THE SPEECH - AT 7:44 A.M. ET:  Tonight's speech before a joint session of Congress is being billed, especially by those who seek TV ratings, as the biggest speech of Barack Obama's career.  Hard to say.  We have had, since Obama's inauguration, government by speech, and the public has caught on.  The president is hopelessly overexposed, more a salesman and personality than the chief executive of the most powerful country on Earth.  Indeed, he has seemed increasingly less presidential as his term has worn on.

He will be seeking to salvage health-care "reform."  Some, especially among the professional punditocracy, charge that it's in danger because of distortions and lies by the "right-wing attack machine."  We say that it's in danger because it's poorly drawn up, poorly presented, and contains elements the public simply doesn't like. 

Mr. Obama must tonight do these things:  1)  He must demonstrate that he knows the subject; 2) He must present a coherent reform plan, easily understandable, whose main points are clear, and he must present it quickly; 3) He must show that this plan will help the very people listening to him and is superior to what the nation has now; 4) He must demonsrate practicality; 5) He must include at least some tort reform, showing that he's willing to take on powerful elements in his own party who are holding back reform.

Mr. Obama must not do these things:  1) He must not be arrogant and dismissive, talking down to the American people; 2) He must not blame some sinister force out there, but accept responsibility for the handling of his own plan; 3) He must not sound like a candidate, difficult for a man who's spent most of his career getting the job.

This is different.  Now he must do the job.

We'll be watching the president tonight, and giving readers an instant reaction.  We'll also be watching the Republican response, which must be thoughtful, creative, and contain proposals, not just criticism.

September 9,  2009