President Obama & A State Of Dis-Union

I'm just starting this thread for any comments about today's upcoming State of the Union address by President Obama. While some are ready to make light of this evening's intoxicating event by incorporating well reasoned drinking games, others are preparing to spin Obama's words into rabidly anti-Ameri-Christian, Islamo-socialist rhetoric, and still others are planning on doing something else completely different (I have prior plans and will not be watching it live).

Nevertheless, pro, con, and indifferent, we need a discussion space, so here it is.

I'll start off by saying that I find it interesting that these events are used almost exclusively by the media to evaluate not the state or direction of the country, but the how well the president is doing his job. I'd venture that the president needs to drag congress into that same spotlight with him. Sure, he's got the soapbox tonight, but seeing as how politics have become so divisive and toxic, he needs to bring attention to their lack of shared vision while also distancing their performance from his (a gutsy, tightrope performance that he may not engage in).

Undoubtedly, he will call, once again, for unity in government to continue to, "tackle these hard times ahead," likely citing a light at the end of the tunnel on the heels of positive, yet fragile, jobs growth. Again, we will probably hear the clarion call for the support of continued job growth through investment in innovation and education (drawing grumbling from the right). There will likely be mention of the end of military operations in Iraq, the killing of Osama bin Laden, the sacrifices of all the men and women in the military and a shifting of the US military strategy, etc (perhaps even a token mention about the ending of DADT). And finally, there will also be some talk about energy and mpg increases in vehicles.

Those are my simple, boring, predictions, but then I don't think there will be any big surprises.

Seeing that the economy is still sluggish and that his approval numbers are down though, Obama needs to try and pull something off and reverse both of these trends if he wants to get reelected. Perhaps we shall get a taste of his plans this evening.

Gabrielle Giffords looks absolutely fantastic.

Got a little dusty here in the ol' living room when they showed her. Reaaaaal dusty.

Yay for Gabby! I hope she's one of the people Obama greets on his way in.

Yeah, the odds of that happening were 10000%

And it happened. Good. Now, where are the tissues?

The only Constitutionally mandated speech of the year, folks.

That is the biggest damn General I've ever seen!

That president of ours. He's so handsome.

Here's some red meat.

Everyone doing their fair share for a fair wage? SOCIALISM!

He'd be an idiot not to go full middle-class warrior right now. Look at who he's up against! Prepare for Obama, the Not-So-Secret Populist.

I disagree on principle that ANYTHING good that is happening in Detroit can also happen in Cleveland.

Because fuck Cleveland. Seriously.

Boner is an asshole.

Republicans in the audience are trying really, really hard not to smile or clap at this stuff, even though they probably agree with all of it.

This section is some serious protectionist shit. This is strictly contrary to "New Democrat"/Clintonian dogma. Wow.

As a foreigner, that last bit made me cringe a little.

Relevant to SG's interests: Jackie Bray, the woman President Obama is talking about right now in the State of the Union Address, has a little tattoo on the back of her neck.

Psh. Canada doesn't count.

NAFTA is still in effect. You guys are cool.

Yay teachers!!!

Obama making the anti-tenure argument. Again, contrary to old-school Democratic dogma.

Yay Al Franken sighting yay!

YES PLEASE STOP MY STUDENT LOAN INTEREST FROM DOUBLING PLEASE DO THAT PLEASE.

"We should be working on comprehensive immigration reform right now." Cue President Walnuts: "Hhheeennnnnnnnnnggghh?"

Seriously, up until this part where Obama is making a pro-immigrant argument, this speech could have been given by George H.W. Bush.

This is a fundamentally moderate speech. Directed expressly to the center.

She's quite attractive, IMO.