The Era of Big Metafilter is Over
January 28, 2014 5:32 PM   Subscribe

Tonight, President Barack Obama will deliver his 2014 State of the Union address. A stream will be available via the White House and from many other outlets.

The address comes at a challenging time when the President's poll numbers remain weak (though recovering) and Republicans appear to be in a strong position to make gains during the 2014 midterm elections. The President did not have much success in convincing Congress to follow the agenda he set out in his 2013 speech:
In fact, Obama failed to get any of his top 2013 State of the Union priorities through Congress. Congress ignored his calls for a new jobs program, for new gun controls and for sweeping immigration reform.

Because of that, the 2014 speech is viewed by strategists in both parties as part of a defining test: Can Obama rebuild his standing enough to force action on some of his priorities, or will 2014 instead be remembered as another frustrating year of gridlock and the gateway to "lame duck" status?
Polling may suggest he is facing an uphill battle:
As President Barack Obama enters his sixth year in the White House, 68 percent of Americans say the country is either stagnant or worse off since he took office, according to the latest NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll.

Most respondents used words like “divided,” “troubled,” and “deteriorating” to describe the current state of the nation.
Initial reports are that the speech will focus heavily on issues related to income inequality, social mobility, and immigration reform. President Obama will discuss his Promise Zone initiative to provide federal help to targeted areas of the country that have been falling behind in the current economy. The President will also highlight an executive order that will raise the minimum wage for those employed by government contractors, this step perhaps a reflection of a new White House blueprint that suggests the President should more often flex executive muscle on domestic issues. A welcome change to some observers. Polling shows that Republicans may pay a signifigant price in upcoming elections if they continue to block an increase in the minimum wage. Sahil Kapur writing for TPM suggests a major theme will be the need to move the country out of Reagan era thinking on the role of government.
Two in three Americans are dissatisfied with the nation's income and wealth distribution, according to a Gallup poll last week. And 45% express doubt about the ability to get ahead through hard work, twice the level of 2002.

An undocumented immigrant from Arizona who fasted for 22 days for immigration reform has been invited by first lady Michelle Obama to be her guest during President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address tonight.

“I hope to hear they are finally going to solve the issue of our broken immigration system so people stop getting deported, families stop getting separated and people stop dying in the desert,” Avila said.
As traditional, several such guests have been honored with an invitation to attend the address by the White House, this year including hero Antoinette Tuff.
A bookkeeper and mother, Tuff is credited with preventing a shooting at an elementary school in the Atlanta suburbs in August. The White House said Tuff talked the suspect down by sharing personal struggles and connecting with him until he surrendered.
Republican Congressman Vance McAllister has invited his constituent Willie Robertson, a star on the television show "Duck Dynasty" whose father Phil Robertson has recently faced criticism for racist and homophobic remarks.

Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (Meet Cathy!) will deliver the (potentially cursed) official Republican response to the address. Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen will give the response in Spanish. Senator Mike Lee, a key player in the recent government shutdown, will offer the Tea Party response following the Republican response. Senator Rand Paul, who gave the Tea Party response last year, will also offer an additional response. Wait, isn't this all a bit muddled? Yes. And why not a Progressive response?

Former Congressman Ron Paul will be live tweeting his own response during the speech. Comedian Bill Maher is taking over the Huffington Post Twitter account for the night.

But wait, does anybody even care about the State of the Union address anyway? Well, let's find out.
posted by Drinky Die (445 comments total) 26 users marked this as a favorite
 
I lol'ed at the title. Literally.
posted by Annika Cicada at 5:37 PM on January 28, 2014 [4 favorites]


Do we expect POTUS to declare war on Iran or a Syrian intervention? So other than a live (snoozing) audience, what difference is this than a time shifted Meet the Press episode?

The big question I have: Will there be a real huge cheese?
posted by sammyo at 5:39 PM on January 28, 2014


How Obama Prepares For The Grueling State Of The Union
If The State Of The Union Were An Apple Keynote
It's Time For The President To Take Back His Presidency
The day of the president's last big speech dawns and, as our courtier press trembles at the notion that he might try to actually be president, I myself partake of the wisdom of the past and of his predecessors in the office. Such as, say, Millard Fillmore, president of the United States, the 13th of that title, who took the opportunity on December 2, 1850 to express such deep devotion to the concept of bipartisan compromise that it's a wonder that Cokie Roberts isn't lighting a candle under his picture every night. He may have been elected as a Whig, but Millard was a true Third Way no labels kind of high-collar, he was.
posted by the man of twists and turns at 5:40 PM on January 28, 2014 [1 favorite]




I loled at the "progressive response" link:

Who should give this address? Is that really a question?

Who else, but Elizabeth Warren (D-MA).


Yes, Senator Warren is definitely going to offer up a public rebuttal to the leader of her party.
posted by threeants at 5:41 PM on January 28, 2014 [4 favorites]


The pre-show Twitter churn of standing with Duck Dynasty bullshit makes me genuinely wonder: how the fuck is anyone supposed to take this political structure seriously when one of the major parties is making a big deal out of rallying around a reality TV clown? Really? That's your fucking issue? That's the principled opposition, that people shouldn't say mean things about the asshole from TV?
posted by COBRA! at 5:45 PM on January 28, 2014 [45 favorites]


it's preempting supernatural i'm mad
posted by The Whelk at 5:45 PM on January 28, 2014 [1 favorite]




It's only a success if you end the evening with the Jackel.
posted by jetlagaddict at 5:53 PM on January 28, 2014 [24 favorites]


I just started watching The West Wing. We are at the end of S1. I am immensely pleased to have just favorited jetlagaddict's comment.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 5:54 PM on January 28, 2014 [7 favorites]


I wish I was just starting West Wing, so much fun to discover!!!
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 5:56 PM on January 28, 2014 [5 favorites]


I really miss the ones that started "The shtate of are union is strawng!" That was always a good upbeat, top-line summary. Obama always buries the lede.
posted by George_Spiggott at 5:57 PM on January 28, 2014 [1 favorite]


Just in case you are worried:

TPM: U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz is the "designated survivor" who won't attend President Barack Obama's State of the Union speech Tuesday night.

Each year, one cabinet member traditionally skips the big speech in case a horrible tragedy wipes out the president and his team, in order to ensure the continuity of government.

This year, it's Moniz, a nuclear physicist who the Senate confirmed as energy secretary in May of 2013, who would become president in such a scenario.

posted by Drinky Die at 5:57 PM on January 28, 2014 [5 favorites]




threeants Yes, Senator Warren is definitely going to offer up a public rebuttal to the leader of her party.

So Rand Paul and Mike Lee aren't offering public rebuttals to their own party's official public rebuttal then? The link even says that the a progressive rebuttal wouldn't even have to be critical of the President's speech, it just has to do the same thing the Tea Party response does--take advantage of the media attention given to the State of the Union Address to get a progressive message out there.
posted by RonButNotStupid at 5:58 PM on January 28, 2014 [2 favorites]


Anyone have a preferred streaming source than whitehouse.gov? I'm already getting stutter from the official feed.
posted by dhartung at 5:59 PM on January 28, 2014


It takes 4 republicans to rebut one Democratic president.

That seems over much given that the contents of their speeches is "Blah blah Benghazi blah blah sluts blah blah socialist blah blah guns blah blah Benghazi blah blah sob sob cry".
posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 5:59 PM on January 28, 2014 [2 favorites]


Anyone have a preferred streaming source than whitehouse.gov? I'm already getting stutter from the official feed.

C-Span
NBC
YouTube
posted by Drinky Die at 6:02 PM on January 28, 2014


The ustream feed is refreshingly lo-fi, once you get past the ad. CSPAN has a weird junky border.
posted by zamboni at 6:02 PM on January 28, 2014


Mr Weber, I've been telling my daughter she can't have a twitter account until she's older and a little more mature. You are not helping my argument.
posted by The Hamms Bear at 6:03 PM on January 28, 2014 [13 favorites]


how the fuck is anyone supposed to take this political structure seriously when one of the major parties is making a big deal out of rallying around a reality TV clown?

Not just a reality TV clown; a racist reality TV clown.
posted by Kirth Gerson at 6:03 PM on January 28, 2014 [2 favorites]


Actually, you may be making my argument for me.

Thanks?
posted by The Hamms Bear at 6:03 PM on January 28, 2014


I'll pass on watching this year. If I want to see a puppet spewing garbage I'll watch Jeff Dunham.
posted by Philipschall at 6:04 PM on January 28, 2014 [4 favorites]


Wow, I totally did not know the SOTU was tonight until I saw this thread. In my defense, we are having a snowpocalypse which has preoccupied everyone in a 100-mile radius for the past 48 hours, but still. I guess this is the final nail in the coffin of me pretending to still care about national politics.
posted by something something at 6:05 PM on January 28, 2014 [3 favorites]


Huzzah! Surely this year he will change into a good president!
posted by sonic meat machine at 6:06 PM on January 28, 2014 [5 favorites]


Justices Alito, Scalia and Thomas have apparently declined to attend.
posted by triggerfinger at 6:06 PM on January 28, 2014 [1 favorite]


So none of the conservative court justices bothered to show up? Can't they just try not to be total asshats for a couple of hours?
posted by octothorpe at 6:08 PM on January 28, 2014 [2 favorites]


If I recall correctly, Alito hasn't come since 2009.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 6:08 PM on January 28, 2014


Can't they just try not to be total asshats for a couple of hours?

This is rhetorical, right?
posted by Drinky Die at 6:09 PM on January 28, 2014 [11 favorites]


Alito hasn't come since 2009.

No wonder he's so angry.
posted by one more dead town's last parade at 6:09 PM on January 28, 2014 [50 favorites]


Can't they just try not to be total asshats for a couple of hours?


THE DUCK DYNASTY GUY IS THERE, FFS!
posted by leftcoastbob at 6:10 PM on January 28, 2014 [1 favorite]




Aides Advise Obama To Avoid Any Mention Of America During State Of The Union Speech

Borowitz is on it too: Republicans Promise to Respond to State of Union with Grumpiest Faces Ever
posted by fuse theorem at 6:10 PM on January 28, 2014 [1 favorite]


Justices Alito, Scalia and Thomas have apparently declined to attend.

Did Scalia at least send someone to deliver sotto voce opinions in his place?
posted by George_Spiggott at 6:11 PM on January 28, 2014


THE DUCK DYNASTY GUY IS THERE, FFS!

Somehow this explains more about the state of the union than any speech ever could.
posted by Lutoslawski at 6:11 PM on January 28, 2014 [38 favorites]


The Wizard of Oz want's it's dress back.
posted by HuronBob at 6:11 PM on January 28, 2014


Admittedly, if I was Supreme Court judge, I'd probably opt to skip some of the SOTU addresses.

"Look, it starts at 9pm and I'm in PJs with a nice brandy and I can see the damn thing onto. Is he giving me an award or something? No? Alright, I'm good, catch you guys later."
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 6:11 PM on January 28, 2014 [2 favorites]


I don't know how I feel about the "enhanced" version.
posted by Lutoslawski at 6:13 PM on January 28, 2014 [1 favorite]


None of the Senators from Alpha House are there tonight either!
posted by dhartung at 6:13 PM on January 28, 2014 [1 favorite]


Lutoslawski: "I don't know how I feel about the "enhanced" version."

WHAT WAS THE FIRST
TIME SOMEONE TRIED
TO GILD THE LILY?
#SOTU
posted by The White Hat at 6:14 PM on January 28, 2014 [1 favorite]


Let's DO this!
posted by The Legit Republic of Blanketsburg at 6:15 PM on January 28, 2014


Lutoslawski, just wait until it fills with astute YouTube commentary!
posted by dhartung at 6:15 PM on January 28, 2014


Just once I'd like to see him start off his SotU address like President Camacho.
posted by xbonesgt at 6:16 PM on January 28, 2014 [11 favorites]


This enhancement seems to be mostly just stock photos and trivia.
posted by The White Hat at 6:16 PM on January 28, 2014 [1 favorite]


You know what we need? We need Diamond Joe to livetweet this.
posted by triggerfinger at 6:16 PM on January 28, 2014 [5 favorites]


Did he just say "he gonna hand us our speeches or what?"
posted by rahnefan at 6:17 PM on January 28, 2014


Yeah it's like a weird stream of a google image search based on the speech's keywords.
posted by Lutoslawski at 6:17 PM on January 28, 2014


I am watching both this and the Ice Tracker on the Flyers and I wish there were similar features of hit reports and assists for the State of the Union tbh.
posted by jetlagaddict at 6:17 PM on January 28, 2014 [2 favorites]


That's better than overlays with random tweets on top of the video.
posted by dobi at 6:18 PM on January 28, 2014


The enhanced version seems to be like those fan-made music videos where when the lyrics mention a beach, we are shown a picture of a beach and when the lyrics mention time, we see a clock face.

