Live Blog: SOTU 2011
Posted: January 25, 2011 Filed under: Barack Obama, Democratic Politics, Surreality, U.S. Economy, U.S. Politics | Tags: austerity, Barack Obama, David Dayen, John Boehner, Michelle Bachmann, Paul Rosenberg, Paul Ryan, Social Security, SOTU, spending freeze, stupid politicians, useless media 106 Comments
Just how bad will it be? Document the atrocities as you watch and/or listen to the State of the Union Address tonight. I don’t know how much of it I can stand to watch–I may check in and out.
The one thing that has me slightly interested is watching Boehner’s reactions. Will he burst into tears? That would be fun. You can watch the live stream of C-span’s coverage of the SOTU here, beginning at 8PM.
At least someone talked some sense into our Reagan-adoring President. He’s decided not to call for cuts in Social Security and Medicare–not that that will stop him from approving them. But it must have dawned on him that he might need at least a few middle class and elderly votes to get reelection next year.
But there is plenty of stupid in the speech according to multiple advance reports. Remember the dopey “nonsecurity” spending freeze Obama proposed awhile back? Well he still wants a freeze, only now he’s going to make it for five years instead of just three. {sigh….}
At Open Left, Paul Rosenberg reacts:
He may not be ready to gut Social Security just yet, but he has definitively jettisoned 70 years of economic history. Government no longer steps in to spend money when consumer demand fails. Instead, government works hard to make matters even worse. With state and local budgets once again being cut across the country, there will clearly be net decreases in government spending as far as the eye can see. Herbert Hoover would be so proud!
[….]
Why has 70 years of macro-economic history and understanding been tossed out the window, in favor of returning to the darkness of pre-macro ignorance? This is a variant of the question that Brad DeLong and Paul Krugman have been asking in anguish for many moons now. Why has a rage to punish the poor, and even the middle class completely taken over and displaced the commonsense interest in preserving the basic stability of the economy through as quick a recovery as possible?
I don’t know….because he’s stupid? Or maybe just evil? Whatever the reason, we’re headed for more hard times.
At FDL, David Dayen writes about The Triumph of Austerity and the Abandoning of the Unemployed
An economy with 9.4% topline unemployment is sick. This is not a time to deal with a sick patient by planning a regimen for diet and exercise five years from now. The patient needs immediate help, and he’s not even going to hear soothing words to that effect from anyone in the political class, let alone get the medicine needed.
In the process, this pre-emptive bow to the austerity hysterics, at least in the short term, may be good for poll numbers but terrible for the long-term economy.
Let’s face it. This man couldn’t care less about Americans being out of work, losing their homes, and falling into poverty.
What can we do to make this bearable? Let’s look for little bits of humor and/or surreality. If you have ideas for drinking games, feel free to propose them (I don’t drink, but don’t mind a contact high).
Once the speech is over, there could be some laughs in the Republican responses. Crazy-ass Ayn Rand fan Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wisconsin) is giving the official response. MSNBC has a preview. Nation editor Katrina vanden Heuvel, one of the people to blame for the horrendous Obama presidency, has a few things to say about Ryan.
Ryan is an Ayn Rand-quoting zealot, one of the Republican Party’s self-styled “Young Guns.” He’s spent his adult life inside the Beltway, on the political right, with no experience in the world of business, labor, the executive branch or the private sector. Incubated in a right-wing think tank, writing speeches for Jack Kemp and William Bennett, he was elected to Congress at age 28. Ryan became the most loyal of loyal foot soldiers in the Congress presided over by Tom DeLay and Denny Hastert, a fact Ryan now glosses over as he describes those Congresses as “corrupt.”
Ryan has been dubbed a Republican “thinker” by national reporters desperate to find someone they can praise in a party that was extreme before the Tea Partyers came to town. But, in fact, his rhetoric is a barely varnished echo of the ravings of Glenn Beck. He accuses Obama of a “treacherous plan,” saying that Democrats have a “hardcore-left agenda,” and claims that Democrats are steering the country “very far left, very fast” – a direction he describes as “completely antithetical to what this country is about.”
This sort of rhetoric, once scorned as sophomoric at best, is now common currency on the Republican right. While Ryan will be careful to avoid such language in the GOP response to the State of the Union, he’ll reveal his ideological zealotry in the policies he will propose.
Most of those policies will come from Ryan’s “Roadmap for America’s Future,” a budget manifesto published last year that The Post’s Ezra Klein aptly described as “nothing short of violent.”
Yep, the guy’s a complete wingnut, but van den Heuval is also permanently discredited as a representative of liberal thought.
And that’s not all, CNN will broadcast an alternative Tea Party response to the SOTU by Rep. Michelle Bachmann (R-Minnesota).
{hysterical laughter}
Paul Ryan may be a wingnut, but Bachmann is truly insane. Surely her speech will be good for a few laughs even in these dark times. According to CNN’s Political Ticker,
Her themes tonight will be “making sure Congress is not spending more than its taking in,” “no tax increases” and the importance of “acting within the bounds of the Constitution.”
Hmmm…I never knew that Congress actually handled money.
