More confirmation from the New York Times of the president's State of the Union tomorrow and its pitch for ending the era of Reaganomics.
WASHINGTON — President Obama will use his election-year State of the Union address on Tuesday to argue that it is government’s role to promote a prosperous and equitable society, drawing a stark contrast between the parties in a time of deep economic uncertainty.
This president will, once again, declare an end to Reagan's "government is the problem" mindset in politics (though I'm sure he won't say the word "Reaganomics"). After 30 years, it's coming to a close, but only after infecting the Democratic Party as well. For instance:
Mr. Obama’s third State of the Union address is widely seen in parallel with the one delivered in 1996 by President Bill Clinton. Mr. Clinton likewise was seeking re-election, after voters in the midterm elections had put Republicans in power in Congress as a rebuke to his perceived big-government liberalism.
But Mr. Clinton sought to co-opt Republicans’ small-government message; his State of the Union line “the era of big government is over” is among the most memorable of his presidency.
This address ought to be a rallying point for progressives. I hope everyone is paying attention because, at long last, we have a president who is vocally defending liberalism on a national stage rather than running away from it as President Clinton and other Democrats have for too long.
UPDATE: Here's the president.