Better than a pretend ASL interpreter, I suppose.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 6:19 PM on January 28, 2014 [5 favorites]


Obama is far from a bad president. Do you totally not recall 2000-2008?
posted by Annika Cicada at 6:20 PM on January 28, 2014 [26 favorites]


via FB: "ALL these bitches are doing their JOB, so why can't Congress do it's f*cking job!?!" ‪#‎SOTU‬
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 6:20 PM on January 28, 2014


Yeah it's like a weird stream of a google image search based on the speech's keywords.

Wait until you see the three images they show in rapid succession when he gets to the "Danish Sex Kitten" part. Hint: the first will be a danish and the third will be a kitten.
posted by George_Spiggott at 6:21 PM on January 28, 2014 [1 favorite]


What's that shiny thing on Boehner's desk?
posted by The corpse in the library at 6:21 PM on January 28, 2014


Ok, the enhanced joke is clever, I'll give you that much.
posted by Annika Cicada at 6:21 PM on January 28, 2014


So Rand Paul and Mike Lee aren't offering public rebuttals to their own party's official public rebuttal then? The link even says that the a progressive rebuttal wouldn't even have to be critical of the President's speech, it just has to do the same thing the Tea Party response does--take advantage of the media attention given to the State of the Union Address to get a progressive message out there.

The Tea Party is its own thing, really, IMO. I can't think of any Democratic congresspeople who have been remotely as insubordinate to the President as the Tea Party have to their party leaders. Sure, they'll disagree on policy points, but anything with a whiff of movement-building that doesn't support the party line doesn't make it out of the gates, as far as I've seen.
posted by threeants at 6:21 PM on January 28, 2014 [1 favorite]


Already calling congress out on its inaction. And they clapped for it?
posted by dobi at 6:22 PM on January 28, 2014


Biden's hair looks like one of those wigs you can put on Lego people.
posted by smoke at 6:22 PM on January 28, 2014 [2 favorites]


I have no idea why Twitter's top tweets for #SOTU is full of black Republicans. How many of them are there, anyway?
posted by dhartung at 6:22 PM on January 28, 2014


Paul Ryan reluctantly agreeing that hard work might allow some poors to get ahead in America.
posted by The White Hat at 6:22 PM on January 28, 2014


Obama is far from a bad president.
No, he was directly following a bad president. We're just sorely disappointed he's done so little to repair the damage.
posted by oneswellfoop at 6:22 PM on January 28, 2014 [5 favorites]


Biden is very clearly either playing Bingo or taking aaaalll the names.
posted by jetlagaddict at 6:22 PM on January 28, 2014 [1 favorite]


The start reminded me that the Iraq war lasted as long as the actual run of MASH, unlike the actual Korean war. :(
posted by sparkletone at 6:22 PM on January 28, 2014 [2 favorites]


jetlagaddict: "I am watching both this and the Ice Tracker on the Flyers and I wish there were similar features of hit reports and assists for the State of the Union tbh."

Joe Biden's Obama's gritty checking line forward -- a Joel Otto, Zac Rinaldo type.

John Boehner would be the nemesis -- perhaps a Matthew Barnaby or a Martin Brodeur.

Duck Dynasty guy is the dipshit who fell into the penalty box with Tie Domi.
posted by tonycpsu at 6:23 PM on January 28, 2014 [2 favorites]


No applause for marriage equality?
posted by The corpse in the library at 6:24 PM on January 28, 2014


That is, I think there are a number of national Democratic politicians who act as proxy voices for progressive-ish sentiment that the administration itself can't be vocal about, but I don't think there are any who would ever rhetorically orient themselves in a "rebuttal" position.
posted by threeants at 6:24 PM on January 28, 2014 [1 favorite]


What's that shiny thing on Boehner's desk?

some kind of portable light-focusing tanning device, I believe.
posted by xbonesgt at 6:25 PM on January 28, 2014 [7 favorites]


We're just sorely disappointed he's done so little to repair the damage.

The majority party in the political body that dictates what money the government can spend has been trying to obstruct President Obama at pretty much every opportunity for more than three years.
posted by one more dead town's last parade at 6:25 PM on January 28, 2014 [11 favorites]


Liquor & smokes.
posted by wallabear at 6:25 PM on January 28, 2014


Boehner got a standing O for being the son of a barkeeper.
posted by leftcoastbob at 6:26 PM on January 28, 2014 [1 favorite]


Can we get a Green Party response to this? I'm so frustrated with the fact that the Republicans get basically TWO responses to this whole thing.
posted by gucci mane at 6:26 PM on January 28, 2014 [4 favorites]


Oh my god so much applause for Boehner.
posted by Lutoslawski at 6:26 PM on January 28, 2014


Enhanced presentation got me feeling like I'm watching Pop Up Video.
posted by sparkletone at 6:26 PM on January 28, 2014 [4 favorites]


Obama has been a great moderate third way democrat. Personally I'd love a Howard Dean ass kicker progressive democrat, but Obama is miles better than any republican or libertarian alternative. I'll take what I can get and listen to his SOTU with that frame of reference...
posted by Annika Cicada at 6:26 PM on January 28, 2014 [10 favorites]


Isn't insourcing just ... Hiring?
posted by macadamiaranch at 6:26 PM on January 28, 2014 [4 favorites]


What's that shiny thing on Boehner's desk?

It’s a silver inkstand, and it’s believed to date back to about 1819, making it the oldest artifact in the House of Representatives.

No one knows when it first arrived in the House, but it appears in an 1821 painting of former Speaker Henry Clay. Over the years, House speakers have placed it on the rostrum on opening day of new House sessions and also during presidential addresses to Congress.

In short, this inkstand has been photo-bombing State of the Union addresses since before you were born.

posted by Drinky Die at 6:27 PM on January 28, 2014 [25 favorites]


Except pop up video was like 1000 times more interesting.
posted by Lutoslawski at 6:27 PM on January 28, 2014


Onshoring!
posted by George_Spiggott at 6:27 PM on January 28, 2014 [2 favorites]


FUCK YEAH WATERWAYS
posted by xbonesgt at 6:27 PM on January 28, 2014 [1 favorite]


Is Biden... reading this thread on his phone?
posted by The corpse in the library at 6:28 PM on January 28, 2014 [15 favorites]


I'm pretty sure Biden is writing a fan-fiction novel or something because he is scribbling fast and furiously
posted by jetlagaddict at 6:28 PM on January 28, 2014 [3 favorites]


Oh my god so much applause for Boehner.

He's almost as popular as us doing better than China! Srsly, this was a calculated olive branch and thank you for backing down on the shutdown strategy.

Was amused the photo of Obama as a kid got a big arrow pointing back to the main screen. For the verrrrry slow-on-the-uptake.
posted by dhartung at 6:28 PM on January 28, 2014 [1 favorite]


Oh my god so much applause for Boehner.

And a big thumbs-up from the orange fellow himself.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 6:28 PM on January 28, 2014


I bet the RW tweetosphere is bellowing "Solyndra" right about now.
posted by George_Spiggott at 6:28 PM on January 28, 2014


Obama is far from a bad president. Do you totally not recall 2000-2008?

Obama is a bad president. He's a bad president that follows a catastrophically awful president, to be sure, but I'm not willing to allow Dubya to lower the bar for the rest of them.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 6:29 PM on January 28, 2014 [14 favorites]


Can we get a Green Party response to this? I'm so frustrated with the fact that the Republicans get basically TWO responses to this whole thing.

There was in 2012! Dunno what happened to the idea.
posted by threeants at 6:29 PM on January 28, 2014 [2 favorites]


I'll concede not great, but bad?
posted by MrBobaFett at 6:30 PM on January 28, 2014 [1 favorite]


I am a gay American. Obama has been the best president in my lifetime.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 6:30 PM on January 28, 2014 [40 favorites]


Bet he doesn't say stem cells
posted by George_Spiggott at 6:30 PM on January 28, 2014


I guess this is the final nail in the coffin of me pretending to still care about national politics

The SOTU is popular with the press but not really a big deal unless the president goes reeeaaallly far off the equilibrium path and eats a baby or something. I haven't looked at the stuff about it in for-fucking-ever (like the mid 90s because OMG who cares), but as I recall it has short-lasting and limited effects on polling and at most a mild deflection of policy.

tl;dr: not wanting to watch it isn't evidence that you don't care about national politics.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 6:30 PM on January 28, 2014 [2 favorites]


Frack baby frack
posted by George_Spiggott at 6:31 PM on January 28, 2014


Who's Biden grinning and pointing at?
posted by leftcoastbob at 6:31 PM on January 28, 2014 [2 favorites]


I guess it would be sort of redundant to deliver two more years of an address that's like, "yeah, so all this shit continues to be totally fucked".
posted by threeants at 6:31 PM on January 28, 2014 [2 favorites]


patent reform is some policy wonking I can get behind though
posted by Lutoslawski at 6:31 PM on January 28, 2014


I'm so frustrated with the fact that the Republicans get basically TWO responses to this whole thing.

Honestly, how many do you think people are going to watch? Think "audience fragmentation".
posted by dhartung at 6:31 PM on January 28, 2014


It’s a silver inkstand, and it’s believed to date back to about 1819, making it the oldest artifact in the House of Representatives.
Older than the Invulnerable Coat of Arnd?
posted by dfan at 6:31 PM on January 28, 2014 [2 favorites]


Maybe we should wait until his administration is more than half over before figuring out how bad it was
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 6:31 PM on January 28, 2014 [2 favorites]


Waiting for there to finally be a real genuine rebuttal to the State of the Union:

President: The State of the Union is strong!
Rebuttal: The State of the Union is weak!
posted by Deathalicious at 6:32 PM on January 28, 2014 [1 favorite]


Maybe we should wait until his administration is more than half over before figuring out how bad it was

2011, is that you?
posted by crayz at 6:32 PM on January 28, 2014 [1 favorite]


Obama is far from a bad president. Do you totally not recall 2000-2008?

I recall 2000–2008 very well. However, I remember that there were presidents before George W. Bush, and Obama's not even as good as Clinton, let alone some of the Pre-Nixon era presidents. (Roosevelt, Eisenhower—please rise from your graves.)
posted by sonic meat machine at 6:32 PM on January 28, 2014 [3 favorites]


This shitty pizza I’m eating for dinner is an investment in the 100% American natural gas I will be producing later this evening.
posted by sparkletone at 6:32 PM on January 28, 2014 [6 favorites]


I guess it would be sort of redundant to deliver two more years of an address that's all like, "yeah, so all this shit is still totally fucked".

OMG would vote Obama for third term if he did one SOTU that started "My Fellow Americans, as you know, shit is still mostly fucked. It's unlikely that shit will be unfucked really any time in the near future. So, you know, fuck it."
posted by Lutoslawski at 6:33 PM on January 28, 2014 [13 favorites]


A great third way moderate democrat is not great, but the alternative is mordor winning. I'm trying to be a realist over here.
posted by Annika Cicada at 6:33 PM on January 28, 2014 [6 favorites]


I'm getting some real déjà vu on that urge to close tax loopholes that reward companies for shipping jobs overseas. Seriously, he mentions it early on every year and gets big bipartisan applause for it but it never actually gets done.
posted by Rhaomi at 6:33 PM on January 28, 2014 [1 favorite]


as I recall it has short-lasting and limited effects on polling and at most a mild deflection of policy.