Greg Sargent provides CNN’s rationalizations for airing Bachmann’s speech.
CNN, which is taking some criticism from both sides for agreeing to air Michele Bachmann’s response to Obama’s speech tonight, sends over a statement justifying the move:
“The Tea Party has become a major force in American politics and within the Republican Party. Hearing the Tea Party’s perspective on the State of the Union is something we believe CNN’s viewers will be interested in hearing and we are happy to include this perspective as one of many in tonight’s coverage.”
Hmmm…I was going to suggest that maybe CNN’s decision to air her speech just might be driven by a desire to curry favor with the Tea Party. This statement doesn’t do much to suggest otherwise.
The Tea Party is now one of two major opposition parties in our three-party system. Who knew?
If only we had smarter politicians and a less embarrassing media! Oh well…let’s make the most of it. I look forward to reading your reactions.
peej
Carissa
ecocatwoman
mablue2
peggysue22
quixote
skydancingguestblogger
Mona (aka Wonk the Vote)
Sky Dancing 
I just want to know one thing, why does the media always manage to show a picture of Obama with his nose in the air? C-Span website, O looks so elitist.
Because that’s his normal pose?
I think you’ve got it!
Yup, mjames gets the prize!
That’s what I was thinking. He’s an arrogant politician, ain’t he?
Obama’s State of the Union remarks – CNN Political Ticker – CNN.com Blogs
I believe this is going to be a long, long speech…best get your popcorn!
Here’s the full text of Obama’s State of the Union speech:
http://www.nationaljournal.com/whitehouse/exclusive-obama-to-declare-the-rules-have-changed–20110125
Did you see the Obama clichés sprinkled throughout?
I think after scanning this, tomorrow might be a good time to re-air the post I wrote on education reform while I was stuck between Sky Dancing and elsewhere and couldn’t post here. It’s been obvious for awhile now that Obama thinks education reform is his welfare reform.
Yes, I remember that post, very fitting indeed.
WTF? Is this a DUBYA SOTU? where’s my picture of obama/cheney being the same person?
Good grief! He doesn’t know anything except Republican talking points.
Thanks! I was just about to post that.
Is it over yet?
Nope, come back in another 30 minutes…
For more hilarity, from texan4Hillary at Taylor Marsh: SOTU Cocktail Hour: Get Ready for that Leg to Tingle!
Oh, the Australian Open is on. And Matlock. Whew! It’s safe to stop work now and turn on the teebee. I’ll check back later for all the excitement. My blood pressure can’t take Obama live.
Hey, I am downloading Safari…I had no idea a pc can use it. So yeah…there are other things to do.
Is the surpeme court members going to be in attendance?
only the ‘liberal’ ones
My mind is slipping……..three women, and the bald headed guy, what’s his name, Bryer, the skinny one.
The other’s didn’t want their price tags and hair shirts shown on TV.
Alito, Scalia, and Thomas aren’t going to be there.
I’m sure there’s a conservative fundraiser they’re attending in lieu.
I still can’t believe we’ve got this level of unemployment and we’re talking deficit reduction. This must be the alternate reality universe. Either that or the STUPID has overtaken everything now.
Yes, and then there is this bit:
State of the Union Reactions | The Administration | C-SPAN
C-span has all the tweets from various people on this link, seems like a great place to get the feel for what folks are saying.
Oh, lord, ERIC ERICKSUX is on CNN. Guess that rules out me watching that station. And piers Morgan? WTF is he doing on a panel like this? CNN has totally lost it.
I hear ya, my hubby has CNN on………..and there’s Rolly.
Piers Morgan? Wow, I didn’t pop enough popcorn…
Geez, imagine the verbal diarrhea that will be coming from Ericksux as “conservative commentary.”
Piers Morgan? Hahahahahahahahahah.
Our media is SO serious, SO professional, SO… stupid. It’s my new word. Stupid.
I can’t bear to watch the speech. I’ll read the comments here instead.
I’ve been reading it. It’s worse than I thought. Some one talked him out of attacking social security. That’s about the only republican idea that’s missing.
Exactly, it is awful! Obama was supposed to show the “writer/author” in him…I read this in one of the articles about SOTU today, don’t remember which one. Looks like he just copied some of Bush’s and Reagan’s SOTU speeches and tweak it a bit with his own “language.” You know…all those, let me be clear….make no mistake, and all the other stuff he says.
Hillary is wearing royal blue.
OT: just a heads up… I added a few youtubes of raw footage out of Tahrir in the comments of the Egypt thread, click the link below and keep scrolling if you’re interested and/or can’t bear anymore of Oprecious’ SOTU coverage tonight:
yeah. ask us down here in Louisiana … safe food, check, safe water, check …
all those horrid rules and regulations just holding them all back!
Is Zal around, just want him to know that I’ll be singing for his Granny……..real soon.
Hi Fannie.
Oprecious is here.
I have to watch with an O-sheep tonight… goodness grant me the serenity!
All men standing up there — Biden, Boehner, ‘Bama
I’m going to watch it without the sound. I’m hoping Boehner cries, but his head it cut off in the C-span picture.
three suits! weird. Got so used to seeing Nancy up there.
