Reaction roundup: Part II

When a President decides to inject himself into the conversation, he commands the stage. In addition to Jed Lewison's roundup from earlier today, here's more reaction to the President's speech.

David Frum:

How Ryan set up Obama's comeback

?Whatever you do, don?t serve to his backhand.?

?Don?t be nervous. I have the new Ryan serve. It?s bold!?

?Trust me on this. Don?t serve to his backhand.?

Thomp. Wham.

EJ Dionne:

There are at least four things to like about his approach. First, without mentioning Rep. Paul Ryan by name, he called out Ryan?s truly reactionary budget proposal for what it is: an effort to slash government programs, in large part to preserve and expand tax cuts for the wealthy. ?That?s not right,? he said, ?and it?s not going to happen as long as I?m president.?

Second, he was willing to speak plainly about raising taxes, and he insisted correctly on restoring the Clinton-era tax rates for the wealthy. Tax reform, which he also proposed, is a fine idea, though there is ample reason for skepticism as to how much revenue it can produce. It would be far better to return to all of the Clinton tax rates and then build tax reform on that base, in particular through higher taxes on investment income.

Third, he was right to focus on the need to cut security spending. Any serious effort to reduce the deficit cannot exempt defense. It?s laughable for Republicans to criticize defense cuts and then be utterly unwilling to increase taxes to pay for the defense they claim we need.

Finally, he was eloquent in defending Medicare and Medicaid. He proposed saving money by building on last year?s heath-reform law. There are two ways to reduce the government?s heath-care expenses. One is Ryan?s path, which, Obama said, ?lowers the government?s health-care bills by asking seniors and poor families to pay them instead.? The alternative, which the president rightly embraced, ?lowers the government?s health-care bills by reducing the cost of health care itself.?

Aaron Blake:

How Obama used Paul Ryan

President Obama may be criticized after his speech Wednesday for not providing many specifics about his plan to cut the national debt.

What he will not be criticized for is being too soft on Republicans.

The target of Obama?s speech was unmistakable, as the president used his pulpit at George Washington University to lay into the House Republican plan proposed by Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.).

Andrew Sullivan has a nice roundup of his own, including
Ezra Klein, Paul Krugman,  and Jonathan Cohn:

The new health care reforms sound very good upon initial inspection--and, particularly when added to cost controls already in the Affordable Care Act, this is far more serious than what Paul Ryan and the Republicans have in mind. And if Obama is more serious about controlling health care costs, then he's more serious about reducing deficits overall.

Stephen Stromberg:

Republicans already failed one test of whether they are serious about passing a debt-reduction plan: Against political and mathematical
reality, House Speaker John Boehner (R) on Tuesday insisted that any
proposal from the president that included any tax increase would be a
"non-starter." Now here's another test of Republicans' sobriety on
debt: Whether they start talking about "Death Panels" or "health-care
rationing" again.

This is going to generate a tremendous amount of reaction. Then again, that was the intent.

Source: http://feeds.dailykos.com/~r/dailykos/index/~3/09Skky_BAPM/-Reaction-roundup:-Part-II

political poll senators of georgia senate schedule senate email addresses