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SOTU Recap
Author: BobR    Date: 01/26/2011 13:32:47

Last night President Barack Obama delivered the State of the Union speech to Congress, the SCOTUS, and all of America. As these speeches tend to be, his was the usual rundown of accomplishments for the year, and plans for the future. As always, there was the "response", which in this case was delivered by Republican Paul Ryan, and an extra nugget of entertainment - the Tea Party response - delivered by erstewhile Republican Michelle Bachmann.

Here are the themes the President spoke about during the speech:
  • A call for unity
  • Investment tax breaks
  • World competition
  • Winning The future - reforming the government
  • Innovation (Sputnik)
  • Clean energy
  • Education: schools, teachers, college funding
  • Infrastructure: high speed rail
  • Trade agreements
  • Government regulations
  • Healthcare legislation
  • Balanced budget
  • Saving Medicare and Social Security
  • Remove tax breaks for the rich
  • Eliminate government waste
  • Enhance government efficiencies
  • Vetoing legislation with earmarks
  • Same ol' same ol', re: wars, homeland security
  • The idea of what America means - doing big things

Here's an interesting word cloud of the speech:
http://www.polls.newsvine.com/_vine/images/users/600/WillFemia/5919133.jpg

(The Republican and Bachmann word clouds can be seen here)

You can read an analysis of the speech here and some random fact-checking here. My overall impression was that I was behind it about 80-90%. I think his austerity plan for government employees will be detrimental to the economy. I also was left scratching my head over his plan to increase investments for new technologies while decreasing spending. Based on a comment by David Axelrod after the speech, the funds for those new programs will come from reducing government waste, inefficiencies, and redundancies. I also felt like the comments on the wars in the Middle East were more of the same.

Other than that, though, I appreciated the rest of the speech.

The official government response came from Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI), which contained the following:
  • A pandering reference to Rep. Giffords
  • Warnings about federal spending
  • Warnings about the federal debt
  • Antipathy towards the Insurance mandates
  • Spoke of a replacement for the health care law, but provided no details
  • Lied about the health care law "bankrupting" America
  • Spoke in favor of "limited government" (ie: drown it in a bathtub)

(More analysis here). All in all, it was the usual FEAR from the Republican party.

The icing on the cake, though, was the Tea Party response from Michelle Bachmann. With makeup caked on to a level approaching circus clown, she stared off into the distance (never once looking at the camera) reading prepared words on a TELEPROMPTER! as seemingly random images appeared on a screen behind her. It was surreal theatre of the absurd at its finest. You can watch it here.



So while the pundits debate, and the political activists look for hidden meanings, life goes on. Perhaps next year we can see how much has really changed.


 

87 comments (Latest Comment: 01/27/2011 02:15:15 by TriSec)
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Comment by wickedpam on 01/26/2011 14:01:31
Morning

Comment by Scoopster on 01/26/2011 14:09:24
Mornin' all.. Bracing for another dumping of snow later today..

I managed to find the highlights from last night's address: The 20 second SOTU!

Comment by Raine on 01/26/2011 14:18:05
good morning!

Comment by Raine on 01/26/2011 14:24:02
So Paul Broun is kind of a douchknob....

Broun took to Twitter during the address, accusing the president of believing in socialism. Obama touched on several economic themes during his address, emphasizing the need for the U.S. to be competitive in the global marketplace.

"Mr. President, you don't believe in the Constitution. You believe in socialism," the tweet reads.


Comment by wickedpam on 01/26/2011 14:26:29
Quote by Raine:
So Paul Broun is kind of a douchknob....

Broun took to Twitter during the address, accusing the president of believing in socialism. Obama touched on several economic themes during his address, emphasizing the need for the U.S. to be competitive in the global marketplace.

"Mr. President, you don't believe in the Constitution. You believe in socialism," the tweet reads.



yeah - saw JakeTapper had pointed it out then checked it myself - the man should be ashamed of himself

Comment by Raine on 01/26/2011 14:31:31
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Raine:
So Paul Broun is kind of a douchknob....

