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EDITOR OF REDSTATE

The Bachmann Speech

By: Erick Erickson (Diary)  |  January 26th, 2011 at 01:40 AM  | 

RESIZE: AAA

Much has been made of Michelle Bachmann’s “Tea Party” response to the State of the Union.

For days the media has been playing this up as a major conflict within the Republican Party. In fact, a number of Republican leadership aides pulled out all the stops trying to get the networks to ignore Michelle Bachmann.

Kudos to CNN for its willingness to cover the speech in full.

I must admit I was deeply nervous about the speech, but I am delighted to say I was wrong. Michelle Bachmann gave the best speech of the night.

While the President sputniked and Paul Ryan went off on some high minded rhetoric, Michelle Bachmann kept to nuts and bolts. Her speech was based on actual economic data with actual, substantive policy suggestions for change.

Paul Ryan’s speech was okay. His blood shot eyes and Eddie Munster, Jr. haircut could have used some work. But he was good. Michelle Bachmann, however, shined in an easy to understand speech with a common man touch.

I’m glad I was wrong. And it just goes to show that the narrative of concern, built up in the media in large part by nervous Republicans, was silly. It yet again shows the GOP is unwilling to seriously treat the tea party movement as a legitimate player.

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COMMENTS

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  • horizon3

    Complimented Ryans quite nicely, he gave the problems she gave some of the facts and solutions to fix them.

    Bachmann definitely exhibited more passion, I thought Ryans was kind of dry on delivery, a little too monotone for my liking. But still infinitely better than Obamas strung together sound bites, which is his style. Crowd rally and no substance.

    It should also be noted that Bloomberg (http://t.co/AffTOhc) has already decried the amount of outright BS in Obamas speech, Ryan and Bachmann missed an excellent opportunity to call him out on it.

  • redneck_hippie

    to a T. Lotta fire packed into just a few minutes. And yes, I wondered about the impact of the 2nd GOP response, but only until Michelle’s first 2 sentences. It just got better and better.

    The media was hoping to portray this as a division within. Instead it presents the new tea party GOP in its true colors. The Demwits have been served notice that the smarmy movie dates don’t fool anyone.

    And did you get a load of the Luntz group reaction. Priceless.

  • silentcal2012

    You’re either with the smartest guy in the GOP House or you’re with a pandering demogogue.

    There are forces that will divide us and destroy is because they are angry, little people that are upset that the country doesn’t think land act like them and they are convinced that proper training will sway them.

    Humility is the greatest Christian trait of all, but those who often express are the least often to display it.

    Making fun of Paul Ryan’s appearance, and trying to be coy about it is a subtle slimeball tactic.

    Paul Ryan didnt ask for this division, but the shallow forces who would risk an Obama term 2 would sacrifice our nation for their ego.

    Paul Ryan has ten times more integrity and brains than the ‘Fight Earmarks To The Death, ( wait you didnt mean roads and bridges in my district!!! ) Bachmann’

  • Common_Cents

    Why didnt they have the CNN cam closer to the other one so she didnt look off kilter! I’m sure the CNN crew didn’t say a word, but her staffers should have caught it. Otherwise the message and delivery were pretty good.

    All Republicans should be required to be trained on how to give a presentation on camera. There are consultants for newscasters etc? Giuliani and Gingrich are good at it and could help.

    You have to practice this stuff. I was on a tv shopping channel for 3 hrs and learned it the hard way. Those tv sales hosts are freakin brilliant, able to use 50 adjectives and talk about a simple product for an hour like they are your best friend. that ain?t easy.

    Someone screwed up by not getting Ryan some visine, his eyes were real red, prob from some powder makeup. Stupid easy stuff to fix.

    We waste too much on talking billions and trillions. The public is very desensitized to those numbers and they are so big they do not relate. national issues need to be explained on how they impact the INDIVIDUAL. We?ve heard the national debt/deficit ad nauseum. It needs to be presented in a way an individual can relate to their own lives. Break numbers down per capita etc?

    We should look back at Perot’s presentations talkin turkey with charts. He really connected with many people, many independents with down to earth simple charts. I hate it when we get caught up with using big words and high level jargon. It impresses nobody.

    Erick, CNN cams catch you typing on your laptop a few times FYI. They might make you look detached and disinterested sometimes. But you do a great job and were really prepared with good history details and facts. The others on the panel look pretty stupid next to you as they only rely on stupid leftist rhetoric. Gergen had a complete melt down as the idiot he is. You are really driving Roland crazy too, getting under his skin. He’ll blow up soon.

    What the heck did they bring Piers ‘larry king’ Morgan on for? Geez, he got 5x the airtime you did. is the CNN audience left made up of hollyweird or what?

  • gop2010

    Both responses were fine. You do not have to pick a side. I liked Ryan’s speech better but thought Bachmann’s was good too. No need to go off on her.

  • aesthete

    Bachmann’s speech had nothing to do with the SOTU, was stilted, and was quite cliche (and nonsensical) on issues like energy policy and competition with other nations. IMO, Ryan’s speech was far more likely to persuade voters that the GOP is paying attention to spending, entitlements, and the economy. Bachmann’s speech was all over the place and didn’t have a central theme.

  • silentcal2012

    Paul Ryan is justan ‘ugly’ guy who is okay, and the meandering pandering Bachmann is terrific then yor children and grandchildren will live in a malaise that I dont even want to contemplate.

  • http://itsaboutfreedom.proboards.com IronDioPriest

    I thought both Ryan and Bachmann comported themselves very well – Ryan with a predictably more politic approach, with Bachmann taking a more pointed and sweepingly patriotic approach. I thought the two complimented each other quite well in making the conservative case moving forward, and I thought all the advance angst from conservative punditry over Bachmann’s supposed “redundancy” was completely unfounded.

    Whether Bachmann’s response was a rogue move on her part or the GOP’s official acknowledgment of the Tea Party, one thing is clear: Her speech was a message to the conservative base, letting Tea Partiers know that they have a voice in DC, and a place at the table.

