So, it's just three hours until President Obama addresses

[MineralMan]

Congress. I plan to be watching closely, and not sitting at my PC this time. So I won't be participating in any live threads that get started.

Who else is planning to watch? The reasons for that seem simple. It's a historic event, whatever he says or proposes.

Who is planning to skip this address? Why? If someone who will not be watching who could be, I'd be interested in hearing the reason.

[DFab420]

1. Eagerly awaiting.

[MineralMan]

4. Yes. I've never understood a lack of interest in any President

addressing Congress directly. Some of the most important speeches in history have been made in Congressional addresses. I could not miss this or any other such address.

[tblue]

39. Everybody has their breaking point?

Some have theirs early and some never get there. I do not enjoy the sound of his voice anymore, to tell the truth. But I want to hear the speech because I want to be able to talk to people about it, and I hope very much to come away inspired.

[gateley]

2. I'm going to watch! nt

[Ineeda]

3. I wouldn't miss it.

I hope everyone not only listens carefully but also notes all the scowling, head-shaking, arms-crossing, tweeting/texting, disrespectful rethugs.

[JoePhilly]

5. I'll record and watch ... my daughter has a sports event.

[MineralMan]

32. Cool. Kid's sports events are important. Too many parents don't

attend them and support their kids. Good luck to your daughter!

[JoePhilly]

41. She's the best softball player ever, except for her younger sister ...

who will be better!!!

[Solomon]

42. Great. My daughter's got

soccer covered.

[JoePhilly]

43. LOL!!!!

[MineralMan]

47. Outstanding! A star in the making!

Tell her for me, "Great job!"

[WI_DEM]

6. remember that ketchup commerical? anticipation.

[MadHound]

7. I'm not going to be watching

I'm going to be enjoying a nice dinner, followed by the opening game of the NFL season.

Why should I watch when I can read the speech online tomorrow:shrug:

[MineralMan]

11. I don't know. That's why I asked. Why not watch?

I can't answer that. You can, though, perhaps.

[MadHound]

18. Because I have better things to do, as I pointed out.

There is no real reason for me to watch. I already know the gist of what he is going to say, and I see no reason to interrupt a good dinner and relaxing evening to watch something that I can read in the morning, if not sooner.

[MineralMan]

26. OK. You're the one who makes the decision.

[MadHound]

29. Have any solid reason why I should watch? n/t

[MineralMan]

31. No. I've said why I was watching. Your decision is your own.

I'm just curious. Many people have given their reasons, as have you. I'm not commenting on other people's decisions. I'm just interested in hearing them from people willing to post them. It was a question. I appreciate your response.

[leftstreet]

8. Skipping. I have to meet with my parole officer and then trim my hamster's toenails n/t

[MineralMan]

12. OK, then...

Thanks for responding.

[sharp_stick]

13. I wouldn't let

your parole officer know about the hamsters presence if I were you. You'll be back in the can by midnight.

[sufrommich]

9. I'll be watching. nt

[deutsey]

10. I'm teaching a class tonight

I'll get all details (ad nauseum, I'm sure) when I return home.

[MineralMan]

14. Work is a pretty good excuse, for sure.

I'm sure there are many who will be working at that time.

[JuniperLea]

15. I need to leave the office at 4:30 to go to a meeting elsewhere...

I will try to listen at work, and in the car... I hope I catch a fair piece of it! I will read the transcript, no question.

I don't get it, I really don't. I watched Bush speak whenever I could as well. When presidents speak, there is generally something important to learn! Why do some insist on being ignorant?

[MineralMan]

19. Yes. I have never missed a major Presidential address when

I was in a position to watch it. It's history. It has nothing to do with my opinion of that President. It has to do with the occasion and what is said. I wan't to see what is said, how it's said, and the reaction of the audience, especially in the case of Congress in joint session. There's a lot to be learned that doesn't appear in any transcript.

[blindpig]

16. I'll read the transcript.

It scares the dogs when I shout at the tv.

[pintobean]

17. Don't know yet

It's hard to get excited about something that's two years overdue.

[MineralMan]

20. I see. OK, then.

[JuniperLea]

49. LOL!

I bet you just hated that speech... or it made you yawn.

[NNN0LHI]

21. I passed on an invitation to Vitters football party and decided to stay home and watch the President

[MineralMan]

22. Doesn't the game start after the speech? I'm an old

Green Bay fan, so I'll probably switch to that on after the speech.

[NNN0LHI]

33. Yea, but the the drive to Vitters big pizza, beer and diapers bash is a long one for me

Never be able to make them both.

I will stick with watching my President tonight.

And did you say Green Bay fan? Grrrrr. DA BEARS!

Don

[MineralMan]

35. Can't help with rooting for da Berrz. Living in the Twin Cities

I have to give token support to the Vikings, but Green Bay is my team since childhood.

[NNN0LHI]

46. I've always been an Oakland Raiders fan. Especially during their heydays

Al Davis was always feuding with someone. I remember one crappy season that Al Davis blamed entirely on Ken Stabler they were going at each others throats in the press constantly. One day a reporter asked Stabler if he was ready to bury the hatchet with Davis and Stabler responded, "Yea, I'd like to bury the hatchet right in his neck."

:rofl:

Don

[DisgustipatedinCA]

23. I'll be watching a stream after I get off work on the west coast

Why are you interested in hearing about people's motives for watching or not watching?

[MineralMan]

27. I'm interested in all sorts of things. That's my nature.

Thanks for asking.

[Brickbat]

24. I'll be skipping it.

Kid has a football game, then we celebrate by going out to eat. We usually eat at places without TVs.

If I didn't have that going on, I still wouldn't watch it. I prefer to read the transcript, but I don't knock myself out over it. I'm not expecting this speech to move the earth; if I'm wrong about it, I will not feel like I've missed anything by not watching it live.

[MineralMan]

28. OK. Thanks.

[elocs]

25. I have no plans to watch and will skip it. I expect to be underwhelmed & disappointed

by a speech that will be long on rhetoric and short on vision and action.

The words and the speech will be pretty though, and nicely delivered.

In this day and age when you can see and hear nearly anything after the fact I just don't see the big deal importance of having to view things live. Like any upcoming blockbuster movie I'm sure all the good bits have been leaked already and known.

Just don't let me know if Obama can see dead people and spoil it for me.

[MineralMan]

30. Thanks for responding. I appreciate it.

[elocs]

48. You are welcome. n/t

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

34. I'll watch. I am not expecting to be surprised,

but it's an important speech and I want to hear what he has to say. And I also want to see how the GOPers react.

I read that Michele Bachmann will be giving a press conference after the speech; I'll skip that.

[MineralMan]

36. Yah, skipping Bachmann's yammerings is on my agenda, too.

[JoePhilly]

44. Oh ... I hope I get home to catch her live ... I would LOVE to hear her response

BEFORE I get to watch the recording of Obama!!!

[MerryBlooms]

37. We're ordering in Pizza and will watch the address and game. n/t

[tblue]

38. It's set up on TiVo. Hope it's better than what the AP reported this morning.

That sounded pretty weak, and puts too much emphasis on cutting Soc. Sec. payroll contributions, for both employees and now employers.

[Name removed]

40. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[jwirr]

45. I will be watching - want some idea about were we are going. nt