What did you think? Overall, I'm happy with this speech, as I hear a clear strategy, including a clear exit strategy, combined with the obvious strong commitment of President Obama. My main question is how we're going to pay for this. I just heard John McCain talk about cutting other spending, although he didn't specify what exactly. Another option I've heard is to use excess TARP funds to pay for the war in Afghanistan. I strongly disagree with that approach. Instead, given the deep recession we find ourselves in, TARP money should be used to help create jobs for out-of-work Americans; that is by far and away the top priority right now. Finally, I've heard discussion of raising the gas tax, including in today's Washington Post. Given that "the federal gas tax of 18.4 cents a gallon has not been raised since 1993," this is an option that deserves to be considered, but almost certainly will not be by politicians who are terrified of raising taxes at any time, let alone in the middle of a nasty recession.
UPDATE Tuesday morning: Over at Daily Kos, a slight plurality is supporting President Obama's Afghanistan speech. I'm surprised, as I thought they'd be strongly against any military escalation there. Live and learn, I guess...