    On this night, when the President addressed the nation and the opposition party offered rebuttal, another voice spoke on behalf of the people. That is significant.

  • gekster

    Move there.

  • silentcal2012

    We will have better socialized medicine in four more years. Nothing here is going to stop that.

  • gekster

    Don’t hang aroung for the malaise you contemplate.

  • laxconservative

    Ryan’s response was ok, but I loved the conent and delivery of Michele’s speech.

  • minncon

    !

  • JadedByPolitics

    and if they wanted Michele Bachmann to speak then speak she should have WITHOUT any catcalls from the lemmings who helped walk us to the edge of this cliff. It is the Republican progressives who walked hand in hand with Democrats to grow this monstrosity called a Federal Government and it will take a gargantuan effort from the members under the banner of the TEA Party to walk us back!

  • gekster

    nt

  • horizon3

    Was an entry on Bachmanns speech.
    Not a commentary on divisiveness, I thought both speeches were excellent, and both had their strong points, as well as some room for improvement.

    Neither of the speakers, Bachmann or Ryan are accustomed to the international stage and were for good reason, more than a little nervous, rebutting a US State of The Union Address is second in nature only to giving one.

    Many are deriding Bachmann on this speech, it’s totally undeserved, some are saying the camera angles were bad, blame that on the cameraman not the speaker.
    If you watched the speech on the TP Express’ site it was directed and executed perfectly, she played to the TP Express cameras! not CNNs, which is as it should be, “Dance with the ones that brought you”.
    The tape of her speech via PBS is here http://www.teapartyexpress.org/stream/ .

  • EagleWatcher

    Glad to hear Erik’s take on the speech. I too am relieved, This could have been a disaster for her, but it appears she has emerged as a serious thinker and leader. Her presidential chances have increased.

  • SirGladiator

    I didn’t hear anything about any ‘controversy’ in advance, I honestly cant understand what there was to be nervous about, two Republicans giving a speech instead of one, sounds like a sweet deal to me! And sure enough it was better than good, because Ryan may have done a good job in his own way, but mercy was he boring. Bachmann on the other hand told it like it is, she used charts and spoke in sentences that didn’t make you wish you were watching something else. Granted Ryan had lots of good stuff to say, and Im glad he said it, there’s no shame in being boring when you’re saying important stuff that needs to be said, but if you can do it in a non-boring way, like Michelle did, thats really something I prefer seeing, and I’m very glad they had her on. Hopefully this can be a yearly thing, and next year the other networks can carry the Tea Party response too!

  • tropicgirl

    All three messages channeled the Tea Party Rhetoric.

    Obama used it to “sell” more spending and his original agenda.

    Ryan used it to authenticate the good old neo-con boys and their agenda.

    Michelle actually sounded like she meant it.

    While none went into detail about what specifically should be done, Michelle was the most specific about the real “state” of the union. It was actually less stressful watching HER.

    She’s a natural. Watch out, boys.

  • jiminga

    He voted for TARP, for the GM/Chrysler bailout, the AIG bailout, eyc., etc. Now he has a new found religion of fiscal restraint? Pure politics as usual.

    BTW, Bachman voted against all of ther above. she’s the one with integrity.

  • tngal

    I felt both O’s and Ryan’s were very typical speeches given more for the pundits and their respective parties. Nothing fresh nor exciting. Empty promises and not much else. While her’s wasn’t exactly overflowing with specifics, Bachmann came across more down-to-earth and trustworthy.

  • mickeydpekinil

    Rember when O’Donnell won the primary Rove went on The O’Riely Factor and said she could not win because no one (his elitist friends) would help her. The reason?
    He gave us the reason by saying, “Last year she made $5,600 while I raised $30,000,000, so would want to even be in the same room with her”>>>>
    I always change channels when Rove comes on any station and now it looks like Fox has climbed on Rove’s wagon by shunning Bachmann, because she represents the people and not Washington elitists????????
    The people made Fox, but in their glory, they seem to have forgotten.
    Way to go CNN, I’ll now spend a lot more time there.

  • RSSS
  • http://xmmlbchat.blogspot.com katesmith

    She litigated federal tax cases. I doubt many people know this about her. It would be nice if they did.

  • http://www.flaliberty.org scorpio0679

    I’m just getting very tired of her. She is marginalizing herself, and thus the tea party influence, in the GOP caucus. And you are completely correct about the earmarks issue. Her post here at RedState in defense of her quibbling was laughable.

    I am 100% in favor of the tea party. Have been from the get-go. I am just getting very tired of Michele Bachmann and her grandstanding.

  • jenniferjmilleresq

    I think he and the Republican establishment need to give up on competing with the Democrats to appear most intellectual. Pseudo-intellectualism always bombs with real people in the end. That’s one big reason Ronald Reagan was SO successful…and Palin and Bachman get it.

  • pdawk

    I do agree that it seems odd that you would go out of your way to mock the guys appearance. I thought he looked fine and my wife, who had never heard of Paul Ryan, thought his speech was very good. Seems to be an attempt to marginalize a guy we should be shoving to the forefront. The reality is that giving the opposition response is one of the most difficult things to do and I thought he gave as good a response as I have seen.

    Paul Ryan is a brilliant, thoughtful, presentable congressman who actually has ideas and not just rhetoric. The guy is definite Vice Presidential material and it is his leadership on the house budget committee that may finally get us out of the spending binge we have been on in this country for 50 years.

    I don’t think there were many people watching CNN last night, so I doubt there will be anything to come out of Bachmann’s speech. I thought the entire idea of a 2nd response was a silly game of one upsmanship, but it is a free country and she can is welcome to make all the speeches she wants. Bachmann has always come off as somewhat of an opportunist as it relates to the tea party compared to guys like Rubio and Paul so it made it seem even more irrelevant in my book.

