Barack Obama

The Star's Yael T. Abouhalkah points to a CBS poll taken immediately after Obama's State of the Union speech:

-- "Eighty-three percent of speech watchers approved of Obama's proposals, while 70 percent thought Obama shares the same priorities for the country as they do (up from 57 percent before the speech)."

-- "Fifty-nine percent thought the president has a clear plan for creating jobs. Forty percent thought so before the speech."

As we all drink our morning coffee and digest what this latest change-up means for the Senate, let me be the first to say - I continue to be hopeful that the Senate will take action on climate change.

The signs of momentum for a clean energy and climate bill outweigh any signs that come from the Massachusetts special election.

Take, for example, that this week, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid reiterated that he wants to pass the bill this spring, and that the bill has the tri-partisan support of Senators Kerry, Graham, and Lieberman.

In a little more than 6 weeks, 1221 businesses have called for strong action on climate viaAmerican Businesses for Clean Energy.

Tell POTUS That This Is Our Moment

More at www.penroseonpolitics.wordpress.com

 TPMDC reports that Rep. Ike Skelton, Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, and Sen. Kit Bond, Ranking Member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, are on the list of select Congressional leaders to meet with President Obama at the White House just before tonight's speech on Afghanistan.

After the meeting, Obama will travel to West Point for the speech itself.  

Pretty funny:

While most folks in Jefferson City were focused on local matters, President Obama delivered what's already been described as one of his best at Fort Hood. Watch it:

Transcript here.

In today's Star:

President Barack Obama’s address to Congress and the nation was clear, simple and direct. He succeeded Wednesday night in promoting a strong package of needed health care reforms in America.

It’s time for Congress to follow the president’s lead. Stop the partisan bickering. Start the constructive debate.

Fired Up!, ready to go:

In response to the building campaign of Taking the Opponents Head On about health care reform proposals before Congress, the White House has posted a web video and rebuttal on the Whitehouse.gov blog to the allegation that the President wants to "eliminate" private insurance, which we've been hearing nationally and locally.

The headline on the screen is obviously from the Drudge Report, though she's careful to avoid mentioning the site by name. It's a fascinating and powerful online strategy that would have been hard to imagine a few years ago.

Data is from the new Washington Post/ABC poll. More here and here.