President Obama to Propose Partial Budget Freeze and Earmark Ban Tonight*  —  Pursuing a path of deficit reduction and government reform, President Obama will tonight in his State of the Union address call for a ban on earmarks and he will propose a five year budget freeze …

Harry Reid blasts Obama on earmarks  —  'I think it's the wrong thing to do.  I don't think it's helpful,' said Reid of an earmarks ban.  AP Photo  —  Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid blasted President Barack Obama on earmarks in advance of his State of the Union address Tuesday, when he's expected to call for a ban.

Obama: 'our generation's Sputnik moment'  —  President Obama will seek to rally the nation to a new era of competitiveness in his State of the Union address on Tuesday night, calling on Americans to rise to “our generation's Sputnik moment.”  —  “Half a century ago, when the Soviets beat us …

What the speech has done already  —  The president won't give his annual State of the Union address until later tonight, but in an important way, the speech has already worked.  For the past week or so, news report after news report has dutifully relayed the argument the president is planning …

National Journal leaks SOTU early  —  So much for all of the White House's efforts to keep the details of President Barack Obama's second State of the Union address under wraps until delivery.  —  At 7:14 p.m. - almost two hours before Obama was scheduled to speak in the House chamber …

The text of the State of the Union Address from a Democratic insider who has violated the White House embargo.  —  Via the National Journal.  —  UPDATE 1: … But the challenges were “bigger than party, and bigger than politics” before, when you “move[d] forward” on your own, with only your party.

CNN Poll: More than half of speech watchers have very positive reaction  —  Washington (CNN) - A majority of Americans who watched President Obama's State of the Union address said they had a very positive reaction to his speech, a slight rise from last year's speech, according to a poll of people who viewed Tuesday night's address.

Excerpts of Obama's State of the Union Address  —  Here are excerpts of President Barack Obama's State of the Union address, scheduled to begin at 9 p.m. ET:  —  THE WHITE HOUSE  —  Office of the Press Secretary  —  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  —  Excerpts from President Obama's State of the Union Address

Tea party to Bachmann: You don't speak for the tea party  —  Rep. Michele Bachmann has been steeped in tea party politics for the last two years, but she may be overstepping her bounds as she increasingly attaches herself to a movement that insists it has no party and no leader.

CNN justifies airing Bachmann speech: “Tea Party has become major force in American politics”  —  CNN, which is taking some criticism from both sides for agreeing to air Michele Bachmann's response to Obama's speech tonight, sends over a statement justifying the move: