"Setting the agenda" would have been an infinitely-better way for Obama to put it, if indeed that's the concept he wished to convey. I'm not so sure. In fact, I think he wanted to parrot-off Republican talking-points and attack his opponents from the rhetorical-right, while at the same time criticizing Republicans for creating every ill in the modern political and economic environment--a tactic he uses often. I'm not sure why, when you're running for the Democrat nominee, taking Republican talking-points and regurgitating them as gospel is something the media and Net-Dems swoon over, but this is where we find ourselves. As for your other part, no one is debating whether or not Republicans-at-large like tax cuts. But the reality is, there are all sorts of non-tax-cutting ideas out there, in Republican candidates' proposals, etc. And ideas on energy policy, etc; and there have been for the last 15 years. It's like saying Democrats' economic proposals are just, "increase taxes." Obama was spewing a shallow non-analysis trying to make a meaningless point attacking Dems as a party. I feel you'd admit this if you weren't quickly moving into Obamapologist mode.
