Here's what we know about the SOTU speech: It will be another sales job for the surge. It will contain a modest proposal for health care that includes (gasp!) raising taxes on workers whose "coverage exceeded limits set by the government." (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/21/w...00&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&pagewanted=all) Maybe a call for better vehicle fuel economy. (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/22/washington/22fuel.html) I don't think anything they throw in there will amount to much when compared with Iraq. I expect his ratings to go down after the speech, as so much of it will be devoted to the surge. He's in a real pickle here as anything he says about his Iraq policy makes him more unpopular but because of Iraq's importance, he has to talk about it. We also know that Jim Webb will be giving the Dem response. That should be fun. Anything else?
You too can be a star! via TMP -- You probably know that Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA) is slated to give the Dems' official response to President Bush's State of the Union address tomorrow evening. But what about your response? For years at TPM we've been printing emails from TPM Readers. But how about video? With the proliferation of webcams, phone-cams and video cameras, putting together a short video response to the president's State of the Union address is relatively easy to do for a great number and possibly the majority of our readers. So, watch the State of the Union address tomorrow night and then respond. It can be funny or serious, short or long (though shorter the better), focused on a specific point about the president's speech or about the speech in general. It's up to you. We won't expect perfect lighting and picture quality. Just so we can see you talking and hear clearly what you're saying. Game? If you're interested in participating, let us know today. If you have questions, send them in now. Later we'll post on how to send submissions in and more details. -- Josh Marshall
It will be another sales job for the surge. Warner leads effort on second resolution criticizing Bush's Iraq plan Rats are jumping from the sinking ship ...
these are always unwatchable. the incessant clapping turns a 5 minute speech into an hour long TV special. i'll catch the highlights on ESPNOcho.
No kidding. Clapping should be banned during the thing. Or he should speak to an empty room. There's no reason it should take 40 minutes or however long they normally do.
Oklahoma at Oklahoma State 8:00 CST, ESPN2. Watching the Sooners lose in Gallagher-Iba is always fun.
I think the clapping aspect will be one of the really good reasons to turn this one on... Bush will have Nancy Pelosi sitting behind him and his party will be in the true minority for the first time. The repubs listening to the speech already know things are cratering... how much will they applaud when W talks about Iraq and spouts off his pet phrases about terror and such? I can't believe many Repubs want to be seen on national TV clapping for surge. Also, I bet Lieberman gets there early so he can have a seat on the aisle to hug Bush as he walks by. The theater is as important (or more so) than the speech itself. Finally, my early bet is that Henry Paulson, Secretary of the Treasury, will be the cabinet member uninvited, er, not present due to the security protocol.
Although Bush's speechwriters will have to include a number of easy, sure-fire applause lines (and boy does he need them), I'd venture a guess you can expect a little less clapping tomorrow night than usual.
Iraq, terror, energy, AIDS in Africa, er, Global Warming, etc. Nothing really new and much that is old. That he's going to bring up the immigration issue again is amazing to me... the only support he has left is among die-hard Republicans who hate his gastarbeiter program. Add to that the simmering disgust with NCLB by the soccer mom set and Bush'll be in the 20's before you know it. This administration is a train wreck.
Thank God for cable. I remember state of the union speeches when I was a kid. It was either: a) watch the President b) PBS c) UHF stations that only came in when if I held the antenna up myself
Negative. There is nothing important to garner or discuss in the SOTU. Mark my words, listening to it will both bore you silly and drop your IQ by several points.
Is there anything? ANYTHING!?!?! The president can look back on in the last year as an accomplishment that helped the country?
