Posted on 01/26/2010 2:18:58 PM PST by The Pack Knight
Tomorrow night, an embattled President Obama will deliver his 2010 State of the Union. He originally wanted to give it on Feb. 2, but — adding to a string of recent indignities — had to yield after irate Lost fans made clear they wouldn't put up with their season premiere getting pre-empted by a lousy presidential speech.
Lost is a silly show — a six-year-long Twilight Zone episode doomed to end in disappointment. But you can hardly blame Americans for preferring it to the SOTU, a dull and tacky spectacle that celebrates our retreat from limited, constitutional government.
The Constitution requires that the president "from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union." But it doesn't mandate the modern pageant of pomp, circumstance, and phony promises we suffer through every year.
In fact, for most of the Republic's first century, the SOTU was a modest, informational affair. Presidents sent the written address to Congress, to be read aloud by a clerk. That was thanks to President Jefferson, who thought delivering the speech before Congress assembled smacked too much of a king's "Speech from the Throne."
When the power-hungry Woodrow Wilson overturned the Jeffersonian tradition in 1913, one senator cursed the revival of "the old Federalistic custom of speeches from the throne," calling it a "cheap and tawdry imitation of English royalty."
The speech only got worse from there, especially after the advent of television and LBJ's decision to move the address to prime time. That sealed the SOTU's transformation into the modern ritual, in which the president stands at the front of the House chamber making exorbitant promises that would shame a carny barker, while congresscritters stand and clap like members of the Supreme Soviet cheering a Brezhnev speech.
Ronald Reagan introduced the unfortunate custom of pointing to "Lenny Skutniks:" ordinary citizens in the SOTU audience who help the president hammer home his theme. Skutnik himself was a hero who dove into the icy Potomac to rescue a plane-crash survivor, but lately, presidents tend to bring along "victim Skutniks" who can serve as living arguments for federal activism. In his 2000 SOTU, Bill Clinton acknowledged a Columbine parent and anti-gun advocate, and in last year's address, Barack Obama saluted a young girl trying to learn in a dilapidated school.
Political scientist Elvin T. Lim finds that the modern SOTU has grown increasingly "compassionate and emotive," its content more "egalitarian and redistributive." References to the Constitution, quite common in our first century, have declined, replaced by "an increasing lack of humility" on the part of the president.
After the apparent failure of President Obama's hubristic attempt to take over the health care sector, it's little wonder so many plan to tune out on Wednesday.
When Richard Nixon gave a prime-time address in 1971, more than half of the viewing public watched. In 2003, George W. Bush could do no better than 21 percent.
When Obama had to make way for Lost, some lamented the fact that many Americans preferred trash TV over presidential enlightenment. But the public's lack of interest in the SOTU is actually a sign of political health.
When all eyes turn to the president, demanding he cure whatever ails us, the result is a dangerous concentration of federal power. Thus, it's good that our national talk-show host suffers from declining Nielsens.
Early indications are that tomorrow, a chastened Obama may retreat into "small-ball," with a passel of tax credits and microprograms. Must-see TV this ain't, but a lessening of presidential ambition would be very good news.
Jimmy Carter was the last president to mail in his SOTU, in 1981. It's unlikely that Carter did that out of respect for Jeffersonian principles — he was a lame duck, worried that nobody wanted to hear him. Obama should keep that option in mind for next year.
If the American people really want to send a clear, dedicated message to the socialist, ego-maniac, Anti-American, unprotecting, POTUS Obama, millions of Americans should not tune into, the bold faced lies POTUS Obama is going to try to fool you folks with. Maybe then his Democrat Party will get it and “broom” this failure by forcing him to resign or, if not, impeach him!!!!
This guy is NOT going to come out looking haggard one bit. He has the aggravating habit of tuning out any negative news. He probably does not even know that he was repudiated in Mass; New Jersey; Virginia and Copenhagen. He is a puppet on a string, a creation of the media.
The agenda will be some rhetoric about how he is pushing to get the economy moving, how he is reducing deficits, how he is reining in Wall Street bankers and how he is fighting for the common people. He will say his health care agenda is moving forward. He was say his first year was a success and would be better if everyone pitched in to help.
Blah blah and more blah
I take exception to that comment, but I agree that the SOTU address is going to be a Bush bashing, “I’m doing this for you undeserving dim-witted smelly under-educated victims of capitalism” speech.
There’s a slap chop infomercial I just can’t miss.
Thus rightfully taking precedence over a four-year-long Twilight Zone episode doomed to end in dissappointment.
Re the SOTU tomorrow night:
Don’t have to hang any signs on the screen.
Don’t even have to decide if I’m going to watch.
Our brand-new-just-installed-to-keep-visiting-grandkids-entertained satellite receiver must have absorbed the political attitude around The Homestead, because the little so-and-so curled up and died last night. Called the guy who sold us the thing, got the news that he can’t get the replacement to us before Friday and spent most of the time since either listening to Grandma chuckling over her book by the fireplace or ROFLMAO myself.
Back during the Clintonzeit, I’d listen to Slick’s SOTU for background noise while I figgered our taxes, but I’m worried that if I do the same deal with The O as inspiration, I’ll go into truly inventive tax cheating mode and either wind up in jail or (worse yet) find myself fully qualified for some Cabinet post.
I can’t stand to listen to him and would rather watch chicken parts thaw. I’ll check out Fox News or Rush for the summary ... which will be about all I’ll be able to stomach.
From “Messiah” to “embattled” in 12 short months.
I'll just listen to Rush's coverage of TOTUS when he's back on the air on Thursday!
This will be beyond boring...it would be interesting if the Republicans just stayed away; but that’s not happening. I’ll be cleaning the cat box.
Maybe this year he can bring in someone who has spent the last year trying to find a job...somebody the people can identify with...
I (and some others, locally) will be celebrating the sotu by holding a meeting for potential precinct committeemen. It’s time to take our country back. Boo oscrama!
Hey zero I got a SOTU from me to you STFU Big Ears!
I enjoyed that too. Didn’t remember Carter sending the address in 81.
the republicans should not show up at all. or even better, at the first lie...stand up and shout in unison YOU LIE, and then have every republican file out. total humiliation is how you deal with this POS
Laughing would be great. Why be afraid now?
I won’t give him the satisfaction of the rating. I’ll pick up the highlights/lowlights from FOX afterward.
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