Will Obama, then, deliver the State of the Union Adddress?

[question everything]

But then, whatever state is there, is not of his making, or planning, etc.

I suppose this takes place whenever there is a new administration.. still strange.

Or what am I missing?

[PM7nj]

1. Presidents usually do not give a SOTU during their first year.

[question everything]

3. Thanks. I just do not remember whether Clinton gave one in 1993

or Bush in 2001.

[MADem]

6. Clinton gave a SOTU in Feb 93. Bush gave his first on 27 Jan 01.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/states/stories/sop022193.htm

By Mary McGrory
Sunday, February 21, 1993; Page C01


President Clinton's State of the Union message was a speech, of course, but much more than that. Given the state of mind in the House chamber on the Democratic side, it was like watching fireworks on a river – each burst was reflected, magnified, extended beyond its moment.

The air of triumph had less to do with what he said than from his being there. He was a Democratic president after 12 years of Republicans. He was an American president who after 40 years of cold war had come home, who was talking to his fellow citizens about themselves and their own country. Throughout the hour that he talked, there was a kind of under-rumble of glee and excitement. It surfaced on an average of every four minutes. He was interrupted more than 75 times by applause; the standing ovations were so frequent the Democrats hardly sat down.

Often the State of the Union is an exercise in self-congratulation. Ronald Reagan was wont to boast about us as "a good and loving people," and made it his trademark to read the roll call of everyday "heroes" who were sitting in the gallery. At the peak of George Bush's presidency, March 7, 1991, he went before a joint session as Julius Caesar – to take bows for "Desert Storm." The Republicans were in transports; George Bush hailed us as citizens of the world.

He also gave excellent advice: "We must bring that same sense of self-discipline, that same sense of urgency to the way we meet challenges here at home."

If he had taken that advice – and given the speech that Bill Clinton gave last Wednesday night, he might still be in the White House.

Clinton addressed Americans as rational and responsible human beings who know there is something terribly wrong, that we have to do some unpleasant things to fix it. The reward will be that we start paying our debts, putting people to work, and pushing back poverty. The alternative? "A lesser life for our children and grandchildren." ............


http://www.let.rug.nl/usa/P/gwb43/speeches/state_union_2001.htm

George Walker Bush
State of the Union 2001
January 27, 2001


Mr. Speaker, Mr. Vice President, members of Congress: It's a great privilege to be here to outline a new budget and a new approach for governing our great country. I thank you for your invitation to speak here tonight. I know Congress had to formally invite me, and it could have been a close vote. So, Mr. Vice President, I appreciate you being here to break the tie.

I want to thank so many of you who have accepted my invitation to come to the White House to discuss important issues. We're off to a good start. I will continue to meet with you and ask for your input. You have been kind and candid, and I thank you for making a new President feel welcome......

Blah, blah...bullshit, bullshit!

[question everything]

17. Thanks. What a treasured find

Still, could not help it. Had the Democrats controlled their "glee" perhaps we would not have lost Congress two years later. Had the Democrats not tried to trip Clinton at every turn, hey, we may have had some form of a universal health care by now.

[MADem]

8. The last two did. nt

[Freddie Stubbs]

32. Bush did in 2001 and Clinton did in 1993:

http://www.c-span.org/executive/transcript.asp?cat=current_event&code=bush_admin&year=2001

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/states/docs/sou93.htm

[MADem]

2. Bush could give one on his way out, if he'd like.

The President shall "from time to time" give one, and they usually happen in mid-January, but who the hell knows?

I haven't heard anything definitive one way or another. Some suggest Obama will give "an address" to Congress (not a SOTU, specifically) in early Feb. We'll see.

[question everything]

4. Obama addressing the nation as Presient will be a wonderful event (nt)

[Captain Hilts]

13. He's got some 'splainin' to do. nt

[MADem]

15. He sure does!!!

Which is why I'm betting he skips the opportunity!

[Hippo_Tron]

25. Congress has to invite the President to give the State of the Union

I don't think Pelosi wanted to invite him the last two years so I can't imagine why she'd want to invite him this year when she has the option not to.

[nsd]

5. It's unlikely there will be a State of the Union address this year.

From the American Presidency Project at UCSB:

"Finally, President George W. Bush delivered a State of the Union Address on January 28, 2008. It was widely stated that this was his last address before leaving office on January 20, 2009, but assuming this is incorrect. Bush has the right to deliver either a written or oral State of the Union in the days immediately before leaving office in 2009. Presidents Truman, Eisenhower, Johnson, Ford, and Carter chose to do so. Presidents Reagan, Bush, and Clinton, chose not to."


So Bush could, in principle, give a final SOTU before leaving, but almost certainly he won't.

[MADem]

7. Why not? Clinton gave one his first year. So did GW Bush. Bush showed up

FAST, too--in January, before he'd even finished unpacking, probably. Clinton did his first one in Feb after his inauguration.

