Notations On our World: On #SOTU & Beyond (4th in a Series)

President Obama's State of the Union had four interesting questions he posed. It focused on securing a viable future, Technology , being safe while not being the World's Policeman while calling for a transformation of the political debate. On the 4th pillar of his comments, it was interesting how the discourse we've featured over the past 24 hours is yet to be realized. Trump went after Governor Haley as he noted how he had "paid her loads of Campaign Cash" and now how weak she is--this is as we featured some of the comments courtesy of the Washington Post that was reported earlier. It was also of note that Justice Alito, Justice Thomas and Justice Scalia were not at the event. This is as the campaigns are on a mad dash to get ready for Iowa. On a side note, Oil dropped to below $ 30 a Barrel and the Stock Markets have been taking a tumble--which will also be a focus of us over the ensuing weeks as earnings season gets under way.

It was again of note of #SOTU 2016 (The President's Last State of hte Union), we wanted to feature the view from the Conservatives (as noted in a recent edition of the Heritage Foundation's The Daily Signal): 

The surprising reason this congressman walked out of the State of the Union. Rep. Steve King walked out of the U.S. House chamber minutes before Obama's speech, leaving his chair on the House floor empty. He also left hisguest gallery seat open.

President Obama outlined his agenda. Here's what conservatives have on theirs. Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, and Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, outlined the policy issues conservatives plan to pursue in 2016. The Daily Signal's Philip Wegmann has the story.

House Republicans are not backing down from "criminal intent" addition to prison reform debate. "I think a deal that does not address this issue is not going anywhere in the House of Representatives," said Rep. Bob Goodlatte, Judiciary Committee chairman.

What we're reading: "Is it any wonder that voters are angry and restive?" That's the question Heritage Foundation senior fellow Mike Gonzalez asks the day after President Obama’s final State of the Union address. Gonzalez says the presidential campaign comes at the right moment in history: It brings to an end the Obama experiment and offers an opportunity to refocus on assimilation in America. Read more at National Review. As we were "on the prowl",  this was the view from the Hillary Clinton Campaign.  The Democrats were also on a fundraising push of the email that was released by Speaker Ryan's Office that we reported on earlier:

Hey -- are you watching the State of the Union? It’s incredible when you think about how much we’ve accomplished over the last 7 years, from the Affordable Care Act, to ending two wars, to last week’s actions to expand background checks and prevent gun violence.

We have so much progress to protect -- and so much work still to do. We know that Hillary is the right successor to protect and build on President Obama’s legacy, and we think everyone else should know it, too. Spare a share?

RETWEET THESE:

@HillaryClinton America is better because of @POTUS' leadership. Proud to call him my friend. Let’s build on his progress. #SOTU -H

@creynoldsnc Proud to say #ImWithHer, but tonight will also be grateful to have gotten to work for @POTUS as he accomplished so much. #ThanksObama

SHARE THESE:

Thanks!

- Jess

P.S. The State of the Union would look and sound a little different from a Republican President -- follow along and retweet at @TheBriefing2016!

As we went to press, this was sent out by the Rubio Campaign as they gear up for their debate later on this evening:

$100,000 in 24 hours. That's the goal our campaign has set out to raise before tomorrow night's debate.  will you chip in $24 right now to help us get there?        >>> Chip in $24 >>>      Tomorrow night all eyes will be on me. You see, all of my opponents know that our campaign is the biggest threat to their success. They know that we are garnering the support of more Americans every minute, and they are going to throw every attack possible our way to see us defeated. I need your help to fight back. I'm emailing you today because if we are able to raise $100,000 before I step on the debate stage, it will send a strong message to my opponents and the media as well that we're going to win this thing. We have 24 hours before the debate begins. Will you chip in before it does?    I know the next eleven months are going to be grueling but our nation is worth it. I wouldn't be doing this if I didn't truly believe that our nation deserves a better leader. I know that with your urgent help today, we will be successful in November and finally take our nation back. I hope I can count on you before I step on the debate stage tomorrownight. Sincerely, Marco Rubio Republican Candidate for President P.S. Time is running out. Tonight I'm completing my final preparations fortomorrow's debate, and I need to know I have your support. In fact, I've asked my Campaign Manager to send me an updated list of supporterstonight so I can review it before I hit the hay. I hope I'll see your name on that list.       >>> Chip in $24 >>>

Notations On Our World: On the Aftermath of #SOTU (3rd in a Series)

As our assessment of the aftermath of President Obama's Last State of the Union  Speech continues here in #Outsiders , we wanted to feature two very divergent Views of what the President noted:   