Yeah, impact on polls is pretty much nothing.
posted by Drinky Die at 6:33 PM on January 28, 2014


Maybe we should wait until his administration is more than half over before figuring out how bad it was

There was an election in 2012. Obama was reelected. That was the halfway point of his administration.
posted by sonic meat machine at 6:34 PM on January 28, 2014


FUCK YEAH CLIMATE CHANGE IS A FACT
posted by The corpse in the library at 6:34 PM on January 28, 2014 [23 favorites]


I am a gay American. Obama has been the best president in my lifetime.

Gay Yemenis, on the other hand: whatever, sucks to be you guys! This queer person isn't having such a great go of things, either.
posted by threeants at 6:34 PM on January 28, 2014 [2 favorites]


Technically halfway was last year's SOTU. If you follow calendars and shit.
posted by dhartung at 6:34 PM on January 28, 2014 [1 favorite]


'I want every one of our future robot overlords to be stamped "Made In America".' *applause*
posted by phooky at 6:34 PM on January 28, 2014 [1 favorite]


Boehner is literally twiddling his thumbs
posted by xbonesgt at 6:34 PM on January 28, 2014 [1 favorite]


Hahaha. The infographic:

SENATE: PASSED.

HOUSE: ??? (waiting)

That's the last 5 years in a nutshell.
posted by sparkletone at 6:35 PM on January 28, 2014 [10 favorites]


You hope.
posted by The corpse in the library at 6:35 PM on January 28, 2014 [1 favorite]


I wish Obama could govern as well as he can give speeches.
posted by Deathalicious at 6:35 PM on January 28, 2014 [5 favorites]


To be fair, looking at the back of someone's head isn't that exciting.
posted by dobi at 6:36 PM on January 28, 2014 [1 favorite]


FUCK YEAH CLIMATE CHANGE IS A FACT

Now if only any govt outside Europe and a few others would fucking act like it. No point in saying you believe in it, and then acting like you don't.
posted by smoke at 6:36 PM on January 28, 2014


(That was to xbonesgt)
posted by The corpse in the library at 6:36 PM on January 28, 2014 [1 favorite]


Cantor looks as though he needs more fiber.
posted by leftcoastbob at 6:36 PM on January 28, 2014


FUCK YEAH CLIMATE CHANGE IS A FACT

The enhanced livestream included the tidbit that 135(?) members of congress are climate change deniers.
posted by peeedro at 6:36 PM on January 28, 2014 [2 favorites]


Yeah I love the West Wing obviously but I always thought the focus on SOTU was super wonkish and out of step with how most people view it, which is not at all unless you get a "You lie!" clip.
posted by jetlagaddict at 6:36 PM on January 28, 2014


The comments on the Ustream feed are ridiculous. There are a bunch of people calling Obama the worst president ever, and a bunch of people defending him. I mentioned that he has a full-on octopus tentacle coming out of his belly button. Now they're using that as part of their debate, like "oh man maybe you just have tentacle envy"
posted by One Second Before Awakening at 6:36 PM on January 28, 2014 [6 favorites]


Obama's not even as good as Clinton

Meh, Clinton was way more center-right than Obama. Did you forget Welfare "Reform" and NAFTA and a ton of other right wing economic policies?
posted by octothorpe at 6:37 PM on January 28, 2014 [6 favorites]


BIDEN'S IN CHARGE NOW, BITCHES.
posted by tonycpsu at 6:37 PM on January 28, 2014 [4 favorites]


I remain super pissed off about many parts of the Affordable Care Act, but I think it will save many, many lives (if not as many as it otherwise might have) and is the closest thing the Obama administration has to a success that might counterbalance some portion of all the rest of the blood on its hands.
posted by threeants at 6:37 PM on January 28, 2014 [3 favorites]


I recently reread The Cognitive Style of PowerPoint and I would really like to see a rebuttal from Edward Tufte.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 6:38 PM on January 28, 2014 [4 favorites]


If Obama really believes in community colleges, he should call for NBC to renew Community for a sixth season. Also, for there to be a movie.
posted by sparkletone at 6:38 PM on January 28, 2014 [20 favorites]


I wish Obama could govern as well as he can give speeches.

Think the most obstructionist legislature in history by a factor of like infinity has anything to do with that?
posted by George_Spiggott at 6:39 PM on January 28, 2014 [40 favorites]


BIDEN'S IN CHARGE NOW, BITCHES

I for one welcome our new whiskey and doughnut society.
posted by Lutoslawski at 6:39 PM on January 28, 2014 [3 favorites]


So glad he pointed the finger directly at congress for letting extended unemployment compensation expire. Not that they feel any shame at all, but it at least puts them on defense.
posted by tonycpsu at 6:40 PM on January 28, 2014 [2 favorites]


George_Spiggott: " Think the most obstructionist legislature in history by a factor of like infinity has anything to do with that?"

If only he'd raise the Green Lantern.
posted by tonycpsu at 6:40 PM on January 28, 2014


lukewarm response to the sports metaphor, eh?
posted by xbonesgt at 6:40 PM on January 28, 2014 [1 favorite]


"the Affordable Care Act... will save many, many lives (if not as many as it otherwise might have) and is the closest thing the Obama administration has to a success that might counterbalance some portion of all the rest of the blood on its hands."

That's about where I am... I just can't think of it as an endorsement...
posted by oneswellfoop at 6:41 PM on January 28, 2014 [1 favorite]


He has done some good. I would never deny that. As mentioned, he's about the best president I can think of in terms of LGBT rights, and the Affordable Care Act... is better than nothing, which was precisely what we'd have gotten out of the Republicans had they had their way. I'm just not ready to say that makes up for stuff like the NSA going hog-wild (might not have started under Obama, but he's damn sure been there long enough to do something about it), or the fact that many drone strikes on suspected terrorists have been followed up by drone strikes on first responders, or... well. We could do this all night, right?
posted by scaryblackdeath at 6:41 PM on January 28, 2014 [3 favorites]


For some reason we don't applaud sports metaphors from anyone who looks like he can get out of a chair without grunting. Chris Christie would have killed with that line.
posted by George_Spiggott at 6:42 PM on January 28, 2014


Meh, Clinton was way more center-right than Obama. Did you forget Welfare "Reform" and NAFTA and a ton of other right wing economic policies?

No. But Clinton won in '92 because there was a third party spoiler. He was the first Democrat to look competent in the post-Nixon era. He took even more shit than Obama. And yet he still managed to govern relatively moderately and get some things through. We got the Brady Bill, relatively limited military involvements, balanced budgets, and so on.

With Obama we've gotten big talk and Gitmo. Drones killing people at leisure. Domestic surveillance that isn't even publicly vilified by the administration. A totally wasted mandate from 2008–2010, followed by a disastrous Republican takeover in 2010 that has ruined the governments of many states until at least 2020.
posted by sonic meat machine at 6:42 PM on January 28, 2014 [7 favorites]


FUCK YEAH HIGH-QUALITY EARLY EDUCATION
posted by The corpse in the library at 6:43 PM on January 28, 2014 [3 favorites]


(I'm coming up with some great Tumblr ideas)
posted by The corpse in the library at 6:43 PM on January 28, 2014 [6 favorites]


Also: the comment thread here on the blue before the speech started was enough to turn me off from watching at all. Duck Dynasty? Four Repub responses? Justices not even showing up? And the foregone conclusion that Congress will fight Obama all the way, even if he had the formula for the cure to AIDS in his pocket? I'm just not sure what the point is to watching.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 6:43 PM on January 28, 2014 [2 favorites]


which was precisely what we'd have gotten out of the Republicans had they had their way

whut?
posted by localhuman at 6:44 PM on January 28, 2014


To the President, I just want to say good luck. We're all counting on you.
posted by turbid dahlia at 6:44 PM on January 28, 2014 [6 favorites]


Biden totally just stole a pen.
posted by The corpse in the library at 6:44 PM on January 28, 2014 [4 favorites]


"15,000 schools and 20 million students monitored by the NSA without adding a dime to the deficit." *applause*
posted by xbonesgt at 6:44 PM on January 28, 2014


"the most obstructionist legislature in history by a factor of like infinity" wasn't in place in January 2009, and some smart politics might have kept it from being in place in January 2011. (Don't ask ME what; I'm not as smart as Obama's supposed to be)
posted by oneswellfoop at 6:45 PM on January 28, 2014 [2 favorites]


which was precisely what we'd have gotten out of the Republicans had they had their way

whut?


Meaning we'd have gotten no change in health care at all.
If even that. Hell, it probably would've gotten worse.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 6:45 PM on January 28, 2014 [1 favorite]


omg student loan debt reform

would be so good

never gonna happen

but we can hope
posted by Lutoslawski at 6:45 PM on January 28, 2014 [2 favorites]


By an amazing coincidence, those are also the companies handing over your personal data to the NSA.
posted by George_Spiggott at 6:45 PM on January 28, 2014


My boyfriend and I are both very liberal, and I'm someone affected by the lack of unemployment insurance extension. It's hard to admit, but if I'm being honest, that's more of a concern for me than the atrocities that are being committed overseas. I do sometimes feel not sufficiently outraged enough, but those domestic issues affect me on a real level.
posted by girlmightlive at 6:46 PM on January 28, 2014 [2 favorites]


is Biden going to do magic tricks at some point because Jesus how much does he have in his pockets
posted by jetlagaddict at 6:46 PM on January 28, 2014 [5 favorites]


Who was that who just winked at the "Equal pay for equal work" line? A woman in a light blue jacket.
posted by The corpse in the library at 6:46 PM on January 28, 2014


sonic meat machine: "No. But Clinton won in '92 because there was a third party spoiler. "

Yeah, not so much.
posted by tonycpsu at 6:46 PM on January 28, 2014 [3 favorites]


"And a father does too..."

"Mad Men episode..."

Good stuff right here.
posted by Drinky Die at 6:46 PM on January 28, 2014 [3 favorites]


I do sometimes feel not sufficiently outraged enough, but those domestic issues affect me on a real level.

You aren't a bad person for prioritizing your own survival over the concerns of people you've never met. If you had your way on all these things, it's not like you'd say, "Meh, screw the foreigners," right?
posted by scaryblackdeath at 6:47 PM on January 28, 2014 [2 favorites]


AMC viral advertising at its finest!
posted by Diagonalize at 6:47 PM on January 28, 2014


is Biden going to do magic tricks at some point because Jesus how much does he have in his pockets

That would bring the ratings up. "Let me show you a magic trick..."
posted by sonic meat machine at 6:47 PM on January 28, 2014


Pretty clear that Republicans don't care much for women...
posted by HuronBob at 6:47 PM on January 28, 2014


Only Bachmann would stay sitting down at the line Women deserve Equal Pay for Equal Work line.
posted by jetlagaddict at 6:47 PM on January 28, 2014 [3 favorites]


BOOM
posted by Annika Cicada at 6:47 PM on January 28, 2014


Is he getting booed for wanting maternity and paternity leave?
posted by aspo at 6:47 PM on January 28, 2014


Al Franken is so happy at that Mad Men reference...
posted by sparkletone at 6:47 PM on January 28, 2014


I am so hoping that Biden hijacked the teleprompter script when no one was looking and sneaked in a Trans-Am reference.

There is still a few minutes left in the speech.

Fingers crossed.
posted by lampshade at 6:47 PM on January 28, 2014 [1 favorite]


Yeah, that bit about work places not being like a mad men episode was great.
posted by Lutoslawski at 6:47 PM on January 28, 2014 [1 favorite]


Finally, we can turn this into the new Mad Men discussion thread.
posted by mikepop at 6:48 PM on January 28, 2014 [10 favorites]


Boehner looks like he'd rather be eating glass.
posted by Lulu's Pink Converse at 6:48 PM on January 28, 2014 [1 favorite]


The thing I like about the youtube format is they can't fit a three-shot in so you don't have to look at Biden and Boehner trying to remember not to pick their noses
posted by George_Spiggott at 6:48 PM on January 28, 2014 [1 favorite]


I'm just not sure what the point is to watching.

