Tuning In or Tuning Out?

Random Thoughts of the State of the Union.

1.  The American public has been slowly but steadily tuning out of the State of the Union. I wonder who the speech is geared toward. The rhetorical choices made by the President and his speechwriters are clearly aimed at a popular audience. At the same time, the president is placing the Republicans and some Democrats on the defensive.
2. Some of the members in the chamber had clearly tuned out. They already have their talking points and so they don't think it is important to listen. This is a potential problem for a representative democracy that is predicated on compromise between competing factions.
3. President Obama has a higher approval rating than Congress. That should give the president some leverage with the American people.
4. The tax policy proposal places Republicans in a tight spot: arguing against giving the Middle Class a tax cut, a group that has not seen wages increase as the economy has grown. Republicans may be seen as protecting the rich over the Middle Class. This fits the Big Business, protector of the 1% stereotype, and this is a long term negative for the Party.
5. My guess is that many Americans turned on a rerun of Friends when he subject turned to Foreign Policy. While an important topic, the serious nature of foreign policy is likely pushing people away from learning more about ISIS and/or relations with Cuba.
6. If nothing else, the State of Union is a good reminder of American values and how they often clash when they are made into public policy.
7. It should come to no surprise the President Obama wants the Republicans in Congress to know that he has two more years before the next president is sworn in. The energy with which the President delivered the speech should be taken as an indicator on the president's desire to be relevant.
8. It's the economy, stupid.
9. The call to compromise is important to the President's legacy, but Republicans should have an interest in showing voters that they can govern wisely. BUT working with the President is not a positive for all. The president is going to need to create several different coalitions in order to accomplish his agenda.
10. Certainly the most authentically optimistic speech President Obama was able to give.