BEST COMMENT - AT 10:51 P.M. ET:  I've continued to monitor reaction to the president's speech.  The most insightful comment I heard was from Dana Perino, President Bush's last press secretary, who asserted that Mr. Obama was trying to speak to too many audiences.  I agree.  The speech lacked the singularity of purpose of a great address, especially a great war address.  Once again, the president could not restrain his temptation to run for office...constantly.

The 2011 deadline proposed by President Obama figured into many of the comments I heard.  Conservatives, including former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, were uniformly critical of the president for stating a deadline while we're in the midst of combat.

Potentially, the most important remarks came from those who warned, as the president did, about nuclear weapons in Pakistan falling into the wrong hands. 

One striking feature:  Very few Democrats reacted publicly, at least from what I observed.  Their party is a national-security mess, with too many cards held by a sixties crowd that never grew up.   

I cannot help but think of Iran.  That crisis is now, and yet the president seemed overwhelmed by Afghanistan.  There are clouds ahead.

One clear thing that Mr. Obama must consider:  He must consider reaching out to the Republican Party, especially Senator John McCain.  The GOP is willing to help him in areas where he's losing the wine and Brie wing of his own party.  Thus far, Mr. Obama has been too partisan on foreign policy.  It's in his own interest to put that stage behind him.  He should start tomorrow.

December 1, 2009