Broun took to Twitter during the address, accusing the president of believing in socialism. Obama touched on several economic themes during his address, emphasizing the need for the U.S. to be competitive in the global marketplace.

"Mr. President, you don't believe in the Constitution. You believe in socialism," the tweet reads.



yeah - saw JakeTapper had pointed it out then checked it myself - the man should be ashamed of himself
I guess no one needs to yell "you Lie" now that the GOP found the twitter...

shameful is kind for this behaviour.


Comment by Raine on 01/26/2011 14:33:46
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA Even the Tea Party rejects Michelle Bachmann!

Please call Michele Bachmann’s Office and tell her that she does not speak for the Tea Party. Michele has announced she will be giving the ‘Tea Party Response’ to the President’s State of the Union Address. The Tea Party Patriots Organization is a grass roots organization. One person has no right to speak for the whole organization.


Comment by Scoopster on 01/26/2011 14:34:19
Quote by Raine:
So Paul Broun is kind of a douchknob....

Broun took to Twitter during the address, accusing the president of believing in socialism. Obama touched on several economic themes during his address, emphasizing the need for the U.S. to be competitive in the global marketplace.

"Mr. President, you don't believe in the Constitution. You believe in socialism," the tweet reads.

That idiot didn't even attend the speech, tweeted that BEFORE the speech even started, and then later (about 2AM by my estimates) he jumped on Twitter again, erased that one and replaced it with "Please join me tonight at 9 - I’ll be live-tweeting my thoughts and reactions during the #SOTU address."

Comment by wickedpam on 01/26/2011 14:36:49
Quote by Raine:
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Raine:
So Paul Broun is kind of a douchknob....

Broun took to Twitter during the address, accusing the president of believing in socialism. Obama touched on several economic themes during his address, emphasizing the need for the U.S. to be competitive in the global marketplace.

"Mr. President, you don't believe in the Constitution. You believe in socialism," the tweet reads.



yeah - saw JakeTapper had pointed it out then checked it myself - the man should be ashamed of himself
I guess no one needs to yell "you Lie" now that the GOP found the twitter...

shameful is kind for this behaviour.



I think people and forgotten what shame is

Comment by Scoopster on 01/26/2011 14:40:23
Speaking of absentee idiots.. guess who else didn't show up?

Comment by BobR on 01/26/2011 14:41:09
blog is up - sorry for the delay

Comment by Raine on 01/26/2011 14:41:54
Quote by Scoopster:
Quote by Raine:
So Paul Broun is kind of a douchknob....

Broun took to Twitter during the address, accusing the president of believing in socialism. Obama touched on several economic themes during his address, emphasizing the need for the U.S. to be competitive in the global marketplace.

"Mr. President, you don't believe in the Constitution. You believe in socialism," the tweet reads.

That idiot didn't even attend the speech, tweeted that BEFORE the speech even started, and then later (about 2AM by my estimates) he jumped on Twitter again, erased that one and replaced it with "Please join me tonight at 9 - I’ll be live-tweeting my thoughts and reactions during the #SOTU address."
Holy crap, you are right! HE sat in his damn office!


Comment by BobR on 01/26/2011 14:43:15
Quote by Scoopster:
Speaking of absentee idiots.. guess who else didn't show up?

That article is pre-speech. I am wondering if they followed through on their threats to skip it?

Comment by Raine on 01/26/2011 14:51:12
I'm still waiting, patiently -- for the GOP plan to create jobs. There was NOTHING mentioned about Jobs in the Ryan speech.

Comment by Scoopster on 01/26/2011 14:53:49
Quote by BobR:
Quote by Scoopster:
Speaking of absentee idiots.. guess who else didn't show up?

That article is pre-speech. I am wondering if they followed through on their threats to skip it?

Looks like they did.

Comment by Raine on 01/26/2011 14:54:12
Quote by BobR:
Quote by Scoopster:
Speaking of absentee idiots.. guess who else didn't show up?

That article is pre-speech. I am wondering if they followed through on their threats to skip it?
Alito, Scalia and Thomas were not there.