[Hippo_Tron]

27. He can't deliver one to congress without being invited

[Shakespeare]

9. The inaugural address takes the place of SOTU speech for incoming presidents. n/t

[Captain Hilts]

12. Not correct. nt

[MADem]

16. No it doesn't. Clinton and Bush both gave first year addresses.

I have provided cites elsewhere in this thread.

[Captain Hilts]

10. It doesn't make any sense. Never has. I've never understood this practice. nt

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

14. The SOTU address lays out priorities and plans -- it is a good thing for an incoming president

The purpose of the address if for the pres to keep in touch with congress and let them know where he thinks we are and where we need to be going.

It will be an important moment in the Obama presidency

[NYC Liberal]

19. It's good because the new president can start pushing legislation

for his first 100 days (first year, really). It sets the tone for the coming months. Even if it's not a "SOTU" but just an address to Congress

[Hippo_Tron]

29. It's because the inaugural address and the state of the union are different things

Inaugural addresses are designed to inspire the nation and lay out the President's broad vision for the country. After the President sets out his vision for the country he can then give the State of the Union to specifically explain his legislative agenda. But if he were to do that in his inaugural, the inaugural speech would not have the inspirational qualities needed to get people on board.

Imagine if Franklin Roosevelt had said in his inaugural "I propose a National Recovery Administration to set standards for wages and prices and I also propose a Securities and Exchange Commission to regulate the financial industry and I also propose deposit insurance, etc..." instead of "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself". Roosevelt would eventually give speeches about all of those programs but first he had to explain to the country that the New Deal wasn't just a laundry list of programs, it was a beacon of hope.

[TexasProgresive]

11. I would like that and

he could give one every 6 or 8 weeks or so. There is nothing stated that they be annual. That's like Easter duty for Catholics, just the bare minimum. And that the SOTU speach be of real substance and not a bunch of opportunities for standing ovations. When the speach is finished there should be a question period like in a real press conference.

I think that the above would make the SOTU message something to watch and hear.

[question everything]

18. Sounds interesting. Perhaps 3-4 times a year

and make it shorter - no more than 30 minutes.

I think that Clinton still holds the title of the longest one.

[pettypace]

20. There's a SOTU address every year

That's why its called the State of the Union!!

Good lord how can anyone not comprehend such an obvious notion - so BO will be giving one, and as we all can tell it will be sorely needed for 2009.

[TahitiNut]

21. Here's a list of all SOTU addresses by each President. (There were TWO in 1961.)

http://www.usa-presidents.info/union/

Recently ...

Dwight D. Eisenhower 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961

John F. Kennedy 1961, 1962, 1963

Lyndon B. Johnson 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969

Richard M. Nixon 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974

Gerald Ford 1975, 1976, 1977

Jimmy Carter 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981

Ronald Reagan 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988

George Bush 1989(*), 1990, 1991, 1992

Bill Clinton 1993(*), 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000

George W. Bush 2001(*), 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006

* Note that these speeches are not officially listed as State of the Union Addresses. Regardless, they were perceived as being State of the Union Addresses by the press and the public at the time they were delivered and are commonly remembered as being State of the Union Addresses. They are accordingly treated as such by this site.

[liberalpragmatist]

22. The last few presidents have had first-year "Addresses to Congress"

That are "de facto" SOTU addresses.

Not sure why they can't just call them SOTU, but whatev.

[Ken Burch]

23. Lil' Dubbikins gets to give a farewell SOU.

Obama can give one later, but the Dubster gets one last crack at it.

[FrenchieCat]

24. Oh, I hope not! I know that I can't take him anymore.....

So I'm on my knees, begging him please....to just go!

[Hippo_Tron]

26. I don't think he does

Lame duck Presidents don't generally give a SOU as far as I know. The modern SOU is designed to lay out the President's agenda for the year and since he's out of office in a few weeks, he has no agenda.

[Hippo_Tron]

28. Obama will absolutely give a State of the Union address in February

The inaugural speech is designed to set the tone for the nation and lay out the broad vision of the President. The State of the Union is when the President specifically tells Congress and the nation what his legislative agenda will be. Given that we are facing a time of crisis, Obama will certainly want to lay out his agenda to Congress an the nation. And remember that one of Obama's great strengths is his speaking ability. He will use that to the fullest extent that he can to get his agenda passed.

I look forward to finally seeing a real President addressing a joint session of congress.

[Norrin Radd]

30. I bet he will, to inspire confidence in these times.

[Clio the Leo]

31. You do realize of whom you're speaking?

This is Barack Obama .... the man likes to get up in front of a crowd and talk. :-)

Throw in the fact that Democrats control the Congress, there's an air of celebration ringing in the halls of the Capitol ..... oh yeah, there WILL be a Sate of the Union Address.

And we will lap it up like little puppies! Can't wait! Bring on the rhetorical flourishes!!!