  • justcallmebub

    I like Mechelle Bachmann

    I often said the main Republicans don’t like the tea party movement they find them a threat as well as the Democrats do.. The republicans got on board with the tea party for political reasons to boost their egos,, But in light of every thing they have certain policies they want to keep in place and change and the tea party hinders their plans,” Both parties want the tea party to fizzle out.. Earmarks voted on during the lame duck congress just to fool people into believing they want to do the right thing,, Healthcare,” is it really going to go any where are they really going to change it while Obama is President
    NAFTA is one of them,” they want to leave it alone knowing full well it’s destroying Americas livelihood.. WHY” What purpose does it serve..”" I personally believe they get all the new Politicians in their rhetoric meetings to sway them from doing the right thing for Americans, and this Tax Cut con job how’s it going to be truly affective this time around,” and what businesses is it going to benefit when they’ve all been sent to China and Mexico and where ever else they have gone.. If the Republican party don’t take a true stand in creating long term jobs then they will cause Americans to place Democrats back into power again chiseling away at the very freedoms we hold dear.. Both parties are guilty of not reading bills.. NAFTA Bill for one did they read it,” or did they vote the party line vote not really knowing what was in the bill, and now we have politicians like McCain who still supports free trade. John Boehner supports open markets is that the kind of leadership America needs right now knowing full well they are wrong

  • erp617

    One way of judging the effectiveness of people on the right is by the amount of smearing and bashing from the media. Michelle Bachmann has been demeaned in every story I’ve ever seen about her and the RINO Republican leadership condescends to her as well, so she must be very very good at what she does.

    She’s the opposite of Sarah Palin in that she’s not showy and in your face (not that there’s anything wrong with that), but in her quiet way, is very effective.

  • edintexas

    The time I spent viewing FNC last night consisted of switching channels in time to catch Highly Excitable Smith proclaiming that freezing spending at current levels is a cut in spending, I immediately switched to a movie. I have to admit that I stayed with Smith longer than I usually do. Usually seeing him is sufficient to cause me to change the channel.

  • writeblock

    I’m already sick of Ryan and Boehner and Cantor and Pence. I’m sick of gentlemanly GOP behavior. I’m sick of our guys being nice. It’s time to ATTACK, call Obama out on his truly destructive leadership. If our side can’t or won’t do this with a certain degree of force, we need to change leadership.

    The Tea Party is about the public’s fury over in-your-face leftwing policies. We need to hear this from the GOP once in a while, not just from talk radio. We need to sense that it’s actually there, that it’s not going to be business-as-usual. Ryan doesn’t show me that, Bachmann does. She’s the one with cajones.

    By opening as he did, Ryan lost me almost at once. His emphasis on the Tuscon shooting right off the bat set my teeth on edge. It had nothing to do with put the nation’s dire fiscal crisis but clearly was designed to ingratiate. That was the wrong tack to take. He needed to show feistiness, forcefulness, a modicum of anger just beneath the surface. Instead he was pleasant, Another Republican nice guy. No Thanks.

  • littlehouse18

    And he ain’t “ugly” by any stretch. Quite the opposite for lots of women.

    His nervousness showed though. I’ll second the request for more training, and better staging. That said, I found his substance to be first rate.

    Last year, I at first thought McDonnell’s setting to be slightly odd, but now I see how it worked to his advantage to have an audience and not have to only play to a camera.

  • littlehouse18

    And he ain’t “ugly” by any stretch. Quite the opposite for lots of women.

    His nervousness showed though. I’ll second the request for more training, and better staging. That said, I found his substance to be first rate.

    Last year, I at first thought McDonnell’s setting to be slightly odd, but now I see how it worked to his advantage to have an audience and not have to only play to a camera.

  • rsefert

    My thoughts also Congresswoman Bachmann is going to make the tea party message heard. I think she has what it takes to take it all the way to the top.

  • counselor

    I admit….but Bachmann was way off.
    She said that America has to go back to manufacturing things. Doesn’t she realize that we lost over 40,000 factories under the Bush administration? Capitalists will go where the money is. Don’t blame Barry for that.

  • littlehouse18

    I like Bachmann a lot, and she’s even more impressive in person.

    However, if this was a two-pronged approach by the Republicans (which I doubt), they should have made that clear, for it wasn’t obvious. It looked unseemly and rude towards Ryan for her to give her own presentation. That was disappointing to me, and I’m concerned about what is going on with the Republicans.

  • littlehouse18

    Where do you get this?

    Ryan may have been lacking a bit in stage presence, but to me his remarks came across as spot on and sincere. I don’t see much difference between his views and Bachmann’s. Every time I’ve seen Ryan speak I’ve felt he truly believes in America and its founding principles. Witness his speech in the final moments of the healthcare debate.

  • littlehouse18

    Where do you get this?

    Ryan may have been lacking a bit in stage presence, but to me his remarks came across as spot on and sincere. I don’t see much difference between his views and Bachmann’s. Every time I’ve seen Ryan speak I’ve felt he truly believes in America and its founding principles. Witness his speech in the final moments of the healthcare debate.

  • carolina
  • carolina
  • http://www.examiner.com/x-1597-Charlotte-Law--Politics-Examiner Mike gamecock DeVine
  • Goldwater_Conservative

    I dont have a problem with Bauchman or her speech itself its just bad taste on the tea party’s part to make their own statment as if they are some kind of actual poltical party.

    But why Erick, would you lower yourself into talking about Paul Ryan’s haircut or the coloration of his eyes? You are quicking becoming a member of the lamestream media. They did this to Jindal and the conservative pundints went along. If Sarah Palin gave the same exact speech, had the blood shot eyes and haircut, you would be talking about how your heart skipped a beat and how the media wont know what to do with themselves today as a result. Its a double standard and the more you drink the tea party koolaid the more you loose a grip on reality.

  • Joe Cor

    Bachmann spoke to the American people. Ryan was trying to appear nice and harmless and non-threatening and bipartisan. Bachmann was trying to present the straight facts. She also didn’t waste time telling us what a swell guy she thinks Obama is, but criticized his agenda in a measured, respectful, but confident manner. Rather than announcing her intention to work with Obama, she called on Obama to enact her agenda.

