Jan Baran Attorney, ethics, lobbying and election law :
Is he finished? I never thought I would miss Bill Clinton's long SOTUs but I do. At least there was a warmth and conviviality. The rhetoric tonight was sterile and flat. While all such events are contrived tonight seemed especially forced. The oddly nodding and grinning Joe Biden and a frenetic Nancy Pelosi projected artificiality. Speaking of "tax cuts" the President looked smarmy knowing he was referring to spending by those who had enough money to buy clunkers, homes, or storm windows to earn tax credits. When claiming he hadn't raised taxes he thought he was fooling everyone who knows he will do nothing about the automatic tax increases in interest, capital gain and estate taxes that take effect in 11 months. The invocation of green jobs did not assure those who had no jobs. He seemed to be striving to recapture the campaign magic which now looks familiar and unconvincing. He did nothing to help himself or independents who have lost confidence in his now disappearing promise. The ghost of Jimmy Carter may soon strut onstage.
