Tuesday, January 25, 2011

State of the Union: From last year's speech?

Although the president did not make this declaration at last year's State of the Union address, he did promise last January a "laser-like" focus on jobs. And the nationwide unemployment rate is still over 9 percent.

Meanwhile, the Senate Republican Communications Center says he may be looking at recycled themes.

Breaking – From Last Year’s Speech?
Despite WH Claims, President Obama ‘Appears Poised To Recycle Themes,’ ‘Make No Effort To Break Ground’ On Deficit Reduction In State Of The Union Address

THE WHITE HOUSE’S DAVID PLOUFFE: “You've Never Seen A State Of The Union Address Like This.” (The Washington Post’s Aaron Blake, Twitter, 1/25/11)

Spending Proposals Are ‘Almost Identical To The Freeze Obama Called For In His Address’ Last Year ‘And Ultimately It May Have Little Effect’

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS: “The Move Is Almost Identical To The Freeze Obama Called For In His Address To The Nation Last Year At This Time — His Current Proposal Would Cover Five Years, Not Three Years — And Ultimately It May Have Little Effect.” (“Obama State Of The Union: Spending, But Restraint,” The Associated Press, 1/25/11)

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL: “The Freeze Won't Touch Some Of The Budget's Biggest Items, such as Medicare, Social Security and defense spending, nor will it apply to homeland-security spending or foreign aid.” (“Obama To Call For Nonsecurity Spending Freeze,” The Wall Street Journal, 1/25/11)

·         THE WALL STREET JOURNAL: “The President's Plan Would Save About $26 Billion Over Five Years, According To The White House Budget Proposal For The Current Fiscal Year. Those Savings Would Be Dwarfed By The $100 Billion In Cuts For This Year Alone That Many House Republicans Are Pushing.” (“Obama To Call For Nonsecurity Spending Freeze,” The Wall Street Journal, 1/25/11)

THE NEW YORK TIMES: “Those Exempted Areas Include Most Of The Federal Budget, Including The Biggest And Fastest-Growing Spending Categories like Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security and national security, along with interest payments on the nation’s debt.” (“Obama To Seek Partial Freeze In Spending As Deficit Move,” The New York Times, 1/25/11)

REUTERS: “A Freeze On That Type Of Spending Would Not Apply To The Huge Entitlement Programs -- Such As Social Security And Medicare -- At The Heart Of America's Deficit Problem.” (“Obama To Propose Spending Freeze But Can't Avoid Fight,” Reuters, 1/25/11)

‘To A Striking Degree, Obama Appears Poised To Recycle Themes And Ideas He Has Offered Many Times Before’

THE WASHINGTON POST: “To A Striking Degree, Obama Appears Poised To Recycle Themes And Ideas He Has Offered Many Times Before. He will address ‘investments’ in education, infrastructure and energy innovation in the speech - three ideas he first started discussing as far back as his first address to Congress in 2009. That same year, he banned earmarks from his big economic stimulus bill; Tuesday night, he will call for an earmark ban budget-wide.  He will talk about the need to emphasize creating jobs above all else - just as he did last year, when he said ‘jobs must be our number one focus in 2010.’  And when he raises a $78 billion defense savings proposal, it will be one that has already been given a full public airing by Defense Secretary Robert Gates, administration officials said.” (“Obama To Propose Five-Year Spending Freeze In State Of The Union Address,” The Washington Post, 1/25/11)

President Obama ‘Is Expected To Make No Effort To Break Ground In The One Area He Has Repeatedly Called A Critical Focus: Deficit Reduction’

THE WASHINGTON POST: “On The Economy, Obama Is Expected To Make No Effort To Break Ground In The One Area He Has Repeatedly Called A Critical Focus: Deficit Reduction. More than two months after his bipartisan deficit commission first unveiled a blueprint for reining in the national debt, Obama has yet to take a position on it, and administration officials say he will not do so in his address.” (“Obama To Propose Five-Year Spending Freeze In State Of The Union Address,” The Washington Post, 1/25/11)

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