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You are here: Home / Open Threads / SOTU Open Thread #2

SOTU Open Thread #2

by Anne Laurie|  January 27, 201010:12 pm| 271 Comments

This post is in: Open Threads, The Failed Obama Administration (Only Took Two Weeks)

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If the site doesn’t go down again. FYWP.

Whoops, Obama just pledged to “work with Congress” to repeal DADT…

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Previous Post: « Why we fight
Next Post: Watching the State of the Confederacy Speech… »

Reader Interactions

271Comments

  1. 1.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    January 27, 2010 at 10:16 pm

    all right, who broke the innertoobz?

  2. 2.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    January 27, 2010 at 10:19 pm

    Lieberman looks like his hemmies are flaring.

  3. 3.

    Cain

    January 27, 2010 at 10:20 pm

    I APPROVE OF THIS SPEECH!

    cain

  4. 4.

    mclaren

    January 27, 2010 at 10:21 pm

    Schwarzenneger’s genius new idea involves outsourcing American prisons to Mexico. Maybe we could outsource American government to Mexico.

  5. 5.

    Cain

    January 27, 2010 at 10:21 pm

    I approve of this speech.. goddam, I need a cigarette.

    cain

  6. 6.

    ruemara

    January 27, 2010 at 10:21 pm

    Dammit, Barack! All silky smooth and saying what’s right and hitting the right points.

    I…I just can’t quit you.

    Fucker.

    /O-bot, bloody again.

  7. 7.

    Spork

    January 27, 2010 at 10:21 pm

    Obambi. He broke the intertrons so the people couldn’t see him spell out his nefarious designs.

  8. 8.

    ajr22

    January 27, 2010 at 10:22 pm

    A few random thoughts. Fuck Alito for shaking his head, the court is A political asshole. Also, does Chuck Grassley have herpes?

  9. 9.

    mr. whipple

    January 27, 2010 at 10:22 pm

    Fuck, that was awesome.

  10. 10.

    Jules

    January 27, 2010 at 10:23 pm

    Hey, that’s the guy I voted for….

  11. 11.

    Comrade Kevin

    January 27, 2010 at 10:23 pm

    @mclaren: I’d like to outsource the end of his term somewhere, anywhere.

  12. 12.

    Violet

    January 27, 2010 at 10:24 pm

    Total Obot here. He was on fire! That’s my President!

  13. 13.

    Midnight Marauder

    January 27, 2010 at 10:24 pm

    Wow. Just fucking wow. You crazy for this one, Obama!

    And Corner Stone, your thoughts? Also.

  14. 14.

    JGabriel

    January 27, 2010 at 10:24 pm

    Wow, the visual of the Republicans just sitting there, stone-faced and recalcitrant, at the call for providing equal rights to all our citizens was amazing.

    They really are the party of bigotry. No surprise in itself, but the willingness to so publicly embrace it, en masse, is kind of shocking.

    .

  15. 15.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    January 27, 2010 at 10:24 pm

    @ajr22:

    Fuck Alito for shaking his head, the court is A political asshole

    A bitter old man watching his world change as he watches the sun set.

  16. 16.

    Warren Terra

    January 27, 2010 at 10:25 pm

    The lecture was pretty awesome, because it was true. It obviously won’t change the behavior of a single congresscritter, and although I don’t exactly have the pulse of the people I doubt it will resonate much politically. But it was still pretty awesome.

  17. 17.

    Violet

    January 27, 2010 at 10:25 pm

    I’m in love with him for calling out the media as well. No.one.is.safe.

  18. 18.

    Spork

    January 27, 2010 at 10:25 pm

    @mclaren: Can we outsource lobbyists? I would gladly pay illegal immigrant wages to illegally influence members of Congress. I can just see the trucks pulling up to Home Depot parking lots and loading on pickup truck loads of lobbyists as day labor.

  19. 19.

    me

    January 27, 2010 at 10:26 pm

    The end of the speech was weird, a five minute span where there was no applause. Was the crowd asleep or spellbound?

  20. 20.

    camchuck

    January 27, 2010 at 10:26 pm

    Out of the gate, Wolf Blitzer sounds sad to report that the speech had lots of detail and was long. Get ready for the post-speech buzzkill.

  21. 21.

    Max

    January 27, 2010 at 10:26 pm

    I’m not liking Rachel tonight. She’s very bitchy.

  22. 22.

    Cain

    January 27, 2010 at 10:26 pm

    Here comes the republican response.

    cain

  23. 23.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    January 27, 2010 at 10:26 pm

    I’m tempted to scroll through the firebag-o-sphere to see what they found to pout about, but I’m not gonna harsh my own buzz.

  24. 24.

    jenniebee

    January 27, 2010 at 10:27 pm

    My pillager of a governor is giving the rebuttal… sweet.

  25. 25.

    stevie314159

    January 27, 2010 at 10:27 pm

    Who’s giving the rebuttal tonight, Hamsher or Sirota?

  26. 26.

    mr. whipple

    January 27, 2010 at 10:27 pm

    That was FDR-ian.

    Best speech I’ve ever seen him give.

  27. 27.

    Midnight Marauder

    January 27, 2010 at 10:27 pm

    And can I just say that I am FUCKING GIDDY for the Republican response. Bob McDonnell as the answer? You have got to be fucking kidding me! But by all means, good sir, go on…

  28. 28.

    Tomlinson

    January 27, 2010 at 10:27 pm

    The end of the speech was weird, a five minute span where there was no applause. Was the crowd asleep or spellbound?

    They were probably terrified he was about to drop the boom on them. And maybe a wee bit embarassed for the people who’d already had the boom dropping.

  29. 29.

    JGabriel

    January 27, 2010 at 10:27 pm

    mclaren:

    Schwarzenneger’s genius new idea involves outsourcing American prisons to Mexico. Maybe we could outsource American government to Mexico.

    Why not? The idea of drug importation is pretty popular, and, effectively, that’s just outsourcing the power to bargain with pharmaceutical companies to Canada instead of governing it ourselves.

    .

  30. 30.

    arguingwithsignposts

    January 27, 2010 at 10:27 pm

    Okay, just some first impressions: I liked the DADT shoutout. Thought it was too long, and didn’t include enough gonad kicking. The best was at the end. I got the sense of a fatherly lecture a la Leave It to Beaver toward the end. And if I don’t ever hear the word “bipartisan” again, it will be too soon.

    ETA: Bob McDonnell can blow me, also.

  31. 31.

    Sly

    January 27, 2010 at 10:27 pm

    I feel cheated. There was no where near the level of Hippy Punching I was told to expect.

