COVERITLIVE.COM

8:58

Fred Barbash-Moderator - Good morning all. Let's talk about the speech and the Republican response by Gov. Jindal. Judging from the reviews this morning (here in Arena) and elsewhere, it's being seen as a "no contest."

Let us know what you think about that and the substance as well. All you need to do is enter your name (no email addresses please) and send along your thoughts. We'll publish as many as we can.

9:04

[Comment From Jay - Florida]
Obama's speech showed the American people that we have an articulate and authoritative leader in charge of our economy again. The optimism was exactly what we need at this moment. Though details were a bit scant, I think its better to have the benchmarks for success laid down now, and take the time necessary to create good policy moving forward.

9:06

Fred Barbash-Moderator - From Mark Mellman: Bobby Jindal may well be the very best the GOP has to offer, but he demonstrated last night that he does not even play in the same league as President Obama either substantively or stylistically. Jindal and the Republicans are offering a "do-it-yourself" cure for the economic crisis Bush and the GOP created, and that just won't cut it with the American people nor does it reflect a real understanding of the reality we face. By the way, anybody recall Jindal rejecting federal money after Katrina?

9:06

[Comment From Jeremy Anderson]
On style, Obama won hands-down by delivering a speech with nuanced ideas presented in simple terms. Jindal's, by contrast, had a weird mix between the nervousness of a kid explaining his science fair project and the patronizing, coddling tone of a museum guide explaining something to kindergarteners (my apologies to competent museum guides - you are an endangered species).

9:07	Fred Barbash-Moderator - Jeremy: With no disrespect to Gov,. Jindal, many have commented that on his presentation style...a cross between Mr. Rogers and George H.W. Bush as rendered by Dana Carvey

9:07

[Comment From Stefan]
Politics change, but the needs of people remain eternally the same. The Republicans possessed good qualities, but they neglected them. After becoming superficial and careless, they finally became disastrous. Now they associate with inferior men and can no longer accomplish anything worthwhile. Let us hope that the Democrats don't likewise neglect their own self-development.

9:09

[Comment From John S from Florida]
President was serious, challenging and hopeful. He sprinkled a little humor in those chambers (Which I have never heard before) when referring to a consensus (finally) and nobody messes with Joe. Pelosi was a little to lively in the background Like a proud parent sitting on springs. Governor Jindal had almost an impossible task to counter punch. Referencing Katrina was not wise and really did not offer any strong alternatives to make you think of.

9:09

Fred Barbash-Moderator - Yves Smith, blogger at NakedCapitalism, submitted this comment to Arena: "I'm struck by the gap between the stirring rhetoric and the lack of new initiatives or detail on the banking front. The only new element was a promise to implement regulatory reforms, with nary a mention of when proposals might be forthcoming or who would spearhead the effort."

9:11	Fred Barbash-Moderator - Yves was not the only one who thought Obama should have included more detail. By the same token, he had been criticized previously in his brief administration for burying people in detail. Does "detail" belong in the equivalent of the State of the Union speech?

9:12	[Comment From Stefan] Yes, Yves Smith and Dean Baker both make important criticisms of the President's flinching before the financiers. Are the biggest banks too great for government to manage?

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