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State of the Union Thread

By Jeralyn, Section Obama Administration
Posted on Tue Jan 12, 2016 at 08:21:17 PM EST
Tags: sotu (all tags)
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I just tuned into the State of the Union. How's Obama doing? Does he have anything new to say?

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    State of the Union Thread | 70 comments (70 topical)

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    I don't think it's a very well-crafted (5.00 / 1) (#1)
    by shoephone on Tue Jan 12, 2016 at 08:31:57 PM EST
    speech, because it's really all over the place, not linear at all. And he seems very low-energy delivering it, almost like he's bored. So, it's kind of the same old, same old. Lots of platitudes with no details. All that being said, I hardly ever think much of SOTU speeches.

    Not surprisingly (5.00 / 3) (#2)
    by CoralGables on Tue Jan 12, 2016 at 08:33:29 PM EST
    I think it's great.

    Parent
    I had to go make some caffeinated tea (5.00 / 1) (#3)
    by shoephone on Tue Jan 12, 2016 at 08:36:42 PM EST
    to keep myself from falling asleep.

    Parent
    He got a lot better (5.00 / 3) (#7)
    by shoephone on Tue Jan 12, 2016 at 09:15:30 PM EST
    as it went along. Especially when he talked about race and religion and the people (Trump!) sowing divisions.

    Tepid response to TPP (justified, I think) but lots of support for medical research, our role of leading on climate change, being strong internationally by not going off half-cocked (if only it were true all the time).

    Trey Gowdy and Kim whatshername were sourpusses. And I know it's not nice to say, but could she really not dress for the occasion? She looked like she was on her way to the bingo hall.

    My green tea helped me pay better attention. Maybe Obama drank some too. He revved up near the end.

    Parent

    I thought it was great. (5.00 / 1) (#12)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 01:14:52 AM EST
    He spoke honestly and from the heart.

    Parent
    Trey Gowdy looks mad (5.00 / 1) (#4)
    by shoephone on Tue Jan 12, 2016 at 08:54:32 PM EST
    That means Obama just said something good.

    Ryan puts on his (5.00 / 3) (#5)
    by jondee on Tue Jan 12, 2016 at 09:08:18 PM EST
    "deep down I loathe everything this president stands for" expression every time the camera is on his face..

    And then his mind drifts back to another erotic fantasy about mud wrestling with Ayn Rand.

    Parent

    Trey Gowdy (5.00 / 4) (#6)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue Jan 12, 2016 at 09:13:54 PM EST
    every time I hear that name the sound of dueling banjos kicks off in my head.

    Parent
    Every time I see Gowdy (5.00 / 2) (#8)
    by jondee on Tue Jan 12, 2016 at 09:28:46 PM EST
    I get a strange craving for pecan pie


    Parent
    Hey, Hey, Hey. (5.00 / 1) (#14)
    by Chuck0 on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 07:45:21 AM EST
    Nothing wrong with a good slice of pecan pie. When I lived in Fort Worth, had two pecan trees in my backyard. I became a master pecan pie. Not so secret ingredient, Jack Daniels. That said, there's a whole lot wrong with Trey Gowdy.

    Parent
    Gowdy looks like someone who (5.00 / 2) (#21)
    by Anne on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 09:35:27 AM EST
    has a secret room somewhere for things I don't even want to think about.

    Parent
    Every time I see Trey Gowdy, ... (none / 0) (#10)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Tue Jan 12, 2016 at 10:33:48 PM EST
    ... I'm reminded of this wussy kid from my old Pasadena neighborhood, a real crybaby who'd run home to his Mommy every time he didn't get his way. And then his Mommy would come outside and scold us for picking on him. And then one day, MY Mommy came outside and told her to let him grow a pair, she got mad, and the two never talked again.

    That little crybaby wuss reminds me of gowdy because he was later elected Mayor of Monrovia, CA -- was probably still running home to Mommy every time the City Council thwarted his desires.

    ;-D

    Parent

    One of the kookiest things you've ever written, (5.00 / 2) (#29)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 12:03:49 PM EST
    which is no small feat.

    Parent
    Excuse me, but I believe that ... (none / 0) (#36)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 12:35:42 PM EST
    ... you obviously have me confused with somebody who still gives a s--t about your petulant and petty personal opinions.

    Have a nice day.

    Parent

    Ya, as the author of the statment below, clearly (none / 0) (#40)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 01:11:32 PM EST
    if anyone knows "petulant and petty personal opinions" it would be you.

    Every time I see Trey Gowdy, ... (none / 0) (#10)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Tue Jan 12, 2016 at 07:33:48 PM PST
    ... I'm reminded of this wussy kid from my old Pasadena neighborhood, a real crybaby who'd run home to his Mommy every time he didn't get his way. And then his Mommy would come outside and scold us for picking on him. And then one day, MY Mommy came outside and told her to let him grow a pair, she got mad, and the two never talked again.

