Cheap Jingoism

If tonight's State of the Union speech didn't remind you of Mr. Obama's transition, it should have done. The worthy things he called for are mostly non-starters in the Republican House while the rotten things he called for are conservative gimmes. Mr. Obama is, as always, a Republican decked out in liberal flourishes. For me, perhaps the most interesting aspects of the evening were close-up television shots of Representative Boehner and Senator McConnell, who seemed to choke inwardly at the notion that a few of their plans might be realized by the Democrats. In terms of pure electioneering the speech probably did Mr. Obama and the Democrats some good but I'll be completely shocked if he actually fights for any of the things he mentioned. And then, of course, even if he were reelected and even if the Democrats were to retake the House, and not lose the Senate, it's unlikely in the extreme — judging from recent history — that Senator Reid would try to get rid of the anti-democratic sixty vote cloture rule; in 2013, therefore, even in a "best case" scenario, obstruction plus a Republican agenda will continue to be the name of the game. Indeed, I'd guess Mr. Obama is counting on it.