For me, a large part is gauging the reception of various policy proposals cum applause lines.
posted by dhartung at 6:48 PM on January 28, 2014


Sprint and Verizon? How about helping open telecom to smaller players?
posted by transient at 6:49 PM on January 28, 2014 [1 favorite]


Dough money, dough problems.
posted by sparkletone at 6:49 PM on January 28, 2014


Yes but if you give your employees raises they'll just spend it on earrings.
posted by The corpse in the library at 6:49 PM on January 28, 2014 [3 favorites]


I'm not sure I can even summon up too much animus for Obama as a person, war criminal nonetheless that he is. If someone hands you the keys to this bloodthirsty, all-consuming, neoliberal hulk of a car with no steering wheel, maybe the best you can do as an individual is try to run over fewer people. I'm sure he didn't go to law school with the idea that he would ever be accountable for bombing wedding parties. But what happened happened, and he and his associates did what they did, you know?
posted by threeants at 6:49 PM on January 28, 2014 [3 favorites]


Wow, I just had Punch Pizza a few days ago.
posted by zixyer at 6:49 PM on January 28, 2014 [2 favorites]


"Congress won't do shit, so hey, let's just go right around them, OK?"

Yup.
posted by Lulu's Pink Converse at 6:50 PM on January 28, 2014 [2 favorites]


Has that young fella got earrings on? At the SOTU? I'm delighted, but he'll never hear the end of it from his mom and/or grandma.

How's the pizza?
posted by Countess Elena at 6:50 PM on January 28, 2014 [1 favorite]


Given the things Obama has said about alternative energy and American natural gas vis-à-vis foreign oil, I have to hope that Stephen Harper is a little bit worried.
posted by one more dead town's last parade at 6:50 PM on January 28, 2014 [1 favorite]


Hey y'all, let Minneapolis be your example for fair wages.
posted by triggerfinger at 6:50 PM on January 28, 2014 [1 favorite]


Boehner is keeping that inkstand well away from Biden. I want to see him scooch it a little further.
posted by The corpse in the library at 6:50 PM on January 28, 2014


IMHO it would be even better if the other six Supremes skipped out too. They really don't have any business being there. It's like when the IT folks show up at the salespeople's party.
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 6:50 PM on January 28, 2014 [1 favorite]


$10.10/hr minimum wage for federal employees -- mentioning those who cook and wash for soldiers, for example.
posted by hank at 6:50 PM on January 28, 2014


Senator Rubio's "Oh shit he agreed with me I'm screwed now" face.
posted by Drinky Die at 6:51 PM on January 28, 2014 [8 favorites]


Re: Perot/Clinton -- Yeah, not so much

I respectfully disagree with that analysis. Perot was clearly coming from a conservative direction. The people who were attracted to him were conservative. By being a further-right voice, he diminishes the appeal of Bush to conservatives—which can mean both taking votes and diminishing Bush voter enthusiasm. The argument goes that turnout was high in that election: sure. Some people turned out to vote for Perot who wouldn't have otherwise turned out. But that doesn't mean that there weren't people who were lost to Bush, either by directly voting for Perot or by losing enthusiasm and not voting at all, by his candidacy.
posted by sonic meat machine at 6:52 PM on January 28, 2014


My what?
posted by peeedro at 6:52 PM on January 28, 2014


If you stumble over the name of a new program three times in one minute, you should probably rename the program.
posted by HuronBob at 6:52 PM on January 28, 2014 [2 favorites]


New from Cinco: It's My'RA, the IRA that talks!
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 6:52 PM on January 28, 2014 [4 favorites]


Infrastructure is the KEYSTONE to our success, a way to XL at what we do and a PIPELINE to prosperity!

(needs more subliminal messages)
posted by George_Spiggott at 6:52 PM on January 28, 2014 [5 favorites]


My R A
posted by HuronBob at 6:53 PM on January 28, 2014


My IRA I'm guessing?

Can't wait to put some money into it.
posted by Deathalicious at 6:53 PM on January 28, 2014


Well, I didn't make it much longer this year than last.

Masturbatory exercise in just rifling off Good Things that everyone knows full well the POTUS Can't Do. It's like every high school student council presidential debate, in which the plucky young candidate gets up and tells their peers they're going to abolish homework and get the school to install soft serve icecream machines in the halls.
posted by Room 101 at 6:53 PM on January 28, 2014 [4 favorites]


They really don't have any business being there.

Technically, the Constitution doesn't even require that the SOTU be given in person. (Until 1935 it was mostly a delivered report.)
posted by dhartung at 6:53 PM on January 28, 2014 [1 favorite]


HE'S A HOLOGRAM
posted by The corpse in the library at 6:54 PM on January 28, 2014


I think he's hoping pundits will just rename it to something like Obamasave.
posted by macadamiaranch at 6:54 PM on January 28, 2014 [1 favorite]


ITS OVER 9,000,000!
posted by Uther Bentrazor at 6:55 PM on January 28, 2014


Good luck getting congress' support on these moderate policies, Obama. TRY BEING WHITE NEXT TIME.
posted by roll truck roll at 6:55 PM on January 28, 2014 [11 favorites]


The elimination of pre-existing conditions for denial of health coverage is monumental. He needs credit for that.
posted by HuronBob at 6:55 PM on January 28, 2014 [41 favorites]


who the hell was booing pre-existing conditions?
posted by xbonesgt at 6:55 PM on January 28, 2014 [1 favorite]


But mea culpa, when I said if you liked your plan you could keep it, I didn't count on fuckwits liking scam plans.
posted by George_Spiggott at 6:55 PM on January 28, 2014 [23 favorites]


Yay for the 9 million but I am one of the millions who falls into the loophole and can't get insurance. Bitter.
posted by futz at 6:57 PM on January 28, 2014




I love the 40-something votes jab. Still not a huge fan of who Obama has turned out to be, vs who I voted for twice...but damn, he's so much better than Orange Man and the Frowny Boys.
posted by dejah420 at 6:57 PM on January 28, 2014 [3 favorites]


Call your Mom!
posted by HuronBob at 6:58 PM on January 28, 2014 [2 favorites]


"the most obstructionist legislature in history by a factor of like infinity" wasn't in place in January 2009
Yes it was. You're apparently forgetting that not all senators were immediately seated (for example Franken due to the recount).

During Obama's time in office, Republicans have had control of enough of either the House or the Senate to stop whatever they wanted to stop for the entire time except:
  1. July 7, 2009 - August 24, 2009
  2. Sept. 9, 2009
  3. Sept. 25, 2009 - Feb. 3, 2010
That's it. Those three times are all. And with the "help" of Joe Lieberman and his ilk, none of those three times were sure things for the Democrats anyway.
posted by Flunkie at 6:58 PM on January 28, 2014 [44 favorites]


The spirit that has always moved this nation forward: calling your mom.
posted by Countess Elena at 6:59 PM on January 28, 2014 [1 favorite]


Well, if you disenfranchise half the population, then nobody has to wait more than half an hour to vote.
posted by dirigibleman at 7:00 PM on January 28, 2014 [2 favorites]


I called my mom today. I've done my part for this country goddammit.
posted by Lutoslawski at 7:00 PM on January 28, 2014


Fuck you, NRA.
posted by HuronBob at 7:00 PM on January 28, 2014 [4 favorites]


Boehner not too crazy about this cockamamie "everybody gets to vote" scheme.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 7:00 PM on January 28, 2014 [6 favorites]


He mentions Sandy Hook but won't talk about gun control?
posted by triggerfinger at 7:00 PM on January 28, 2014


He made that comment about the armed forces just to make Boehner stand up and clap.
posted by HuronBob at 7:01 PM on January 28, 2014


Spiggott, we did that thread awhile ago, and in it there were many stories of people who were faced with sharp increases in premiums if they switched. Some of these grandfathered "scam plans" are still fully compliant with Obamacare.
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 7:01 PM on January 28, 2014 [1 favorite]


Trivial thing, but does anyone know who made Mrs. Obama's dress? The lines on it are fantastic, and I want one.
posted by dejah420 at 7:01 PM on January 28, 2014 [1 favorite]


He mentions Sandy Hook but won't talk about gun control?

He talked about it more last year and got nowhere with Congress. There isn't much more left to say.
posted by Drinky Die at 7:01 PM on January 28, 2014 [8 favorites]


I called my mom and I am not even American. We are Canadian, so we spoke French, naturellement.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 7:02 PM on January 28, 2014 [4 favorites]


Trivial thing, but does anyone know who made Mrs. Obama's dress? The lines on it are fantastic, and I want one.

HuffPo
: At the 2013 State of the Union address, Michelle Obama caught some flak for wearing a sparkly red sleeveless dress that some said looked more suited for a "cocktail party."

So this Tuesday night, at the 2014 State of the Union, the first lady made a more conservative pick: a forest green Azzedine Alaia ensemble complete with a full-skirted dress, oversized belt and swingy cropped jacket.

posted by Drinky Die at 7:03 PM on January 28, 2014 [2 favorites]


He made that comment about the armed forces just to make Boehner stand up and clap.

It would be fantastic if he just wore them out by alternating topics. "America is strong!" *stand up* "Healthcare!" *sit down* "Defense!" *stand up* "Higher minimum wage!" *sit down* all through the speech as fast as he can.
posted by jason_steakums at 7:03 PM on January 28, 2014 [26 favorites]


We are Canadian, so we spoke french
Don't you have some poutine to eat or something? We know all aboot you people.
posted by DigDoug at 7:03 PM on January 28, 2014 [2 favorites]


My mom was too busy playing angry birds to answer.
posted by futz at 7:03 PM on January 28, 2014 [1 favorite]


If we keep cutting the heads off the hydra someday it will get tired of growing back. #foreverwar
posted by The Legit Republic of Blanketsburg at 7:04 PM on January 28, 2014


> My mom was too busy playing angry birds to answer

Your mom is Joe Biden?
posted by The corpse in the library at 7:04 PM on January 28, 2014 [8 favorites]


I'm starting to feel like he's not going to talk about Mars.
posted by Lutoslawski at 7:04 PM on January 28, 2014 [4 favorites]


My mom was too busy playing angry birds to answer.

I think Biden's doing the same thing.
posted by xbonesgt at 7:04 PM on January 28, 2014


He talked about it more last year and got nowhere with Congress. There isn't much more left to say.

Public shootings seem to be happening every couple of days now. I just can't believe that giving up is our only solution. I mean, I guess I can, but.....fuck.
posted by triggerfinger at 7:04 PM on January 28, 2014 [4 favorites]


CSPAN HAS FAILED ME

going to assume claps mean everyone gets a pony
posted by jetlagaddict at 7:04 PM on January 28, 2014


damn it corpse
posted by xbonesgt at 7:05 PM on January 28, 2014 [1 favorite]


Is Biden eating sunflower seeds?
posted by The corpse in the library at 7:05 PM on January 28, 2014


From now on we drone weddings only
posted by George_Spiggott at 7:05 PM on January 28, 2014 [1 favorite]


(I'm no women's fashion expert but I see nothing inappropriate for the event in the 2013 outfit)
posted by Drinky Die at 7:05 PM on January 28, 2014


uh, did he just breeze on by the NSA?
posted by Lutoslawski at 7:06 PM on January 28, 2014 [4 favorites]


It's kinda weird to think about terrorists "preferring" anything.
posted by Uther Bentrazor at 7:06 PM on January 28, 2014


Did he mention drones and surveillance? And Guantanamo?

A gal can dream. Not holding my breath.
posted by Annika Cicada at 7:06 PM on January 28, 2014 [2 favorites]


triggerfinger: It's like the bombings in Brazil. We can't acknowledge them without the entire facade falling apart.
posted by dhartung at 7:06 PM on January 28, 2014 [1 favorite]


It would be fantastic if he just wore them out by alternating topics. "America is strong!" *stand up* "Healthcare!" *sit down* "Defense!" *stand up* "Higher minimum wage!" *sit down* all through the speech as fast as he can.