Comment by Raine on 01/26/2011 14:55:37
Alito seemed to have a reason for not attending:
A court spokeswoman said six of the nine justices plan on going. She said one who won’t be attending is Justice Samuel Alito, who happens to be in Hawaii this week for a previously scheduled law school speech.


Comment by wickedpam on 01/26/2011 14:55:45
so the fed taxes would be lower but your state taxes would be higher - I see no savings for me.

Comment by Scoopster on 01/26/2011 15:02:48
Comment by Scoopster on 01/26/2011 15:06:31
http://images2.dailykos.com/images/user/30549/boehnertears.jpg


I'm gonna start callin' him Niagara Falls Johnny.

Comment by Raine on 01/26/2011 15:06:37
Quote by Scoopster:
Say has anyone seen what's going on in Egypt?

Tunisia and Lebanon, now Egypt.. and Yemen too!
I was just reading about hat.

Damn that is a mess. I am glad that people are taking back their country, but I do worry about the instability, especially in that region.




Comment by Raine on 01/26/2011 15:07:17
Quote by Scoopster:
http://images2.dailykos.com/images/user/30549/boehnertears.jpg


I'm gonna start callin' him Niagara Falls Johnny.

PLEASE tell me the color was intentionally altered....

Comment by Raine on 01/26/2011 15:09:49
Comment by Scoopster on 01/26/2011 15:15:39
Remember that whole mess in NYC after the first big snowstorm and those dirty unionized sanitation workers supposedly staging a work slowdown?

Yeah.. turns out that was all a politically-motivated lie by a douchebag Repub Councilman.

Comment by Raine on 01/26/2011 15:20:43
Comment by Raine on 01/26/2011 15:23:00

I must say, that Ribbon is in the wrong place... hmmmm.... and the tie looks different.

Comment by Scoopster on 01/26/2011 15:26:12
Quote by Raine:and this!!! #7

Various members of the House react as Senator McCain lays an epic fart during the SOTU speech..

Comment by Raine on 01/26/2011 15:28:25
Comment by wickedpam on 01/26/2011 15:29:08
Quote by Raine:

and this!!! #7


In his thought bubble -
"Toys are hereby declared illegal, immoral, unlawful AND anyone found with a toy in his possession will be placed under arrest and thrown in the dungeon. No kidding!"


Comment by Raine on 01/26/2011 15:29:57
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Raine:

and this!!! #7


In his thought bubble -
"Toys are hereby declared illegal, immoral, unlawful AND anyone found with a toy in his possession will be placed under arrest and thrown in the dungeon. No kidding!"



Comment by wickedpam on 01/26/2011 15:30:40
Quote by Raine:
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Raine:

and this!!! #7


In his thought bubble -
"Toys are hereby declared illegal, immoral, unlawful AND anyone found with a toy in his possession will be placed under arrest and thrown in the dungeon. No kidding!"




yeah! you got the reference

Comment by BobR on 01/26/2011 15:35:06

It looks like "I'm in charge here, beeyatch"

Comment by Raine on 01/26/2011 15:37:17
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Raine:
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Raine:

and this!!! #7


In his thought bubble -
"Toys are hereby declared illegal, immoral, unlawful AND anyone found with a toy in his possession will be placed under arrest and thrown in the dungeon. No kidding!"




yeah! you got the reference

http://blog.genpak.com/wp-content/uploads/Burgermeister-Meisterburger.jpg


Comment by Raine on 01/26/2011 15:40:40
http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/image_full_width/hash/b7/f1/b7f18d7c175c2f9ca6d6e35e12e70b54.jpg


A little more to the left, Sir. Oh yeah... THAT the spot!

