Your question and answer session with house Republicans was amazing! I have been waiting for this for almost a year. You delivered. No teleprompter, no speech, no notes (except ones given to you in reference to questions).
You tore Republicans limb from limb. Sure you missed a couple easy shots, but I saw over an hour of body blows to talking points and ideology.
1. Do it again!!!
You destroyed them so bad, FOX left the live coverage. I want more. It might be hard, but I think you can pressure the GOP into another forum. I would mention them being afraid to debate you. If you want you can call them "Chicken", it often worked in Back to The Future. Town Halls don't work, this does.
2. Timing is Everything
Primetime, immediately following the August recess. They will have just gotten feed back from their constituents, so what better time? And unlike a town hall, congressmen know better than to yell at you (except Joe Wilson). And people work, so it should be at night. I would suggest Sunday or Friday. But since most shows might not be back on you could probably get that 8pm Thursday spot. Either way, do it at night. Networks will carry it. And, as I stated earlier, you can shame the GOP into playing. Let them pick the location and questions. Make it clear they have the high ground.
3. Wing it!
I only saw notes when a congressmen mentioned a specific bill in his question. Clearly giving you something to look through for your rebuttal was the right thing to do. You buried him with it. You mentioned a specific page and went at him. That sort of thing is not obvious at first, but very powerful. It also shows how you are the smartest guy in the room, not in the Enron way, but in a good way.
4. Be Your Own Wallace
I have mentioned a couple of times how you don't have a Wallace. Someone with the muscle to reign in the opposition and popular enough to bring home independents. I just never realized until tonight that you could be your own Wallace. So do it.
Last, THIS was the person I voted for. And THIS was the reason I voted for him. When the guy from Wisconsin mentioned line item veto and budget freeze, THAT was the person I worked to elect. You mentioned expecting such a question, so you talked to Peter Orszag at the CBO before coming over. You were prepared, you studied, you worked your ass off. Beyond that, you did it all without notes or a teleprompter. In the UK, the prime minister has notes and get questions ahead of time. You are an intellectual sponge. That was why I voted for you after a couple conversations and seeing you here in Iowa a few time before the caucus. No matter what your interests and background in a subject, you are still the smartest guy in the room.
I voted for the genius in the mix. We tried everyman and he screwed everything up. I don't agree with all your policies, but after today I remember you are the most qualified person to lead during two wars and the biggest economic downtown in 70 years. Everyman can be my mayor, I am glad that my president is truly remarkable. After all who do you want flying your 747 to Hawaii? Who do you want doing open heart surgery? Or Building your bridge? I will take the wonk every time (wonk is the political term for policy geek).
He may not be as fun, but dammit he gets the job done.
-A