Unofficial State of the Union Liveblogging

10:35: The problem with Republicans is not generally their broad statements, it is that their policies poorly achieve the goals they set up. They’d call me a tax and spend liberal, even though my ideal policies are radically less bureaucratic than those of the mainstream Democrats. Anyway, a response is usually expected to relate to the speech it is responding to, and this one didn’t. It is hard enough to follow Obama when you do it well, even harder when you do it poorly.

10:32: Not to rain on his parade, but if not a government agency intruding on the doctor-patient relationship, an insurance company most assuredly will.

10:30: This response is really weird. He sounds less like an orator than a tape book narrator. And I don’t think using Hurricane Katrina as an example of not needing government is a very effective strategy.

10:10: Many effective points, but on the whole it really dragged on too long. Sometimes saying less is necessary to accomplish more.

10:05: I guess it is that point in the speech where all the symbolic people are recognized. I wonder what I could do to become symbolic and get a state of the union invite.

10:00: 45 minute mark…longer than the convention speech or the inaugural address. Longer than the state of the union addresses I remember under Bush as well. I guess there are a lot of problems that need-a-solvin’.

9:55: Fiscal responsibility, Democrat style. Too bad the President does not have a line-item veto so much of the crap he takes out of the budget will get reinserted by vested interests in Congress.

9:53: Obama does not seem afraid of poking at the Republicans. Though I can take or leave this anti-earmark stuff. An earmark is sometimes the most effective way to get better legislation passed.

9:52: I <3 Personal Responsibility.

9:50: This is a very interesting angle. Making it a direct challenge, a patriotic duty even, to graduate HS and have a year of some form of career relevant schooling. I don’t doubt that we can in theory meet the goal of college graduation rate. Though our K-12 system is problematic, we’ve always been more of a leader in college education.

9:46: I really hope solid health care reform is as inevitable as it is sounding. (Go Wyden/Bennett). As a wonk, these lofty values but not specifics presentations lack something. Not that I’d want to see a speech about the details…just give me the reading materials.

9:45: This seems very long as state of the union speeches go. Though he did make for an effective outline of the speech, energy, health care, education (following jobs/banks).

9:40: I have no problem with complaining about the car battery being made in Korea as a way of saying we need to be smart enough to be the only ones who can make the best batteries, but it does edge a bit close to a protectionist position to be comfortable.

9:33: It is notable the difference in having Obama giving this speech compared to Bush. Obama is talking in concrete, and sometimes tough, realities. Bush talked in vague, ideological notions. It represents a competence and seriousness in leadership that, for all of the left’s nitpicking of every slight decision that they feel is a betrayal, shows we are in good hands.

9:30: It is very important that he make clear the complicated role of the banks to the public since “bailing out the banks” sounds so horrible, especially with their habit of taking big bonuses. It is important that it matter to the man or woman on the street. And while I recognize a possible short term benefit, I do fret at propping up the same kind of excessive, loan-based spending that led us to this point.

9:26: I guess we need applause to instruct us how good the speech is, but I’ve always found the choppy nature of these speeches annoying.

9:24: It is amazing how much of a non-factor foreign policy has been. Sure, things have been done behind the scenes, but after years of the “War President” the comfort in not focusing on foreign affairs (which tend to get overblown in their significance) is pretty nice.

9:22: I like this opening. It is very true that we’ve known of our problems and of the solutions for a long time, and we’ve just ignored both out of neglect and deceit.

9:20: Is Nancy Pelosi reading a book during the speech? That seems a bit strange. Though I do hear that Twilight is a very addictive read.

9:15: The real state of the union address is constitutionally mandated and full of pomp. But if this doesn’t get to the point it will seem more like a circle jerk.

9:10: With all this kissing and hand-shaking, I expect colds will be spreading around Washington like wildfire will be spreading around Colorado given our gloomy precipitation predictions.

9:05: Now the cabinet…I really think they need a PA announcer and music and perhaps some pyrotechnics (ok, that last one might be a bad idea). I don’t remember this whole formal lead up in the past…let’s get to the main event already. Given the make-up of the cabinet, I can only imagine the greetings right now are basically “Senator” “Senator” “Senator” “Senator” “Rahm”…and then the one has to get up and chase the other.

9:00PM EST: Hey, it has been a while since I did this, so let’s live-blog. I don’t really know what to expect. Enter the Supreme Court justices to big applause, who says we don’t like activist judges. Clarence Thomas shoves Ruth Bader-Ginsberg aside because her cancer recovering ass isn’t moving fast enough.