John Boehner responds to how pitiful these talking points are.
As you watch an endless stream of Republican politicians and pundits yapping on your television in the hours leading up to the State of the Union address, you should have the chance to gain a whole new level of respect for the Republican talent for adhering to a very narrow list of talking points. If you are paying attention, you've probably already figured out what those talking points are, but in case you've missed them,
here they are:
"The State of the Union is the President’s opportunity to share with Congress how he plans to solve the most serious challenges our country faces."
Because we in Congress sure as hell aren't solving them if we can prevent it. And we can prevent it, since John Boehner controls what comes to a vote in the House.
"Republicans hope the President will bring forward a credible plan to replace his sequester—arbitrary across the board cuts he proposed—with responsible spending cuts."
Yes, the
president's sequester. You know, the one that came out of the deal
about which John Boehner said, "I got 98 percent of what I wanted. I'm pretty happy." But clap harder and keep trying to pin it on Barack Obama, as we'll see Republicans doing below the fold in their remaining talking points.
"Republicans hope the President will share with the country how he plans to control spending, reduce the debt, and expand opportunity for all Americans without raising taxes."
Umm, guys, about that "without raising taxes" thing.
You may hope the president will talk about how he's not raising taxes, not ever, not one penny, even at the cost of Medicare and Medicaid and safe bridges and clean water, but there are actually plenty of taxes America's voters would be happy to hear him talk about. Like ones on oil companies and hedge fund billionaires and the costs of companies moving jobs overseas. And
polling routinely finds that public concern over jobs and unemployment kicks the ass of public concern over the deficit, the debt, or taxes.
"Republicans hope the President will talk about his plan to protect hardworking Americans from the negative impacts of ObamaCare, including higher health care costs and loss of coverage."
Unlike the low low health care costs and universal coverage that prevailed before Obamacare? In fact,
Americans are ready for Obamacare to be implemented.
So there you are. Your guide to everything you're going to hear from every Republican on television for the rest of the day.