    I fear that there really is a rift forming in the Republican party. Bachmann represents to self-confident, passionate wing that gets last November. On the other side is the establishment, and it is badly spooked. The bipartisan sitting together during the SOTU schtick, Ryan’s demeanor, Cantor asking Nancy to sit next to him, and Coburn’s “I heart Democrats” post at NRO yesterday, give me the fear that the establishment is hard at work setting up shop in the back of the bus. I hope I’m wrong.

  • rbdwiggins
  • hidlins

    Bachman was great,,,I’ve seen Ryan speak more passionate in the past but his plan is a good start…Yes, Luntz’s group reaction was priceless.

    Did anyone see Nancy Pelosi’s interview with Greta? She stated that “it is the presidents job” to take care of the middle class???? EXCUSE ME??? In other words, steal from the rich and give to the poor, I guess!

    The Pres’ speech was lousy. He is a shallow man with empty words. I don’t trust him, not for one minute. I’m so sick of seeing him on the TV and listening to his 2 speeches per day…sickening, just sickening! I’m also sick of Alan Combs defending him too!

  • cam1

    spoke from a united front. Why compare the two as if they were in a debate? The theme was that we need to get back to SMALL government, to Constitutional government, and quit spending money we don’t have. The Republican Party needs to aline itself with the principles of the Tea Party. Those in the Republican party who don’t will loose their jobs in 2012.

  • sharonmcp

    From what I’m reading on other sites, Congresswoman Bachmann was invited by the Tea Party Express to present the speech.

    Whether she should have accepted the offer is up to the public to decide.

  • http://www.examiner.com/x-1597-Charlotte-Law--Politics-Examiner Mike gamecock DeVine

    she has the body for it!) and think her “neo-con” reference was obviously meant in a derogatory way, but I did want to respond to your question because I have never viewed the label first applied to Irving Kristol as a negative, but rather as a label that describes late 60s and 70s converts from the Dem Party and some substantive views that differ from paleo-cons, although not as significant as the paleos imagine.

    I have proudly called myself a neo-con this past decade because of my agreement with Bill and Irving Kristol and many others about an aggressive foreign policy that promoted liberty and self government around the world and opposes evil and genocide. And that while we don’t favor seeking out monsters, after we remove regimes that sought us out, we do offer the people the opportunity for self government.

    I think most neo-cons also accept what Reagan called the fed govt safety net for the truly needy as well.

    more later

  • sharonmcp

    On The Record in its entirety.

    Since On The Record is shown several times during the early hours of the morning, Bachman’s speech was too.

  • horizon3

    Divide & Conquer … It still works.

  • writeblock

    He’s wrecking it economically in his drive to create a socialist state and ever-more dependencies and limitations on freedom. Bachmann may have been off on some minor details, but she was right on the money by attacking the source of the present malaise–leftwing policies. The country is broke. It’s ready for a revolutionary change–and that means a wholesale elimination of useless Washington agencies and bureaucrats. It’s long overdue. Bachmann may not have the words down pat, but she knows the music.

  • http://itsaboutfreedom.proboards.com IronDioPriest

    …establishment Republicans that are trying in every way they know how to drag us back to the precipice.

    People criticize Michele for unscripted moments when she wears her heart on her sleeve. But among ALL politicians in Washington DC, is there ANYONE about whom I can say that I know unequivocally that their heart and constitutional principles are one and the same to a greater degree than Michele?

    ALL politicians in DC who believe that the constitution means exactly what it says and say so openly are maligned by the Left and by the establishment GOP. It’s time to reject those naysayers, and stop throwing good constitutional advocates under the bus because Chris Matthews says they’re stupid.

  • unclefred

    and should not be viewed as a competition.

    The goal of Ryan’s speech was to present a alternative governmental approach to solve the problems in direct opposition to that expressed in Obama’s address. It was intended to remind the middle of the electorate, about the actions of the administration in the last two years and the consequences of those actions. It was intended to pierce the “pretty words” of a charlatan, and still be approachable by those in the middle who are not comfortable with confrontation. His was a policy speech that also articulated a different destination for the nation. He did an excellent job, and in my opinion more than accomplished his goals.

    Bachman’s speech was to galvanize the 40% of the electorate who self identify as conservatives. It was to present the Tea Party and it’s views as true to centrist America. To remind everyone that the fight to turn our nation back to its path of liberty and freedom did not end on November 3rd, 2010. Her speech was to counter the endless MSM spin about who and what the Tea Party are and want, and where they would take the nation.

    If we are to push out, or otherwise convert, the RINOs and bring the republican party back to its roots, the conservatives in the party must stay energized, and we must retain the strength we showed in 2010, and gain more strength. Her speech was to continue the mobilization of the middle of center right, that self mobilized in 2009 and 2010. As a policy speech her content was weak, but it was not intended as a policy speech. She gave it well and in my opinion it also accomplished it’s goals.

    Both did well. Both were serious counters to Obama’s vision for America. Now the hard work begins.

  • pilgrim
  • chihank

    I hate to say it, Obama did well in his SOTU address. He showed resonable to those who don’t follow politics. It will be up to us to remind people about his failed policies. We can’t let the media rewrite the last two years.

    Paul Ryan did well. He made his points without sounding like a partisan dog. Well done.

    Michelle Bachman gave a red meat speech to conservatives. She did okay. Last night, may embolden her to run for President. If Pence opts for the IN Governor, should we back Michelle Bachmann as the Tea Party Presidential candidate for 2012?

  • http://itsaboutfreedom.proboards.com IronDioPriest

    When he began with his obligatory sickly-sweet premature beatification of Saint Gabby, he looked weak, uncomfortable, and ingratiating.

    Once he moved on to policy matters, he appeared more comfortable and in command. By the end, I though he was downright presidential.