Comment by wickedpam on 01/26/2011 15:40:43
Quote by Raine:
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Raine:
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Raine:

and this!!! #7


In his thought bubble -
"Toys are hereby declared illegal, immoral, unlawful AND anyone found with a toy in his possession will be placed under arrest and thrown in the dungeon. No kidding!"




yeah! you got the reference

http://blog.genpak.com/wp-content/uploads/Burgermeister-Meisterburger.jpg





Comment by Raine on 01/26/2011 15:42:32
Are they aware the cat is having a siezure?


http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/image_full_width/hash/16/fc/16fc04b0ffa0130ad39bb4cd849c91cc.jpg


Comment by BobR on 01/26/2011 15:44:34
Comment by Raine on 01/26/2011 15:47:14
I am now of the opinion that it was either Vodka or Gin. Joe Biden didn't have a bar set last night.


http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/image_full_width/hash/3d/3c/3d3c98c4908f344b3adb9244cff32361.jpg


Comment by Raine on 01/26/2011 15:49:06
Quote by BobR:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy




HA! the softball reference was perfect!

Comment by Scoopster on 01/26/2011 15:52:37
Quote by Raine:
I am now of the opinion that it was either Vodka or Gin. Joe Biden didn't have a bar set last night.


http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/image_full_width/hash/3d/3c/3d3c98c4908f344b3adb9244cff32361.jpg

But....?! does Boehner think he's a guest star on Mad Men?!

Comment by Raine on 01/26/2011 16:17:06
Please heal well, Jimmy Buffet.
Shocked fans at the sell-out concert at the Hordern Pavilion were urged to leave the auditorium by Buffett's Australian tour manager Michael Chugg as the 64-year-old entertainer lay on the floor in front of the first row of seating waiting for paramedics and an ambulance to arrive.

He was rushed to Sydney's St Vincent's Hospital, in Darlinghurst, thirty minutes after the accident.

Neither Chugg nor his assistant David Pope would comment on Buffett's condition at the scene but an audience member said it appeared the entertainer had struck his head and was bleeding as he lay on the floor.


Comment by Raine on 01/26/2011 16:18:25
I still LOVE what Chris said last night about the boner.
If Boehner were wearing an avocado green tie, he would totally look like a 1970's kitchen.


Comment by Raine on 01/26/2011 16:24:43
Comment by BobR on 01/26/2011 16:25:38
Quote by Raine:
Please heal well, Jimmy Buffet.
Shocked fans at the sell-out concert at the Hordern Pavilion were urged to leave the auditorium by Buffett's Australian tour manager Michael Chugg as the 64-year-old entertainer lay on the floor in front of the first row of seating waiting for paramedics and an ambulance to arrive.

He was rushed to Sydney's St Vincent's Hospital, in Darlinghurst, thirty minutes after the accident.

Neither Chugg nor his assistant David Pope would comment on Buffett's condition at the scene but an audience member said it appeared the entertainer had struck his head and was bleeding as he lay on the floor.

wow - I wonder if he fainted or tripped?...

Comment by BobR on 01/26/2011 16:26:50

I don't think they're putting the cookies ON the pizza

Comment by velveeta jones on 01/26/2011 16:47:01
Still alive......... :)

Comment by BobR on 01/26/2011 16:49:16
Comment by BobR on 01/26/2011 16:50:03
Quote by velveeta jones:
Still alive......... :)

hiding out in a coffee shop?

Comment by Scoopster on 01/26/2011 16:54:11
Hooooo boy the snow started a LOT earlier that they were forecasting.. and it's comin' down fast too!

Comment by Raine on 01/26/2011 17:06:13
Quote by Scoopster:
Hooooo boy the snow started a LOT earlier that they were forecasting.. and it's comin' down fast too!
How much you supposed to get?

They are still sketchy about the forecast here.


Comment by trojanrabbit on 01/26/2011 17:14:18
Quote by Raine:
Quote by Scoopster:
Hooooo boy the snow started a LOT earlier that they were forecasting.. and it's comin' down fast too!
How much you supposed to get?

They are still sketchy about the forecast here.

According to radar it might be snowing already at Chez Rabbit. I have a feeling it's gonna be a miserable commute home.

We were expecting 6-10.

Comment by livingonli on 01/26/2011 17:16:07
Good day everyone. I crashed out this morning.. I get depressed in this kind of weather and really do not want to do much, Unfortunately, I have to work tonight.

Comment by Scoopster on 01/26/2011 17:18:18
Quote by trojanrabbit:
Quote by Raine:
Quote by Scoopster:
Hooooo boy the snow started a LOT earlier that they were forecasting.. and it's comin' down fast too!
How much you supposed to get?

