The State of the State of the Union

[WilliamPitt]

Well, the time has come again to sit through another session with George.

It is interesting to note how this constitutionally-mandated rap session with congress has changed over the years. Washington and the first few presidents delivered the speeches themselves way back when. Yet for over one hundred years after those first few, the speech was delivered by the Executive branch and then read aloud in Congress to the members. The president did not come himself. Those remarks were detailed policy proposals for the next year, and were often absent a lot of the rah-rah we see now.

Woodrow Wilson brought back the old way by delivering the speeches himself, thus ushering in the new age of State of the Union remarks. Still, the speeches were largely policy-based. It was in the Carter administration that things began to change again. His press people wanted to make an event of the speech, partially to boost the profile of the man who was riding the malaise post-Vietnam tiger. These speeches became large media events under Carter as television news began to truly come into its own.

And then came Ronald Reagan, and the advent of the REALLY BIG MEDIA EVENT for the State of the Union speech. Say what you will about Reagan, and there is plenty to say, but the man knew how to work the cameras. Bush Sr. continued the practice of the REALLY BIG MEDIA EVENT, but could not come close to the high-water mark achieved by Reagan.

The eight State of the Union speeches delivered by Clinton combined both aspects of the history of the event. His speeches were REALLY BIG MEDIA EVENTS, but were also a blizzard of policy proposals a la Wilson. Clinton was the only president to come close to reaching the mark set by Reagan.

George W. Bush, however, has taken the thing in a whole new direction. If his speech is anything like the last few, 90% of the content will be "Freedom democracy freedom freedom God freedom liberty God democracy freedom freedom." In other words, it will be a pep rally.

George has also introduced the insertion of the REALLY BIG LIE into the REALLY BIG MEDIA EVENT. Recall, if you will, his comments from the 2003 address:

More: http://truthout.org/fyi

[paineinthearse]

1. It makes me sick

:puke:

[paineinthearse]

2. Ask The White House

Ask The White House - February 3, 2005
Secretary Snow will discuss the State of the Union on "Ask." Submit a question - http://www.whitehouse.gov/ask/question.html

(caution, WH site captures personal information).

[realFedUp]

3. Can you Tivo out the applause?

Wouldn't that be great. Make it more
bearable...I'll wait for the transcript
and the cartoons.

[paineinthearse]

4. Just turn down the sound and play

Firesign Theatre's "Not Insane" & "Not Responsible" -
http://www.firesigntheatre.com/albums/ni2.mp3

[realFedUp]

6. lol

I don't think I can watch at all.

[progressoid]

5. I predict a severly divided applause-O-meter

The repugs will wildly cheer to overcompensate for their sad excuse of a leader. Democrats will clap only when politically necessary.

[WilliamPitt]

7. .

[DalvaThree]

8. balls

what balls?

[hfojvt]

10. well, Bush did mention the last four years

but in regard to his tax cuts. In the 2003 SOTU he said he was going to cut taxes for all income tax payers: "The tax relief is for everyone who pays income taxes" However, as it turned out, I got nothing from that tax cut and I do pay income taxes.
Doubtless you are aware of that since it was mentioned many times by CBPP, but I just thought I would say it again.

[tavalon]

9. I didn't bother to watch or listen

I'm done with listening to the "moran" live. But, of course, I knew it would be necessary to find out what he was given to say, since we'll be fighting this administration for the foreseeable future.

Thanks Will for making it a less than awful experience. I read it at your FYI site and getting your little interjections made it tolerable. It's funny though, I was visualizing Jon Stewart making the comments - you did a lot of it in his style.

My stomach hasn't been doing well today (not related to the nauseating stuff coming out of the Beltway) but thanks to you, reading the boy king's spew didn't make it worse.