    Will someone on the internet please tell me what to think?!

  32. 32.

    Violet

    January 27, 2010 at 10:28 pm

    @me:
    Spellbound, I think.

  33. 33.

    Comrade Kevin

    January 27, 2010 at 10:28 pm

    Oh god, Tweety, shut up already.

  34. 34.

    Joe Beese

    January 27, 2010 at 10:28 pm

    That’s the money shot? “I will work with Congress” to end DADT?

    WTF? We’re supposed to thank him for not working against Congress?

  35. 35.

    mr. whipple

    January 27, 2010 at 10:28 pm

    Was the crowd asleep or spellbound?

    Spellbound. You could hear a pin drop.

  36. 36.

    Comrade Mary

    January 27, 2010 at 10:28 pm

    Tweety: “I forgot he was black tonight for an hour. We completely forgot about it.”

    Words fail me.

  37. 37.

    Cain

    January 27, 2010 at 10:28 pm

    Well the press is going to be angry cuz there was no sound bites out there.

    cain

  38. 38.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    January 27, 2010 at 10:28 pm

    Oh my god. Oh my god. Oh. My. Fucking. God.

    Tweety: “For an hour I forgot he was black tonight, this African-American speaking in front of a bunch of white men.” Not an exact quote.

    ‘He sounded like a real American.’

  39. 39.

    Admiral_Komack

    January 27, 2010 at 10:29 pm

    The President called out the media.

    I love it.,

  40. 40.

    Ailuridae

    January 27, 2010 at 10:29 pm

    @stevie314159:

    You made me laugh out loud for the first time in two days. Thanks!

  41. 41.

    Max

    January 27, 2010 at 10:29 pm

    Mr. Obama tonight – Boom goes the dynamite!

  42. 42.

    inkadu

    January 27, 2010 at 10:29 pm

    Does Chris Matthews always talk like he is simultaneously masturbating? Honest question. I don’t watch network tv.

  43. 43.

    ulee

    January 27, 2010 at 10:29 pm

    Chris Matthews just said, “I forgot he was black for an hour.”

  44. 44.

    Ash

    January 27, 2010 at 10:29 pm

    @Comrade Mary: Oh Tweety. Where the fuck is Sylvester when you need him?

  45. 45.

    mcc

    January 27, 2010 at 10:29 pm

    @Joe Beese: The take away on DADT is we will be doing it this year. This is what it will look like.

  46. 46.

    freelancer (itouch)

    January 27, 2010 at 10:29 pm

    Why aren’t they putting Thune out there? I mean, if they’re tring to elevate the guy…

  47. 47.

    Cain

    January 27, 2010 at 10:29 pm

    What I really loved was the silence. It kind of reminds me when I got in trouble and my dad would talk to me and there would be this silence and that was what it was like. It was kind of eerie, like we need to listen and understand how to get back on the right track.

    cain

  48. 48.

    PanAmerican

    January 27, 2010 at 10:29 pm

    @Comrade Mary:

    Oh no he didn’t…..

  49. 49.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    January 27, 2010 at 10:29 pm

    Rachel and KO can barely contain their contempt.

  50. 50.

    WereBear

    January 27, 2010 at 10:30 pm

    To me, that just shows how driven-like-rats-to-the-push-bar our media is. They leap around and try to grab talking points out of thin air, and cling to a metaphor until all the life is beaten out of it.

    If they were common friggin’ citizens trying to hang in there… they might get it.

    But they must not.

  51. 51.

    Midnight Marauder

    January 27, 2010 at 10:30 pm

    @Max:

    I’m not liking Rachel tonight. She’s very bitchy.

    I just caught a brief moment of MSNBC after the speech (to get an idea of how the “left” channel would react) and immediately I hear Rachel talking about how his speech wasn’t “left-wing” enough? Disappointing, to say the least.

  52. 52.

    MysticalChick

    January 27, 2010 at 10:30 pm

    RE: Tweety – I know – WTF? Foot meet mouth.

  53. 53.

    Ash Can

    January 27, 2010 at 10:30 pm

    @me: Everybody was probably thinking, “Oh shit, am I gonna be next?”

    ETA: I see Tomlinson @#28 beat me to it!

  54. 54.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    January 27, 2010 at 10:30 pm

    @inkadu: Yes.

  55. 55.

    The Grand Panjandrum

    January 27, 2010 at 10:30 pm

    Will McConnell call for an end to earthquake funding?

  56. 56.

    AkaDad

    January 27, 2010 at 10:30 pm

    My keyboard and monitor are now covered in…starbursts.

  57. 57.

    JRon

    January 27, 2010 at 10:31 pm

    @Comrade Mary: what? did tweety actually say that?

  58. 58.

    beltane

    January 27, 2010 at 10:31 pm

    @Comrade Mary: Did Tweety really say that? Holy shit that man has issues.

  59. 59.

    Comrade Kevin

    January 27, 2010 at 10:31 pm

    @mcc: It’s amazing how some people will spin anything into a negative.

  60. 60.

    PanAmerican

    January 27, 2010 at 10:31 pm

    This VA clown is punching so far out of his weight class……

  61. 61.

    Comrade Mary

    January 27, 2010 at 10:31 pm

    Should I watch the response or stay on the CBC to follow our prorogation discussion?

  62. 62.

    freelancer (itouch)

    January 27, 2010 at 10:31 pm

    Oh the phony charm, it is spackled on with a trowel.

  63. 63.

    arguingwithsignposts

    January 27, 2010 at 10:31 pm

    @Comrade Mary: Oh. My. F**king. G*d. He did NOT just say that. If he has a job tomorrow, I will never watch MSNBC again.

  64. 64.

    MagicPanda

    January 27, 2010 at 10:31 pm

    “Just saying no to everything might be good short term politics but it’s not leadership.” Whooot!!!

  65. 65.

    mr. whipple

    January 27, 2010 at 10:31 pm

    “Rachel and KO can barely contain their contempt.”

    Pretty much why I stopped watching all political TV months ago.

  66. 66.

    Comrade Luke

    January 27, 2010 at 10:32 pm

    @stevie314159:

    Full of win.

  67. 67.

    Comrade Mary

    January 27, 2010 at 10:32 pm

    Yes, Tweety really said that. When I make shit up, it’s funny.

  68. 68.

    RareSanity

    January 27, 2010 at 10:32 pm

    Are you f’ing kidding me?

    An audience for the response?

  69. 69.

    JRon

    January 27, 2010 at 10:32 pm

    wow this rebuttal is almost as good as Jindal.

  70. 70.