The Episcopalians and Catholics would be able to withstand this.
posted by one more dead town's last parade at 7:06 PM on January 28, 2014 [26 favorites]


My mom is more puce than orange.
posted by futz at 7:06 PM on January 28, 2014


Oh, close Gitmo? Haven't we heard that somewhere before?
posted by leftcoastbob at 7:07 PM on January 28, 2014 [1 favorite]


Um, is this the 2008 election?
posted by The Hamms Bear at 7:07 PM on January 28, 2014 [1 favorite]


Yeah I'm not holding my breath on closing Gitmo.
posted by Lutoslawski at 7:07 PM on January 28, 2014


What if the Republicans were just waiting for him to say "Simon says legislate" this whole time
posted by jason_steakums at 7:07 PM on January 28, 2014 [21 favorites]


Biden is eating sunflower seeds! He is!
posted by The corpse in the library at 7:08 PM on January 28, 2014


Yeah, when he mentioned "reform surveillance programs" he looked like he was crossing all of his fingers and toes.
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 7:08 PM on January 28, 2014


But where is he keeping them?
posted by The corpse in the library at 7:08 PM on January 28, 2014


Oh, close Gitmo? Haven't we heard that somewhere before?

Obama deserves some criticism for not getting it done. (I know, I know, blame Congress. But he faced some rebellion in his own party on it that he should have been able to control)

He also deserves credit for never having given up on the goal even if it is a lost cause.
posted by Drinky Die at 7:09 PM on January 28, 2014 [13 favorites]


He should use that gavel to crack walnuts
posted by George_Spiggott at 7:09 PM on January 28, 2014


My youtube stream just downgraded the quality from HD to 240p. THANKS, OBAMA.
posted by sparkletone at 7:09 PM on January 28, 2014 [4 favorites]


Um, that was about sunflower seeds. Not fingers and toes.
posted by The corpse in the library at 7:09 PM on January 28, 2014


So Biden is a hungry bird?
posted by futz at 7:09 PM on January 28, 2014 [1 favorite]


I'm sure there's someone in the audience eating fingers and toes.
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 7:10 PM on January 28, 2014


When he stands up you'll see the fanny pack.
posted by The Hamms Bear at 7:10 PM on January 28, 2014 [4 favorites]


we must send inspectors into Iran for transparent inspections of fingers and toes
posted by xbonesgt at 7:11 PM on January 28, 2014 [1 favorite]


Joe Biden is a boss.
posted by Annika Cicada at 7:11 PM on January 28, 2014 [2 favorites]


But where is he keeping them?

it's a state secret
posted by jetlagaddict at 7:11 PM on January 28, 2014 [1 favorite]


So Biden is a hungry bird?

No, he's Thomas Bangalter.
posted by sparkletone at 7:12 PM on January 28, 2014


Boehner wants some sunflower seeds.
posted by The corpse in the library at 7:12 PM on January 28, 2014


We're going to close this speech with a Pete Seeger song, right?
posted by mikepop at 7:12 PM on January 28, 2014 [8 favorites]


The corpse in the library: "But where is he keeping them?"

jetlagaddict: "it's a state secret"

Only Dick Cheney knows.
posted by dejah420 at 7:12 PM on January 28, 2014


sparkletone: Yeah, me too. There was a bad stutter a couple minutes back, so maybe it's a network thing.
posted by dhartung at 7:12 PM on January 28, 2014


sparkletone: Yeah, me too. There was a bad stutter a couple minutes back, so maybe it's a network thing.

No joke: the USA chant at that Olympics bit just powered it back up.
posted by sparkletone at 7:13 PM on January 28, 2014 [1 favorite]


The only reason I tuned this in was to see if he would mention Pete.. I know he made a statement earlier, but, damn, he needs to mention him here as well.
posted by HuronBob at 7:13 PM on January 28, 2014 [2 favorites]


Hmmm, thinking he's not going to get to a plan for a national roll out of Google Fiber either.
posted by Lutoslawski at 7:14 PM on January 28, 2014 [1 favorite]


Oh, close Gitmo? Haven't we heard that somewhere before?

Yes, for instance when the president signed an executive order on his first day closing it, and then again when Congress voted in veto-proof majorities to stymie him.
posted by Rhaomi at 7:14 PM on January 28, 2014 [36 favorites]


USA USA USA
posted by dobi at 7:14 PM on January 28, 2014 [1 favorite]


They should stand up for 10th deployment. Jesus.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 7:15 PM on January 28, 2014 [6 favorites]


10th deployment? Fucking hell.
posted by dejah420 at 7:15 PM on January 28, 2014 [3 favorites]


10th deployment... wrong on so many counts. My kid did three, and will never be the same...
posted by HuronBob at 7:15 PM on January 28, 2014 [16 favorites]


10th deployment? That is insane.
posted by futz at 7:16 PM on January 28, 2014 [4 favorites]


I didn't know you could DO 10 deployments. Christ.
posted by Lutoslawski at 7:16 PM on January 28, 2014


Working towards serving his country again? I think he's done. His country needs to serve him now.
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 7:17 PM on January 28, 2014 [32 favorites]


It is criminal.
posted by futz at 7:17 PM on January 28, 2014 [1 favorite]


Well, there's they eye-water
posted by The Legit Republic of Blanketsburg at 7:17 PM on January 28, 2014


Nobody wants to be the first to stop applauding.
posted by The corpse in the library at 7:17 PM on January 28, 2014 [2 favorites]


The thought of double-digit deployments is completely horrifying. I didn't even know you were allowed (or forced?) to go out that many times.
posted by sparkletone at 7:17 PM on January 28, 2014 [2 favorites]


Even if Sgt. Remsburg isn't angry about the phrase "tenth deployment," I think I will be so on his behalf.
posted by one more dead town's last parade at 7:18 PM on January 28, 2014 [8 favorites]


There is no excuse ever, EVER for anyone doing 10 deployments. No fucking excuse. We need to reinstate the draft for everyone under 70 before we send these kids in there 10 times. I'm sick, thinking about what this country is doing to an entire generation.
posted by dejah420 at 7:18 PM on January 28, 2014 [16 favorites]


That poor kid. That poor, poor kid.
posted by jetlagaddict at 7:18 PM on January 28, 2014 [7 favorites]


I went to the bathroom and came back and they are still going
posted by xbonesgt at 7:18 PM on January 28, 2014


Amen, RobotVoodooPower, amen.
posted by chicainthecity at 7:18 PM on January 28, 2014


I mean, that means he's basically been fighting the war more or less none stop, with little breaks, since it started, right?
posted by Lutoslawski at 7:18 PM on January 28, 2014 [2 favorites]


Would that be something he might have chosen on a career path? Pardon my ignorance, I honestly don't know about being career military.
posted by Countess Elena at 7:19 PM on January 28, 2014 [1 favorite]


10 deployments.
posted by HuronBob at 7:20 PM on January 28, 2014 [5 favorites]


ahh, I love obama.... NOT!
posted by kuatto at 7:20 PM on January 28, 2014


Love the applause he's getting from the Congress. Wonder how many of them have volunteered for any military service?
posted by chicainthecity at 7:20 PM on January 28, 2014 [1 favorite]


Not one mention of fixing the NSA?
posted by sewellcm at 7:21 PM on January 28, 2014 [2 favorites]


Would that be something he might have chosen on a career path? Pardon my ignorance, I honestly don't know about being career military.

Reenlistment bonuses are pretty sizable, so sometimes it pays to stay in until retirement.
posted by dobi at 7:21 PM on January 28, 2014


At this moment there are 45 Google hits for "Corey Remsberg." I am eager to see how many there will be by tomorrow.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 7:21 PM on January 28, 2014


Sgt. Cory Remsburg. Wow. Don't even know what to say.
posted by Lutoslawski at 7:21 PM on January 28, 2014


Well, that 10th deployment fact just encapsulated so much about America for me. Ten deployments for a completely fabricated and worthless cause. I am speechless.
posted by futz at 7:22 PM on January 28, 2014 [8 favorites]


Some swords don't WANT to be hammered back into plowshares.
posted by The Legit Republic of Blanketsburg at 7:22 PM on January 28, 2014


Of the many Bush things Obama didn't carry on with, not calling our soldiers "warfighters" actually rates kinda high with me.
posted by George_Spiggott at 7:22 PM on January 28, 2014 [5 favorites]


Not one mention of fixing the NSA?

Hahaha. Ahahaha. Ahaha. Ha.
posted by Lutoslawski at 7:22 PM on January 28, 2014 [15 favorites]


Well, a 10/10 for the political reality he is working in, in my view. I wouldn't want to be one of the 27 responders who has to follow him. As was mentioned above though, these speeches don't really end up as political game changers.
posted by Drinky Die at 7:22 PM on January 28, 2014 [3 favorites]




Isn't insourcing just ... Hiring?

It's when you hire a team of people who work somewhere else in the same country, versus overseas. I remember the term being bandied about several years ago; the idea at the time was (I think) to hire lots of people for cheaper wages in low-cost-of-living American cities. So outsourcing minus time zone difference minus cultural differences, in theory anyway.
posted by davejay at 7:23 PM on January 28, 2014


[Spelled his name wrong. Now I feel like an idiot.]
posted by ricochet biscuit at 7:23 PM on January 28, 2014


where can I watch the republican responze?
posted by kuatto at 7:23 PM on January 28, 2014


Drinky Die: "game changers."

Admit it, you were just trying to fill your bingo card with that one.
posted by tonycpsu at 7:23 PM on January 28, 2014 [1 favorite]


Not one mention of fixing the NSA?

Hahaha. Ahahaha. Ahaha. Ha.


"And I thought my jokes were bad."
posted by entropicamericana at 7:23 PM on January 28, 2014


dejah420: no, we don't need the draft, we need to make less war. Preferably none. I speak on behalf of a couple to a few of my Uncles (no longer here) who did not all serve but certainly were scarred by the thought of the draft during the Vietnam war.
posted by JoeXIII007 at 7:23 PM on January 28, 2014 [2 favorites]


...and I too am sick of what this country is doing to entire generations: past, present, and future.
posted by JoeXIII007 at 7:25 PM on January 28, 2014 [1 favorite]


There's no point in big talk about executive orders without mentioning ENDA. Blah.
posted by Corinth at 7:27 PM on January 28, 2014 [2 favorites]


Countess Elena: "Would that be something he might have chosen on a career path? Pardon my ignorance, I honestly don't know about being career military."

I cannot speak to how it is done currently, but in the Vietnam era, this was my experience: My grandfather was special forces as an "adviser" after the French got mired there. He became a POW and subsequently died. My father (stepfather) did not have to serve in Vietnam, because his father died there. My uncle was special forces, he served three tours; which was the max number of tours anyone could be ordered, or was allowed, to do, even though he begged to go back to try and find my cousin, who is still listed as MIA. Regular troops were allowed to request a second tour, but I do not think could be ordered to serve more than one. (I could be wrong, I was young.)

I did not realize that anyone was serving more than 3 tours. That's unacceptable.
posted by dejah420 at 7:27 PM on January 28, 2014 [5 favorites]


I pointed Sgt. Remsburg out to my daughter and told her he'd been hurt after going ten times to war, a war we should never have begun. She said "that's not FAIR."

Yup. Not fair.
posted by Lulu's Pink Converse at 7:27 PM on January 28, 2014 [7 favorites]


You can find the republican responze at repubzponzischeme.com

(sorry)
posted by futz at 7:28 PM on January 28, 2014


Vote kids for congress!
posted by Lutoslawski at 7:28 PM on January 28, 2014 [2 favorites]


And the first Republican caller into C-SPAN spouts nonsense about how raising the minimum wage will devalue the dollar.
posted by one more dead town's last parade at 7:28 PM on January 28, 2014


via Business Insider: Remsburg joined the Army on his 18th birthday. He wanted to join the Army at 17, but his father, a retired U.S. Air Force Reserve firefighter, refused to sign the papers.

Remsburg was first deployed in 2003 when the U.S. invaded Iraq, according to the Arizona Republic.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 7:28 PM on January 28, 2014


C-SPAN call-ins were the proto youtube comments.
posted by Lutoslawski at 7:29 PM on January 28, 2014 [3 favorites]


If we had compulsory service there would be riots in the streets over this shit.
posted by The Hamms Bear at 7:29 PM on January 28, 2014 [5 favorites]


With how much the NSA has been in the news you would think he'd try to put some kind of spin on it.
posted by sewellcm at 7:30 PM on January 28, 2014


Obama is far from a bad president. Do you totally not recall 2000-2008?