  • http://www.examiner.com/x-1597-Charlotte-Law--Politics-Examiner Mike gamecock DeVine

    everyday and everyway

  • rbdwiggins

    Conservative Democrats who witnessed the fundamental transformation of their Party, believed the transformation was simply un-American and concluded that the only viable vehicle for promoting the advancement of Constitutional principles was the Republican Party.

  • sharonmcp

    I’ll be putting my support behind Herman Cain.

    He’s been getting a lot more air time since he announced the formation of his pac.

  • http://www.examiner.com/x-1597-Charlotte-Law--Politics-Examiner Mike gamecock DeVine
  • GKC

    Then head south to the river and cross into Windsor. Bridge or tunnel, your choice.

  • pilgrim
  • sharonmcp

    Giffords. But mocking a US Congresswoman who has spent the past 3 weeks in a hospital bed and may never be 100% ‘whole’ again, because of the acts of a madman, is uncalled for.

  • speciallist

    *)

  • http://www.examiner.com/x-1597-Charlotte-Law--Politics-Examiner Mike gamecock DeVine
  • bclare

    Some on the left would have us believe that because 2 prominent voices of the conservative movement spoke there must be a rift in the party. Nonsense!

    I liken this to our beloved inter-service rivalries. Go Army ? Beat Navy! The Commander-In-Chief?s Trophy and the other academy hi-jinks. But pity the poor slobs (leftie Democrats) that are standing on the beach when these guys arrive – TOGETHER.

    Great job Paul. Great job Michelle. The invasion has begun!

  • JadedByPolitics

    I am glad you like Michele but there was absolutely NO reason to attack Ryan, the man did a fine job explaining what is in front of us. It is this undercutting of each other that destroys our chances in 2012 more so then any Democrat.

    BTW Ryan is hardly a neo-con, what that word would be is a Ron Paulite attack word and you used it to belittle a fine man. We on this site certainly will know in the future from which bench you swing from.

  • powertothepeople

    But since you seem intent on showing us dumb republicans how smart a leftist like you “is”, lets look at your claim 41,000 factories shut down under Bush.

    How about you explain some underlying issues in “all those closing.”

    A) How many were in decline long before Bush

    B) How many produced material that was no longer viable or at a much higher cost than the public would swallow.

    C) How many of these closing were companies cutting waste due to higher productivity in other factories, I can say this to start you out, out of all the manufacturing jobs loss under Bush, over 40% were lost due to higher productivity. Get to work..

    D) How many of these closing or loss jobs were due to NAFTA signed by a cigar shoving democrat and which cost this country millions upon millions of jobs with few returning from the other countries who benefited.

    E) How many of these factories closed due to financial collapse which would have started before the presidency of Bush and there was nothing he could have done to stop it anyways. Well that is true unless you are a pecker head who loves these bailouts.

    G) How many close due to Bush Policies…

    Now go do your research “counselor” as I already know many of the answers. I can not wait to see your reply lefty. But stop with your nonsense, we have all grown weary of the influx of lefties who feel we need to be educated on the “right” way. We could care less how you feel about Obama’s speech or Michelle’s speech for that matter. And we grow weary of your constant pious comments and your attempts to disguise your leftist views as friendly questions and speech.

  • genehowe

    Bush wasn’t even in politics when NAFTA was passed by congress and
    became the beginning of shipping our blue color working man’s jobs south
    and north. Even union leadership was behind NAFTA, We were told that
    we would be able to sell our products to Mexico, by people that had never
    been there, where’s was the money going to come from to buy our
    products. Check out what party pushed this on us…follow the money.

  • Maggie_in_Indiana

    while I applaud her efforts to get the Tea party recognised as a serious pain in the backside for establishment politicians, she’s not the face of the tea party nationwide. Her rise so soon as a possible candidate for POTUS and for considering a leadership postiosn in the GOP was not taken so well . If you could find one face that could get the nod from all Tea party groups there would be our next President
    Tea Party Express is not as popular with the rest of the tiny little groups nationwide. having said that, they do however bask in the glow of the attention the Express gets. The Tea Party Caucus is over the top for many who want the Tea Party to remain in the hands of the local groups themselves and amongst each other.

    Personally I liked the “Tea Party” response speech by Bachmann.It was a good speeh but was it timed right and by the right person?

  • http://itsaboutfreedom.proboards.com IronDioPriest

    I didn’t mock her at all. I am mocking the kneejerk rush by everyone to elevate her to sainthood just because she was shot. This “we all love her and miss her because she is the light of the world” crap is disingenuous pandering, and it insults the intelligence of the American people.

    When the subject comes up, Republicans should wish her a speedy recovery and offer prayers and move on. In the rush to see who can paint the most saintly portrait of Gabrielle Giffords, the GOP is creating an untouchable, living martyr.

  • YnotNOW

    Just as the supposed new spirit of “civility” between Pubs and Dems, there are actually very wide differences on how we view Government and the current problems, and therefore the prescriptions to solve them. The actual differences between Republicans that the press likes to play up, are much smaller. Yes, there will be active debate and attempts to get people to agree with specific views and associated legislation, this “rift” is so much smaller than between Conservatives and Liberals.

  • YnotNOW

    Just as the supposed new spirit of “civility” between Pubs and Dems, there are actually very wide differences on how we view Government and the current problems, and therefore the prescriptions to solve them. The actual differences between Republicans that the press likes to play up, are much smaller. Yes, there will be active debate and attempts to get people to agree with specific views and associated legislation, this “rift” is so much smaller than between Conservatives and Liberals.

  • aesthete

    and has been for some time, are you saying that he should be something he’s not: namely, a rabble-rousing fire-spitter? Ryan did a great job and was true to his own character, and the Tea Party movement is not going to get anywhere if it can’t differentiate between intelligence in the service of conservative values and faux-intellectualism.

