Obama's big speech - aides say he's done more than anyone, ever

|
Ron Edmonds/AP
President Obama will speak before a joint session of Congress Tuesday night where he will lay out his economic recovery plans. One aide says he "has accomplished more in 30 days than any president in modern history."

If Bill Swerski's Superfans were predicting the outcome of President Obama's big speech tonight it would probably sound something like this:

"Ditka. Ditka. Ditka. Da Bearsss."

That being said, Obama probably doesn't have much to worry about from Ditka. Obama's got the big stage. It's his moment.

One shining moment

It's like that college basketball song, "One shining moment, it's all on the line. One shining moment, there frozen in time."

And if Barack Obama tonight can produce the oratory equivalent of a 1983 North Carolina State VS. Houston matchup or a 1985 Villanova VS. Georgetown showdown, then set your VCRs. (We're cavemen still.)

Just for the drama itself, here's hoping he can. His first presidential press conference didn't quite hit that mark. Although we were reminded by many readers that "the president is not here to entertain us!" and "This is serious business! Quit concentrating on the shallow!"

Preview

Regardless, Obama's staff has been doing all the normal things presidential teams do before a big speech. Fanning out and giving a preview of the upcoming address.

Some of his staff are already taking part in a little pre-game smack talk just to get the juices flowing.

"President Obama has accomplished more in 30 days than any president in modern history," an unnamed senior White House official said this morning.

Toned down

Unlike the unnamed official, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs kept the hyperbole to a minimum on the "Today" show.

He said Obama "will talk about more details in a financial stability plan that will get the banks that, right now, aren't lending to families and small businesses, the ability to begin doing so; get our economy moving again, get credit flowing."

Plus, "a home foreclosure plan that helps responsible homeowners avoid foreclosure as well as a plan to re-regulate the financial industry so that we don’t find ourselves facing this situation ever again," he added on CBS's "The Early Show."

GOP response

And then to provide a balanced look at everything, there is a Republican response.

While normally this could be considered an afterthought, a cordial throwaway to the opposition, the equivalent of someone talking to a webcam in someone's basement, this year actually might be interesting.

Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal is giving the Republican response. This isn't any Republican. The Indian-American Rhodes Scholar is the youngest governor in the nation and is being called the GOP's next superstar

Think Leif Garrett on the cover of Tiger Beat in 1976. He's that big.

The Shreveport Times reports that Newt Gingrich calls him "the most transformative young governor in America," and Rush Limbaugh says he's "the next Ronald Reagan."

As for his remarks, they aren't being previewed yet. The governor did write them himself however.

You've read  of  free articles. Subscribe to continue.
QR Code to Obama's big speech - aides say he's done more than anyone, ever
Read this article in
https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/The-Vote/2009/0224/obamas-big-speech-aides-say-hes-done-more-than-anyone-ever
QR Code to Subscription page
Start your subscription today
https://www.csmonitor.com/subscribe