Word: presidental
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In just over a year, Obama has gone from a hopemonger destined to change America and revitalize the Democratic Party to a foundering President - from a man determined to bring America's best values to a capital gone bad to a man who has reinforced everything the country hates about...
Obama's task is particularly tough because even before he will have finished speaking to tens of millions of Americans, the media filter (both old and new) will jump in to sift, analyze and reshape his message. For a weakened President, this is both a nuisance and a danger.
1. How big is the audience? If fewer Americans than usual tune in to the address on TV, it will suggest that the country has tuned out the President. The West Wing has to hope that the nation is still interested in what its (relatively) new leader has to say...
3. Do Republicans clap? Liberals and some White House aides have given up on ever getting meaningful cooperation from the opposition party on a legislative agenda. Obama doesn't have that luxury. GOPers will not like much of what the President says - and they smell both blood in the water...
5. Can he balance continuity vs. change? Presidential aides have been talking about going back to "first principles," the basic themes and programs that helped Obama get elected and animated his decision to run for President in the first place. At the same time, both substantively and symbolically, the press...