    Midnight Marauder

    January 27, 2010 at 10:32 pm

    @Joe Beese:

    That’s the money shot? “I will work with Congress” to end DADT?
    __
    WTF? We’re supposed to thank him for not working against Congress?

    You never cease to amaze me with your worthlessness.

  71. 71.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    January 27, 2010 at 10:32 pm

    @freelancer (itouch): I liked using the statehouse chamber, packing it with a friendly audience. Just like if Obama had not let the Republicans in.

  72. 72.

    freelancer (itouch)

    January 27, 2010 at 10:32 pm

    Most non specific objection/rebuttal ever.

    And I promise you, you will never catch me reading…a TelePrompTer.

  73. 73.

    inkadu

    January 27, 2010 at 10:32 pm

    @MysticalChick: “I totally forgot what a total racist I am for almost twenty minutes!” – Tweety

    Republican Response: Lower taxes. Smaller government.

    What a surprise.

  74. 74.

    Violet

    January 27, 2010 at 10:33 pm

    The Virginian Governor is acting like he’s the President with the setting in the legislative building and having an audience.

  75. 75.

    DougJ

    January 27, 2010 at 10:33 pm

    I loved the smack down of SCOTUS. Loved it.

    To their faces, just like Colbert.

  76. 76.

    JGabriel

    January 27, 2010 at 10:33 pm

    If I were a VA Democrat, I’d be pretty pissed about the governor using the well of the statehouse for a partisan political response to the POTUS.

    .

  77. 77.

    PanAmerican

    January 27, 2010 at 10:34 pm

    McDonnell KNOWS. His cadence is way off and speeding through it to get off the stage.

  78. 78.

    Violet

    January 27, 2010 at 10:34 pm

    I think the audience is a mistake.

  79. 79.

    JRon

    January 27, 2010 at 10:34 pm

    are these virginia politicians or actors hired to clap?

  80. 80.

    Michael

    January 27, 2010 at 10:34 pm

    Y’know, I haven’t watched Tweety or anybody on MSNBC for a couple of months now, and feel better for it. My only news shows are the occasional Haiti specials on CNN, Robin Meade (yummy) in the AM on HNN and my local newscast.

    Cutting off cable punditry has dropped my blood pressure by 10 points.

  81. 81.

    Anne Laurie

    January 27, 2010 at 10:34 pm

    Guv Bob McDonnell has a fine ReThug SmugMug(tm) goin’ on, yes?

    Altho, hith lispth not politically inspirational.

  82. 82.

    Bad Horse's Filly

    January 27, 2010 at 10:34 pm

    @Comrade Mary: You are fucking kidding me? Somebody give me something to hit.

  83. 83.

    Admiral_Komack

    January 27, 2010 at 10:34 pm

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist
    Oh my god. Oh my god. Oh. My. Fucking. God.

    Tweety: “For an hour I forgot he was black tonight, this African-American speaking in front of a bunch of white men.” Not an exact quote.

    ‘He sounded like a real American.’

    -I watched the President’s SOTU address on CSPAN.
    Thank God for CSPAN.

  84. 84.

    Davis X. Machina

    January 27, 2010 at 10:35 pm

    Republican Response: Lower taxes. Smaller government.

    If the president in Independence Day were GOP, that’d be the response to the alien attacks…

  85. 85.

    Joe Beese

    January 27, 2010 at 10:35 pm

    @mcc : A “likely” from Barney Frank ranks about a 2.3 on the Reassure-O-Meter.

    And it goes up to 100.

  86. 86.

    RareSanity

    January 27, 2010 at 10:35 pm

    Will Micheal Steele be on the website?

  87. 87.

    Cain

    January 27, 2010 at 10:35 pm

    Man, this guy sucks. What a let down. I could write a better response than this guy.

    cain

    ps why does he keep smiling like that? reminds me of edwards.

  88. 88.

    TooManyJens

    January 27, 2010 at 10:35 pm

    Is he really pushing “Drill, baby, drill”?

  89. 89.

    SiubhanDuinne

    January 27, 2010 at 10:35 pm

    @Everyone who lives in Virginia:

    I’m really sorry.

  90. 90.

    Elie

    January 27, 2010 at 10:36 pm

    @ruemara:

    Hahahahaha, Yeah, I need a smoke too..

    fucker.

  91. 91.

    DougJ

    January 27, 2010 at 10:36 pm

    Why did the audience laugh when he said Facebook and Twitter.

  92. 92.

    carlos the dwarf

    January 27, 2010 at 10:36 pm

    @inkadu:
    and drill baby drill.

  93. 93.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    January 27, 2010 at 10:36 pm

    @Michael: @Admiral_Komack:

    Yeah, I’m asking for it. Just trying to get a read on tomorrow’s CW.

    But Matthews really is in a league of his own.

  94. 94.

    Martin

    January 27, 2010 at 10:36 pm

    I’m Bob McDonnell, and I’m going to pretend I’m an important national figure for the next 10 minutes. Please join in by pretending the last 90 minutes never happened and clapping for my too risqué for Family Circle jokes.

  95. 95.

    mr. whipple

    January 27, 2010 at 10:36 pm

    I think the audience is a mistake.

    You knew it was coming after Jindal in the hall/front door debacle.

    Count on goopers for prime stratergizing.

  96. 96.

    jenniebee

    January 27, 2010 at 10:36 pm

    OK, Tweety is obsessed with race. and he just called McConnell a “chuckleface.” And he’s making a Godfather reference.

    Oh nice, I’m so glad they’re showing some of the restoration work we did on the capitol building, it really is some lovely workmanship.

    You realize that he’s “creating new jobs” by selling off the publicly owned liquor stores. Because apparently, there are innovations in liquor distribution that we’re stifling by not allowing drive-thru booze stores.

    Oh shit, he’s still speaking on deficit reduction. Might as well bitch about volcano monitoring.

    They welcome our ideas? How about get with the program or STFU?

  97. 97.

    Max

    January 27, 2010 at 10:36 pm

    The GOP should really schedule their response next year for a day or two after the SOTU.

    You just can’t follow Obama without looking like an idiot.

  98. 98.

    BDeevDad

    January 27, 2010 at 10:36 pm

    Did they find every minority person on his staff to sit on the stage or what?

  99. 99.

    Warren Terra

    January 27, 2010 at 10:37 pm

    The Virginia Gov speech is of course deeply nonsensical in its content, but the decision to do it in front of a crowd was very, very savvy.

  100. 100.

    Midnight Marauder

    January 27, 2010 at 10:37 pm

    What the fuck is with this audience for McDonnell? And wow, the Republican bench is thin. I mean, Calista Flockhart on Ally McBeal thin.

