SOTU Open Thread

The NY Times has excerpts from the Mitch Daniels response.

The Cato Institute has a cool live blog here.

YOU'RE IN THE ARMY NOW!  (AND IT'S NO LONGER THE ARMY OF GHENGIS KHAN): Did a Democratic President really open (and close!) a State of the Union speech by exhorting the American public to emulate the values of the US military?  Obama has come a long way from his May 2008 commencement speech at Wesleyan, when he exhorted the graduates to consider the many avenues of national service and never mentioned the military.

Taking it from the top:

THE PRESIDENT:  Mr. Speaker, Mr. Vice President, members of Congress, distinguished guests, and fellow Americans:

Last month, I went to Andrews Air Force Base and welcomed home some of our last troops to serve in Iraq.  Together, we offered a final, proud salute to the colors under which more than a million of our fellow citizens fought -- and several thousand gave their lives.

We gather tonight knowing that this generation of heroes has made the United States safer and more respected around the world.  (Applause.)  For the first time in nine years, there are no Americans fighting in Iraq.  (Applause.)  For the first time in two decades, Osama bin Laden is not a threat to this country.  (Applause.)  Most of al Qaeda’s top lieutenants have been defeated.  The Taliban’s momentum has been broken, and some troops in Afghanistan have begun to come home.

These achievements are a testament to the courage, selflessness and teamwork of America’s Armed Forces.  At a time when too many of our institutions have let us down, they exceed all expectations.  They’re not consumed with personal ambition.  They don’t obsess over their differences.  They focus on the mission at hand.  They work together. 

Imagine what we could accomplish if we followed their example.  (Applause.)  Think about the America within our reach:  A country that leads the world in educating its people.  An America that attracts a new generation of high-tech manufacturing and high-paying jobs.  A future where we’re in control of our own energy, and our security and prosperity aren’t so tied to unstable parts of the world [ed. - like Canada?].  An economy built to last, where hard work pays off, and responsibility is rewarded.

Just to stay with Obama's examples, if the mission is educating our people, shouldn't the democratic process include some debate about how to accomplish that?  Or are we really meant to just pipe down and unite behind the Commander-in-Chief and his public sector union allies?  If the mission is "control of our own energy" shouldn't we embracing allies such as Canada rather than encouraging them to sell their oil to China?  Or should we just pipe down and accept the orders of our Commander-in-Chief?

Comments

[bgates]

Just like to point out that it's very likely that the next person sworn in as President of the United States will be named either "Barack", "Willard", or "Newton".

Or "Mitch".

[Jane]

Good job Mitch.

Now, where is the chocolate when I need it?

[Jane]

Will Michelle show her arms? Will that horrid woman be on the aisle? Will Debbi Wasserman Schultz wash her hair or waive to her parents in jail? Inquiring minds want to know.

[daddy]

I Fly with a guy who was squadron mates with Gifford's husband. He and his wife were good friends with Gifford's husbands ex-wife for years. Haven't heard much about that have you.

[centralcal]

Her Excellency arrives in a shiny blue cocktail dress. So appropriate for an economic and class warfare SOTU address. Doncha think?

[daddy]

It's Live on both BBC and CNN.

CNN is cheerleading. BBC seems more "just the facts mamm" so far.

[Jane]

John Roberts showed up - I don't see Alito. Oh look, Michelle has a new diamond necklace and shiny blue frock. She takes a bow or 7, yes very well deserved. Ugh, Hillary geithner, Holder, Panetta all the criminals in one spot.Scott Brown standing with Kerry - you aren't gaining any tea party support that way senator. I think Kerry put on make-up to hide his facelift.

Where are the buttons? These people are all so needy "-wait let me shake your hand. remember me? I need a favor"

Is Robert Cordry gay?

John Boehner already looks bored. Who could blame him?

The Messiah is 3 minutes late.

[clarice feldman]

Pelosi repeats her threat--RCP:

Related Videos | expand Playing pelosi on a gingrich presidency that will never happen
440455 Playing gergen newt gingrich is a street fighter who carries a switchblade
440386 Playing gingrich i supported goldwater
440413 Playing andrea mitchell romney adviser said party elites will find alternative if romney cant win florida
440412 John King, CNN: "You make your case there passionately for President Obama. But also understand that this is a tough reelection climate for any president, Democrat or Republican in this economy. Because of your history with Speaker Gingrich, what goes through your mind when you think of the possibility, which is more real today than it was a week or a month ago, that he would be the Republican nominee and that you could come back here next January or next February with a President Gingrich?"