They are still sketchy about the forecast here.

According to radar it might be snowing already at Chez Rabbit. I have a feeling it's gonna be a miserable commute home.

We were expecting 6-10.

Yeah they were saying about the same for us - 6-10 with higher totals as you moved towards the coast, tho some places (MV/Nantucket & the outer Cape) would get rain instead of snow.

Comment by livingonli on 01/26/2011 17:21:06
Weather Channel is saying 6-10 here as well.

Comment by Raine on 01/26/2011 17:24:58
it's been sorta freezing rain here. they say 1-3 today and 3-5 tonite.


We live in a strange area when it comes to weather. If the storm bobbles a little to the right or left it really can change everything.

Comment by wickedpam on 01/26/2011 17:50:13
Quote by Raine:
it's been sorta freezing rain here. they say 1-3 today and 3-5 tonite.


We live in a strange area when it comes to weather. If the storm bobbles a little to the right or left it really can change everything.



Topper says 4-8 in Manassas, I was hoping we would dodge this kinda snow this year - the snow gods own us for the pounding from last year!

Comment by wickedpam on 01/26/2011 17:52:02
Quote by livingonli:
Good day everyone. I crashed out this morning.. I get depressed in this kind of weather and really do not want to do much, Unfortunately, I have to work tonight.


its good for you to be out with people then - trust me there are days when all I want to do is crawl into bed and just sleep but that's not good so I make myself get up and do what needs doing.


Comment by Scoopster on 01/26/2011 18:09:52
Oooh just noticed a little bug in the bloggie.. When it goes over 50 comments the refresh comment link says there's x-50 new comments.

Comment by Raine on 01/26/2011 18:17:44
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Raine:
it's been sorta freezing rain here. they say 1-3 today and 3-5 tonite.


We live in a strange area when it comes to weather. If the storm bobbles a little to the right or left it really can change everything.



Topper says 4-8 in Manassas, I was hoping we would dodge this kinda snow this year - the snow gods own us for the pounding from last year!
I have come to love Topper....

:P



Comment by wickedpam on 01/26/2011 18:24:59
Quote by Raine:
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Raine:
it's been sorta freezing rain here. they say 1-3 today and 3-5 tonite.


We live in a strange area when it comes to weather. If the storm bobbles a little to the right or left it really can change everything.



Topper says 4-8 in Manassas, I was hoping we would dodge this kinda snow this year - the snow gods own us for the pounding from last year!
I have come to love Topper....

:P




Did you know Topper is like 2ft tall? I have a love/hate relationship with Topper

Comment by Raine on 01/26/2011 19:59:24
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Raine:
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Raine:
it's been sorta freezing rain here. they say 1-3 today and 3-5 tonite.


We live in a strange area when it comes to weather. If the storm bobbles a little to the right or left it really can change everything.



Topper says 4-8 in Manassas, I was hoping we would dodge this kinda snow this year - the snow gods own us for the pounding from last year!
I have come to love Topper....

:P




Did you know Topper is like 2ft tall? I have a love/hate relationship with Topper

bI did not. he reminds me of HArry Sherer.

Comment by livingonli on 01/26/2011 20:06:20
The Weather Channel is really hitting on the storm threat for DC right now.

Comment by wickedpam on 01/26/2011 20:09:35
Quote by livingonli:
The Weather Channel is really hitting on the storm threat for DC right now.



right now its not doing anything - just really, really overcast and grey

Comment by livingonli on 01/26/2011 20:14:53
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by livingonli:
The Weather Channel is really hitting on the storm threat for DC right now.



right now its not doing anything - just really, really overcast and grey

Jim Cantore was saying that you are going to get hit with 4-8 inches in the next 4 hours.

Comment by wickedpam on 01/26/2011 20:24:13
Quote by livingonli:
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by livingonli:
The Weather Channel is really hitting on the storm threat for DC right now.



right now its not doing anything - just really, really overcast and grey

Jim Cantore was saying that you are going to get hit with 4-8 inches in the next 4 hours.



yeah I've heard that - I have a friend who's a teacher who's only been wrong once this winter so far - she says it'll start about 3 or 4 change to snow about 5ish

Comment by Raine on 01/26/2011 20:31:11
We have freezing Rain right now and Thunder.