    “We are blessed here in America with vast natural resources and we must use them all.”

    What.a.joke.

    And how much do you think they paid that Asian guy and that black lady to stand behind him? Like they’re decorative pieces or something. Oh Republicans, your worldview is so increasingly obsolete.

    +8

  101. 101.

    Comrade Mary

    January 27, 2010 at 10:37 pm

    MSNBC has lost sound on McDonnell. For once, the liberal media conspiracy gets it right.

  102. 102.

    Cat Lady

    January 27, 2010 at 10:37 pm

    @DougJ:

    Wouldn’t you love to know what Alito muttered? He hated Obama before from all accounts.

  103. 103.

    Violet

    January 27, 2010 at 10:37 pm

    He keeps saying things that Obama has already said he’s for – nuclear energy, better education….

  104. 104.

    JRon

    January 27, 2010 at 10:37 pm

    @Admiral_Komack: ‘he sounded like a real american?!”

    I’m sticking with pbs.

  105. 105.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    January 27, 2010 at 10:37 pm

    @TooManyJens:
    No! Seriously? Drill baby drill? they are too sad.

    And I see at least one uniform at this highly partisan bit of bad stagecraft.

  106. 106.

    Annie

    January 27, 2010 at 10:37 pm

    Obama was awesome…So awesome that the CNN crowd is shitting themselves trying to find something negative and controversial to say…I loved all the shots of McCain. What a sorry old man.

    Obama even shot down Lady Sarah by using the word phrase “common sense” several times. OMG, the guy is smart.

  107. 107.

    Comrade Luke

    January 27, 2010 at 10:38 pm

    Black woman, white woman, military guy, asian guy.

    We’re a big tent, people! And with your support we’ll soon be able to take back the majority and further erode the rights of the people seated right behind me!

  108. 108.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    January 27, 2010 at 10:38 pm

    Tell me he didn’t just introduce his “First Lady” (I’ve got it muted)

  109. 109.

    Delia

    January 27, 2010 at 10:38 pm

    I think the rethug is better than Kenneth the Page. He lies every time he opens his mouth and what he says has no relation to Obama’s speech, but what do you expect from a gooper?

    Edit: I just noticed: he lisps.

  110. 110.

    freelancer (itouch)

    January 27, 2010 at 10:38 pm

    Wow, this rebuttal…is so spontaneous and engaging…that I am seriously…moved by it.

    Lol, torture. Keep fucking that chicken!

  111. 111.

    Ash Can

    January 27, 2010 at 10:38 pm

    So Tweety really said that, eh? Oh my. Someone just bought himself a little unwanted publicity, didn’t he?

  112. 112.

    Martin

    January 27, 2010 at 10:38 pm

    @SiubhanDuinne:

    Yeah, this is embarrassingly weak.

  113. 113.

    Anne Laurie

    January 27, 2010 at 10:38 pm

    Wag finger, smirk, call for nuclear energy expansion and ‘natural gas exploration’ off-shore the VA coast. Crowd actually yells WOOT! Well, at least he pronounced nuclear correctly.

  114. 114.

    Jimmm

    January 27, 2010 at 10:38 pm

    @Comrade Mary:

    Tweety: “I forgot he was black tonight for an hour. We completely forgot about it.”

    Tweety: “Because usually I can’t stop thinking about how there’s a black guy talking from behind the Presidential podium. You know, because I’m a working class Irish American. And he’s black.”

  115. 115.

    jenniebee

    January 27, 2010 at 10:38 pm

    @SiubhanDuinne: We’re sorry, too.

    But hey, what do you expect from a state that elected first George Allen and then Jim Gilmore? And if you think this guy’s a tool, you don’t know Jim Gilmore.

  116. 116.

    McGeorge Bundy

    January 27, 2010 at 10:38 pm

    @mr. whipple: Nah, not quite FDR-ian, not if you mean in terms of confrontational rhetoric. But not too far off, either. Certainly closer than I’d have expected from Obama.

  117. 117.

    inkadu

    January 27, 2010 at 10:39 pm

    I forgot for a minute that the Governor of VA is white.

    Did he just say we should torture people? What a fucking ASSHOLE. Somebody throw a pie!

  118. 118.

    JRon

    January 27, 2010 at 10:39 pm

    wow a pro-torture statement. didn’t see that coming.

  119. 119.

    me

    January 27, 2010 at 10:39 pm

    He looks very uncomfortable and the applause is very unnatural. It’s better than Jindal was though.

  120. 120.

    Comrade Luke

    January 27, 2010 at 10:39 pm

    In all seriousness, Obama just pissed off every single constituency he needs to work with to get anything done. I don’t know how this ends well.

  121. 121.

    Sly

    January 27, 2010 at 10:39 pm

    @arguingwithsignposts:

    If you already stopped watching CNN and Fox, you should secretly hope that he keeps his job. Cable News is bad for your brain. “Good” Cable News is like “Good” Amoebic Dysentery.

  122. 122.

    Admiral_Komack

    January 27, 2010 at 10:40 pm

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist

    “Rachel and KO can barely contain their contempt.”

    -I’m shocked, SHOCKED, I tell you!”/snark

  123. 123.

    Violet

    January 27, 2010 at 10:40 pm

    @Warren Terra:
    Really? I think it looks kind of stupid. I think it makes him look weak because he needs a cheering section to get through it, rather than making him look strong.

  124. 124.

    DonBelacquaDelPurgatorio

    January 27, 2010 at 10:40 pm

    Is it just me, or is this Repub response guy just making the same points Obama made an hour ago, only worse?

  125. 125.

    lamh31

    January 27, 2010 at 10:40 pm

    Ambinder reported that Obama expects to fill 2 vacancies in the SC this summer, which is why his admonishment of the SC was appropos

  126. 126.

    Poopyman

    January 27, 2010 at 10:40 pm

    I’m backing Comrade Mary 100%, ’cause Mrs. P and I had the same response. And I believe ” I forgot he was black” is an exact quote.

    But he went on from there! You’ll have to find the video, ’cause I was just “shutupshutupshutupshutUP!”, but he didn’t. And KO couldn’t do anything besides “Uh huh…..uh huh”?

    It was awesome in its own way.

  127. 127.

    Bad Horse's Filly

    January 27, 2010 at 10:40 pm

    @DougJ: ’cause twitter sounds dirty and they’re 12.

  128. 128.

    JGabriel

    January 27, 2010 at 10:40 pm

    McDonnell saying the Christmas bomber stopped giving info when we didn’t torture him. Is that a new lie, or has that extension of the “we should torture him!” argument been going around for a while? It’s the first time I’ve heard it.