Rep. Nancy Pelosi: "Let me just say this. That will never happen."

King: "Why?"

Pelosi: "He's not going to be President of the United States. That's not going to happen. Let me just make my prediction and stand by it, it isn't going to happen."

King: "Why are you so sure?"

Pelosi: "There is something I know. The Republicans, if they choose to nominate him that's their prerogative. I don't even think that's going to happen."

[daddy]

Think I'm going to swap to CNN. Wolf's sycophant jabber is agonizing to listen to. Wolf now hitting on Mitt's Tax returns.

On BBC the intro is less skin-crawling.

[Threadkiller]

It is the Main Street Parade. DumbO is bringing up the rear.

[Threadkiller]

Dorf just introduced Doof.

[bgates]

One bit of good news - #1 Kentucky is about to tip off vs Georgia right now. Obama will miss it, and I bet that kills him.

[daddy]

So NBC: Citizens, no applause for the Republican candidates.

CNN: Applaud like hell for the President Obama.

Swap from CNN to BBC.

CNN has massive loud applause. BBC has almost none.

Interesting use (abuse) of the microphones. If you listen to CNN you think the place is going banana's. If you listen to BBC, it's polite applause in the background.

[Threadkiller]

He is doing his best "goodfellas" entrance, money handshakes and all

[Jane]

4 minutes and counting. DO you think we have nothing better to do than wait on you Messiah?

oh yeah.

9:05 and the seas are parting. Followed by a bunch of republicans.

Did he paint his mole tonite or not?

He greets everyone the same way: "Good to see you" thumbs up.

Can we pray that the teleprompter breaks.

Scott Brown reaches out to the president. We are watching you Scotty and you are pissing us off.

Big hug from justice Ginsberg. What's that about? Are they meeting in private?

Okay I'm bored.Oh gawd what was that with Gabrielle Giffords?

[daddy]

Jane,

Are you hurling yet?

[Threadkiller]

He now cops a feel on Giffords.

[daddy]

Seriously, switch from BBC to CNN and back and hear the difference in applause. It's stunning.

[Threadkiller]

Boehner has a tissue box hidden under the gavel.

[Janet]

Hillary Clinton looks pretty good.

[Threadkiller]

Standing O this quick? The audience must have a Prompter too

[Janet]

OBL is not a threat to this country.

No thanks to you.

[centralcal]

Hillary Clinton looks pretty good.

Compared to...?

[Threadkiller]

O is winning in death pool betting.

[Benjamin Franklin]

Bohner claps, but weeps not...

[Jane]

DWS is gabby giffords closest friend. That does not speak well of gabby.

Okay hold on to your hats for this talk on "fairness".

Joe Biden immediately checks his blackberry.

The messiah announces that he ended the war. He says something nice about then troops. He doesn't mean it.

Oh and I killed bin Laden all by myself.

The military, unlike republicans focus on the mission at hand and work together. Imagine what we could accomplish if only the republicans would do everything I say.

Biden chokes.

[Janet]

Hah! Compared to pictures I've seen recently. She's "fixed up" tonight.

[daddy]

Met the troops coming home from Iraq. This generation of hero's made us safer and more respected around the world.

Bohner applauds on the statement that Osama Bin Ladin is no more.

Praise for the MIlitary that worked so well together, and then turns it into a comment "think what we could do if we all worked together here in America. WE can do it because we've done it before---back after WW2."

[Elliott]

Terroristissimo Usama Ben Laden is still dead.

[Benjamin Franklin]

Extols the virtues of GI Bill.

That's bad socialism. Let returning troops raise themselves by their own combat bootstraps.

[Sara]

Until the unions took over.

[centralcal]

His oratorical skills are, are, are - phake, phony, and phalling phlat already.

[Threadkiller]

Fair is fair. You heard it here first.

[Benjamin Franklin]

Same set of rules for everyone.....MARX!!!!!!!!!

[centralcal]

Yep, Janet, she remembered to comb her hair and put on a lot of moisturizer. Yes, she is looking more alive than she has been looking.

