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Rove, Trippi share State of the Union expectations

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    Previewing President Obama's address

  • Duration 10:04
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Now for some analysis of the State of the Union Address to come with -- we bring back -- of -- -- to give their expectations for tomorrow's address joining me from.

Austin, Texas former bush senior advisor Karl Rove.

And democratic strategist Joseph Trippi from Key West, Florida.

Gentlemen welcome.

Joseph first to you your thoughts on this already there are some reports out there that this is going to be an aggressive speech.

Is that going to fly in this current environment with Capitol Hill.

I don't know that'll fly on Capitol Hill or not but I it it's clear that the president is going to be aggressive in his speech I think he's.

-- -- concentrate on jobs the economy for the middle class but also fold in all the other items in his agenda immigration and gun control.

As a way to build a safer prosperous America but in recent days Brett.

He's been in meetings with -- would Democrats on the hill and tell them he wants them to be bold he wants them to be aggressive.

In getting this agenda -- I think that's going to be his message to the country as well.

My guess Carl the question is you know bold and aggressive is one thing bold and aggressive.

That is negative towards Republicans or.

Perhaps put some of the different mood towards working.

Towards some goal.

Is another thing.

If you think it'll turn off Republicans -- as we haven't heard the speech yet but usually state of the union addresses -- laundry list of things to get done and aren't previewed as aggressive the day before -- Yeah but when you when you have your and White House advisors -- quit quoting the military strata -- -- sue about how you put your enemy in a difficult place you know this is not a -- point at which the president ought to be declaring enemies he ought to be trying to.

-- -- vision that draws people together.

And the idea that the White House is going to be aggressive they said.

Demanding they're gonna require the new congress -- you can't that's not how the system works and the American people frankly are not.

Excited about that is why pres Obama begins his second term with the lowest approval ratings of any modern second term president.

Now there's also another thing going on here which is the tension between the inaugural speech.

And the State of the Union Address in -- State of the Union Address he devoted 45 words to the economy and three sentences.

Nineteen words in one sense to deficit reduction followed by a 155.

Words saying why wasn't gonna cut.

Entitlements it's -- 160 words to.

And nonsense is to climate control and at 358.

Words and ten cents is what he called our generation's task.

Pay equity gay marriage immigration reform voter -- repeal.

And gun control -- social issues now the White House says it's gonna once again pivot back to the economy.

Frankly they -- of so many times the economy the American people are sort of they'll do their heads revolving around -- -- result.

The that the there's going to be a disconnect from what people heard in that state of the union action in the inaugural speech.

And what they apparently are gonna here in the State of the Union Address they're going to be wondered if it's important now why was an important couple weeks ago.

But on the flip side Karl Republicans also needs something to be done.

Something to get done.

And on the list of things that are possible that the president has on his list what what are the things that Republicans possibly could say okay.

-- despite the tone and tenor -- perhaps of this dress we can sign on and get that done.

Well if he does talk about deficit reduction that might be one -- that he is basically saying I want tax increases to reduce -- deficit.

That's not gonna fly with the Republicans particularly the house there might be possibility of tax reform Ways and Means Committee chairman Dave Camp of Michigan.

Has indicated that he's got a movie that tax reform measure them might be a point of agreement.

And then of course immigration reform but all these other social issues.

Pay equity gay marriage gun control there is unlikely to be a big grand bargain and on -- and on the economy and -- jobs and growth.

We've got two very different views here.

How to go about doing that we've tried president Obama's now for -- on five years hasn't exactly working particularly well.

We've got unemployment higher today than -- until -- became an office and we are back to the level of people working in America.

That we had when the recession began in December 2007.

So we got some big -- differences here and the president if he's aggressive provocative and controversial is not going to be trying to bring people together he's gonna make those divisions bigger and more difficult to bridge.

-- same question -- what could possibly get done on the list of things on the agenda.

Look I think the president is gonna lay out a very aggressive agenda and then challenge the Republicans to join her get out the way and that you know that's gonna that's going to be breaks them.

Partisan -- I think but but the other side of that is.

