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Spin Like a Pro: White House Talking Points on SOTU
Want to try your hand at spinmeistering? We've been forwarded what appears to be an authentic set of White House talking points about tonight's State of the Union address.
Repeat after Karl: The President is exuberant and determined. The President is exuberant and determined. The President is exuberant and determined.
Enjoy:
• Tonight, the President will go in front of Congress and the American people to talk about a series of domestic issues and the War on Terror.• The President is exuberant and determined. The President will tackle the big topics in an innovative and bold way that will capture people's imagination.
• The President is also going to address another question many Americans have – whether their leaders in Washington can work together. The President realizes there's an outcry to get things done, and believes both parties can find common ground without either party compromising its principles. The Democrats' reaction will be a test of their imagination, determination, and political courage.
More after the jump. (Or see the document here.)
Here's the rest of the talking points:
• The President's speech will touch on the domestic issues the American people care most about, including health care, energy, education, and immigration.o The President will present bold new proposals on health care and energy. o The President will continue to insist that schools provide opportunity for rich and poor alike. o The President will talk about immigration in a visionary way that should unite both parties.• The President is proposing a standard deduction for health insurance that will benefit more than 100 million Americans. The President is proposing to reshape the health care system so it's responsive to individuals' needs and preferences.
o Many companies only allow their employees to choose their health care plan once a year during open enrollment. Meanwhile, if consumers want to buy a cell phone, they get options every day. The President believes our health care system should be as responsive to individual needs as our other consumer marketplaces.• The President's theme on energy will be releasing the marketplace to expand the use of renewable and alternative fuels. The United States should lead the world in producing renewable and alternative energy sources that will help our economy grow while also cleaning our environment.
• It's clear that the United States strategy and operations in Iraq can only be sustained and achieved with the support of the American people and with a level of bipartisanship in Congress. Since the President announced the new way forward last week, we have seen violence against Americans – but we have also seen important actions by the Iraqis on military, political, and economic fronts. The Iraqis are taking action against both Sunni insurgents and Shia militias.
Comments (41)
EH wrote on January 23, 2007 5:24 PM:I don't need my imagination captured, thanks.
will wrote on January 23, 2007 5:25 PM:Actually if you want to buy a cell phone, to get a deal you need to sign a 2 year contract with penalties if you break it.
But if you want to buy a loaf of bread, yes, you get choices everyday. Same with toothpaste.
yeesh.
Anonymous wrote on January 23, 2007 5:34 PM:The President's theme on energy will be releasing the marketplace
"Release the marketplace" WTF does that mean.
All hat, no cattle..
No substance, no there, there.
He (Karl) thinks we are all idiots.
g head wrote on January 23, 2007 5:35 PM:what's the over/under on how long it takes a foxnews talking head to use the word "exuberant" as if it were his or her own? i'm offered at 60 ... seconds if anyone out there wants to bid
XL wrote on January 23, 2007 5:38 PM:How about bypassing the protection racket of the insurance companies and give us real health reform like a single payer system like the rest of the industrial world enjoys? That would be real relief for business and working families who is not after all, Bush's constituency which is the haves and the have-mores. But real policy stands that matter to most Americans cannot be expected from Bush's intellect or interests.
Crust wrote on January 23, 2007 5:40 PM:Thanks for getting and posting this. It will be compare to the talking heads' insta-reactions to the speech.
jfaberuiuc wrote on January 23, 2007 5:40 PM:Can we just ditch the office of the Presidency altogether and replace it with the equivalent vision/mission statement? The Dilbert random mission statement generator boils down the SOTU to:
"We strive to proactively utilize multimedia based opportunities as well as to collaboratively fashion effective resources to set us apart from the competition."
There, we just saved a full hour. We now resume our regularly scheduled broadcast.
Roger Bixley wrote on January 23, 2007 5:48 PM:Great... my imagination was captured and sent off to Syria where it could be waterboarded. Thanks a lot, Dubya!
Geoff wrote on January 23, 2007 5:52 PM:Of course they need to capture my imagination - they ain't got none!
melior wrote on January 23, 2007 5:59 PM:I believe the opposite of "exuberant and determined" would be despondent and rudderless.
You make the call.
Chris wrote on January 23, 2007 6:09 PM:I'll be satisfied with the whole affair if Webb's response is "exuberant and determined".
meander wrote on January 23, 2007 6:22 PM:"The President's theme on energy will be releasing the marketplace to expand the use of renewable and alternative fuels."
And yet, the President continues to propose massive government subsidies for nuclear power and coal. Why not "release the marketplace" on nuclear power? Why not let nuclear power companies get their own insurance instead of government guarantees?