[narciso]

Scottie really needs a shock collar, when is he going to lease a clue?

[Threadkiller]

As god as my witness, it is not my fault!!!

[Janet]

The *thump* is starting...dropping his hands on the podium.

[centralcal]

Poor fellow. He will never again reach the speech heights of that Democrat convention when most folks didn't know who in the hell he was.

Now, we know.

[Threadkiller]

That number even puzzled the tax cheat.

[Benjamin Franklin]

4 million jobs lost before, another 4 mil 6 months into new term,

Fannie and Feddie !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[clarice feldman]

I wish the teleprompter would fritz out about now.

[daddy]

Continuing the riff about how America was great. "The defining issue of our time is to keep that dream alive."

"Fair shot, Fair share, Fair set of Rules."

"Those aren't Dem or Repub values. They are American values."

Now on to how the Middle Class is collapsing (in 2008) and the rich getting richer with other people's money. It plunged us into an awful crisis and left innocents holding the bag. Blames that for all the jobs lost. Now says the facts are that he has created 3 million jobs. We are creating jobs in America. We agreed to cut the deficit by 2 trillion. Horseshit.

Sez he will oppose any obstructors to his fixing the country.

[Ignatz]

A show of hands for how many people disagree with my contention that this country would be vastly improved by a serving of approximately 10 Hellfires into the portals of the US Capitol right about now.

[Threadkiller]

He is opposed..

[Janet]

Who the hell gave this guy a feather?

[Dave (in MA)]

Biden chokes.

And sucks at the same time.

[Benjamin Franklin]

I will oppose any effort to continue the policies that brought us into this crisis..........

YOU LIE !!!

[daddy]

I refused to let our auto industry collapse and to lose 1 million jobs. Today GM is on top as the worlds number 1 automaker.

[Ignatz]

Ben, by any standard one might choose, really stinks at live blogging.

[Threadkiller]

Please buy a car, please.

[Jane]

If you work hard you can succeed, and if you don't we will hand you stuff that we steal from the successful. It's perfect.

"fair fair fair fair fair" as long as I determine what is fair. No red state or blue state, just an Obama state, run by your messiah for 5 more years.

Can you imagine? Mortgages were sold to people who could not afford them? Now whose fault is that? Not me, or the community reinvestment act or the stupid democrats. No no no, those horrid banks.

And I'm cranking out those jobs. More than anyone in history practically. The economy is spectacular. We are screwing wall street so there will be no more crisis. The state of our union is getting stronger.

And if you do not agree with me, I will crush you. The hell with the constitution. (SCott Brown stands - you are toast to me Scotty)

So here is my plan. Manufacturing, energy, skills and my values.

I fixed the auto industry - just look at the chevy volt. GM rules and we screwed all the investors, what could be better?

[Barbara]

Who the hell gave this guy a feather?

Good one, Janet!

[Benjamin Franklin]

american auto industry is back.........

Let those union thugs fail !!!!!!!!!!!!!

[centralcal]

Raising both my hands, Ignatz!

[daddy]

Boehner isn't buying it.

Biden is a frickin' moron. He even nods like an imbecile.

[centralcal]

jimgeraghty jimgeraghty
The American auto industry is back! You could say the Volt sales are... EXPLOSIVE!

[Dave (in MA)]

Ben, by any standard one might choose, really stinks at live blogging.

Not if you have my Narcisolator tweak.

[Benjamin Franklin]

No american co should be able to avoid taxes by moving overseas...

FASCIST !!!!

[Dave (in MA)]

"Fair share" DRINK!

[Threadkiller]

This is tough to keep up with. Tax, but don't tax, I think

[Janet]

Biden is chowin' down on Altoids or something???

[Jim Miller]

I was watching it with the sound muted and decided that (1) Boehner has a better tie than Biden, (2) Biden is not very good at sitting still and keeping a poker face, and (3) I can tell that Obama is lying, even with the sound off.

[centralcal]

Dave, honey, I never see ben with a little B and I don't need no pink feathers. He simply does not exist on this or any thread.

[Threadkiller]

The Voltive candle.

[Sara]

I think I'll register as a corporation, threaten to move overseas and get some relocation money so I can beat feet out of high tax California.

[Threadkiller]

I hope the new factories don't need fuel.

