Houston Blogs: Roussel Blog

Non State of the Union—State of the Union

What’s the prime-time speech by President Obama all about Tuesday night?

It’s not a State of the Union (he’s only been in office slightly more than a month), but, then it is….well,sort of.

This first month his agenda has been all about the economy, by necessity. In addition to the stimulus legislation, there have also been the efforts at bipartisanship. Today he’s hosting a fiscal responsibility summit at the White House and he still has two cabinet posts to fill. So there is plenty on the immediate plate.

But Tuesday would seem to be sort of a pause… let’s depart briefly from the problems of the moment and look into the future. In that way, it will be like a State of the Union speech, and those often get loaded up issue-heavy like a Christmas tree. This will be his big picture agenda—expanding education, greener energy sources, better financial industry regulation and…trying to significantly trim the $1.3 trillion deficit by the end of his first term.

On January 15, 1975, President Gerald Ford gave a State of the Union address that proclaimed: “…the State of the Union is not good.” He also said: “I have got bad news, and I don’t expect much, if any, applause.”

President Obama has stepped into a flying airplane in terms of pressing problems. It would seem that President Ford’s words for that time are certainly applicable to today. The issue is: where do we go from here?

Stay tuned.

Too soon for President Obama news conference?

The question has been asked: Isn’t it a bit soon—only three weeks into the new administration--for President Obama to be having a news conference?

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WATCH Peter Roussel talks about political nominees on Eyewitness News

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In my view, not at all.

Last week they got off message, which is to say that the stories that dominated the headlines primarily concerned the withdrawn nominations of Tom Daschle and Nancy Killefer. How best to get back on message, i.e., the economic stimulus legislation, than to use the forum available to a president of the United States—a televised news conference with an opening statement on the topic of his choice—not the media’s.

Further, shouldn’t President Obama be regularly communicating with, and updating, the American people in this way? FDR did much the same during tough economic times with his radio “fireside chats.” These are serious times. The regular flow of information and the maintenance of confidence go hand in hand.

Tonight’s forum also serves another purpose. By a return to the prime-time televised news conference, President Obama is not only placing himself for review before the American people, but also the reporters who will be there. Their questions will also be under public scrutiny. Thus, the viewing audience can determine on its own if reporters are being favorable toward the president as some have suggested.

Nominees, Expectations and Keeping the Message Focused

There seems to be some piling on the Obama administration right now regarding the events of the past week and their failure to pick nominees for key positions who could pass muster in terms of the confirmation process.

Yes, it seems fair to say it was a week of miscues. In an attempt to keep the message focused on the economic stimulus legislation, the message got diverted and fuzzy. The week dissolved into defense and debate about these nominees, rather than the paramount issue of the moment—the economy.

A couple of points to consider about this:

This is nothing unique—past presidents have certainly had nominees who failed to make it through this process. What is different right now is the urgency of the times in terms of the economy and need to get qualified individuals in place promptly who can be addressing our economic ills.

What is occurring here, too, is the expectations game. President Obama has come into office with high expectations for solutions. He has realistically tried to keep such high hopes in check by statements to the effect that solutions are going to take time. But there is little he can do about a groundswell of hope from the public. This is a natural occurrence with any new administration. It’s just that the stakes are higher and more urgent right now.

Yes, in all fairness, it was a week of stumbles. But let’s not be too hasty to pile on. It would seem there was some good to come from this experience. What, you ask?

Well, it certainly can be said that they are not taking shortcuts in the confirmation process—that they are making all adhere to the highest ethical standards—no exceptions.

This administration—and the nominees who have withdrawn—seem to recognize that this process is a bedrock of any administration and it is essential for it to maintain credibility lest the public begin to lose confidence.

The less good news is that this once again delays the business of getting about the country’s business. This administration has stepped into a flying airplane in terms of pressing problems—they need good, qualified people at work—now. They—and the anxiously awaiting American public--don’t need another week like the one that has just passed.