I Have Seen the Future of the Republican Party, and It Is George W. Bush
posted by homunculus at 7:30 PM on January 28, 2014


Mmm, the republican rebuttal is starting up on NPR, so I think that's my cue to turn it off.
posted by Lutoslawski at 7:31 PM on January 28, 2014


Nah, she seems like an interesting lady. Listen in.
posted by Drinky Die at 7:32 PM on January 28, 2014 [1 favorite]


Okay.
posted by Lutoslawski at 7:33 PM on January 28, 2014


"republican rebuttal is starting up"
posted by HuronBob at 7:33 PM on January 28, 2014


I love how the GOP tries to put forward the idea that they care about women.
posted by triggerfinger at 7:33 PM on January 28, 2014


people live in America!
posted by kuatto at 7:34 PM on January 28, 2014


If we had compulsory service there would be riots in the streets over this shit.

That's why someone -- was it Charlie Rangel? -- was advocating bringing back the draft a few years ago.
posted by The corpse in the library at 7:34 PM on January 28, 2014 [2 favorites]


Bryan?
posted by kuatto at 7:36 PM on January 28, 2014


JoeXIII007: "dejah420: no, we don't need the draft, we need to make less war. Preferably none. I speak on behalf of a couple to a few of my Uncles (no longer here) who did not all serve but certainly were scarred by the thought of the draft during the Vietnam war."

No, I remember Vietnam. One side of my family has been serving in this nation's military since before we were a nation. There's a Revolutionary fort with my name on it and everything. By the same token, my parents were objectors to the war, and worked tirelessly against it. I too advocate peace.

But when we have kids who are socially and economically incentivized to lay their lives down for the country with things like ten tours of duty, while the ruling class never dirties their hands with the blood they demand, then we have a problem. If we had a draft, or mandatory national service, I would bet money on us becoming a much more peaceful neighbor to the world, because there would be revolutions here if we tried to send the chickenhawks to the front line. If they had to face an enemy, they wouldn't talk so damn freely about setting fires in other people's countries.
posted by dejah420 at 7:36 PM on January 28, 2014 [20 favorites]


She sounds like a late nite infomercial. Yuck.
posted by futz at 7:37 PM on January 28, 2014


This is a response? Has she talked about a single policy yet?
posted by octothorpe at 7:37 PM on January 28, 2014 [5 favorites]


DO NOT EVEN START WITH THE DOWN SYNDROME TALK LADY BECAUSE JUST DO NOT.

And now I know why they picked her.
posted by Lulu's Pink Converse at 7:37 PM on January 28, 2014 [1 favorite]


Apparently being the Official Republican SotU Response Speaker has become a political kiss of death, so they had to give the job to a woman.
posted by oneswellfoop at 7:37 PM on January 28, 2014 [4 favorites]


Bet she's only getting paid 77% of what Rubio got last year.
posted by George_Spiggott at 7:38 PM on January 28, 2014 [9 favorites]


What is her one new trick to make my life better? She is working up to it...
posted by futz at 7:38 PM on January 28, 2014 [2 favorites]


This is the least rebuttally rebuttal I've ever heard of.
posted by leftcoastbob at 7:39 PM on January 28, 2014 [3 favorites]


oneswellfoop: "Apparently being the Official Republican SotU Response Speaker has become a political kiss of death, so they had to give the job to a woman."

Hey, it's progress. The last time they gave it to a lady, they had a man there just so nobody got too scared.
posted by tonycpsu at 7:39 PM on January 28, 2014 [2 favorites]


...immigration reform, by first securing our borders, and second, defining "secure borders" to mean something impossible.
posted by one more dead town's last parade at 7:39 PM on January 28, 2014 [2 favorites]


My all-time favorite SOTU response is still the one where Bobby Jindal revealed that he is the version of Mr. Rogers from the alternate universe where Spock has a goatee.
posted by Flunkie at 7:41 PM on January 28, 2014 [23 favorites]


What is her one new trick to make my life better?

Doctors hate her for it!
posted by girlmightlive at 7:41 PM on January 28, 2014 [3 favorites]


What is she on about?
posted by dejah420 at 7:41 PM on January 28, 2014 [1 favorite]


I mean, it was kind of a tough speech to rebut. Besides the ACA and climate change, there wasn't a ton in there that I feel like even republicans would take issue with.
posted by Lutoslawski at 7:41 PM on January 28, 2014


Praying? Praying? OMFG!
posted by dejah420 at 7:41 PM on January 28, 2014 [2 favorites]


A decent introductory stump speech to the national audience for a potential future rising star, someone who might appeal to the people Sarah Palin was supposed to appeal to but can do it without coming off as a crazy, hateful, moron. Not perfect delivery, she sometimes sounded like an amateur commercial actor rather than a politician at times. It was in no way a response to Obama's address. Still, it was not a total disaster like the last few responses so I'd rate this one a smashing success, but better speechwriting could have really improved it.
posted by Drinky Die at 7:42 PM on January 28, 2014


Oh, Cathy. I picked beans in Salem. I'm happy for you. Happy for your children too!

I'm happy you have plans. Plans advanced every day! I kinda wish I knew what they are.
posted by wallabear at 7:42 PM on January 28, 2014 [2 favorites]


So what's the state of America?
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 7:42 PM on January 28, 2014


"The state of the unions is in YOUR heart".
So the state of the union is mild tachycardia with a possible transient afib? Yeah, ok that tracks.
posted by The Legit Republic of Blanketsburg at 7:42 PM on January 28, 2014 [19 favorites]


In other words, this rebuttal was written without ever considering what she was rebutting.
posted by leftcoastbob at 7:43 PM on January 28, 2014 [4 favorites]


This is soooooo bad.

wow

so vague

squeeze the charmain
posted by futz at 7:43 PM on January 28, 2014 [1 favorite]


They should have hired Neil Patrick Harris to sing Lin Manuel Miranda's rap response.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 7:43 PM on January 28, 2014


no, we don't need the draft, we need to make less war.

There is an argument that even if one is anti-war, the draft is preferable, because then people from all walks of life (well, maybe not a Senator's son) will serve. This has the effect of democratizing the experience of military service and the experience of war. With a volunteer military, more and more of our recruits are coming from a narrower slice of the country, both geographically and demographically, and arguably they are starting to see themselves as a military class charged with special responsibilities, and an increasingly narrow viewpoint about e.g. the War on Terror as a sort of Holy War (no kidding, there are people in the Pentagon who think this way). It's a little disturbing as a trend.

It was in no way a response to Obama's address.

It's been years since there's been one that actually "responds". They're written in advance now just like the SOTU and have to touch on broad themes.
posted by dhartung at 7:44 PM on January 28, 2014 [9 favorites]


just caught a quick comment from Fox News regarding the Republican response "she was a nice face"
posted by robbyrobs at 7:44 PM on January 28, 2014


omg, they should have NPH host the SOTU! Think of what an opening number could do for the ratings!
posted by Lutoslawski at 7:44 PM on January 28, 2014 [1 favorite]


The next rebuttal will just be a video of two baby pandas.
posted by The Hamms Bear at 7:45 PM on January 28, 2014 [8 favorites]


At this moment there are 45 Google hits for "Corey Remsberg." I am eager to see how many there will be by tomorrow.

It's Cory Remsburg (no e, and a u), but my Google automatically fixed that for me. Results > 10K. Update: Results > 15K.
posted by dhartung at 7:45 PM on January 28, 2014


Holy shit, this Republican rebuttal is brought to you by Romper Room. That may be the most inane speech I've ever heard. Just an endless stream of platitudinous dreck.
posted by Benny Andajetz at 7:46 PM on January 28, 2014 [5 favorites]


PBS is about to have our mayor on! (for 15 seconds)
posted by The Hamms Bear at 7:46 PM on January 28, 2014


The response was all intro and wrapup but no middle.
posted by octothorpe at 7:46 PM on January 28, 2014 [1 favorite]


The Hamms Bear: "The next rebuttal will just be a video of two baby pandas."

Dude, do not do their work for them. EVERYONE would watch panda rebuttal. It would be Puppy Bowl huge.
posted by dejah420 at 7:46 PM on January 28, 2014 [3 favorites]


dejah420: But when we have kids who are socially and economically incentivized to lay their lives down for the country with things like ten tours of duty, while the ruling class never dirties their hands with the blood they demand, then we have a problem. If we had a draft, or mandatory national service, I would bet money on us becoming a much more peaceful neighbor to the world, because there would be revolutions here if we tried to send the chickenhawks to the front line. If they had to face an enemy, they wouldn't talk so damn freely about setting fires in other people's countries.

I went to a poor school district, so I can totally resonate with this sentiment. Even wrote an editorial in the school newspaper back in high school opposing the presence of recruiters during lunch, much to the dismay of friends in the JROTC.

Beyond that, the conditions for who are eligible for the draft would have to be laid out by congress again. Some just weren't born and/or raised to fight, and we've had 30 years or so to figure that out.
posted by JoeXIII007 at 7:46 PM on January 28, 2014 [2 favorites]


The GOP were biting their nails in fear that she'd have to break off in the middle to have a baby.
posted by George_Spiggott at 7:47 PM on January 28, 2014


without coming off as a crazy, hateful, moron

Having lived in McMorris' district (before she become McMorris Rodgers), she may not come off as crazy or moronic, but I found it difficult to differentiate hatred from the disregard for human well being that results from her dedication to Republican principles of wealth concentration.
posted by audi alteram partem at 7:47 PM on January 28, 2014 [2 favorites]


That was verbal diarrhea unaided by laxitives.
posted by futz at 7:49 PM on January 28, 2014 [1 favorite]


I really hope somewhere in the bowels of the GOP there isn't a checklist filed under POLITICIAN, FEMALE with a Down syndrome checkbox on it
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 7:50 PM on January 28, 2014 [1 favorite]


The Ladies Against Humanity tumblr was killing it.
posted by kmz at 7:50 PM on January 28, 2014 [4 favorites]


Bowels, heh.
posted by futz at 7:51 PM on January 28, 2014


Baby Panda #1: Why did Obama try to have us aborted?

Baby Panda #2: Because he hates America.

Floating Obama head wearing a turban: Pandas are from China, not America.

Baby Panda #1: That sounds like something a Kenyan would say!
posted by Flunkie at 7:51 PM on January 28, 2014 [7 favorites]


homunculus: "I Have Seen the Future of the Republican Party, and It Is George W. P. Bush"

FTFY
posted by Rhaomi at 7:52 PM on January 28, 2014 [2 favorites]


EVERYONE would watch panda rebuttal.

I would 100% vote for the ticket President Bird/VP Panda are you kidding me, I don't even care where their little fuzzy butts were born, I don't care in the least
posted by jetlagaddict at 7:53 PM on January 28, 2014


JoeXIII007: "Beyond that, the conditions for who are eligible for the draft would have to be laid out by congress again. Some just weren't born and/or raised to fight, and we've had 30 years or so to figure that out."

Oh, absolutely. And I have some ideas. And if I were not terrified of what the Republican machine would do with my past, I would run for office and try to advance some of them. But I live in the heartland of the Teahadists, and that's a right scary group of lunatics. Heavily armed lunatics.
posted by dejah420 at 7:55 PM on January 28, 2014 [1 favorite]


"@JillBidenVeep: This feels like when you leave your TV on and you unknowingly watch the first 10 minutes of The 700 Club. #GOPresponse"
posted by octothorpe at 7:55 PM on January 28, 2014 [25 favorites]


Kitten/Puppy 2020. Bird/Panda clearly lacks the seriousness for this sort of role.
posted by sonic meat machine at 7:55 PM on January 28, 2014 [2 favorites]


The GOP were biting their nails in fear that she'd have to break off in the middle to have a baby.

Wouldn't that actually be a better rebuttal for them?
posted by dhartung at 7:56 PM on January 28, 2014 [1 favorite]


octothorpe: ""@JillBidenVeep: This feels like when you leave your TV on and you unknowingly watch the first 10 minutes of The 700 Club. #GOPresponse""

brb, registering biden-biden2016.com

(Sorry, Joe, you're at the bottom of the ticket. Again.)
posted by tonycpsu at 7:57 PM on January 28, 2014 [12 favorites]


That Jill Biden tweet is AWESOME.
posted by futz at 7:57 PM on January 28, 2014


PHILADELPHIA—Reiterating numerous themes from last year’s rebuttal while offering several searing critiques of tonight’s speech, area dad Bill Shaw delivered his official response to President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address tonight directly into the television screen, household sources reported. “Well, there you go, folks—same canned lines we’ve been hearing for the last two years with a couple of empty nods to the little guy, just how I said it would be,”

I really hope a Republican doesn't win again any time soon or this will be me.
posted by Drinky Die at 7:57 PM on January 28, 2014


dejah420: *deep breath* yep...
posted by JoeXIII007 at 7:58 PM on January 28, 2014


(It's not actually Jill Biden, unfortunately.)
posted by Corinth at 8:01 PM on January 28, 2014


DO NOT EVEN START WITH THE DOWN SYNDROME TALK LADY BECAUSE JUST DO NOT.