In 2009, newly elected President Obama gave a stunning speech in Prague that outlined a clear vision for a world without nuclear weapons. He promised to lead the world into a future where nuclear weapons would no longer play a role in our national security. In a word, it was inspiring. But in the president’s final State of the Union address last night, those words seemed like a distant echo. There was not a single mention of American leadership to rid the world of nuclear weapons. Instead, our president seems to have taken a 180-degree turn on nuclear disarmament. President Obama has proposed an overhaul of the U.S. nuclear weapons arsenal that will cost more than $1 trillion over the next three decades. This overhaul includes funding for a new nuclear-tipped cruise missile that experts say is dangerous, unnecessary and expensive.1 TAKE ACTION: Send a letter to President Obama urging him to kill the new dangerous, expensive nuclear cruise missile. Advances in U.S. conventional forces have eliminated the need for a new cruise missile. The cost of these cruise missiles would be between $20-$30 billion -- that’s money we don’t have for a weapon we don’t need. And because these missiles can be launched without warning, the likelihood of miscalculation or escalation to nuclear war is huge. President Obama needs to abandon plans to fund the new nuclear-tipped cruise missile. At the moment, the proposal to fund the new cruise missile is just that -- a proposal. But the President plans to submit his final budget proposal as president to Congress in early February. We have an opportunity right now to pressure him to remove the unnecessary cruise missile from his final budget proposal before it’s too late. But we must act quickly. If the new cruise missile makes it into the president’s final budget proposal to Congress, it will be much harder to fight. Urge our president to eliminate funding for this dangerous, unnecessary and expensive nuclear weapon. Fight on, Ryan Rastegar Digital Engagement Manager Global Zero The latest news and analysis from Reason.com Wednesday, January 13, 2016 Obama's Final SOTU Is a Dud, Like His Presidency Domestically and abroad, he has set more fires than he put out. by Nick Gillespie Video: Obama Moves the Goalposts Again Is there a better way to deal with this annual State of the Union exercise in empty pageantry? by Matt Welch and Jim Epstein Obama Promised Optimism at State of the Union -- We Don't Need Politicians For That Optimism about America comes despite politicians not because of them. by John Stossel In State of the Union Rebuttal, Nikki Haley Takes on Donald Trump The South Carolina governor defended immigrants of every race and religion. by Stephanie Slade

Notations On Our World: On The Aftermath of #SOTU (First in a Series)

As President Obama spoke, the office of the House Speaker released the following in rebutttal to the President's remarks: 

We Can Do So Much Better... January 12, 2016 | Speaker Ryan Press Office | View Online | http://spkrryan.us/1ZrxQ1Z We’re about 30 minutes into President Obama’s final State of the Union address and it isn’t going so well. Lofty platitudes and nostalgic rhetoric may make for nice soundbites, but they don’t explain how to defeat ISIS, fix our critical safety net programs, and get our economy back on track. This isn’t a real path forward to restore a confident America. We can do so much better. By listening and bringing people together, here are just some of the things we’ve accomplished over the last two months: We boosted funding for our military to ensure our troops are well-equipped to accomplish their mission. We passed a bill requiring the president to put forward a real, comprehensive strategy to defeat ISIS. We replaced No Child Left Behind with an educational system that gives power back to the states. We made a down payment on tax reform by making permanent key tax breaks to foster certainty for hardworking families and business. We overhauled our customs laws for the first time in a generation so that American businesses can compete globally on a level playing field. We lifted the outdated, 40-year ban on crude oil exports, which will create an estimated 1 million American jobs and add $170 billion annually to our GDP. And we're only getting started. Already in 2016, we’ve put a bill on the president's desk to repeal Obamacare, showing that there’s a clear path to do this without 60 votes in the Senate.Tomorrow, we’ll send a bill to the president’s desk that rejects one of his most harmful regulations, the EPA’s Waters of the U.S. rule. This is just the beginning of a year in which we’ll present a bold, pro-growth agenda to address the big challenges the country is facing. Because, frankly, the American people deserve much better than what we’ve heard so far tonight. For a positive vision of America’s future, be sure to tune in to Nikki Haley following the President’s address at www.sotu.gop.gov.

--it was also of note that some of the more conservative elements within the Republican Party attacked the Governor of South Carolina as outlined below:

• Breitbart headlined its story: “Republican Party Uses State Of The Union Response To Attack Trump.”
• “Trump should deport Nikki Haley,” Ann Coulter wrote in one ofsix-anti Haley tweets.
• Radio host Laura Ingraham chimed in:  “The country is lit up w/ a populist fever & the GOP responds by digging in, criticizing the GOP candidates dominating polls?! NOT SMART.”
• Former Ted Cruz aide Amanda Carpenter wrote: “Haley’s speech would’ve been good except for the GOP self-loathing.”

The "establishment" within the GOP was different: 

• Charles Krauthammer, on a Fox News panel, called it the best State of the Union response he can ever recall hearing.
• The Washington Examiner’s David Drucker said Haley’s response “will likely elevate her to the top of the list of potential vice presidential contenders.”
• National Review editor Rich Lowry said it’s “always a tough assignment”: “Haley was a little shaky at beginning, but moving treatment of Charleston shooting and nice riff on GOP agenda.