Isn’t that a depressing trio? Two drunks and a narcissist are the best this country has to offer?
Okay, the first person to see Biden pass a flask to the Orange Menace wins a free trip to Obamaland!
I already had to turn him off. I couldn’t take it.
Pretend it’s MST3000
@ Sophie, okay thank you for the MST3000 reference…
LOLSOB!
I guess “Tuscon reminds us” is the new lessons of 9/11:
Yup, less than 5 mins in and he invokes it….quelle surprise.
I can’t believe he’s using that poor dead girl from Tuscon as a political talking point. Some one shoot me now.
Using her but couldn’t even say her name!
Giuliani had 9-11, a verb, and a noun. Obama’s got Tucson, verb, noun.
That’s why Tuscon has been in the news so much since it happened…imo, The owners wanted to be super current still for Obama
I guess it will be not at all then.
lol! Well not ALL of us will be moving forward that’s for sure …many have been moving backward!
Good one, BB.
I’ve been moving sideways by myself.
“We are poised for progress…the stock market has come roaring back…corporate profits are up. The economy is growing again.”
Oh, yeah, happy days are here again for the upper 1 percent! Now let’s talk why your policies keep trickling more of it up there.
We are poised for progress…the stock market has come roaring back…corporate profits are up. The economy is growing again.”
It’s morning again in America! He bruoght Reagan in pretty early!
Yeah, the best part so far is how much he seems to be ignoring the unemployment rate … that’s some first class tap dancing right there!
Wow, opening up my jars of pickles from India, and marinated artichokes from China……..yum.
They are running live tweets from media and pols on the C-span page.
Well the good part is there isn’t much applause interrupting the lecture.
Oh brother the Sputnik portion has started…
The Internet, for crying out loud! A “socialist” idea, funded by government. Something like The Internet could never happen today.
“We are the nation that put cars in driveways and computers in offices; the nation of Edison and the Wright brothers; of Google and Facebook. In America, innovation doesn’t just change our lives. It’s how we make a living.”
Hey, we are a nation of FDR, LBJ and Clinton! What about them!
Well, FDR made sure that regular Americans made a living…
I think he’s just talking about more no bid contracts for his business buddies like GE. Correct me if I’m wrong …
. Reinvent ourselves…sounds like he listened to my Republican Governor Rick Snyder when he said we must reinvent Michigan last week at his first state of the state.
AmandaMarcotte Amanda Marcotte
Obama is talking about a time when Democrats got us to the moon, but his administration got one empty factory building running again.
Tucson isn’t exactly 9/11 either….sorry to be irrevent….
You got that right BB, big ass difference!
It’s the Cosby Show by Barack Obama: “That responsibility begins not in our classrooms, but in our homes and communities. It’s family that first instills the love of learning in a child. Only parents can make sure the TV is turned off and homework gets done. We need to teach our kids that it’s not just the winner of the Super Bowl who deserves to be celebrated, but the winner of the science fair; that success is not a function of fame or PR, but of hard work and discipline.”
*congress critters applaud*
That’s funny! How true!
Pouring money into education doesn’t work.
LOL What a Republican moron!
This may be the least inspiring speech I’ve ever heard.
i’d rather listen to George W. Bush. Why go with a clone when you can have the real thing?
I’m thinking sputnik moment will become the new teenage euphemism for masturbating
ROTFL!
@ Dak, Ha! Talk about “Fly me to the moon…”
It is awful, the only thing new I see coming out of this speech is the black hair dye that Obama is sporting…
Bill use to talk about what he DID during the year…all this guy ever talks about is what others (we ..us.. )WILL do…and somehow it never, ever gets to the doing…ever
yeah, and then he tells us all to be teachers .. ask me how well that works out
Yeah, 5+ years of education to start at underk 30K a year!
Good point!
He must be going for the Science teacher vote now and all that PAC money 😉
Ok, my hubby, just let out the biggest sigh over my singing. If looks could kill, I’d drop dead.
Go Fannie, you go girl! Luckily my partner isn’t an Obot, but if he were, I’d have sung too.
Tweet from Peter Daou:
Okay, I gotta ask … wtf is that on Boehner’s lapel? Did a DC pigeon get him as he walked in?
LOL!
You’re making me feel like the kid who laughs in church!
About those college savings, gone, had to keep up the mortage payments.
O makes this too easy. SOTU under Bush and Barack, in a nutshell:
“Our infrastructure used to be the best – but our lead has slipped. South Korean homes now have greater internet access than we do. Countries in Europe and Russia invest more in their roads and railways than we do. China is building faster trains and newer airports. Meanwhile, when our own engineers graded our nation’s infrastructure, they gave us a ‘D.'”
Right?!?
This is just depressing!
Access to high speed rail in 25 years?
Doesn’t China already have that?
Well, here comes the “get rid of regulations and loopholes” and GOP porn….
WTF alternate reality is he living in?
Charles Krauthammer’s alternate reality, apparently.
Fresh thread up top!
We can honestly afford to do without about half of congress!
Back. Obligatory line pitching Tort reefer for the GOP on HCR got the predictable applause, Lol. Most uninspired speech ever.