Comment by BobR on 01/26/2011 20:32:16
Quote by Raine:
We have freezing Rain right now and Thunder.

THUNDERSNOW - rocking a stadium near you

Comment by BobR on 01/26/2011 20:33:26
Quote by Scoopster:
Oooh just noticed a little bug in the bloggie.. When it goes over 50 comments the refresh comment link says there's x-50 new comments.

You probably have your "comment limit" set to 50. I have mine set to 75, and I noticed the same problem last night when it got past 75 comments.

I will be looking into that.

Comment by Raine on 01/26/2011 20:34:47
Quote by BobR:
Quote by Raine:
We have freezing Rain right now and Thunder.

THUNDERSNOW - rocking a stadium near you

sunday SUNDAY SUNDAY!!!!!

(and Kizzie is freaking out... poor baby.)

Comment by Raine on 01/26/2011 20:38:24
Oh, this is not good. Kizzie just got thru the gate we have in the kitchen to keep from eating the cat food.

Comment by wickedpam on 01/26/2011 20:44:50
Quote by Raine:
Oh, this is not good. Kizzie just got thru the gate we have in the kitchen to keep from eating the cat food.



how did she do that? She hiding a lock pick kit in that fur?

Comment by Raine on 01/26/2011 20:45:50
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Raine:
Oh, this is not good. Kizzie just got thru the gate we have in the kitchen to keep from eating the cat food.



how did she do that? She hiding a lock pick kit in that fur?

I have no idea.

That door is supposed to be WAY to small for a dog of her size to get thru.

Comment by wickedpam on 01/26/2011 21:03:36
Quote by Raine:
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Raine:
Oh, this is not good. Kizzie just got thru the gate we have in the kitchen to keep from eating the cat food.



how did she do that? She hiding a lock pick kit in that fur?

I have no idea.

That door is supposed to be WAY to small for a dog of her size to get thru.


OMG she's a fricking dog contortionist!


Comment by Raine on 01/26/2011 21:05:37
We have processed over to fluffy wet snow....

Comment by Raine on 01/26/2011 21:06:28
Quote by wickedpam:
OMG she's a fricking dog contortionist!


Damn beagle....

She's quite content now that she is in the basement with me...


Comment by Raine on 01/26/2011 21:10:56
Comment by wickedpam on 01/26/2011 21:28:00
Quote by Raine:
Quote by wickedpam:
OMG she's a fricking dog contortionist!


Damn beagle....

She's quite content now that she is in the basement with me...



aawww

Comment by BobR on 01/26/2011 21:44:55
Quote by Raine:
Guardian UK has been live blogging the Egyptian Chaos.

It looks like hell over there.

I hope the solution is better for them than the problem.

Comment by BobR on 01/26/2011 22:04:53
Quote by Raine:
We have processed over to fluffy wet snow....

It's coming down heavy


Comment by livingonli on 01/26/2011 22:14:42
Check out his Rudeness latest status update.

Comment by TriSec on 01/26/2011 22:16:57
Testing....1,2,3!

Comment by Scoopster on 01/26/2011 23:25:12
Quote by TriSec:
Testing....1,2,3!

Roger, your signal is 5x5.. Welcome home!

Comment by Raine on 01/26/2011 23:31:34
Comment by BobR on 01/26/2011 23:44:45

well - he's 1/2 right...

Comment by Raine on 01/26/2011 23:51:11
Quote by BobR:

well - he's 1/2 right...



I would like to feel sorry for his wife, but...

I don't.

Comment by wickedpam on 01/27/2011 00:16:41
Just checking in - I'm safe and sound - we decided to get a room in springfield tonight - roads were a nightmare just to get this far

Comment by TriSec on 01/27/2011 02:15:15
I had an issue with the phone this afternoon....I couldn't post. Said I was "not authorized to comment".

I was wondering if there was a coup, or something...