    .

  129. 129.

    Cain

    January 27, 2010 at 10:40 pm

    I wish he would stop fucking smiling at me. It is creeping me out. God I’m just drinking now..this response sucks. The ideas are the same fucking ideas for the past 10 years. Jeezus. There is NOTHING NEW about this speech. Shit.

    cain

  130. 130.

    McGeorge Bundy

    January 27, 2010 at 10:40 pm

    This is the most monotonous speech I have ever heard from a politician, in content and delivery.

  131. 131.

    inkadu

    January 27, 2010 at 10:40 pm

    @freelancer (itouch): An empty suit in front of a uniform.

  132. 132.

    Comrade Luke

    January 27, 2010 at 10:41 pm

    It’s beyond comical that he has all his minorities covered in the background, and when they show the view of the people watching him, it’s 95% white men and 5% white women.

  133. 133.

    mcc

    January 27, 2010 at 10:41 pm

    And how much do you think they paid that Asian guy and that black lady to stand behind him? Like they’re decorative pieces or something. Oh Republicans, your worldview is so increasingly obsolete.

    We were carefully counting the number of nonwhites in the actual audience before the Republican response started and we turned off the TV…

    …we counted one.

  134. 134.

    Warren Terra

    January 27, 2010 at 10:41 pm

    Oh, god. It causes me actual physical pain that this whole “don’t give the evil terrorists rights” line, which goes against everything I was taught in elementary school Civics, apparently has political resonance.

  135. 135.

    RandomChick

    January 27, 2010 at 10:42 pm

    I thought sociopaths were supposed to be charismatic. You’d think the Republicans could find SOMEBODY with some zing for these gigs.

  136. 136.

    geg6

    January 27, 2010 at 10:42 pm

    Wow, that McConnell dude sucks so bad the equipment decided it’d had enough and cut the fuck out.

  137. 137.

    lamh31

    January 27, 2010 at 10:42 pm

    As an African American, I’m spellbound by the fact that there only seems to be 2 African Americans in the room and what luck them seems to be sitting behind Mr McDonnell for maximjum effect!

  138. 138.

    Admiral_Komack

    January 27, 2010 at 10:42 pm

    @Comrade Luke

    “In all seriousness, Obama just pissed off every single constituency he needs to work with to get anything done. I don’t know how this ends well.”

    -It’s worked great so far…oh, wait…

  139. 139.

    max

    January 27, 2010 at 10:42 pm

    Whoops, Obama just pledged to “work with Congress” to repeal DADT…

    More excellent!

    88: @Everyone who lives in Virginia: I’m really sorry.

    I voted agin him! Nothin’ doin’ tho.

    max
    [‘I hear Maryland is a different state.’]

  140. 140.

    RareSanity

    January 27, 2010 at 10:42 pm

    Yahtzee!!

    “The scripture says…”

  141. 141.

    Comrade Luke

    January 27, 2010 at 10:42 pm

    @mcc:

    JINX!

  142. 142.

    PanAmerican

    January 27, 2010 at 10:42 pm

    It’s getting worse. Shrugging shoulders. He knows he’s tanking…

  143. 143.

    Martin

    January 27, 2010 at 10:42 pm

    I keep waiting for CNN to cut away and Wolf proclaiming “We’re going to do this guy a favor and get back to talking about the President’s speech.”

  144. 144.

    SIA

    January 27, 2010 at 10:42 pm

    As I just said on the last thread (before I once again looked around and everyone had gone to the other party) McDonnell reminds me of the frat boys at UGA.

    Now he’s lisping out some scripture. Holy Mother of FSM. This is the alternative.

  145. 145.

    KDP

    January 27, 2010 at 10:42 pm

    McDonnell on C-Span now: Ahh, how folksy, his sons gave him 10 minutes.

    Don’t pile on more taxation, regulation, legislation that will keep us rich folk from socking it away from you all. They promised more jobs immediately.

    Dems – deficit spending – no mention of the size of the deficit when Obama took office. It’s all the Dems of course.

    Restore ‘proper limited role of government at every level.’ Gee then why did it grow so much under Reagan, Bush, Bush…

    “We want cooperation, not partisanship. ” Cooperation takes mutual involvement.

    We’re honored with vast natural resources, and we. must. use. them. all.

    Education: Yes, education is necessary. Opportunity by intellect and work, not zip code, but NOTHING about how to help people enter and complete college without taking on tens of thousands of dollars in debt.

    ooo, there we are, Obama’s a soshulist. Took over the car companies, banks…

    Make opportunity open to everyone. How?

    Founders, lives and fortunes to make this country, we should leave it better than we found it.

  146. 146.

    TooManyJens

    January 27, 2010 at 10:42 pm

    I missed the torture reference; what did he say?

  147. 147.

    Spork

    January 27, 2010 at 10:42 pm

    @Comrade Luke: Yeah, that’s what I liked about it.

  148. 148.

    suzanne

    January 27, 2010 at 10:43 pm

    Good Lord. McDonnell is fucking BOOOORING.
    ***snore***

  149. 149.

    The Grand Panjandrum

    January 27, 2010 at 10:43 pm

    I hope whoever wrote this speech can get a refund on some of that college tuition. Sheesh. Not even a good speech for an undergraduate speech class. Sounds like someone printed out the talking points from the RNC website and this clown read them.

  150. 150.

    Brian J

    January 27, 2010 at 10:43 pm

    I don’t think McDonnell’s speech was horrible, just so mediocre that it’s not likely to make a difference. So unless flat is the new up, he didn’t do anything special.

  151. 151.

    Warren Terra

    January 27, 2010 at 10:43 pm

    @Violet:
    In fairness, I’m listening to the radio, not watching TV. Maybe it plays worse on TV. I just think that past responses, from either side, have typically been too monotonous and dull, and a cheering crowd makes even this guy sound like he’s exciting someone.

  152. 152.

    dr. bloor

    January 27, 2010 at 10:43 pm

    @Max:

    The GOP should really schedule their response next year for a day or two after the SOTU.
    …
    You just can’t follow Obama without looking like an idiot.

    I never tire of watching them try.

  153. 153.

    Comrade Kevin

    January 27, 2010 at 10:43 pm

    Has the Gov. of VA said anything about volcano research yet?

  154. 154.

    arguingwithsignposts

    January 27, 2010 at 10:43 pm

    that was a response?

    And if tweety has a job tomorrow, then there is no justice in the united states. period. what. an. idiot.

  155. 155.