[daddy]

Riff on JFK,

Ask yourself what you can do to bring jobs back from overseas.

Now here's the Tax proposals...Biden combs his hair.

Translation:

Government should provide help for everything I want and Government should get it's hands into everything possible in America. If you do what I want I will have Government pick the winners, and if you don't play with me and Government you will not get help but will get the back of my hand and taxed thru the roof.

[MarkO]

I decided to drink everytime he lied and,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,fjadplioshgoiqralgvdf

[Threadkiller]

Trade Enforcement Union. So that is what the private army is called.

[Benjamin Franklin]

If the playing field is level...........

Big friggin' IF......with obstructionist Congress.

[daddy]

LOL MarkO.

[Janet]

The Voltive candle.

LOL!!

[Jim Miller]

Remember when he refused to wear a flag pin?

I think I liked that version better than the current one. It was slightly more honest.

[daddy]

A revealing shot of Michelle looking bored and dour, and then she sees the camera is on her and suddenly she smiles like a cheshire cat.

[Threadkiller]

2 million man march.

[Jane]

So now I will take over more industries, screw more investors and reward my friends. Wouldn't you rather be my friend?

We will screw businesses that outsource jobs. We will instead take your money and give it to companies I like. And I will finance you with other people's money.

(So many people in congress are old, ugly and wilting)

Eric cantor looks like he is going to bite someone.

We are even doing better than I told you before at exporting. The Koreans are demanding chevy volts. We are suing china and it works. We stopped a surge in chinese tires and even dim sum.

More bureaucracy -I am announcing a new trade enforcement unit, lots more regulation and tons and tons of new federal workers. Olympia Snowe is on her feet.

We need skilled workers. Hmm so what can I do about that? Let's give out free tuition to people. Isn't that a great idea? We have lots and lots of money. So let'so it!!!!

[Benjamin Franklin]

Every American should have SAME opportunity.

Collectivism...........

[Threadkiller]

Does everybody realize a US ship will be named after this guy?

[Sara]

As one who receives a retirement check from GM, I don't think the bus/truck/car side was ever in that much jeopardy. The financial side was gutted. GMAC especially. If buyers can't finance their new car, GM doesn't move inventory.

[OldTimer]

Ignatz! Yes!

[Threadkiller]

Good teachers are hard to find

[daddy]

What an interesting idea?

Lets collect more taxes and give it to the Teachers Unions.

Wow. I sure didn't see that one coming.

[Threadkiller]

Oh shit Bens!! He wants a feather exchange program. Good luck.

[clarice feldman]

Against the law to drop out of school..

[Benjamin Franklin]

Requiring HS students to graduate?

Stalin woke from his long sleep,,,,

[clarice feldman]

Free college--by working for me.

[centralcal]

When college debt is greater than credit card debt ... does he want to rephrase that?

[Threadkiller]

We may run out of money he says

[clarice feldman]

Make college cheaper or we'll cut off your money--hear that chief kickapoop?

[centralcal]

markknoller Mark Knoller
So tonight, I’m proposing that every State to require that all students stay in high school until they graduate or turn eighteen.

[Benjamin Franklin]

higher ed isn't a luxury, but an imperative everyone can afford...

Saul Alinsky says Hell, yes !!!

[Janet]

When he says, "We know how to fix ___"...does he mean the politicians in that room?
Guam Flipper??

Obama is just up there threatening everyone.
You won't be allowed to leave high school!!

[Threadkiller]

Natural Born Citizens all around!!

[Dave (in MA)]

There are fewer illegal crossings than when you took office because there are fewer jobs.

[Sara]

Ugh!

[clarice feldman]

Send me your tired and poor immigrants who will vote D.

[daddy]

Shot of Harry Reid in the audience.

A complete numbskull. Al Franken applauds.

Wait, he just said we need to send more money to all the teachers, now he says we have to reduce costs of college.

Wonder where we're going to get that money.

Now something about immigrants and illegal immigrant. More boots on the border than ever before. Work on immigration reform right now.

Translation: Hispanics vote for me.

Women should earn the same as men for equal work.

Translation: Women. Vote for me.

[Benjamin Franklin]

Women should earn equal pay for equal work,,,,

Is he friggin nutz?

[Threadkiller]

Ok, here is the law: They leave, they apply, they get citizenship, they return. please sign at the bottom.