Live-blogging the State of the State: Populist Paterson

This State of the State address has to be seen as both a serious policy speech and the first, concrete step in Governor David Paterson’s bid for re-election.

So far, my sense is that he’s hitting both notes pretty well, sounding passionate and plainspoken while also laying out some bitter medicine.

Dispensing with the ceremonial mumbo-jumbo at the beginning of his speech struck my ear as a great rhetorical flourish.

Can this accidental governor lay out a credible agenda of his own, one that will give him a reasonable shot at re-election?

Read the full text of Paterson’s State of the State Address.

Your comments welcome.