    SIA

    January 27, 2010 at 10:43 pm

    @ruemara: Now let’s just cuddle and savor. Mmmmm.

  156. 156.

    JGabriel

    January 27, 2010 at 10:44 pm

    Anyone else think that McDonnell’s delivery sounds like a particularly bland and milquetoast Sunday morning televangelist?

    .

  157. 157.

    Comrade Luke

    January 27, 2010 at 10:44 pm

    @Spork:

    You like that he’s pissed off everyone he’s supposed to work with?

  158. 158.

    mcc

    January 27, 2010 at 10:44 pm

    @The Grand Panjandrum: You have to grade on a curve. If McDonnell didn’t just permanently damage his political career he’s doing better than Jindal did

  159. 159.

    Violet

    January 27, 2010 at 10:45 pm

    Well the VA Gov. didn’t suck like Jindal did last year. He was blandly forgettable. Which is probably a net plus for him, given that he had to follow that tour de force by Obama.

  160. 160.

    Uriel

    January 27, 2010 at 10:45 pm

    Meh. It was just OK.

    Hilliary would have done much better.

  161. 161.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    January 27, 2010 at 10:46 pm

    KO concern trolling that BO didn’t mention HCR until 27 minutes in.

  162. 162.

    Martin

    January 27, 2010 at 10:46 pm

    @lamh31: Did it help you remember for the duration of the speech that he was white?

  163. 163.

    PanAmerican

    January 27, 2010 at 10:46 pm

    @JGabriel:

    Chamber sounded empty.

  164. 164.

    jacy

    January 27, 2010 at 10:46 pm

    @Comrade Luke:

    Because playing nice was working so well?

  165. 165.

    Admiral_Komack

    January 27, 2010 at 10:46 pm

    @Comrade Mary:

    Tweety: “I forgot he was black tonight for an hour. We completely forgot about it.”

    Tweety: “Because usually I can’t stop thinking about how there’s a black guy talking from behind the Presidential podium. You know, because I’m a working class Irish American. And he’s black.”

    -Guess Tweety didn’t learn anything from that “MSNBC OIbama & Race” snooze-fest.

  166. 166.

    SIA

    January 27, 2010 at 10:47 pm

    @JGabriel: OH yeah.

  167. 167.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    January 27, 2010 at 10:47 pm

    This is weird. Olberman just turned on a dime from “greatest speech evah” to “Harry Reid was seen yawning”. In about 11 seconds. I’m waiting for the livelink with Kos.

  168. 168.

    Davis X. Machina

    January 27, 2010 at 10:47 pm

    Now he’s lisping out some scripture. Holy Mother of FSM. This is the alternative.

    There’s a hundred million people in this country whom that makes positively tingly.

    Think about that and try to sleep…

  169. 169.

    Comrade Kevin

    January 27, 2010 at 10:49 pm

    @Davis X. Machina:

    There’s a hundred million people in this country whom that makes positively tingly.

    Don’t you mean it sends a thrill up their legs?

  170. 170.

    Warren Terra

    January 27, 2010 at 10:49 pm

    A Matthew Yglesias tweet:

    What happens the day after McDonnell uses all our natural resources as promised?

  171. 171.

    camchuck

    January 27, 2010 at 10:49 pm

    Meh, the rebuttal never means shit. What matters most is what narratives from O’s speech take hold over the next couple days.

  172. 172.

    Bad Horse's Filly

    January 27, 2010 at 10:49 pm

    @jacy: THIS. I’ll take this Obama over the last few months any day.

  173. 173.

    Cain

    January 27, 2010 at 10:49 pm

    The problem with McDonnell’s speech was that it was totally aimed at Republicans not at everyone. He convinced no one.

    cain

  174. 174.

    Martin

    January 27, 2010 at 10:50 pm

    @Admiral_Komack:

    Really. If playing gentle doesn’t work, play rough. If it wasn’t effective, we never would have invented yelling.

  175. 175.

    MikeJ

    January 27, 2010 at 10:50 pm

    @SIA:

    Now let’s just cuddle and savor. Mmmmm.

    Peggy Noonan:

    I do not know what the Democratic Party spent, in toto, on the 2004 election, but what they seem to have gotten for it is Barack Obama. Let us savor.

    I don’t think she’s savoring as much now.

  176. 176.

    Corner Stone

    January 27, 2010 at 10:50 pm

    @Midnight Marauder:

    And Corner Stone, your thoughts? Also.

    I got into it. Didn’t agree with everything but really, just gave in part way through and started drinking my balls off.
    He nailed a bunch of it.

    You win this round you dirty fucking O-bot.

    *Or maybe we both win since I’m hip deep with my friends Jim, Jack, Crown and Smirnoff.

  177. 177.

    Cat Lady

    January 27, 2010 at 10:50 pm

    @Comrade Luke:

    Do you have kids? He treated them like the spoiled children they are. If you don’t, you get 0 respect. 0. We’ve been yelling here all week for him to come out swinging, and he took some good swings.

  178. 178.

    Wile E. Quixote

    January 27, 2010 at 10:50 pm

    @camchuck:

    Out of the gate, Wolf Blitzer sounds sad to report that the speech had lots of detail and was long. Get ready for the post-speech buzzkill.

    It’s a well-known fact that the only reason why Wolf Blitzer has a beard and mustache is so he doesn’t end up gracing the front page of men who look like old lesbians.

  179. 179.

    freelancer

    January 27, 2010 at 10:51 pm

    Apropos of ABSOLUTELY NOTHING,

    “That’s the fucking raddest shit I ever seen!” (aka No! Don’t Drink Boners!)

  180. 180.

    ksmiami

    January 27, 2010 at 10:51 pm

    aww eff it all – just crown Obama king and let him have his way with us

  181. 181.

    inkadu

    January 27, 2010 at 10:51 pm

    @TooManyJens: Something like, “We have to stop giving terrorist the rights of american citizens. We took that terrorist off the plane, and gave him rights, and he stopped giving vital information.”

    Implied: Torture or threat of torture makes terrorists talk.

  182. 182.

    Warren Terra

    January 27, 2010 at 10:51 pm

    And as long as I’m posting things from Yglesias’s twitter feed, a link to this Think Progress post:

    However, he first addressed right-wing criticisms that he is overseeing out-of-control spending by noting the situation he faced when he took office …. The camera then cut to Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), who leaned over to Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and appeared to whisper, “Blame it on Bush.” The two men then laughed

    and

    When Obama criticized the Supreme Court’s recent decision rolling back restrictions for corporations to influence political campaigns (“Last week, the Supreme Court reversed a century of law to open the floodgates for special interests — including foreign corporations– to spend without limit in our elections”), Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito was seen shaking his head and appeared to mouth, “Not true.”

