The latest revelation about tonight's speech, via Jeff Zeleny at the NY Times, is that Obama will be somewhat contrite in his speech tonight. Giving this leak to Zeleny means the White House team really wanted prominent placement for this aspect of the speech (and for it to be part of the pundit chatter today.) Apparently, Obama will take responsibility, but not blame, for the lack of promised change:
When Mr. Obama presents his first State of the Union address on Wednesday evening, aides said he would accept responsibility, though not necessarily blame, for failing to deliver swiftly on some of the changes he promised a year ago. But he will not, aides said, accede to criticism that his priorities are out of step with the nation’s.Taking responsibility is fine. But, again, this is only a speech. It could give Obama some breathing room and some renewed focus. But, he still needs to actually lead.
As Mr. Obama navigates a crossroads of his presidency, a moment when he signals what lessons he has drawn from his first year in office, the public posture of the White House is that any shortcomings are the result of failing to explain effectively what they were doing — and why. He will acknowledge making mistakes in pursuit of his agenda, aides said, but will not toss the agenda overboard in search of a more popular one.
Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico, who is close to Mr. Obama and many of his advisers, said the notion of the president accepting responsibility would probably be well received by the American people. But with growing strains of populism coming from Washington, he warned against making too drastic of a course correction.
