In the end, I think the Democrats were WAY TOO FREAKIN' NICE to Bush at the SOTU

[derby378]

They have yet to learn how to press their advantage now that they control Congress. Sheesh.

[napi21]

1. I disagree. They did just fine. These are Professionals, and

at a gathering like this, they need to show that. On the House & Senate floor, it's another story. THERE is where the battles are fought and either won or lost.

Listen to the media after the speech. ALL were impressed with Webb, but questioning Shrub's plans, sording, why he said some things, etc.

Remember, this was a National speech, and all voters were watching...many forced to because everything else was pre-empted! It's MUCH better to win your battles without a lot of fanfare.

[derby378]

10. I thought Webb did a fine job with his response...

Much better than Reid/Pelosi in 2005 and Tim Kaine in 2006.

[napi21]

13. Without question. This guy is a natural born speaker and it shows!

There aren't very many. I watch cspan a lot, and I can tell you, it's a rare Rep or Sen who takes the mic and actually speaks well...let alone coherently! This will NOT be the last time you see Webb on the National scene!

[Rex]

2. Me too, but it is true - tradition and courtesy are better than boos and

tomatoes. Not as funny, but. :)

Way too much clapping IMO.

[bdamomma]

7. maybe they know he is on his way out.

[Rex]

12. I personally think they should have sang

"hey hey hey...good bye!" :)

[Bryan]

16. Yeah, I like futile punk rock gestures as much as the next guy...

...but watching Sen. Webb usher * into a new era of pwnership more than made up for it. Nicely done.

[bdamomma]

3. what is the saying you keep your friends close, but your enemies

closer, the Dems did fine, they do have protocols to follow but I am sure they were not amused by what bush said. Where are those polls?

[John Q. Citizen]

4. I liked how Kerry and some other Dems split asap the second it was over.

Lemme outta here!

[Rex]

9. Saw that.

And I don't blame them. I'd wanna flee too.

[tabasco]

5. I agree. I want it to be more like England.

Where everybody calls bullshit and doesn't do this faux "support the leader" nonsense.

I think Bush is a murderer and criminal and should be treated as such.

[JohnyCanuck]

14. Yup.

There Should Have Been Silence....

Tonight, George W. Bush was cheered and applauded by members of Congress as he approached the dais to present his sixth SOTU address. He was applauded regularly throughout his address to the nation. That response was an unforgivable, yet predictable disgrace. The members of Congress applauded the words of their failed and incompetent leader. They applauded when there should have been total silence.

The almost festive gala broadcast around the world was a farce unlike any that has ever taken place in the halls of the US Congress. Everyone with an ounce of sanity knows that the state of the union is one of total disaster. No one with an iota of concern for the nation or the world should have raised one hand to applaud a single word spoken by George W. Bush. But they did.

Applause and cheering are signs of approval and are accolades for a job well done. The man speaking to the nation, and indeed the world, is a criminal, not a leader. George W. Bush is a puppet of corporate interests and political thugs. He has brought Americans to the closest brush with Fascism they has ever experienced, and he has waged an unending, illegal and immoral war that has shamed us as a nation. There should have been silence, but there was applause.

There should have been silence for the thousands of dead American and coalition troops, and for the maimed and blinded and limbless soldiers who have been sacrificed for nothing more than greed and hubris. There should have been silence for the hundreds of thousands of dead and wounded Iraqis whose nation will never recover from its wounds.
There should have been silence for the victims of Katrina whose plight has been ignored and forgotten in Louisiana and Mississippi, and who know first hand that their President is a professional liar who cares nothing at all for their continued suffering. And, last but not least, there should have been silence for the Constitution of the United States that is now on its deathbed. There should have been total silence, and yet, there was applause.

http://tvnewslies.org/blog/?p=551

[tabasco]

18. Yes, why the fascist tendency to support the leader no matter what?

I really don't give a damn what color, party, or religion somebody comes from if they are a leader that is trying to do well.

But criminals like Bush who have utterly corrupted our government and needlessly killed thousands deserve nothing but our contempt and punishment!

[vickitulsa]

6. Yep, you are so right.

I am outraged at how that whole thing came off.

And as proud as I've been about Pelosi's obvious intelligence in handling all those "delicate" political matters up till tonight, I am furious that the Dems looked so compliant and almost adoring as they did tonight.

I believe a truly brilliant Democratic leader could have gathered the Dems before this travesty of an address and come up with a "civilized" yet very clearly disapproving response from their side of the aisle during the speech.

I know it would be tricky ... it wouldn't do to have had them come off as petty and childish, I know that. But there was WAAAAYYY too much applauding and even STANDING and applauding, just as the Repukes did all evening (even after they were clearly tiring).

What are Americans who put the Dems in the majority to think, if they even bothered to watch that insane speech? They hoped for real change, for Dems to do what it takes to END THE WAR -- NOT expecting to watch them applaud half the things Bu$h SAID about the war!

Utter insanity at work in a totally insane government, if how it went tonight is how it's supposed to look AFTER the Dems have started to "change things"!

[SeattleGirl]

8. Given the setting, I think they did just fine, overall.

I know in other countries, they like to throw things at each other, etc., but I'd rather not see that here.

[porphyrian]

11. I'd rather they look more like British Parliament, all yelling at each other. - n/t

[Jcrowley]

15. They should have been silent

or derided him, scoffed etc.

Ever hear a session in Parliament?

Decorum can be repressive.

K&R

[deadparrot]

17. Ahh! They clapped for what sounded good!

Yes, they're all delusional and actually believe that he means to enact what he says.

Because all the Democrats are that stupid.

[mvd]

19. It was definitely more subdued than his other SOTU addresses

SOTUs are usually feel good events all around, so for a SOTU address, it wasn't such a bad reaction.

[European Socialist]

20. A six year habit is hard to break.