    That little crybaby wuss reminds me of gowdy because he was later elected Mayor of Monrovia, CA -- was probably still running home to Mommy every time the City Council thwarted his desires.

    ;-D



    Parent
    I know Trey Gowdy is a (5.00 / 1) (#51)
    by MKS on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 04:12:02 PM EST
    hero to the Right.

    But I can't stand the guy.  He is complete jerk.  I was glad to see Donald's comments....

    Parent

    Every time I see Trey Gowdy (5.00 / 1) (#11)
    by vicndabx on Tue Jan 12, 2016 at 10:40:26 PM EST
    I'm reminded of this guy

    Parent
    I thought it was an excellent speech (5.00 / 1) (#13)
    by jbindc on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 07:07:24 AM EST
    Lots of energy and very positive.  He got a few not-so-subtle zingers in - about the fact that Congress gets good jobs with lifetime bennies while most of America doesn't, calling out the Republican presidential candidates by listing the ways the economy has improved and our standing in the world has improved, by calling out climate change deniers with his analogy to the space race, etc.

    Now for the superficial:  

    1. Michelle Obama looked great in a yellow sheath dress.  Probably the best I've seen her look outside a ball gown.

    2. I won't mock Kim Davis for her clothes.  She probably doesn't have much, and just as I hate it when people made fun HRC's or Sarah Palin's clothes, I think the same applies here.

    3.  I think Joe Biden was playing Candy Crush on his phone half the night.

    4. Why was Nancy Pelosi wearing black? She looked hreat, but I was curious, because the women in Congress tend to wear bright colors to be seen (and more subtly, to show how few of themy there are relative to the percentage of women in the population). Gabby Gifford wore black too, but I figured that was more about the somberness of the topic of gun violence.

    5. Why was Bernie Sanders reading some pamphlet he pulled out of his jacket? (Interstingly, CNN showed him a few times, but did not show his reaction when most of the chamber stood up when Obama challenged them to pass an AUMF to fight ISIS).

    6. For all the hype about the "empty chair", it was never shown, nor called out by the president.

    7. The Notorious RBG gave the presudent a big hug when he entered the chambers.  In fact, she almost propelled herself into his arms.  Good to see she'said still spritely.  We need you, RBG!

    All in all, a great speech.

    I watched on C-SPAN, and (none / 0) (#23)
    by Anne on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 09:40:20 AM EST
    I think my favorite part was his interaction with the attendees after the speech - especially, when he got to the door, turned and said something along the lines of, "might be my last time in this chamber - I need to take this all in for a minute."

    As speeches go, I thought it was okay; parts I really liked, and parts not so much.  

    Parent

    Bernie may have been (none / 0) (#31)
    by MKS on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 12:12:48 PM EST
    reading a hard copy of the speech.....

    RBG?  Who is that?

    Parent

    R.B.G. = Ruth Bader Ginsburg. (5.00 / 1) (#33)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 12:20:09 PM EST
    It's a play on the late rapper Christopher Wallace's stage name, "The Notorious B.I.G."

    Parent
    Some thoughts (none / 0) (#35)
    by jbindc on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 12:24:49 PM EST
    Courtesy of Buzzfeed

    Parent
    Future to the back... (none / 0) (#48)
    by lentinel on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 03:49:19 PM EST
    ...most of the chamber stood up when Obama challenged them to pass an AUMF to fight ISIS).

    That'll be wonderful.

    The last AUMF turned out great.

    Parent

    The concept of The Overton Window (none / 0) (#15)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 09:07:29 AM EST
    Is losing its meaning when tea party darlings like Nikki Haley are viscously  attacked from the right by the Ann Coulters and Laura Ingram's of the world.
    I thought the "response" was boilerplate right wing krap.  But not any more.

    I do think Ingram has a point, even if as George Sanders  would say-an idiotic one, that it might not be smart tactically to attack about half the Republican Party in the "republican" response to the SOU.

    They should have just (5.00 / 1) (#16)
    by MO Blue on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 09:11:35 AM EST
    replayed the dehydrated guy with the built in ad for bottled water. ;o)

    Parent
    Have you seen (5.00 / 4) (#17)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 09:20:54 AM EST
    this Rubio attack ad?

    I laughed.  I admit it.

    Parent

    OMG (none / 0) (#26)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 09:52:31 AM EST
    that is hysterical. Actually that's probably a pretty effective ad if it's making people laugh at Rubio.

    Parent
    Yes, (none / 0) (#41)
    by MO Blue on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 01:18:50 PM EST
    I saw it yesterday. It was funny.

