For fuck’s sake, NPR, this is NOT HELPFUL:
But on Tuesday Obama will try to use his speech to frame the debates for the next two years and set the table for the 2016 election.
Here are five things to watch:
1. How does the president talk about the economy?
[snip because HOW DOES HE TALK ABOUT IT, not WHAT DOES HE SAY]
2. What tone will he take toward Congress?
[snip because THE TONE, which is critical as U.S. Goddamn Congress has delicate feelings which are easily hurt]
3. Will Obama challenge his own party?
[snip because IT ONLY COUNTS IF YOU PISS OFF YOUR FRIENDS]
4. How does the president avoid looking like the “small ball” president?
[snip because I dunno, buy a smarter press corps that isn’t obsessed with cute little nicknames?]
5. How does he talk about Iran, ISIS and the new terrorist threats?
[snip because again with the HOW, like does he inflect the words right, is that what we’re measuring?]
I honestly don’t know why people make it their job to cover this stuff when all they do is tell us that this stuff doesn’t matter and it’s not really important and “it’s all politics.” Like is the money that good? Or do you just drink away the urge to look at yourself in the mirror?
This was going to be the year that Obama ended two wars and made a legacy-cementing deal with Iran on nuclear weapons. But the world isn’t cooperating.
I cannot imagine why that is. And this news organization isn’t going to tell me. Let’s talk more about the tone!
A.
Probably tied to the Koch bros. using their NPR contributions to make sure that any influence the Prez has is minimized and reduced to style points.
It’s NPR, Jake.
if there were ever a year when the President probably should just revert to prior practice (before Wilson–that “overrated maniac,” as Charlie Pierce calls him) decided to begin appearing in person, and just send Congress a nice, short letter stating the facts, preferably in short sentences with words of no more than two syllables, so they’ll understand.
Because I don’t think the metal detectors in the Capitol Building are capable of finding rotten vegetables, and I wouldn’t put it past this Congress to make their point with same. (“You’re looking a bit bulky tonight, Mr. Clawson. Open your overcoat, please.)
That NPR (even NPR, especially NPR) thinks it’s all about “the tone,” and whose fee-fees are gonna get hurt is just another indication that the event is mere spectacle, and serves no useful purpose except perpetuating the existence of supremely boring and tendentious self-credentialed pundits.
Bah, humbug.