  • rightwingmom52

    I’ll barf. Totally agree with you about Ryan’s intro, but I do think he improved. Bachmann gave the response I expected and wanted to hear. She put a voice to what many of us have been saying in the trenches for the last 2 years (a lot longer for many of us). I didn’t watch all of O’s speech, but during what little I did, I yelled “You lie” at him more than once. Bachmann did the same thing, only nicer, but not too nice.

  • jenniferjmilleresq

    I’m just noting that it is remarkable how the leadership goes out of its way to avoid selecting anyone the Tea Party supported to represent them face to face with the American people, and the process they pick someone without much charisma or connection to the average American.

  • ihateliberals

    I can’t put my finger on it. Michelle Bachmann on the other hand is down to earth and sounds like she is a part of We the people. she makes you feel like she is listening to what you have tosay. I really wish tht she could be Speaker of the house instead of that RINO Boehner. He may not be a RINO but he isn’t listening to the people. He did only long enough to get back in office. This compromise lst night to intermingle with the Democrats was a totally contrived idea of the Democrats to lessen the obvious majority and to give the impression we are all working for the same thing. I have been a conservative for over 50 years and I have never wanted to compromise with a Liberal. To compromise with a liberal is like picking up a rattle snake after it said it wouldn’t bite you and then wondering why it did. The answer is you know what it was when you picked it up.

    Michelle did a superb job. The Republicans have let me down and they had better watch out. The Tea party is still out there and ready to pounce if the Republicans fail us. That worries me because if the Republicans cause the Tea Party to up rise then Obama and team will stay in power.

  • jenniferjmilleresq

    I’m just analyzing the decision to select him for prime time, that’s all.

  • http://reaganiterepublicanresistance.blogspot.com/ reaganiterepublicanresistance

    *** DYANAMITE ***

    I’ll be giving her a serious look for 2012… that’s for darn sure

    She said JUST what needed to be said… and the delivery was at least an “8″

    Good job… proud of you, Rep Bachmann

  • Flagstaff

    due to the burden of onerous regulations?

  • caboose

    I would have liked to have seen as the reply to the SOTU by BHO. This was written by a Ret. Col. USMC. you ennumerate yours and Obama’s accomplishments;
    Indeed you and Mr. Obama have kept your promises, you should be “d___m” proud because, “it’s a big “f___k___g deal;” and we want to “thank” you;
    Thanks for spreading “poverty” around;
    Thanks for your personal, loyal and unwavering support of a demonstrably mentally ill, narcissist;
    Thanks for your integrity in not insisting that BHO be Constitutionally qualified for the job;
    Thanks for massive militarily budget cuts; we need to cut the military industrial complex down to size;
    Thanks for BHO’s apology tour;
    Thanks for for not closing the border with Mexico and keeping the doors open so that illegal immigrants can take US jobs;
    Thanks for providing health care, educational benefits, unemployment benefits and housing for illegal immigrants; I enjoy paying the added taxes that are required;
    Thanks for trying to make illegal immigrants citizens so you can garner their votes;
    Thanks for denigrating, marginalizing and destroying your own country; it makes us all soooo proud and it feels oh, soooo good!
    Thanks for alienating our friends and embracing our enemies; Churchill was indeed a “vile” ally during WWII;
    Thanks for implementing Hitler’s genetic research projects, we knew all along he was right;
    Thanks for intentionally crushing the strongest economy in the world;
    Thanks for devaluing my earnings; run those printing presses;
    Thanks for increasing the cost of gasoline by 100% in two years; really helps me and the poor get around a lot easier than when the price was lower;
    Thanks for 17% real unemployment;
    Thanks for crushing the value of my home; its worth about half of what it was when you took office; I’m sure that has helped the poor too;
    Thanks for increasing the national debt in two years more than all other Administrations combined in the history of the country;
    Thanks for blaming G.W. Bush for everything; right on! Always knew that the Skull and Cross Bones Society was not to be trusted, but ACORN is;
    Thanks for imposing onerous taxes via the back door;
    Thanks for closing Guantanamo; Oh? You didn’t?
    Thanks for moving terrorist trials to New York where they can grandstand and taking them out of the hands of the incompetent military;
    Thanks for relieving McCrystal, he deserved it for supporting you and carrying out your insane rules of engagement;
    Thanks for watching while Iraq descends into chaos; great that you kept your word on withdrawal, no matter the consequences;
    Thanks for the increasing American casualties in Afghanistan, gotta spread the casualties around, ya know;
    Thanks for embracing Islam while eschewing Christianity;
    Thanks for Obama’s religious head fake, going to church;
    Thanks for the Administrations “rebranding” efforts; albeit a snake is a snake;
    Thanks for the most corrupt “stimulus” administration in history;
    Thanks for supporting BHO’s lack of personal transparency;
    Thanks for “bringing the U.S. down a notch or two;” U.S. “imperialist” objectives just had to be reined in;
    Thanks for divulging U.S. interrogation techniques;
    Thanks for “shutting down” “rendition;”
    Thanks for imposing your version of healthy relationships, perverted sex upon the Armed Forces;
    Thanks for not making perverted sex mandatory for members of the Armed Forces;
    Thanks for opening the door, via repeal of DADT for the oxymoron of “perverted sex marriage;”
    Thanks for backdooring legislation and end – running the Congress through regulation and Executive Orders;
    Thanks for trying to force all workers to join unions; that would definitely make the US more competitive in the Global economy;
    Thanks for keeping the “hated” Patriot Act in place;
    Thanks for keeping Bush’s “tax cuts for the rich;”
    Thanks for the massive payoffs to Wall Street , Union thugs and public service unions;
    Thanks for stabbing Israel in the back;
    Thanks for embarcing one of the most vile governments with arguably the worst human rights record in the history the world at the recent State Dinner; it makes us proud;
    Thanks for politicizing every facet of government;
    Thanks for telling us what we can eat, how we should live and what life vocation we should pursue;
    Thanks for sharing via Obama you vast knowledge of world events, economics, international relations; that’s always comedy hour, and it’s good for a laugh;
    Thanks for destroying the finest health care system in the world; doing so really helps Obama’s relatives in Kenya and the poor here in America;
    Thanks for the foolishness, the racism, the hatred, the divisiveness you and Barrack Hussein Obama have generated and fostered; it’s sooo good for America;
    Thanks for your support of Obama’s million dollar vacations, hitting the political jackpot and living the good life that comes from the bottomless well of gold at taxpayer expense;
    Thanks for killing the goose that laid the golden egg, the free market economy with yours and Obama’s onerous regulations; (seriously-not that some are not needed)
    These were yours and Obama’s promises: to totally change America, to totally change the economic system, and to totally change the world;
    Congratulations Mr. Vice President, you, BHO, George Soros and your other anti-American allies have succeeded where no other country could!
    These things noted, you have at the least succeeded in training BHO to wear a flag of the US on his lapel, that is , unless on the back side thereof there are engraved , crossed fingers.
    Ah, yes! Americans look forward to crushing you in 2012, as in 2010! We can hardly wait, unless a chance for impeachment comes forth!
    All the while I thought your name was just plain “Joe” but now that we know you better, a name would be Benedict, as in Arnold!
    Is there such a thing as a Seditious President and Vice President?
    Semper Fidelis