    I still think a replay of him desperately gulping water every few minutes with a voice over declaring if he is this anxious just giving a speech, how would he act in a real crisis would be the most effective approach. Or maybe a mock up negotiating scene with him desperately gulping water during a meeting with a World leader.

    A Nixonian ad featuring the sweating, water gulping Rubio -Would you trust this guy?

    Parent

    That ad is the first thing (none / 0) (#68)
    by caseyOR on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 06:35:54 PM EST
    I have seen that seems worth the money the Bush campaign paid for it.

    Parent
    Just to Be Clear (none / 0) (#18)
    by ScottW714 on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 09:26:48 AM EST
    Ann Coulter:
    Trump should deport Nikki Haley

    Laura Ingraham:

    Too bad @NikkiHaley missed her oppty to stand w/ working ppl who want borders enforced, American workers put first, govt shrunk,  The country is lit up w/ a populist fever & the GOP responds by digging in, criticizing the GOP candidates dominating polls?! NOT SMART.

    Breitbart

    Haley's declaration that no one who is willing to work hard... should ever feel unwelcome in this country' articulates the central principle of the open-borders philosophy.  To the glee of our corrupt media, Nikki Haley is attacking our own frontrunner. The GOP Establishment is garbage.

    LINK

    How does the expression go, when you lay with dogs...

    Parent

    When these people lay with dogs, (5.00 / 3) (#20)
    by Anne on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 09:32:28 AM EST
    the dogs get up and check themselves for fleas.

    Parent
    Where does Ann Coulter (5.00 / 1) (#22)
    by jbindc on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 09:37:02 AM EST
    Want Trump to deport Nikki Hadley to?  She was BORN in South Carolina.

    Yes, yes, I know.  Facts are a pesky thing to these people.

    Parent

    GITMO, I Would Imagine... (none / 0) (#25)
    by ScottW714 on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 09:52:23 AM EST
    ...along with all the other RINO's.

    Parent
    My guess is (none / 0) (#28)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 10:50:16 AM EST
    She's no longer on the VP short list.  

    Parent
    You and I know (none / 0) (#30)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 12:06:17 PM EST
    she never really was on the short list though and it was just a beltway imagination type of thing :)

    Parent
    Neither is Susana Martinez (none / 0) (#34)
    by MKS on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 12:21:10 PM EST
    The GOP is losing its women/ethnic candidates for VP.

    Martinez got hammered at an official event and was recorded trying to intimidate the police who were called out because of the noise....The audio is pretty harsh.

    Trump will choose Carson.....


    Parent

    No (none / 0) (#37)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 12:39:34 PM EST
    he's not going to choose Carson after ridiculing him for his Joseph and the pyramids statement among other things. At one time I thought Fiorina but then the "look at that face" comment probably rules her out. At one time I also thought Cruz but now with the birther stuff I'm sure he's out too. He never would pick Rubio because he would be considered an anchor baby. Rand Paul maybe? At this point I really have no idea who he would pick. Christie maybe? I don't think he's had huge fights with Christie and Christie would in a lot of ways would be compatible with Trump. It would be the blowhard blowhard ticket.

    Parent
    It won't b a regular politician (none / 0) (#38)
    by jbindc on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 12:45:48 PM EST
    He'll go outside.

    Parent
    Don't tell me you've (none / 0) (#49)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 04:05:23 PM EST
    Drunk the koolaid!?!?!

    I still think it will be Cruz.  They are a perfect match and it brings the party together.

    Parent

    Nope (none / 0) (#50)
    by jbindc on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 04:10:30 PM EST
    But it's fun to play this parlor game.

    I can't see him picking a legit politician who would show him up.  He needs someone as brash and flashy as him.  Someone who doesn't have anything to lose my being associated with him.

    Vince McMahon of WWE, maybe?

    Parent

    Nope (5.00 / 1) (#52)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 04:15:00 PM EST
    He NEVER wants someone as brash and flashy as he is.  I think just the opposite.  He wants a "serious" guy who is craven enough to parrot whatever batsh!t crazy thing he says.

    I haven't figured out how he will square the circle of questioning his ability to be president with making him VP but I think that is skating dangerously close to applying logic.

    If he want to that detail won't stop hm.

    Or he could be smart and pick a woman.

    Parent

    Palin? (none / 0) (#53)
    by CST on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 04:20:19 PM EST
    I mean in a way they would be perfect together.

    Parent
    I just threw up a little (none / 0) (#54)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 04:23:57 PM EST
    In my mouth.

    You're right.

    Parent

    She would be perfect (none / 0) (#55)
    by jbindc on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 04:26:42 PM EST
    As she isn't ever going to win anything again.

    Maybe VP Ann Coulter.


    Parent

    Kim Davis (none / 0) (#58)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 04:36:55 PM EST


    Parent