  183. 183.

    Corner Stone

    January 27, 2010 at 10:51 pm

    @DougJ:

    I loved the smack down of SCOTUS. Loved it.

    Oh man. if I could have a framed picture of their fucking faces when he dropped it right in their laps…I’d pay for that shit.
    Those motherfuckers.

  184. 184.

    Ash

    January 27, 2010 at 10:51 pm

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist: Keith and Rachel both have sort of gone off the rails the last 6 months or so. Their BFF status isn’t working out well for either of them.

  185. 185.

    Ana Gama

    January 27, 2010 at 10:53 pm

    I am Ana Gama and I approve that message!

    More of That One, please!

  186. 186.

    JAHILL10

    January 27, 2010 at 10:53 pm

    Chris Matthews should be fired. Obama’s speech was great (he called out EVERYONE) and I can’t watch any of the puditizing distorting what I just heard with my own ears. Thanks for filtering for me!

  187. 187.

    Irony Abounds

    January 27, 2010 at 10:53 pm

    @Comrade Luke: As if trying to please all the constituencies has worked up until now? I like the approach – tell everyone to get off their fucking ME ME ME and work out a solution that works for EVERYONE.

    As for the SCOTUS, it is truly frightening. You see how young and vigorous all the Republican corporate fellators on the court are and how frail Breyer, Ginsberg and Stevens are and the future does not look good. Roberts and Alito will be on the Court for another 30 years.

  188. 188.

    JK

    January 27, 2010 at 10:53 pm

    @arguingwithsignposts:

    Admiral_Komack

    Chris Matthews is the only person in the world who could see Obama’s personality bearing a strong resemblance to the characters portrayed by Ray Milland. Matthews is a fucking idiot.

  189. 189.

    Spork

    January 27, 2010 at 10:53 pm

    @Comrade Luke: Yeah. Yeah I do. The system is fucking broke now. Decent legislation with broad support can’t pass a dysfunctional congress. Making a public case, and calling out the bad actors in the only constitutionally mandated speech has a chance of turning public opinion and breaking some current logjams. Yes, there are some potential bad consequences, but the status quo is right there with worst case if he pisses off congress. So yeah, throwing rocks at the beehive makes me happy. Stir that shit up, and make it public by directly calling them out.

  190. 190.

    Ash

    January 27, 2010 at 10:53 pm

    I fucking hate CNN and their stupid ass “focus groups” from Ohio.

    I also hate Ohio.

  191. 191.

    Corner Stone

    January 27, 2010 at 10:54 pm

    @Uriel:

    Meh. It was just OK.
    …
    Hilliary would have done much better.

    Agreed.

  192. 192.

    Lev

    January 27, 2010 at 10:54 pm

    I hung in for McDonnell’s speech as long as I could, but his cadence wasn’t that of an engaging, charismatic politician. It was the cadence of a play-by-play baseball announcer. I opened a few more tabs and my mind practically heard him say, “Thirty three thousand people in attendance…we will use all of our natural resources!…three and two, with Maddux on the mound, the pitch…smaller government threatens our liberty…caught by Jones, that’s two away.” And the whole staging-this-like-the-SOTU thing was a little embarrassing.

    But, admittedly, much better than Jindal.

  193. 193.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    January 27, 2010 at 10:54 pm

    I don’t think she’s savoring as much now.

    I think La Nooners spends a lot of time savoring sauvignon blanc

  194. 194.

    Comrade Kevin

    January 27, 2010 at 10:56 pm

    @Warren Terra: In Scalia-land, corporations aren’t “special interests”. Only pesky minorities, poor people and women are “special interests”.

  195. 195.

    freelancer

    January 27, 2010 at 10:56 pm

    I’m sorry, I give up. I just, well, I gotta ask.

    Why didn’t Hamsher give the rebuttal?

  196. 196.

    SIA

    January 27, 2010 at 10:57 pm

    @MikeJ: Poor Peggy. I’ll savor for her.

  197. 197.

    oh really

    January 27, 2010 at 10:57 pm

    The Republican response looked and sounded like a slick infomercial.

    After the last year, Obama’s speech struck me as empty rhetoric. As Eugene Robinson wrote on the WaPo Op-Ed page, “Barack Obama will regain the political initiative with action, not words or populist style.”

    Anyone who was “persuaded” by tonight’s speech probably would have been persuaded if Obama had read a shopping list off a teleprompter…oh, wait.

    But it doesn’t matter what any of us thought of the speech; what will matter will be what Obama does. So far, he’s given me no reason to believe he will actually fight for anything worthwhile. If he finally realizes what leadership is, then this speech won’t have mattered. If he doesn’t, then, again, the speech won’t make any difference.

  198. 198.

    Comrade Kevin

    January 27, 2010 at 10:57 pm

    @freelancer:

    Why didn’t Hamsher give the rebuttal?

    Too busy sending out a fundraising action alert email?

  199. 199.

    JGabriel

    January 27, 2010 at 10:57 pm

    TooManyJens:

    I missed the torture reference; what did he say?

    Don’t have the exact words, but McDonnell whinged about the Undiebomber refusing to provide any more info after getting legal counsel or some bullshit like that.

    Since there’s obviously no way McDonnell could know that, and since all the reports I’ve read indicated that the Undiebomber talked/ranted pretty freely — obviating any need for more aggressive questioning — I’m wondering if it’s a lie McDonnell came up with himself, or, if not, where he got it from.

    .

  200. 200.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    January 27, 2010 at 10:58 pm

    @oh really:

    Anyone who was “persuaded” by tonight’s speech probably would have been persuaded if Obama had read a shopping list off a teleprompter…oh, wait.

    Ho! “Teleprompter”! ZING!

  201. 201.

    General Winfield Stuck

    January 27, 2010 at 10:58 pm

    @oh really:

    So far, he’s given me no reason to believe he will actually fight for anything worthwhile

    That’s what you always say PUMA,

  202. 202.

    SIA

    January 27, 2010 at 10:58 pm

    @Corner Stone: That was definitely one of the high points of the SOTU IMHO.

  203. 203.

    Cain

    January 27, 2010 at 10:59 pm

    @oh really:

    The Republican response looked and sounded like a slick infomercial.

    Edit: This only for the for the first paragraph. Otherwise, meh.

    cain

    cain

  204. 204.

    Martin

    January 27, 2010 at 11:00 pm

    So far, he’s given me no reason to believe he will actually fight for anything worthwhile.