Did she mention with gratitude that thanks to the ACA her child can never be denied coverage due to this preexisting condition?
posted by George_Spiggott at 8:01 PM on January 28, 2014 [26 favorites]


I feel like I need to take a shower after the Rebub response. THAT was the best they could do? Jesus fucking christ. I am dumbfounded.
posted by futz at 8:02 PM on January 28, 2014


Oh boo. I wondered if it was actually Jill Biden before I posted.

Still a good comment that summed up my take on it...
posted by futz at 8:04 PM on January 28, 2014


(It's not actually Jill Biden, unfortunately.)

Ach, you're right. William Gibson's re-tweet steered me wrong.
posted by octothorpe at 8:05 PM on January 28, 2014


Here's the transcript of the GOP response. I have to say, it doesn't make much more sense written than it did spoken.
posted by dejah420 at 8:14 PM on January 28, 2014 [1 favorite]


"tonight I'd like to share a more hopeful, Republican vision"

"hopeful Republican vision"

That's a thing?
posted by jason_steakums at 8:16 PM on January 28, 2014


Who approved that rebuttal? Nobody? Weird.
posted by futz at 8:17 PM on January 28, 2014


> He also deserves credit for never having given up on the goal even if it is a lost cause.

ARG!

I see this every time Mr. Obama's record on Guantanamo Bay is mentioned here. But it simply is NOT true.

Please understand that he never made any attempt to legitimately fulfill his campaign promises on this matter. What his proposal was to bring Gitmo to the United States - but continue to keep the prisoners under indefinite detainment, under exactly the same legal conditions and rights (i.e. absolutely none of any kind). Source.

Naturally, he got sustained opposition from BOTH the right and the left - because no one wanted the precedent of indefinitely detainment without trial on US soil.
posted by lupus_yonderboy at 8:18 PM on January 28, 2014 [4 favorites]


Boss Hog shoulda done the rebuttal. He's a helluva lot more popular that the Rep from WA.
posted by leftcoastbob at 8:24 PM on January 28, 2014


Oh man, I just live-tweeted this for work (really), and I would have much rather been hanging out here!
posted by aka burlap at 8:24 PM on January 28, 2014 [2 favorites]


Here's the transcript of the GOP response. I have to say, it doesn't make much more sense written than it did spoken.


Begs to be recited in beatnik style with a sax accompaniment, bass guitar and drum.
posted by ocschwar at 8:35 PM on January 28, 2014 [1 favorite]


Why would you have to live tweet this? News org?
posted by futz at 8:36 PM on January 28, 2014




lupus, he also has tried to send detainees back to their home country. He has continued to talk about this issue this year and last year when it has widely been considered dead and buried. He did fuck up, but he is the only major ally with any power there really is on this issue.
posted by Drinky Die at 8:37 PM on January 28, 2014 [1 favorite]


Re Cathy McM-R: Simple disaster avoidance.

Highest ranking female Representative, yet a relative unknown, outside my district. Safe. Delivers a banal, issues-blind message.

She doesn't have obvious aspirations for higher office. On the stage but rarely speaks. I've lived in WA-5 for 15 years and if you see the flyers you get in the mail around campaign time, she has as much depth as what we just saw.

But eastern WA will re-elect her.
posted by wallabear at 8:41 PM on January 28, 2014


But why was she chosen for such a high profile slot? That is what baffles me.
posted by futz at 8:44 PM on January 28, 2014


Really?

Actually, let's give eastern WA to Idaho, let Portland and western WA form the new state of Cascadia already.
posted by Annika Cicada at 8:46 PM on January 28, 2014 [5 favorites]


But why was she chosen for such a high profile slot? That is what baffles me.

Presidential contenders have been afraid of it because it has been a disaster area lately and they are making an effort to appeal to women.
posted by Drinky Die at 8:46 PM on January 28, 2014 [4 favorites]


Why would you have to live tweet this? News org?

Nonprofit that wanted to weigh in on the parts relevant to our mission. Mostly it was just us and similar nonprofits all talking to each other.
posted by aka burlap at 8:50 PM on January 28, 2014 [1 favorite]


Good points but this was soooo bad. This was the best they could come up with? Never mind, i should be reveling in this but it is so out there that it is like an Onion article. Sigh, America.
posted by futz at 8:53 PM on January 28, 2014


Charles Pierce: The State Of Our Union Is Long
posted by homunculus at 8:58 PM on January 28, 2014




John Boehner's face seemed to darken as the evening went along, like the side of a mountain that faces the sunset.

-Charlie Pierce
posted by Danf at 9:15 PM on January 28, 2014 [1 favorite]


Obama's Presidency, As Explained by Game of Thrones Characters

Wow, that is surprisingly insightful.
posted by Drinky Die at 9:16 PM on January 28, 2014


Clinton was way more center-right than Obama. Did you forget Welfare "Reform" and NAFTA and a ton of other right wing economic policies?

They say he was the best Republican President of the last 20 years.

I mean, it was kind of a tough speech to rebut. Besides the ACA and climate change, there wasn't a ton in there that I feel like even republicans would take issue with.

I was under the very strong impression that they take issue with just about anything Obama says, regardless if they really don't.

So what's the state of America?

The Wire + Inside Job?
posted by juiceCake at 9:22 PM on January 28, 2014 [1 favorite]


Annika Cicada, as a western OR native I appreciate the sentiment, but as an eastern WA resident, please no.
posted by wallabear at 9:23 PM on January 28, 2014 [3 favorites]




Most of the scene takes place off camera, and the dialogue is mostly inaudible.

According to NY1 political director Bob Hardt, Grimm told the reporter, "I will break you in half."


Here
is a more clear video where you can hear exactly what he is saying.
posted by Drinky Die at 9:34 PM on January 28, 2014 [3 favorites]


Was the journalist a Wesen?
posted by homunculus at 9:35 PM on January 28, 2014 [1 favorite]


Report: Rep. Grimm Threatens Journalist After SOTU . . .

According to NY1 political director Bob Hardt, Grimm told the reporter, "I will break you in half
It's clobberin' time!"
 
posted by Herodios at 9:39 PM on January 28, 2014 [10 favorites]


But why was she chosen for such a high profile slot? That is what baffles me.

*spit-take*

Really, in many ways, it's a thankless task. Even from your own party, only a fraction of the viewership watches, and nobody pays much attention in the next day's media cycle, either. In all the years it's been done, the only actual future White House nominee who's had the lectern to himself was Bob Dole, although some others (mostly Democrats) have campaigned in primaries (and Gerald Ford, who doubled up with Dirksen two years running, got there another way). The GOP has also been particularly sensitive recently to fronting with its leadership, its leadership being effectively exclusively old white men who have been in DC a very long time, so they've tended to pander more with women, with minorities (JC Watts, Bobby Jindal, Marco Rubio), and particularly more use of Governors instead of someone in Washington. But one Democratic Guv who was part of a group response was a fella named Clinton.

So really, the role has always been a bit of a prop, the standee card to represent the party's current talking points and aspirations, not one to inspire the base like a keynote speaker at a convention.
posted by dhartung at 9:47 PM on January 28, 2014 [1 favorite]


Has there ever been a SOTU rebuttal that anyone found particularly compelling or resonating? From either party? Ever?
posted by scaryblackdeath at 9:59 PM on January 28, 2014


the president slew tonight. stone fact.
posted by Ironmouth at 10:00 PM on January 28, 2014 [1 favorite]


Nice, replay coming up on CNN, I can appreciate all the parts I missed because I was googling up inkwells and dresses.
posted by Drinky Die at 10:01 PM on January 28, 2014 [2 favorites]


also, Grimm is so fucked congressman Schock of illinois will be sucked in.

in other news, Christie is fucked.
posted by Ironmouth at 10:03 PM on January 28, 2014




I may beg to differ, just a bit, in that the rebuttal has become more prominent now than then, and mostly a result of cable news insatiable appetite for anything.

Otherwise yeah, unless there's something notable about it eg Rubio bottle-grab, its instantly forgotten. In McMorris-Rogers' case, unless Colbert or the like picks it up its already forgotten. The only reason I'm bothering to comment is C McMR is my Rep and I want her out. I'd love to have a spotlight on her for awhile. Probably not gonna happen.
posted by wallabear at 10:06 PM on January 28, 2014


Nah, things are looking up for Christie.

As someone whose read the minutes of the last 3 years of the Fort Lee Borough council and reviewed who got $395 million of legally transferable tax credits under the NJ Urban Transit Hub Tax Credit under Christie, I beg to differ. The kid threw the game, too.
posted by Ironmouth at 10:18 PM on January 28, 2014 [2 favorites]


Please someone, youtube a mashup of Grimm's interview and Richard Sherman making the choke motion. Because, baby, that was a choke. That's a barred attorney and former FBI agent losing his cool on camera. Dude is so fucked.
posted by Ironmouth at 10:19 PM on January 28, 2014


You may besmirch the name of New Jersey politics at your will, but when you besmirch the Jerseyian honor for the noble game of table tennis...you sir have gone too far.
posted by Drinky Die at 10:20 PM on January 28, 2014


I watched the response speech up to the point where she said Down's and then I had to quit. It wasn't really great up to that point but Holy Fuck Jesus.

Is she like some kind of a martyr or a saint?

The other day I was reading (totally unrelated) about Roman Catholic canonization process and it was kind of weird to me to discover there are two classes. One class is for martyrs and the other is for non-martyrs. It is far simpler to get canonized if you get martyred first.
posted by bukvich at 10:21 PM on January 28, 2014 [1 favorite]


So literally blowing women and children apart in pointless wars, great; metaphorically threatening to "rip someone in half," worst thing ever?
posted by drjimmy11 at 10:24 PM on January 28, 2014 [1 favorite]


So literally blowing women and children apart in pointless wars, great; metaphorically threatening to "rip someone in half," worst thing ever?

Pointless to attack the country that state sponsored the largest and most deadly terrorist attack ever? No. Iraq? Yes pointless. Afghanistan? You have to ignore facts to claim that.
posted by Ironmouth at 10:30 PM on January 28, 2014 [3 favorites]


Pointless to attack the country that state sponsored the largest and most deadly terrorist attack ever?

Hiroshima?
posted by anemone of the state at 12:26 AM on January 29, 2014 [5 favorites]


Someone left Boehner in the toaster too long
posted by Rinku at 12:56 AM on January 29, 2014 [1 favorite]


Rep Grimm threatens to break reporter in half and throw him over balcony in post SOTU interview

Questioned about campaign fraud allegations the Rep from NJ started to talk away...should have stuck with first instincts.
posted by humanfont at 2:10 AM on January 29, 2014


That, Rinku, or he was off his blood pressure medication. I did wonder...
posted by skippyhacker at 5:21 AM on January 29, 2014


I took a lot of guts to declare a pardon of Justin Beiber and close the speech with "Allah-u-Akbar" instead of the usual "God Bless America"
posted by Renoroc at 5:27 AM on January 29, 2014 [5 favorites]


Well wallabear, E. WA is where the wine comes from, so you may be onto something...
posted by Annika Cicada at 5:31 AM on January 29, 2014




Cory Remsburg's Story is a Lousy Metaphor for America's Problems
I understand that these shout-outs to special guests are, since the Reagan era, all but mandatory in State of the Union speeches; I understand that the president wants to appeal -- and wants to be seen as appealing -- to the better nature of congressional obstructionists.

But this is a terrible metaphor for what we're going through.

