How Did Obama Do?
The Daily Beast's panel of experts diagnoses the president's bid to jump start his top domestic policy priority.
Obama Frees His Mojoby Tina BrownThe president took all the political noise—the hysterical pre-performance commentary, the shouting GOP congressman—and used it to reduce the assembled Republicans to foolish members of his rowdy class. MORE >>
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A Man On His Way to Bitternessby Tucker Carlson
Obama the candidate seemed to rise above his opponents. The president Wednesday night was battling enemies, real and imagined. MORE >>
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A Speech Worthy of Hillaryby Paul BegalaCandidate Obama attacked Clinton for her support of a universal mandate. President Obama gave a full-throated defense of one. Will liberals follow him? MORE >>
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A Tactical Half of a Loafby Sam DonaldsonWith flourish, President Obama threw the public option under the bus tonight. It was the choice of a practical politician. MORE >>
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Bipartisan Flavor, Progressive Spineby Katrina vanden HeuvelThe public option part was unsatisfying. But when he got to Kennedy—and the moral imperative of health care—it was one for the history books. MORE >>
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A Dramatic Address for a Dramatic Momentby Matthew YglesiasObama rose to the occasion. But history shows big speeches don’t move the needle that much. Does Congress actually want reform? MORE >>
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Obama’s Thrilling Health-Care Rebukeby Michelle GoldbergDemocrats may have been losing the health-care debate, but with his speech Wednesday night, the president began to shift the dynamic, writes Michelle Goldberg—and his tough defense of liberalism was stunning. MORE >>
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Nothing Is Going to Changeby Lee SiegelFor all the hyperbole, the speech didn’t matter much. The battle will resume, charges will fly—and Obama and the Democrats will ram a plan through. MORE >>
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In Defense of a Strong Governmentby Michael Waldman
Obama’s speech was as powerful a piece of presidential rhetoric as you will ever hear. But the Democrats’ tactical sequencing this summer was off. He’d better get moving. MORE >>
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