On the radio program "Living on Earth" (loe.org), the host interviewed the president of Sierra Club and a fellow from the Cato Institute. Amazingly, they both agreed that its a great idea to get rid of all energy subsidies and let the marketplace decide whether our electricity comes from wind, nuclear, water or whatever (or efficiency gains).
Mischa wrote on January 23, 2007 6:26 PM:I would be remiss to mention the example of flexibility given, cell phone contracts. The reality is that to change cell phone providers you have to pay hundreds of dollars in fees. Is this the type of flexibility our President hopes we'll find? The flexibility to change aspects of our health care so long as we pay huge fees? Perhaps it will be the sort of flexibility that the medicare drug "benefit" that allows the insurance companies to change your benefits but don't let you change your plan.
Jeff in Santa Cruz wrote on January 23, 2007 6:44 PM:The only way I can sit through the speech is to drink a shot every time he utters "Nine-Eleven."
Dick Cheney wrote on January 23, 2007 6:56 PM:See, we refer to the anal sphincter as "the marketplace". Guess what'll come out of your "plug hole" when we get around to "releasing" it.
littlesky wrote on January 23, 2007 7:08 PM:Back to being "bold", are we?
I was really hoping for something bolder like: "Mars!" or "Steroids!" Oh well, maybe next year.
I will say this in all seriousness - it's damn amusing that they think this country is going to trust them on anything.
oldtree wrote on January 23, 2007 7:10 PM:you probably can't fault the shrub himself for what his writers pen, but other stories say they are having a hard time with how he meddles in what they write now.
but it sure sounds like a no substance event. which means less than before, less than before, nothing
I would like to ask Congress to walk out on him as soon as he is introduced. After all, he was never really elected president. "It's" actions do appear to the public as crimes, and it is likely a well known fact to members of Congress that they are crimes. It is not fair to new Congress members elected by the people to stop this person, tohave to submit to the ravings they are about to experience
I, can't stomach watching this without preferring to have my senses beaten out of my body with an ugly stick. Anyone want to tell me what happened tomorrow?
starwheel wrote on January 23, 2007 7:15 PM:Well, these Republican talking points are better than hearing the media (specifically CNN and Hardball) whining about how difficult this all must be for the President.
It's like they're all saying we should all just give the President a break. He has a hard job. Why are the Americans giving him such a hard time? And those pesky Democrats!
Hell, Matthews even has Trent Lott on for a solo interview and he's doing all he can to stick up for the poor embattled President.
Our media sucks. They have absolutely no respect for their viewers.
LylaLee wrote on January 23, 2007 7:20 PM:I want to see if he mentions his new Iran plan.
richard wrote on January 23, 2007 7:20 PM:He will unleash our proxy, Israel to attack Iran's nuke sites, then, when they respond, we will rush in to protect our "close partner." It's the only way for him to manufacture an excuse in order to get approval for the next war, the propaganda is no longer working and the Israeli lobby owns both parties in congress!
from this morning's "Early Show" on CBS:
"MR. SNOW: The president's mood is -- the president is exuberant and determined. When George W. Bush attacks something like the State of the Union address, it's with an eye toward action."
http://www.fednews.com/transcript.htm?id=20070123t0356
Unmitigated Audacity wrote on January 23, 2007 7:38 PM:"Release the marketplace" - isn't that what we've had unleashed on us for the last 6 years? Yep, sure solved that pesky oil dependancy, right Dick-Energy Task Force-Cheney? Sure turned around that bleeding of good paying jobs to China and the third world. Sure solved the debt overhang on our economy, the derivitives and real estate bubbles, too. Free market forces - private security firms, Halliburton and the like - well, they have been most efficient at turning Iraq into a model liberal democracy! Sing the praises of market forces, O chimperor Bush! We'll eat up that cowshit and think it is Filet Mignon from Texas cattle.
shelflife wrote on January 23, 2007 7:44 PM:The President believes our health care system should be as responsive to individual needs as our other consumer marketplaces.
Typical Republican way off the mark solution.
Lilybart wrote on January 23, 2007 7:50 PM:What drugs will they give him to be sure he is exuberant, but not TOO wired? Will they get the cocktail right???? Stay tuned.
Mark wrote on January 23, 2007 8:11 PM:The only way I'd be impressed by a healthcare proposal is if some BOD or shareholder wasn't making money off me being sick. Doctors, nurses, and drug mfgs, I'm mostly okay with. They actually provide a service...
Patience wrote on January 23, 2007 8:49 PM:"When George W. Bush attacks something like the State of the Union address, it's with an eye toward action..."
