On Wednesday night, President Barack Obama will command center stage — along with television air time — to deliver the annual State of the Union address.
His advisers are promising a sharper focus on jobs and help to the middle class.
They also say the president won’t abandon his efforts on health care.
Regardless of who is occupying the White House in any given year, do you watch the State of the Union address? Or is is one of those nights you search the DVR for something else you’ve recorded, or decide it’s the right time to take the family out to eat? And if you do watch it, is it to hear the substance of what the President says? Or is it your moment to agree or disagree with just about everything you hear?
The speech is called for in the U.S. Constitution, which states:
“The President shall from time to time give to Congress information of the State of the Union and recommend to their consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient.”
President Bush's 2008 speech.
President Calvin Coolidge delivered the first State of the Union speech broadcast on radio in 1923, while President Harry S. Truman gave the first televised State of the Union in 1947.
So, come Wednesday night, will you be watching, and why?
Previous Comments
I am always in amazement that after the speech the “talking heads” go over it and can come up with so many different versions of what was said.
Do they watch another speech or have a printed copy that differs from what was actually said?
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I will watch to see him try to contain his huge ego and can he lie his way out of his total failure to govern.
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Unless I hear some breaking news between now and then that it will also be a resignation speech, I will not be watching. We’re planning to watch some recorded episodes of the British comedy series “Keeping Up Appearnces” instead. I’ll watch some of the highlights of the Pretendent’s speech later on YouTube.
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Drinking game for tomorrow’s SOTU address:
Take one drink every time he says fight.
Take one drink if he says inherited or blames the last administration.
Take one drink if he claims the stimulus “saved” x million jobs.
My guess is you will be hammered in the first 10 minutes and that will kill the pain of watching the remaining time…..
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Wow – lots of hateful people in my old hometown. How sad….
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I watch.
Not to hear what is said, but the reaction from the opposition.
This year’s reactions from the other side should be entertaining – and informative.
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I never watch the state of the nation speeches. It’s a waste of time. All I have to do is listen to the recap by the talking heads to learn what was said.
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I did watch it up until a “community activist” starting talking just to hear himself speak. What more could he lie to us about that he has not ready done so, over and over and over….
Who also wants to bet he still once again says the current economic situation is not his fault but the previous administration’s.
Maybe Harry & Nancy will wet theirselves out of excitement during the “show”. Oh yeah, we will also have to have numerous shots of the very ugly (not beautiful) first lady making sure her puppet mouths the words correctly.
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No, I will not be watching. I for one will be working on my resume and other important issues, like juggling the bills.
No use spending time listening to someone who believes, “He Gets It”, when we know they are clueless as to how “IT” really is amd no clue as to how to fix “IT”.
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State of the Union speeches are a complete waste of time. Plus it’s especially irritating when Obama speaks before Congress because of Jack-In-The-Box Nancy Pelosi jumping up to applaud every 30 seconds.
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Many conservatives won’t watch, but they will claim to know all about everything the next morning!!! All from their well-worn armchairs. It’s magic!
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Logic…ya lost it…again! Obama and crew understand full well what is going on. He is between a rock and a hard place. Why not offer to help? Do You have solutions to tell him about? You do when posting here.
Diane, they still comment on the middle name because gthey have no solutions, nor will they get out of the way of those who do. Sour grapes my dear…staining their filly white undies…still!
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But of course. But the ignorance showed by the last prez during his just made me wonder what we were in for. Now I know. Don’t forget to support the election reform bill if you don’t like the idea of corporations buying our legislators’ votes. Folks claim they want it. Look, since the corp dudes don’t get a cut in pay, YOU pay for those bribes…in higher prices. make no mistake. You do!
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yes i well . he is the president of this country and i well give the respect he deserves . or at least till i see he’s not on my side .
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Logic,
“Axelrod and Gibbs both tried to say that Brown’s election was a repudiation of the REPUBLICANS.”
His team is still in campaign mode. The Axelrod and Gibbs interviews were some of the most disturbing statements to date from this administration. Were they really trying to say that Ma hates Republicans so bad that they elected one? Serious?
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St. Louis Reader: Yours is the only intelligent and rational comment I’ve read so far on this subject. It amazes me when I think of the educational resources in this country and how so few people take advantage of them. The average American knows nothing about politics and prefer to listen to the media who tells them what to think — no matter how wrong or perverted it is. Thanks for your comment. I was really beginning to think everybody’s brain has gone to seed. And yes, I’ve read “Animal Farm” by Orwell and “The Prince” by Machiavelli — and I do understand — more than most of you will ever know.
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First of, Dan, learn to spell buffoon. And I still can’t believe people are commenting on his middle name.
And those of you who don’t want health care reform are usually the ones that already have insurance. Give what our elected officials have, and I’ll stop complaining.
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Dave, I’m with you..and I’ll be gagging all the way through the speech. If this past weekend is any indication, Obama still does not “get it”. Axelrod and Gibbs both tried to say that Brown’s election was a repudiation of the REPUBLICANS. Geez…what a bunch of idiots. Obama doesn’t understand, nor does his underlings, what the Brown election was all about. I forsee Obama being “angry”, saying he is going to continue to fight for the middle-class and will do it on the backs of the rich bankers. Afterall, it’s the BANKERS that got us into this mess…not Frank, not Dodd, not the failed policies of poor-credit, no money down, low mortgage loans.
Yes, I’ll watch it but will be more intrigued by the Republican response. I’m not convinced that Republican leadership “gets it” either.
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