  • Flagstaff

    If the Repub Party had been in full control, Bachmann would not have been allowed to speak.

    Central planning gives us one decision which is very often the wrong one. Distributed planning may result in nine bad decisions, but the one great decision blows them all out of the water.

  • NHConservative0227

    Erick is right in that the GOP has not and still doesn’t take the Tea Party seriously.

    Look no further than Speaker. Why must they stick to seniority and all that garbage? What makes Boehnor more qualified that Bachmann? The guy is a weak moderate at best. Just look at his support of Fred Upton and Hal Rogers along with him saying NOTHING to criticize this ridiculous let’s sit together in a show a unity during the SOTU speech. Barf !

    Bachmann is a real leader, Boehnor is a joke.

  • acat

    Decisions should be made at the lowest level possible.

    This is part of why our founding fathers neutered the Fed. From 1776 to 1789, the Fed didn’t even exist, States operated as essentially allied countries, not as components of a single country.

    It wasn’t until much later in our history – post-1900 – that the idea of “making a federal case out of it” started to become common, i.e. misusing the power of the Fed to make blanket decisions for the entire country instead of allowing each State, each county, each township to set their local standards.

    I am very glad to see this principle showing up in the GOP .. even if it isn’t what the party leadership have in mind. (they’re just as guilty of trying to make a federal case out of it…) States Rights is going to be of critical importance for the next decade or two, and Conservatives are in a good position in many state legislatures.

    Mew

  • blackhawk

    Liberals have to stop drinking all that tainted Kool Aid.
    Does everyone know that Pres. Bush is totally responsible for Global Warming,sic,and that he talked O into all the fool packages he pushed.
    He’s also responsible for higher tax rates for the folks,the oil spill,Arizona shooting,gun control and God haters.
    Thank God we have our messiah Odumbo to help we surfs out.

  • Common_Cents

    Will cause America to gag. Slick prompter readers will be out of vogue soon in a shift back to seeking the truth.

  • dudette

    grandstanding? I totally disagree—she is specific, unafraid to take the heat, and she is a bulldog. I dont get the grandstand thing. You may be just tired that she is about the only congressperson who will stand up as a tea partyer–altho Allen West i suspect would do a great job too.

  • uselogic

    you had to get past Greta’s time with that”shrieking harridan magpie” ,Pelosi, before you got to see Rep. Bachmann.

    HT to Dennis Miller for his apt description of the former Speaker.

  • uselogic

    You ain’t seen nothin’ yet.

    (Sorry, I just had to.)

  • uselogic

    You ain’t seen nothin’ yet.

    (Sorry, I just had to.)

  • http://www.flaliberty.org scorpio0679

    until the 2010 election happened. Ever since the election she has been acting like she is above the GOP or somehow special. She is definitely voting the right way and such, and I have no real gripe with her other than the fact that she is driving a wedge between the tea party and the GOP.

    We shouldn’t be “separating” the GOP and the tea party. The tea party needs to work its magic WITHIN the GOP and that includes exerting and building influence in the halls of Congress. Michele Bachmann is destroying her credibility with Republicans in Congress.

    It started with her bid for GOP Conference Chair. She obviously didn’t test the waters for support before declaring her candidacy. Had she been more artful about it, she probably could have become the vice chair instead she threw in for chair and lost. Next thing is she is talking about running for president. Don’t get me wrong, I like Bachmann, but I do not support her for president. Then this whole thing of giving a separate address. It just wasn’t necessary. She should have declined the invitation and invited the Tea Party Express to broadcast Paul Ryan’s and expressed support for him.

  • myron_j_poltroonian

    Hmm, “aesthete |?es???t| (also esthete) noun. a person who has or affects to have a special appreciation of art and beauty.” Your moniker makes you sound as if you’re proud to be as pure as the wind-driven-snot that you come off as.
    All of the cutesy commentary, masquerading as critique, may satisfy some foul inner need, but it does nothing to get at the truth. One of which I grew up learning. In the words of my late great grandmother Williams, as applied to most any public or personal promise: “I hear ‘what’ you say, but I ‘see’ what you do”.

  • myron_j_poltroonian

    “2012 – The Year of Real Women”

  • http://impudent.edublogs.org/ kyle8

    gonna grab my popcorn

  • http://impudent.edublogs.org/ kyle8

    gonna grab my popcorn

  • sharonmcp

    grabbing the popcorn and a six pack.

  • wonkish1

    I don’t think its much of a change. Also, I don’t care to debate how much of a change it is.

    But clearly since the election she is acting differently. 2 changes that are largely undeniable are.
    1) She thinks she is above and separate from even good conservatives.
    2) She wants to use the situation to “take” power instead of “be given” power(George Washington style).