...analogizing from the Iraq-attack experience, I guess this means Bush will start nicely and then five minutes in the pages of his speech will spontaneously combust.
ol white girl wrote on January 23, 2007 8:54 PM:"Release" the marketplace - as if it were somehow currently jailed ... er, do they need a pardon for alternative energy tech?
mbbsdphil wrote on January 23, 2007 10:47 PM:All potatotes, no meat. The tax-based healthcare plan is deeply flawed and it has no chance of passing Congress, which Mr. Bush knew when suggesting it. Nothing bipartisan there. Energy policy was weak. He spoke of "climate change", and spoke grandly of energy independence, but said nothing about how to lower gas mileage. He spoke with more energy about increasing domestic production, including in protected areas. Nothing bipartisan there. He threw more taunts at Iran, threatening to widen a war the Iranians know he has little capability to do. Nothing bipartisan there. Most of all, he was desperate to bask in the vicarious goodwill of his gallery guests and the American psyche. He rightly saw a Congress skeptical that he shares those qualities.
karen marie wrote on January 24, 2007 12:14 AM:in what way are cell phones and health insurance equivalent? will owning a cell phone pay your doctor bill? will owning a cell phone pay for your prescriptions? will owning a cell phone pay for a home health aid?
last time i checked, that was not the case. maybe i need a new carrier.
gjdodger wrote on January 24, 2007 10:03 AM:I hear a lot of liberal pundits complaining about the Smirker's continued use of the term "Democrat Party," as he did last night--apparently ignoring the proper phrasing that was included in his text. Instead of griping, why not turn the tables on--uh--the "Republic Party"?
chris wrote on January 24, 2007 10:31 AM:the president is a dry drunk and the american family is desperately in need of an intervention. it all goes back to mama and papa having turned to bill g. and not bill w. when their family couldn't take it any more. and so it goes.
Al Dente wrote on January 24, 2007 10:46 AM:The thousand points of spin apparently made it to MSNBC, where Joe Scarborough & Pat Buchannan could not stop using the word "confident" in re the president's demeanor. In the little snippet I could stomach watching, Bush's demeanor was the primary topic, with the speech's content getting a passing mention at best.
Gonnuts wrote on January 24, 2007 12:15 PM:As I watched bush walk into Congress being greeted cordially by all those in view I had to wonder why not one of the so-called representatives of the people wouldn't at least turn their backs on this pretender, or make a public show of just walking out.
Next I wondered if any of the so-called representatives were aware of the evidence that is so easily available on sights like Belowgroundsurface.org, 9/11Thruth.org, Scholarsfor9/11 truth.org and more that raise serious questions about what really happened on September 11, 2001. Did any one of them now know what many are convinced was a deliberate attack against this country, not by so-called terrorists, but elements within our own government?
I've been wondering since 9/11/01 how so many people could have watched WTCB#7, a 100% heavily fortified steel building, which wasn't hit by a plane and had minimal damage, simply fall into it's own foot-print at free-fall speed and not ask how this was possible? Why hasn't anyone in the MSM asked? Why didn't the 9/11 Commission ask? Why haven't many of the so-called progressive blogs asked? And this is just one of the hundreds of questions not answered from that day.
We've been had folks. this whole government is a fraud as long as we allow this murderer-in-chief and all those that still live in a state of denial about the events of 9/11 to simply except the MSM's spin and the so-called "official" version of these events.
Richard L. Adlof wrote on January 24, 2007 1:16 PM:As I listen last night, the phrase 'Disconnected from reality' kept echoing through my mind . . . then I realized that the majority of his observations and conclusions danced at 180 degrees away from that which the facts could support.
Actually I am left with the conviction that the President presented the nation with complete and thorough primer on exactly what is required to put our great nation back on the correct path . . . Simply enact precisely opposite solution to whatever he proposes.
I know this sounds crass but look at each of his propsals . . . And tell me if this does not bare out logically in almost case.
Richard L. Adlof wrote on January 24, 2007 1:38 PM:INQUIRY: Does anyone else think the President coulda substituted 'my administration' for every referrence to 'tayerrists' and the speech woulda rung just as true?
Ever inquiring . . .
John Martin wrote on January 24, 2007 2:44 PM:Great web site.
lespool wrote on January 25, 2007 2:11 AM:IMHO I think Fitz made a secret deal with Bush that he would not indict Rove:
1) If Bush agrees not to pardon Libby before, during, or after the trial even if he's convicted.
2) Rove waives the statutes of limitations (for his alleged crimes).
3) And that the Bush administration (--- especially Cheney's office) cooperates fully throughout the trial.
We've always assumed that Bush would pardon Libby simply because Bush has been getting away literally with murder since he was crowned president by SCOTUS in 2000. But this trial is far more damaging to Bush/Cheney’s administration than pardoning Libby ever could be so what's taking Bush so long? --- Rove must be the catalyst that has imperiled Libby's chances for a presidential pardon and Libby knows it.
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