Month: March 2022
A War Putin Can’t Win
“As the Russo-Ukrainian War takes a darker turn it is important to emphasize this essential point. This is a war that Vladimir Putin cannot win, however long it lasts and however cruel his methods.”
— Lawrence Freedman
Biden’s Speech Laid Out Administration’s Plan
“In the end, the State of the Union is just a speech. The impact is often overstated and the politics over-analyzed. But the speech given by the President last night tells me he and his team understand the cause of their political problems and have a plan to address them.”
— Dan Pfeiffer
Three-Quarters Liked Biden’s State of the Union Speech
78%
A new CBS News poll finds most Americans who watched President Biden’s first State of the Union address approved of what they heard, and many said it made them feel optimistic and proud.
Won’t Be SOTU Without You
Li’l Marco stands out from the rest.
He won’t attend the SOTU or take a Covid test.
That’s OK, little guy,
We remember your 2017 SOTU reply,
So, Li’l Marco just stay home, hydrate and rest.
What Happens After the SOTU?
Dan Pfeiffer has what seems like a pretty savvy take on the upcoming State of the Union address:
“Biden will give an excellent speech that is well-received by the public and the pundits. The post-speech flash polls will be overwhelmingly favorable. There will be a renewed sense of momentum. Some reporters will even write stories about the President’s ‘comeback.’ And then, a week or so later, a new poll will not show a dramatic gain in the President’s approval. The same pundits touting the comeback will immediately pivot and declare the speech a failure.”
“Those folks will simply be revealing themselves to be ignorant of how modern politics works.”
“Presidential approval is a lagging indicator. The political goal of the speech is to strengthen a number of attributes and character traits that will serve as the foundation for winning back the voters Biden has lost in the last year. I will be watching to see if the speech improves public perception of Biden as a ‘strong leader’ and someone who ‘fights for people like me.’ Biden won in 2020 because the public overwhelmingly believed he had the experience and strength to handle the crisis Trump fumbled and, as the son of Scranton, would be an advocate for middle and working-class people. Those impressions have eroded amidst the neverending run of crises and the rise in inflation. This speech is an opportunity to begin the path back.”
