I know this is late--but I thought Obama said some smart things.

The speech President Obama gave last night was more like a plan with a speech attached than a speech with a plan attached--the point was made, over and over again, that the American Jobs Act contained ideas that had been supported by both Republicans and Democrats, and that would quickly start helping people get back on their feet....provided it was quickly passed. And I really think it would be great if it was.  It would be several steps in the right direction.

The President's appoach was based on policy, not rhetoric, but the rhetoric used was spot-on. The ball is now in Congress' court, however,  Obama is still going to press his game by taking this one to the American people--and the best part?

Republicans are really going to have to go out of their way to explain why they can't support it.  It has some of their ideas embedded in it, after all, and the goal of getting people working and paid is a damn good one. Could they mean to be obstructionist over the livelihood of millions of Americans who just want gainful employment? How many people would they want to be seen as denying jobs to, just to take one from the fellow in the White House?

There are some things I feel weird about--the payroll tax cut, for one. It's harder to end a tax cut anymore than it is to legislate one.  And of course, possible cuts to the social safety net are still on the table, and I worry about unkind cuts.  I do. But Obama made the point of stating this is not about class warfare and it won't be about accepting wholesale deregulation--and I'm kind of hopeful that this time, there will be less compromise.

I like the politics and the policy on this one.