I learned nothing new. Obama played the role of the reasonable “above the fray” President, and Boehner played the role of outraged white guy who wasn’t going to take it anymore. Each targeted very different audiences: Obama, presumably “independents” and the markets (because he sure wasn’t talking to the Democratic wing of the Democratic Party, i.e., the Progressive caucus) and Boehner was playing to the Angry Tea Party Crowd.
Be interesting to see what the markets do tomorrow. They can’t take a lot of comfort in Boehner’s reaction to what Obama said. As for the political pundits, well I think we already know how they will spin this. But I’m curious. What did you learn tonight, and what do you think is going to happen in the next few days? Because the speeches didn’t give me a clue, to be honest. It looked completely like theatrics to me.