Cory Remsburg's struggle to recover from war injuries (after -- God help us -- ten deployments) really is hard. But what we have to do in this country isn't hard at all; it's relatively easy. Republicans simply have to meet Democrats partway; they have to hash out a few bills in conference committees and cast a few votes. They have to stop acting as if losing a primary to a tea party challenger is a life-altering disaster comparable to, well, the incident in which Remsburg suffered his injuries -- a defeated member of Congress leaves office with health intact, with great benefits, and with many, many opportunities to make very nice money.

But the biggest problem with this analogy is that it plays into the notion that our political problems are caused by lack of effort. We could solve them if we just tried harder. This is particularly damaging to the president himself -- he's blamed for the brick wall of Republican resistance he faces every day. He's not trying hard enough. He's not leading hard enough. The problem isn't that you can't knock down a brick wall of resistance by repeatedly running into it headfirst; the myth is that he really could knock it down if he made a few more runs at it, or ran faster.

America isn't in trouble because the president and other politicians lack guts and persistence. America is in trouble because Republicans are malignant and willful and have terrible ideas.
posted by tonycpsu at 7:23 AM on January 29, 2014 [9 favorites]


Has there ever been a SOTU rebuttal that anyone found particularly compelling or resonating? From either party? Ever?

Fixed that for you, and within living memory, no.
posted by corb at 7:37 AM on January 29, 2014


Obama's Presidency, As Explained by Game of Thrones Characters

So Obama is now Stannis Baratheon.

agree.
posted by mcstayinskool at 7:37 AM on January 29, 2014


The response to the SOTU is a tough speech to give; there is a ton of majesty and applause for the president, and then the response is done from a single person alone in a room.

That said, I can't imagine either party would have a male member of congress give the response while sitting on a couch. Not sure exactly what that says, but I think it says something.
posted by craven_morhead at 8:30 AM on January 29, 2014 [1 favorite]


Former VA governor Bob McDonnell (he of "transvaginal ultrasound" and "indicted for improperly accepting six figures worth of gifts" fame) gave a very well-received SOTU response where he spoke to a room full of supporters. You're never going to beat a joint session of congress for visual appeal, but I don't know why they haven't gone back to that formula, which seemed to work for them before.
posted by tonycpsu at 8:36 AM on January 29, 2014




After praising President Barack Obama on immigration, South Carolina GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham blasted the foreign policy portion of the State of the Union speech.

“The world is literally about to blow up,” Graham said, saying he completely disagrees with Obama on Iran policy.


Literally.
posted by Drinky Die at 8:58 AM on January 29, 2014 [3 favorites]


tonycpsu: " This is particularly damaging to the president himself -- he's blamed for the brick wall of Republican resistance he faces every day. He's not trying hard enough. He's not leading hard enough. The problem isn't that you can't knock down a brick wall of resistance by repeatedly running into it headfirst; the myth is that he really could knock it down if he made a few more runs at it, or ran faster."

In this situation the only way forward is to go around the wall.
posted by Big_B at 9:06 AM on January 29, 2014 [1 favorite]


The State of the Union's Most Despicable Moment
The most emotionally powerful moment in Barack Obama’s State of the Union address was also its most morally dubious. The nation’s commander in chief drew attention to a wounded warrior while eliding any responsibility for placing the young man in harm’s way...

The government under Republican and Democratic presidents has spent virtually the entire 21st century sending young men and women to fight in ill-defined and unsuccessful elective wars. That’s bad enough, but then to use them as props in political speeches? That’s positively obscene.
I think I'm a little more antiwar than Nick Gillespie, but the basic point stands.
posted by corb at 9:07 AM on January 29, 2014 [4 favorites]


It's going to be beautiful to watch the war mongers freak out over "using" a soldier who served ten tours and is now injured, and then attempt to blame the whole thing on Obama.

Oh wait never mind. Thanks.
posted by Big_B at 9:13 AM on January 29, 2014


the basic point stands.

This criticism would be better had it been made in 2005, or by someone who didn't say that Sarbanes-Oxley was the worst idea of the '00s.
posted by the man of twists and turns at 9:26 AM on January 29, 2014 [3 favorites]


I think I'm a little more antiwar than Nick Gillespie, but the basic point stands.

The point is bullshit, really, because there would have been a huge outcry from "patriots" if he didn't have military members up there. Gillespie can tell himself that Rand Paul or whoever wouldn't do the same thing, but I'd bet good money that he's wrong.
posted by zombieflanders at 10:26 AM on January 29, 2014


Pair Linked By Marathon Attack Join Michelle Obama (sort of previously on Metafilter, but I don't want to go searching through the monster Boston thread)
posted by corb at 10:52 AM on January 29, 2014 [1 favorite]


The Republican Clown Car
posted by homunculus at 1:15 PM on January 29, 2014 [2 favorites]




> The Republican Clown Car

That partisan hack is completely wrong about two things:
  • Lindsey Graham's actual name is not Senator Huckleberry J. Butchmeup, it is Senator Huckleberry Closetcase.
  • There is no Old Navy on K Street (or anywhere in DC), and they wouldn't sell Dockers there anyhow.
posted by peeedro at 3:20 PM on January 29, 2014


Hey uh could we maybe not cast sexual-identity-based aspersions maybe?
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 3:30 PM on January 29, 2014 [3 favorites]


The point is bullshit, really, because there would have been a huge outcry from "patriots" if he didn't have military members up there.

If we didn't still have military in harm's way overseas, it wouldn't be a point at all.
posted by IndigoJones at 4:39 PM on January 29, 2014 [2 favorites]


> Pointless to attack the country that state sponsored the largest and most deadly terrorist attack ever? No. Iraq? Yes pointless. Afghanistan? You have to ignore facts to claim that.

"Ignoring facts", eh?

There's no evidence whatsoever that Afghanistan "sponsored" 9/11 - there's no evidence at all that even one single solitary Afghani knew that Al Qaeda was planning to attack the World Trade Center, and lots of evidence that the 9/11 hijackers told no one else about what they were going to do.

If one country "sponsored" 9/11, it would be Saudi Arabia. Most of the hijackers were Saudis, Bin Laden was Saudi, and Al Qaeda was financed and organized by high-ranking Saudis.

To add to your list of "facts ignored", 9/11 was by no means the "largest and most deadly terrorist attack in history" - unless "terrorist" is a synonym for "Muslim".

There are many candidates - particularly since "sponsored by a government" and "terrorism" are clearly quite compatible in your world.

My personal suggestion would be the bombing of Cambodia and Laos, being that it was done clandestinely and that the country performing the bombing was not in fact at war with the countries being bombed. That killed somewhere between 13 and 50 times as many people as were killed in 9/11.
posted by lupus_yonderboy at 5:26 PM on January 29, 2014 [6 favorites]


Could we not get into a pissing contest over terrorist attacks with the most casualties? That's starting to scrape the bottom of the barrel in internet discussions.
posted by FJT at 9:04 PM on January 29, 2014 [1 favorite]


Could we not get into a pissing contest

There's really not much of a contest here.
posted by AElfwine Evenstar at 4:41 AM on January 30, 2014


That's starting to scrape the bottom of the barrel in internet discussions.

Really? I doubt that the victims of U.S. military aggression would see it that way.
posted by AElfwine Evenstar at 4:43 AM on January 30, 2014 [1 favorite]


The State of the Union Address Obama Would Never Give:
"I do want to reassure you tonight that I still regard economic inequality as the defining issue of our time. But I must confess it has grown during my time in office.

"I know I promised to do something about it. But for some reason, millions of you who have seen your real incomes shrink relentlessly continue to vote against your own economic interest. You also want more tax cuts for the well off, perhaps because you still think you have a shot at getting rich.

"Well, I'm going to be honest tonight: Most of you don't.

"I'm not sure what else I can say, or do, about that, given our system. But that particular American dream appears to be dead.
posted by Rumple at 10:09 AM on January 30, 2014 [4 favorites]


Really? I doubt that the victims of U.S. military aggression would see it that way.

What would happen after we've dragged out every single example we can think of that involves terrible and horrific terrorist attacks that have been committed in history? And find some way to compare them that doesn't end up in a problematic area where we're trying to ordinally rank loss of life and human suffering.

And when we have finally found the ultimate victim and the ur-enemy, then are you going to sit and there and say, "Hmm, now I can properly honor these victims without feeling I'm missing out on other victims that have had it worse" and then turn around say, "Yes, now I can vilify these poor excuse for people and know that they've done the worst thing in the history of mankind."

Y'know 'cause, I don't think you're going to do that. Any of that. Call me a bit cynical, I don't think that's the objective you're seeking here. Unless your way of honoring them was to use them as a snarky response on an online comment.
posted by FJT at 10:45 AM on January 30, 2014 [2 favorites]


What would happen after we've dragged out every single example we can think of that involves terrible and horrific terrorist attacks that have been committed in history?

I don't think anything would happen, but 3,000 dead Americans would still be, at best, a farcical excuse to claim the right to spy on everyone everywhere and/or kill anyone we deem necessary without the due process of law. This president has not only continued most the Bush era usurpations of executive power, but has codified them into our supposedly democratic system. Keep in mind most of these powers are dictatorial in nature and have been historically characteristic of a totalitarian forms of government.
posted by AElfwine Evenstar at 9:02 PM on January 30, 2014 [1 favorite]


Call me crazy, but I do think it's possible to both oppose the Iraq War and the Patriot Act /and/ think 9/11 was an awful terrorist attack.
posted by corb at 6:24 AM on January 31, 2014 [2 favorites]


Not many people actually paid attention to Cathy McMorris-Rodgers' official response, but despite being virtually content-free, she managed to sneak in a blatant lie about Obamacare.

In other words, she's definitely got "First female GOP Speaker of the House" potential.
posted by tonycpsu at 8:59 AM on January 31, 2014


and/ think 9/11 was an awful terrorist attack.

Is there anyone implying that it wasn't an awful terrorist attack? Because I sure wasn't. I was merely pointing out that it's a lousy excuse to kill innocent people and destroy the foundational principles of our democracy.
posted by AElfwine Evenstar at 12:18 PM on January 31, 2014




Why Obama Pretended He Can Take Economic Action
President Obama devoted his State of the Union address to the economy for a simple reason: Americans think he needs to spend more time talking about the economy. They think that because they lack a detailed understanding of the situation in Washington. Obama’s speech was an extended attempt to humor their naivete.
What Obama Is Really Trying to Do in the State of the Union Address
posted by the man of twists and turns at 10:57 AM on February 3, 2014


Sarah Posner: Cathy McMorris Rodgers' (Biblical) Education
Unaccredited bible colleges, Christian law and graduate schools, and other educational institutions that claim to offer a worldview alternative to secular study are little understood, but, because of their growth and the Republican Party's cultivation of religious candidates, are increasingly seen on the resumés of public officials. For Rodgers' generation of Republican politicians, a look inside the peculiarities of such religious education is, as Rindge observes, very telling of how they come to their policy positions.
posted by audi alteram partem at 5:15 PM on February 3, 2014 [1 favorite]


Lawrence H. Summers: America risks becoming a Downton Abbey economy
The share of income going to the top 1 per cent of earners has increased sharply. A rising share of output is going to profits. Real wages are stagnant. Family incomes have not risen as fast as productivity. The cumulative effect of all these developments is that the US may well be on the way to becoming a Downton Abbey economy. It is very likely that these issues will be with us long after the cyclical conditions have normalized and budget deficits have at last been addressed.

President Barack Obama is right to be concerned. Those who condemn him for “tearing down the wealthy” and engaging in un-American populism are, to put it politely, lacking in historical perspective. Presidents from Franklin Roosevelt to Harry Truman railed against the excesses of a privileged few in finance and business. Some have gone beyond rhetoric. Confronted with rising steel prices, John Kennedy sent the FBI storming into corporate offices and is widely thought to have ordered the authorities to audit executives’ personal tax returns. Richard Nixon used the same weapon in 1973, announcing tax investigations “of the books of companies which raised their prices more than 1.5 per cent above the January ceiling.” All were reacting in their own way to a phenomenon that Bill Clinton has described best: “Although America’s rich got richer . . . the country did not . . . the stock market tripled but wages went down.”
posted by the man of twists and turns at 8:39 AM on February 19, 2014 [1 favorite]


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