he had some phrases in this speech that were almost word for word from other speeches he has made, either while as president, or while campaigning.
These are wild times, Ronpal. The challenges were different then, and although I think the words are different, the message is the same: for we, as a people, as a nation, to be bolder and take the lead in all endeavours.
Who would've imagined it, A Baby Boomer Rightie having an intelectual conversation with a Generation-X Leftie (Although I forget I'm right-handed).
Go ahead repubs screw up social security and you will be voted right out of office
"Should any political party attempt to abolish social security, unemployment insurance, and eliminate labor laws and farm programs, you would not hear of that party again in our political history."
Dwight D. "Ike" Eisenhower, in a letter to his brother.
Keepertrout, I would REALLY love for them to call his bluff.
this was supposed to be with #56 ----- it would be nice if even one of our leaders brought up the problem of demographic birthrate disparity.
I was pleased with the SOTU tonight. Pres Obama is a leader and must act as such. Very little he talked of that people can rationally disagree with. How we get there and the details to it are the issue. It's time for both parties and all those in the middle to step up and be responsible for their voice, their actions, and their votes. The response by Ryan wasn't bad; it wasn't great either. It gives us a lot to think about.
my thoughts as well ---- many good ideas that most people would agree with, except perhaps in the best way to achieve those goals.
Michelle Bachman is a truly bizarre person. Is she really as simple-minded as she came across?
Haha, Did you actually think the "tea party" was real? Just another right wing idea gone wrong. Now that these so called "Tea partiers" are in, nothing will change. You tea baggers are gullible.
right wing ??? ---- you are forgetting about some of the independents who promote those goals.
Michelle Bachman I didn't expect anything more or for that matter less from her. She is a lunatic just like all her other classy Tea Party members, she has no clue what soever. Ms. Bachman was the worst of the worst to deliver a rebuttal, but then again we are talkin " Tea Party".
President Obama I wish you the best, but working with the other parties is like trying to get through a piece of cement with one finger. It's just not going to happen. You just can't work with them.
Clara KCMO it was AC Copper on CNN who said she was looking at other camera and not a telaprompter.
They should have frisked "Bob" back there before he sat down, he act as if something were sticking him in the seat. When Obama said "No permanent tax cut for the rich" Bob's face said it all. "That what you said!" The speaker was very uncomfortable realizing he only sits in the back ground of Obama. At least he didn't bust into tears.
Boehner mentions the "peoples proposals" as if Republicans represent the people. What BS! They represent rich people. They keep telling the same lies over and over again until some of our more mentally challenged citizens believe what they say. Sad........
Change your thoughts and you change your world.
Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant
Ideas shape the course of history
Nothing is impossible, the word itself says 'I'm possible'
Your present circumstances don't determine where you can go; they merely determine where you start
Always do your best. What you plant now, you will harvest later
enjoy
What I would like to see is every congress person take at least a 25% pay cut. There is no reason for them to be making the salaries that they have allocated to themselves. Other than CEO's, I think congress people are the only ones that can dictate how much they are paid. If they are serious about working to cut spending, they should first start with their salaries. I know it won't account for much, but it could be considered an act of "Good Faith" and show that they are willing to take action.
Speaking to the issue of "hugh jump" insurance cost since Obamacare passed. Some people state 7/8% to as much as 20%. The "rising" cost you refer to is akin to gas price rise, food price rise (which is about 5%+ is last year alone). With event of Obamacare all the money brokers as well as actual real treatment people and facilities are raising their prices to lock in a safeguard cushion. This because yet to be determined how much tweeking, etc. will be given to HHS and others in regulatory position to intervene, revise, discard, etc. portions of the Healthcare Bill. We've yet to find out what is in it and yet to find out the true cost and impact of goverment control over our lives.
An excellent speech, left the media speechless, NO talking point for the Republicans to harp on, put the spotlight dead on them. they will need to come to the table with a plan, NO Joe "of MSnbc's Morning Joe program " he did not give you the opportunity to turn the Gun issue into instant news event for you and the Republican party to run on from now to the Next election, Mr. Boehner he slap you so hard I felt it in Detroit, NO Pork in the Budget or any bill sent to his desk, can't fight that, especially after receiving your Bush Tax Extension for the Top Two(2%), one thing he did do, he gave the Republican Party an Agenda to work on, ... Let's See if they got the Hint !!!!!
It has been clever how the republicans and tea party associations have conveniently attributed the failed policies of Bush/Cheney-wars-deregulation-low-housing loans-unfunded mandates-unemployment to Obama administration and sold it as Obama fault. Maybe some memory pills will help them see once the ball was in motion this is the after effect. Since the nation was forced to correct now being blamed for doing so. Makes me wonder what was the original intent? Both claiming Obama blew up the debt after everyone realized the destructive repercussion of Bush policies, was he supposed to do nothing and the crisis would have self-corrected? Now fibbing about going backwards to re-capture money gone, cutting and gutting basic services and entitlements in order to look good on paper or is this another tactic to steal more US treasury? What would be the end results? We've seen what tax cuts have produced since Reagan- nothing but greed incentives. It really is time to repeal- anyone wanting to return to past policies in hopes of making progress for the 4th time. Come On Man!!!!!
WTFHAPPENED
Obama's SOTU address; content SSDD, tone good, Champaign 2012 has strated!
Obama's campaign speech was a collection of one-line grabbers that were test marketed by the various mental midgets of his administration on the talking head shows the week before. Only things missing were waving the American flag and Kate Smith singing God Bless America. The clown is a total empty suit.
I thought the President did an outstanding job, the speech was civil in tone and unifying in spirit. I'm not sure if all the detractors have a reasonable excuse not to at least listen to the agenda he puts forth, he's just a man trying as best he can to unite a once united states. I, for one wish him well.