Even conservative members of Congress are unhappy with President's speech

DallasBlog.com | Tom Pauken:

“Our own Scott Bennett didn’t think all that much of the President’s State of the Union speech on Tuesday evening. Not surprisingly, neither did our Viewpoints columnist, Ken Molberg. One of our regular bloggers, longtime Republican activist Sandy McDonough, came to Bush’s defense and praised the President’s address. Now, conservative columnist Robert Novak reports that even conservative members of Congress were disappointed in what the President had to say.”

Ed Cognoski responds:

The polarization of America accelerates. The left excoriates Democrats for not having spine enough to filibuster the Alito nomination. The right excoriates Bush for backing away from privatization of Social Security and major tax reform. Bush, trying to govern without money in the treasury or political capital to spend, is back on his heels.

This is not the time for a big swing of the bat. It's time for small ball. Look for bunts, maybe a single here and there. Ethanol. Teachers. Meanwhile the Democrats start moving their fielders in. The President snarls "defeatism" to keep them at bay. The Republicans in the stands cheer every swing, but grow more and more restless with every miss. The President stubbornly talks about "guest workers" to show he won't be cowed, even by the home crowd. In the end, he doesn't hit a home run, but he doesn't strike out, either. Finally, he goes back to the dugout just thankful that the inning is over.