    Positive spin: Well she cares about keeping the Tea Party alive and thriving and since she is one of the figure heads then it is perfectly fine that she would want to differentiate and seek out more clout to and a bigger microphone.

    Negative spin: She has a very inflated view of herself and a very low view of fellow conservatives even people as conservative as ( Jeb Hensarling).

    Maybe she thinks that we believe she will one day “Save us all”, but really I think most of us look at her as someone that is doing great work that is being rewarded by the base and soon deserving a little bigger role(Senator, house leadership, etc.???)

  • Tbone

    It is a rather long way.

  • jamesmackey

    Was delivered by Rand Paul

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0B8–qw1ws

  • http://www.flaliberty.org scorpio0679

    Great analysis. Spot on.

  • myron_j_poltroonian

    Why would anyone deny us a place for those who are much more in tune with the wishes of the electorate to gather and exchange information, discuss strategy and serve as a general clearing-house for like-minded legislators? We already have a “Black Congressional Caucus”, et cetera, why not have our own. I can’t wait to see, hear and read accusations, some subtle, some not so, of it being a “White Caucus”. Not true, of course, but when did that ever get in the way of a good leftist political story line. No matter who makes the accusation, the Limp Stream Left, whether they be politicians, or pundits of the same flaccid stripe), the MSM will trip all over themselves, gleefully leaping at the chance to spread the falsities with, “Some say”; “Others note”; “How do you respond to the charges”, & etc., etc., etc.

  • aesthete

    Nice to see that you’re aggressively avoiding discussing the substance my remark, but that you are instead focusing on my style: presumably, you know this great “truth” that you allude to in your post, but which you seemingly refuse to outline to the hoi polloi. I made at least five assertions relevant to the OP in three sentences. You rebutted none of them, and did not offer any of your own. That is what is called a “red herring” in the business. But I see now that explaining logic and argumentation to you is akin to describing color to a blind man, so let’s go back to your favorite topic: style. Am I to understand from your critique of my username that you don’t like beauty and art? That would not surprise me, but I imagine that you stand alone in the vast world of conservatism, which has plenty to say about aesthetic virtue. Indeed, not having an opinion on aesthetics when one’s senses and day to day experiences all but demand that you have some aesthetic preferences is the mark of a low intellect. I’m sure that your head hurts at this point so let’s move on to the final topic of the day: your poor attempt at pejorative. With the poor grammar, editing, formatting and odd choice of metaphor (how is snot “wind driven”?), it was difficult to tell exactly what about me or my posting you are criticizing. I would love to be insulted, but for that to happen, your insult has to have a modicum of coherence. Perhaps you could compose your thoughts and post an edited version of the insult in your reply to me: perhaps then I might feel insulted, instead of vaguely embarrassed by your shoddy attempt at insult.

    In fairness, I cannot critique your commentary on “foul inner needs”: I’m certain that you are far more knowledgeable and experienced on that subject than I and the rest of the RS commentariat are or wish to be.

  • runner12

    I actually loved Ryan’s speech. It was thoughful and well-written. Was it fluffy or feel good? No. Could there have been more emotion? Maybe. But I think he avoided all of that stuff on purpose. He wanted to talk substance and it came across this way. Americans are sick of pretty speeches with little substance (heh hem, Obama). The guy clearly defined the differences in philosophy between Conservatives and Progressives without sounding “partisan.” I give him high marks.

    Now to Bachmann. I cringed a little when I first heard she was giving a rebuttal. It seemed a little divisive. But when I heard it was simply a webcast that news stations decided to pick up I began to wonder why there had been so much hub-bub in the first place. As to her speech, the camera angle was odd, but I fault Fox News for that one and not her (for crying out loud, you are professionals). The style was good and her speech had substance. I think she delivered it well.

    Overall, I think they complimented each other.

  • timelyrenewed

    I liked both Representative Ryan and Bachmann’s speeches. However, we have to be even bolder if we are going to drive back the federal leviathan. How about an across-the-board exemption from all federal regulations for small businesses? Because federal regulations are designed for (and all too often by) big companies, “one-size-fits-all” national regulations impose far higher compliance costs per employee on small businesses than on big business, which can afford to absorb the costs of large internal staffs and armies of lawyers to comply with massively complex federal regulations. Let the states regulate small businesses so the federal government can focus on the big corporate malefactors. Following the original meaning of the interstate commerce clause and freeing small business from federal regulation will do far, far more to unleash the job-generating power of small business than piecemeal attacks on Mr. Obama’s regulatory behemoth. See http://www.timelyrenewed.com

  • sharonmcp

    .

  • edwyrd

    the repubs need to attack relentlessly, on the debt, on senseless job killing regulations and mostly on obamacare. if they keep the attack up they can frame the debate and keep the libs, all of them ( their whores in the media incliuded) on the defense. and maybe, just maybe they will develop some cracks in their solidarity and a few will drop off, developing a split which can be exploited for 2012. c’mon you nutless wonders, ATTACK, ATTACK,ATTACK!!!

  • acat
  • edwyrd

    should make the response speech next year!

  • jenniferjmilleresq

    it all: character, substance, looks, and charisma.

  • jenniferjmilleresq

    What about free speech?!

  • runner12

    from CNN? If they did, then I am not surprised. CNN is to interested in getting Obama re-elected to worry about petty little things like professionalism and excellence (sarc).

  • runner12

    from CNN? If they did, then I am not surprised. CNN is to interested in getting Obama re-elected to worry about petty little things like professionalism and excellence (sarc).

  • thebadpiper

    For years we have gotten the “political hack” State of the Union address and opposition Party response. Thanks to Michelle Bachmann we finally get to hear a “people’s” response to the State of the Union. No wonder she is being attacked by both Political Class Republicans as well as Democrats. She dares to represent the people of the United States against government of, by and for the politicians, something both political parties fear and are doing there best to ignore in hopes that it will just go away. You think this is interesting, wait until the presidential primaries get underway and the Tea Party Silent Majority demonstrates its real impact on a national level.