Saturday, February 21, 2009

Heavy economic focus for Obama's Tuesday speech

Heavy economic focus for Obama's Tuesday speech: "Play Video Barack Obama Video:Left, Right & Center FOX News AP – President Barack Obama listens as Vice President Joe Biden speaks to mayors from cities across the United … WASHINGTON – For President Barack Obama, it's a chance to take a deep breath and paint a big picture after a first month of gargantuan economic proposals, legislative accomplishments and Cabinet missteps.
The president addresses a joint session of Congress Tuesday night, giving a State of the Union-like speech. It lacks the formality of that title only because he's not considered to have had enough time in the White House yet to deliver a full status report.
Regardless, it is one of the most high-profile trappings of the presidency: traveling to the Capitol to speak to representatives of the entire federal government, with the public watching in prime time, about his agenda.
With the recession well into its second year, expect the remarks to be longer on the economy than on foreign affairs. The economy is in just too bad shape for Obama to do anything other than focus mostly on what he's already trying to do about job losses and dwindled savings and frozen credit, as well as what else he has in mind.
The president is expected to show Americans how all the pieces fit together to make the economy sound again. There's the $787 billion just-signed stimulus bill, plus an even more expensive mix of rescues for the financial industry, auto companies and troubled mortgage holders.
He will touch on other priorities he says fit into the bigger picture. Potentially eye-popping expensive plans to broaden health care coverage to eventually insure everyone. Moving the country toward greener energy sources. Expanding education opportunities. Overhauling financial industry regulation."

Heavy economic focus for Obama's Tuesday speech

Heavy economic focus for Obama's Tuesday speech: "Play Video Barack Obama Video:Left, Right & Center FOX News AP – President Barack Obama listens as Vice President Joe Biden speaks to mayors from cities across the United … WASHINGTON – For President Barack Obama, it's a chance to take a deep breath and paint a big picture after a first month of gargantuan economic proposals, legislative accomplishments and Cabinet missteps.
The president addresses a joint session of Congress Tuesday night, giving a State of the Union-like speech. It lacks the formality of that title only because he's not considered to have had enough time in the White House yet to deliver a full status report.
Regardless, it is one of the most high-profile trappings of the presidency: traveling to the Capitol to speak to representatives of the entire federal government, with the public watching in prime time, about his agenda.
With the recession well into its second year, expect the remarks to be longer on the economy than on foreign affairs. The economy is in just too bad shape for Obama to do anything other than focus mostly on what he's already trying to do about job losses and dwindled savings and frozen credit, as well as what else he has in mind.
The president is expected to show Americans how all the pieces fit together to make the economy sound again. There's the $787 billion just-signed stimulus bill, plus an even more expensive mix of rescues for the financial industry, auto companies and troubled mortgage holders.
He will touch on other priorities he says fit into the bigger picture. Potentially eye-popping expensive plans to broaden health care coverage to eventually insure everyone. Moving the country toward greener energy sources. Expanding education opportunities. Overhauling financial industry regulation."