Obama’s last chance to lay out his plans

>> of the union day . what better place to be. abe lincoln 's birthday. let's get right to the first reads of the morning. if you believe that second term domestic agendas have a shelf life of 18 months at most, then president obama 's last best chance to lay out aggressive plans. for that reason, don't be surprised if you hear a laundry list of policy asks. also hanging over tonight's speech, the constant gridlock that has been this president's achilles heel . for weeks the president spent much of his time in public talking about gun violence and immigration. as the economy goes, so goes his second term agenda. he will refocus on the top concern. the economy and jobs. as the president prepares to give his speech, the unemployment rate while down from the high in 2009 remains at 7.9%. the gdp report is a reminder of ow fragile the economy is. 36% said they either were very or fairly confident in the president's ability to promote a strong and agreeing economy. they say the speech will return to economic fairness he will talk about.

>> this country succeeds when everyone gets a fair shot and everyone does their fair share . everyone plays by the same rules. these aren't democratic or republican values or 1% values or 99% values. these are american values . we have to reclaim them.

>> and the president will revisit themes from the reelection campaign outlining the plan to create jobs and grow the middle class .

>> goals in receivering and education and national security and the deficit. real achievable plans that will lead to new jobs.

>> and while the speech may come across as a laundry list tonight, there will be new initiatives intended to answer three questions according to white house aides. how can we create more jobs and give preem the skills they need for the jobs and how do folks who work hard make a decent living. it comes two weeks before a new set of budget showdowns. the president and congressional republicans on march 1st , a series of what some believe are draconian cuts. they don't want them, but will kick in. at the end of the month, the government completely runs out of fund pg. th senate republican leader mitch mcconnell had this response to the president on monday.

>>> the white house will subject us to another campaign blitz. the president's hands are tied by what we propose, sign, and refuse to get rid of.

>> let's be clear. when the budget control act passed on august 11 , 2011 through the house, it passed by a vote of 269 to 161. 174 were republicans.

>> though the president's speech will be dominated by the economy, he will touch on the other issues at beginning of this first month of the second term. guns, immigration and foreign policy . that includes north korea that gets a mention after they say they conducted a 30 nuclear test that president obama calls highly provocative. the state of the union is part substance and part atmospherics.

>> mr. speaker! the president of the united states ! every year the mood is reflected in the chamber itself. despite the focus of speech and the memory of newtown will loom. lawmakers are inviting guests from all sides of the gun debate from former congresswoman gabrielle giffords who was a surprise guest will attend this year with her husband as the guest of john mccain and her former aide, ron barber. they star in an ad that will air after the president's address tonight. then the parents of slain teenager who will be guests of the first lady as will lieutenant brian murphy who was struck besponding to the sikh temple shooting. newtown victims and first responders will be there including a teacher who was wounded and survived. and then folks representing the other side. rocker ted nugent who was investigated by the secret service after telling the convention if barack obama is reelected, i will be dead or in jail. he will be at the state of the union as a guest of congressman steve stockman . he has been a leading voice in favor of immigration reform . the south carolina husband and father of two children who are u.s. citizens and fighting deportation. speaker boehner's guest include an ex-bat boy and the school choice program. finally florida senator marco rubio will speak to the largest national audience when he delivers the republican response to the president's address. while it may not feel like a debut to the no republicans, it's an opportunity for him to build the epitation with a broader audience. the choice of rubio was a no brainer. consider the party's problem. there was a device between the establishment. gop has a problem with minorities. we previewed saying he will focus on the parties to limit government as the best way to help the little class and hold down future spending. he will make a case for exceptionalism.

>> dreams that are impossible will come true here.

>> we are a uniquely blessed people and honored those with the example of an exceptional america.

>> they characterize the president's call for big government .

>> a government that spends $1 trillion more than it takes? a stimulus that created more debt than jobs and a government intervention paid for with higher taxes and cuts to medicare? these failed every time and everywhere they have been tried. these are ideas that people come to america to get away from.

>> i am told by staffers that marco rubio had a peninsula to the state of the union in mind and her to it up and starred again. they are ready to go to toe with a spirited president who is ready to advance.

>> he said we don't just want to be the opposition. we want to be the alternative. he is expected to address reform and mainly as a vehicle for agreeing the economy. it will not be a big part. he plans to retape a spanish language version that will run on stations while he is delivering his remarks in english. he has been on a conference call yesterday by debbie wassermann shuttle.

>> despite the desire to learn needs to smile more. they will offer more of the policies rejected by the american people last yf.

>> history has not always been kind and nothing is harder than following a president. not since 1996 when then senator bob dole said a republican delivered the state of the union response to win the party's presidential nomination. it's not just louisiana governor bobby jindal . kathleen had to survive with conservatives and a big step to becoming a major player. look at the past several responsers. it looks like a 2016 iowa caucus lineup. more thing. there was a time when marco rubio was tea party enough, but now it's rand paul who will deliver's tea party response to the president's speech.

>> there is a lot of manager and while they consider themselves to be the republican and they wanted an independent voice. i won't say anything that is like marco rubio is wrong. i don't always agree, but this is not about he and i. this is about the tea party .

>> the first settle hint that he may not be one of them. it may not be a head to head matchup. next stop, des moines . up next, the preview from both sides of the white house . house majority and still to come, the promises and pitfalls of the second term state of the union . the vatican in uncharted territory as the pope prepares to step down. the short list of candidates is starting to emerge. we are live in rome with the political jockeying and the latest on the pope's health. we will pick up the coverage after the break, but 50 a look ahead. today's politics planner. we know the big thing. a lot of under the radar. you are watching the damy run down only on msnbc. [