I didn't notice the purple tie, but I bet you're right -- I bet it was picked for symbolic reasons. Good catch.

The only sartorial issue I had was that his cufflinks seemed to click or bang on the table whenever he moved his hands around, which was kind of distracting.

As for a history lesson, wasn't it a Republican Congress that banned the lightbulb quite a few years back? Heh.

"Tax only Republicans" -- hoo boy, now THERE's an idea...

Heh.

I was thinking "I bet the highspeed trains will eventually have security gates as well" myself...

As for Ryan, the comment I wrote down while listening was:

"Scary, scary, fear."

Good luck selling that to the voters...

:-)

Has anyone seen the Bachmann speech? How'd it go? She say anything crazy, or what?

OK, my new column is up, so maybe we'll move this whole comment thread over there, what does everyone say?

-CW

Is the purple tie, bipartisan??

Purple?? I saw veep blue and white stripe, prez blue, and ... tear-stained pink? Granted, I didn't see it live and then, just in news clips.

And Boehner sheds a tear!!!

Say it ain't so!

For example?? :D

How about the nonsense political rhetoric, courtesy of the Republican cult of economic failure, that argued for the extension of the Bush/Cheney tax cuts for the top 2% of the wealthiest Americans because it is such a pro-growth strategy for tax and fiscal policy despite all the evidence to the contrary over the course of the last two decades.

Well, for one thing .... oh wait, the tea party response is on ... later! :)

Guy Benson: Krauthammer pans the speech. Kirsten Powers calls it "flat."

"This is a President who can give great speeches, and has. This was not one of them." - Krauthammer [via Twitter]

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Ok Ryan gives a nice nod to the Pres for his words at the AZ memorial rally.

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Reducing spnding is IMPERITIVE, ok but not large concern as a parent, that is more focused on safety etc, but is a concern as citizen...

Nice shout out to founders and the "safety net" comment was from a Pres Reagan speech.
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Yes we can avoid becomming Greece with riots and austerity measurres if we act NOW!.....

guypbenson: Ryan's subtext: Dems can rip my Roadmap, but if we don't confront our challenges now, even deeper cuts will come (see: Greece). [via Twitter]

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LIMITED GOV and FREE ENTERPRISE and YES we are an EXCEPTIONAL NATION!!

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Ok he was a boring speaker

...............

We got the word "Reset" wrong on a button we used to Reset with Russia, Button said something else in Russian, like about a sale or something.

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Only Republicans stood for opening Colleges to ROTC , even Michelle Obama remained seating.

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Good nod to American Exceptionalism!

I bet many of our students cant point to S Korea on a map

A Live Blogger!!! :D I love it!! :D

Michale.....

For example?? :D

Michale.....

Do ya'all think Obama's expected call for toning down the rhetoric will be headed by the Blogosphere?? :D

I don't think he'll call for "toning down the rhetoric".

I think that point has already been made, and it's the wrong point, anyway.

We need to get rid of the nonsense political rhetoric that has no factual basis or ties to reality and the tone will take care of itself.

AGAIN........

Because, love him or hate him, pretty much everyone agrees that Obama is one of the best politicians at giving such important speeches that we've ever seen.

Agreed... It's just his follow-thru (or lack thereof) that pisses most Independents & NPAs off...

All in all, a really great analysis, CW..

One question for the floor..

Do ya'all think Obama's expected call for toning down the rhetoric will be headed by the Blogosphere?? :D

Michale....