all of those messages had hundreds of millions of dollars behind them in 2012. and that presidential election, we know what it got romney. rubio s speech and the water lunge, though, which has gone viral, was also a reminder of why the state of the union response is a trap door politically. an assignment that s always fraught with peril. after the moment took off on social media last night, rubio tried to make light of it, tweeting a water bottle. and he was self-deprecating again today when he did a round of morning show interviews. in each one of them gulping water. you know, when you talk a lot, it happens. unfortunately when you re giving a speech you have a podium and the water is there. when you re standing up in front of a camera you don t have that option. i had been a long day at work. i d already taped an 18 minute speech in spanish. i m just glad the water was nearby. i don t know what i would have done without it. would you like to have a swig before we get started? s
having nonwhite male deliver its response. the republicans didn t already know the party was divided, it was clear last night. if you re a republican you had to pick and choose your own republican response. both parties have been guilty of spending too much. of protecting their sacred cows. of back room deals in which everyone up here wins, but every taxpayer loses. it s time republicans, myself included, realize that military spending is not immune to waste and fraud. by the way, got to give rand paul credit. he knew where the camera was. here s what seems pretty clear after the president s speech. he has a long way to go to change any minds in congress. it wasn t a persuasion speech. the responses were along typical partisan lines. house speaker john boehner, the president had an opportunity to offer a solution tonight and he let it slip by. the president instead appears to have chosen a go it alone approach to pursue his liberal agenda. republican leader mcmcconnell said in a st
to be on two-thirds of the speech we heard last night. the different things. i know you and i were talking abo about, yes, they poll tested. it s relevant to people s lives. what s going to help people. but this speech is not going to be known for any of those proposals. this speech is going to be known for what was at the end and this emotional plea for guns. is that something the white house is oddly going to regret in a couple weeks if they feel like they stepped on their own economic message? i don t think so. i do think it was the highlight of the speech. it s the thing that was emotional. it s the thing people are going to remember. really, i think, it choked you up when that repetition, that line, they deserve a vote, it was really explain why it was so striking to have that happen in that hall. it s kind of the big cynical bunch of people. they re not used to emotion. you know, you have the bobbing
major question. and in the speech i gave at duke university last night, i suggested very strongly that the president has a remarkable opportunity to provide national unity and national strength by inviting republicans around the table and spending a lot of time with them. maybe some democrats likewise. in other words, it s not just schmoozing of these people. it s substantive conversation again and again. this is a very different nature than the president has exercised thus far. but i think tremendously important. because i believe the president did offer some avenues last night. h ta he talked about potential reforms in medicare, for example. sort of touched that touchy subject. very important point. it could be crucial in terms of the budget situation. he likewise touched upon the bowles/simpson plan which has been ignored altogether. and which has great promise in
government open. and pay our bills on time. and always uphold the full faith and credit of the united states of america. it wasn t just then. the president lectured congress throughout the speech. sprinkling it with direct threats, even, including this one on climate change. we can choose to believe that superstorm sandy and the most severe drought in decades and the worst wildfires some states have ever seen were all just a freak coincidence. or we can choose to believe in the overwhelming judgment of science. i urge this congress to get together, pursue a bipartisan market based solution to climate change. like the one john mccain and joe lieberman worked on together a few years ago. but if congress won t act soon to protect future generations, i will. that barely veiled message to republicans in congress, if you really hate the epa now, just watch how i empower them through executive action.