I thought the President's State of the Union address was quite fine, though throughout I could hear echoes of Rodney Dangerfield muttering, "Tough crowd, tough crowd." I understand that the Republicans feel their "we hate everything this man stands for" posture plays well with their base…but if there's anything this last election proved, it's that their base isn't large enough to win them elections. Really, when Obama can say "Let's agree, right here, right now, to keep the people's government open, pay our bills on time, and always uphold the full faith and credit of the United States of America" and G.O.P. leaders like John Boehner sit stonefaced and unapplauding, it's kinda obvious what's going on here.
I wonder which part of that Boehner didn't like. Keeping the people's government open? Paying our bills on time? Maybe it was that part about upholding the full faith and credit of the United States. But then he also wasn't impressed by the 102-year-old lady who stood in line for seven hours to vote or the mention of "our wounded warriors." When a Democrat doesn't stand and cheer for the latter, that's supposed to be proof he hates the military.
I more or less agree with John Cassidy's take on Obama's speech and on the Republican response, though I think people are making way too big a deal about Mario Rubio's sip of water. There are reasons Rubio should not be in power but among them is not that he had a clumsy moment on television. I wish we could get past caring about such things.