I find the tag-team style Democratic response to be less than inspiring.

[elperromagico]

They did this last year, didn't they, with Daschle and Pelosi?

Get one great speaker - be it a Senator, a Representative, or a governor - and let them do the whole response. Consistency of message and style...

[Ediacara]

1. Wasn't it just Gary Locke last year?

Former governor of Washington?

[elperromagico]

3. I believe that was in '02 or '03.

Last year, it was Pelosi and Daschle. Of course, Bush's speech last year was so poor that it didn't make much of a difference.

[mitchtv]

2. I found myself saying WTF is he talking about?

then he warmed up and did better. I wish Charlie Rangel had answered for the D's

[napi21]

4. I disagree with you. I think he's just what the dem message needs.

He's not radical, mean, nasty, or evil, but what he says makes sense to the common man. That's what we need to do to0 convert people who don't vote Dem to do so!

[elperromagico]

6. I had no problem with Reid. I thought he did well.

But we don't need two people doing the response. Let Reid do it by himself, or let someone else do it by himself/herself.

[neoteric lefty]

5. Exactly, you have one man on the stage for an hour or so

and it looks like we need two just to give a canned response. To those middle-of-the-road folks out there, it looks weak and contrived. I totally concur that we need one man or woman to stand up and debate what Bush has said. I know this would never happen, but I would love to see Bill Clinton give the response. Seeing him the other day on CSPAN in Switzerland; he just knows how to both lay out the Democratic position in a simple, yet effective way, and he knows how to speak to the individual, not the camera.

[napi21]

8. As much as I love BS, you need to let him go.

Of course he's the best orator the Dems have had as far back as I cqan remember! I'd love to see him be the spokesman for everything, but he's not President anymore, and you have to let him go.

We don't have a BC anymore. We have to work with the people we have.

Reid did a good job tonight, and so did Nancy.

I think they have two voices because one represents the Senate and one represents the House. There's nothing wrong with that.

[neoteric lefty]

11. BS? Don't we all love that?

Just Kidding. I know Clinton is just a pipe dream, but we ned someone that has those skills to make people actually pay attention to what this party is saying. I really feel if every American actually listened to what our party stands for and understand the Democratic ideals beyond the cliched talking point of Republican strategists, we wouldn't see another Republican administration for a long time. Style really does matter nowadays. It will open the doors to let substance in for a lot of people.

[Psephos]

7. I find the entire idea of a rebuttal speech less than inspiring

Quick, name one memorable phrase from any rebuttal speech, ever.

The format is awkward, and the concept is politically dumb. It's a reactive speech that makes whoever gets stuck having to deliver it look small next to the trappings of the SOTU pulpit.

I'm surprised either party goes along with it.

[Robert Oak]

9. I agree, not together

1stly they should practise...

Whatever is wrong with Pelosi I don't know but she shouldn't do it..

Reid I thought was ok..

but maybe all of the democrats around them, people and then 1 speaker
for the whole response with the democrats clapping...

upstage them...

lord knows the republicans have used every theater and propaganda
trick in the book.

[AP]

10. Nobody is listening to what they say. At least they get to see twice...

...as many Dems (and see a woman) and hear more than one name.

I think it was fine.

I just wish they'd talk about how the disappearance of the middle class is not keeping America safe, and is probably making America much less safe.

[Donailin]

12. agree. this walking on egg shells crap has got to stop

tell like it is: THEY'RE LYING!!!!!!