-- you know he's I think he's trying to push off -- -- this notion of a lame duck presidency I think they've they've created.

Oh FAA organizing for action.

You put that -- millions of people on the street organizing for for this agenda.

And it -- at the same time asking Democrats in congress to be -- -- gonna be -- this saying.

Look if your for immigration reform reach out so Marco Rubio.

And and others in the Republican Party.

And and be enjoying would then -- in the join the him.

It in in what he wants to accomplish for his agenda and then that create could create a big spasm in the Republican party of big some infighting.

This isn't I don't think it's just about trying to get his agenda passed this much he has.

Potentially trying to really show a difference between the two parties going -- 2014.

Election.

In the hopes of actually winning -- in congress.

And actually finishing out his term with a majority in congress as well I mean it's a fairly audacious.

-- but I think they're actually gonna try to pull this off and I think.

Both the inaugural speech and the state of the union is part of it.

But there's also a little bit of -- you would thing for some of those moderate Democrats one of them as the head of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.

Senator Bennett from Colorado.

He's he's -- it up but he he know.

These Democrats who may be up in states that traditionally are red states.

You know may look at an aggressive agenda one that was characterizing by you is liberal after the inauguration address.

As is potentially a problem come the mid terms.

No that's right Mary Landry and in Louisiana Max Baucus a Montana.

There are and a number of of races that are off this time.

In which there are Democrats holding down red states right now on the US senate who is one example -- a couple of examples there.

And and I think they are -- they they are going to be pushed up against the wall a little -- be very interesting to watch their reaction to the speech.

-- -- Yeah I think you're actually right you put your finger on the tension inside this approach the president or seven Democrat senators -- senate.

Seats up in red states won by.

Mitt Romney six of them won and by double digits from Mormon Romney.

And then their budget democratic congressman whose districts are on the bubble now if you're Obama in your -- your being more aggressive and controversial and provocative that means you're going to the left.

In districts where there'd -- this that the senator is not gonna like that and that's why you have.

Issues -- Democrats on over the issue gun control or gay marriage.

You know they're they're not excited about this being the centerpiece of the argument they're also not excited by Nancy Pelosi going out and saying.

We don't have a spending problem when he has in the Fox News -- I think it's 83% of Americans.

Think the federal government that -- -- has a spending problem.

It's sort of hard to -- and we need higher taxes more spending -- more investments American people see through that focus group tested -- they know what means more government spending.

The president is unlikely to achieve his goal taken -- it is virtually never happens that the that the White House party gain seats in the second mid term election.

Most of -- time they lose a lot of seats and ironically enough the way to minimize their losses is to be less political not more political and the president is chosen me.

That the way of being more political I think it's gonna put a lot more seats at risk in the house in 2014.

That would otherwise be and it and it's likely -- to have those seven Democrats in those red states.

Most in all of those -- term Republican in the next election maybe not enough to win control the senate.

But enough that the Democrats.

Lose lose their 5545.

March.

-- thing guys -- the union address is usually.

Do not.

Make a lot of headlines they usually did not make a ton of news.

As I said the usually shopping lists but.

Let's think about a headline for the day after.

This state of the union.

Joseph what do you think.

Don't underestimate this president we underestimated -- a lot of people under -- -- in him in 2012.

In the election I think -- this could be of -- agenda and I wouldn't underestimate his ability to get it done.

Now what paper's gonna fit all that and has -- But but at.

I'm sparking -- go -- would look at your headlines.

-- -- two headlines one is.

Obama urges bipartisan cooperation on big issues -- And that would be the good headline I think -- headline is going to be.

Obama challenges Republicans to follow you know to follow.

And that is going to be a good headline.

Of these are tone -- you're right they don't create a lot of news but they set a tone and if the president's tone as aggressive contentious and provocative.

That's not what the country wants and that's not what it's gonna guarantee -- action which is what will -- his levels and raise levels of his party if there's actually accomplishments.

And you know I know the Arab web guy and it would clearly fit on line.

That headline so.

But it's been very except thank.

All right guys as always thank you will see -- -- Thank you --

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