Do our representatives HAVE to clap when the chimp walks in? Why would they?

[Danieljay]

Why SHOULD they? What would happen if they just sat on their butts and said nothing?

[La Lioness Priyanka]

1. we would be painted as sour losers or some such nonsense

so we have to be gracious and polite

[Swamp Rat]

4. No we don't

The time for that is over. Bushler already used up all of our graciousness... he sucked it into the black void where his heart was supposed to be.

[Swamp Rat]

2. Whoever does NOT clap will get my support.

:)

[Matariki]

3. Didn't Kerry pointedly NOT clap or not stand up during last SOTU ?

[MonkeyFunk]

6. I'm pretty sure

that didn't happen, because we would've heard non-stop about it for 6 months.

The State of the Union is not the time for childish antics. It's a tradition that goes far beyond any single President.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

12. exactly, its a tradition and it reflects badly if we act like children

and what does it prove anyway?

[Matariki]

15. Maybe you're right. But I remember a clip of Kerry sitting when everyone else was standing

Anyone have any idea what I'm talking about? (I'm not sure I do LOL - my memory might be way off here)

on edit - the 2005 SOTU, right after the election. The one where Democrats actually booed Bush about his Social Security statement.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

5. Couldn't they simply...

Waggle their genitals in his general direction?

[BuyingThyme]

7. The state of our union is a big joke to most of them.

[3121guitarist]

8. Hate to break this to you.

But the democrats really like Bush. Remember when new york liberals defended Bush over the Chavez remarks? Pathetic day for the democrats then, when Hugo told the demonic chimp where to park it.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

13. that could just be patriotism, the dems do not like bush..hell at this point

even the repubs dont like bush

[Der Blaue Engel]

17. Hate to break this to you

but we are Democrats here and we know that Democrats (capital D) do NOT "really like Bush." "New York liberals." Code words much?

[sandnsea]

9. Dean said to honor the office

of the Presidency, regardless of who the President is. I don't think DUers would be too impressed if Republicans treated a Dem Pres like shit.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

14. exactly.

[Danieljay]

16. Excuse me, the Republicans DID treat a Dem Pres like shite! Bill Clinton.

not at the state of the union mind you. Your point is well taken, though.

[MiniMe]

10. Its respect for the office, polite applause. That doesn't mean they should go crazy

Polite applause is the right thing to do. That means putting your hand together with almost no sound.

[stonecoldsober]

11. They should all do the "chicken dance".

If we could just switch it for "Hail to the Thief", maybe the chimp would have a complete breakdown!

[karlrschneider]

18. I don't think there's any harm in showing we're willing to be civil.

The Repugs did at least give the new Speaker a polite welcome, we can surely give a bit of service to tradition, I would hope...

[cynatnite]

19. Didn't Raygun walk in with no applause once? n/t

[Raine]

20. Class

our side has it...theirs doesn't.