    Maybe if he had brought his birth certificate?

  205. 205.

    AkaDad

    January 27, 2010 at 11:00 pm

    @freelancer:

    Why didn’t Hamsher give the rebuttal?

    Her and Grover are still out on their date.

  206. 206.

    JGabriel

    January 27, 2010 at 11:01 pm

    Lev:

    I hung in for McDonnell’s speech as long as I could, but his cadence wasn’t that of an engaging, charismatic politician. It was the cadence of a play-by-play baseball announcer.

    Not really. A baseball announcer usually sounds more excited. McDonnell sounded more like someone serenely reminding his flock to put donations in the plate being passed around so the baby Jesus won’t be sad and disappointed.

    .

  207. 207.

    Delia

    January 27, 2010 at 11:01 pm

    Hmm . . . . Howard Fineman thinks Obama’s speech was brilliant.

    As to the rethug: as I reconsider I think I prefer Jindal. At least his Kenneth the Page impression was memorable. Now ten minutes after this clown’s speech I can’t remember a single thing he said. It was just boiler plate gooper-talk. I can barely remember what he looks like.

  208. 208.

    Ana Gama

    January 27, 2010 at 11:02 pm

    I loved how he reminded the Repubs how budgeting is done.

    I loved him telling the Repubs they should be clapping at his tax cuts.

    I really loved the SCOTUS smackdown.

    I am happy that Michelle is going to champion childhood obesity.

    I’m not listening to any pundits. Not a single one.

  209. 209.

    Cain

    January 27, 2010 at 11:02 pm

    My only regret was our John was not around to comment on this.

    cain

  210. 210.

    DaBomb

    January 27, 2010 at 11:03 pm

    @Max: Not feeling her at all either.

  211. 211.

    General Winfield Stuck

    January 27, 2010 at 11:03 pm

    Told you he would recalibrate.

  212. 212.

    Comrade Luke

    January 27, 2010 at 11:03 pm

    @Spork: Well I hope it works, I really do.

  213. 213.

    Cain

    January 27, 2010 at 11:03 pm

    @Delia: <blockquoteremember a single thing he said. It was just boiler plate gooper-talk. I can barely remember what he looks like.

    The only thing I remember was the smile, like the cheshire cat.

    cain

  214. 214.

    mr. whipple

    January 27, 2010 at 11:03 pm

    Too busy sending out a fundraising action alert email?

    Heh.

  215. 215.

    DaBomb

    January 27, 2010 at 11:04 pm

    @General Winfield Stuck: You know how we felt about Obama. Now look at all the naysayers, change back sides.

    It’s a beautiful thing.

  216. 216.

    Comrade Luke

    January 27, 2010 at 11:05 pm

    @DaBomb:

    Well to be fair, it’s just a speech. I don’t want to piss everyone off with “Just words”, but we need action here.

    My hope is that this at least shook things up a little. Because things needed to be shaken up.

  217. 217.

    DaBomb

    January 27, 2010 at 11:06 pm

    @oh really: STFU!

  218. 218.

    Martin

    January 27, 2010 at 11:07 pm

    @General Winfield Stuck: Well, I’m outraged. Obama threw us under the bus. He embraced right-wing framing. He’s turning into a Hooverite. Nothing but triangulating. After this speech I think Rahm needs to be fired.

  219. 219.

    Ash

    January 27, 2010 at 11:08 pm

    Why the hell is President McCain going to be on Larry king live? Do we really need to see two corpses discussing this?

  220. 220.

    Uriel

    January 27, 2010 at 11:09 pm

    @Poopyman:

    But he went on from there! You’ll have to find the video, ‘cause I was just “shutupshutupshutupshutUP!”, but he didn’t.

    You people obviously don’t get it- That’s what Tweety does! That’s his bag, his shtick, that inexplicable something that makes him such a hot commodity!

    Look, Julia Childs can cook. So what does she do when someone sticks her in front of a camera? She grabs some eggs and she grabs some milk and she makes a goddamn cake, that’s what! She doesn’t build a house or price antiques because PBS has already got guys who do that! She plays to her strengths!

    Same with Tweety- sure there’s lot of guys who blabblahblah about “oh, look, Cantor’s got on a red tie! wonder what that means!” and other stupid crap. But the thing that sets Tweety apart is the uncanny ability to root around in his brain-full of un-doubtedly useful experiences with lightning speed, before near-instantaneously deciding that the thing to do is toss all that possibly interesting stuff in the crapper, grab the most, embarrassing, irrelelvent and un-selfaware thing that’s rolling around in there tonight and- this is the part that makes him political gold- say it out loud! Not just once, but dozens of times! He’ll even it out shout over his guests answers again and again, proudly, just to drive home the fact that even if he had the vaguest notion what he was talking about, he’d run with this idiocy he’s babbling about now.

    The man is like gold plated platinum covered in Dove chocolate. He’s that good.

  221. 221.

    Corner Stone

    January 27, 2010 at 11:10 pm

    @Comrade Luke:

    Well to be fair, it’s just a speech

    No one ever denied the President could give a good speech. But now – whoever you want to put it on – Obama, Pelosi, Reid, the voters – legislation HAS to happen.
    There HAS to be a win somewhere here. Whatever the outcome is, something has to be passed and signed.
    It’s not about what Obama can or can’t do anymore. No more boundaries. He called the tune tonight. In fact, he called a bunch of motherfuckers out.
    I loved it. I love his speeches. But that’s what this is til we see a legislative or policy outcome.
    He doesn’t write the laws. We all get that. But it’s now or never for his admin.

    ETA – and I’ll be the first to admit I was wrong about the SOTU and he nailed a lot of shit that made me giddy. But that lasts about as long as a good comedy routine. Outcomes. Outcomes.

  222. 222.

    General Winfield Stuck

    January 27, 2010 at 11:11 pm

    @DaBomb: Nothing has changed for me. First year in the job, shit happens, political realities changes, BO thinks on his feet and comes at things from a different direction. Why do people doubt this guys pol savvy? Getting the stim bill passed and all the R and D money flowing for a better future with new technologies to create new markets down the line. that was enough for moi for first year success, maybe even two years worth. People don’t think, they just react to the moments passions. Oh well.:)

  223. 223.

    carlos the dwarf

    January 27, 2010 at 11:11 pm

    @Uriel:

    Tonight, you have won the internet. Well f*cking played.

  224. 224.

    Ana Gama

    January 27, 2010 at 11:12 pm

    @Martin:

    No comprende nuance?

  225. 225.

    Ailuridae

    January 27, 2010 at 11:19 pm

    @Uriel:

    Some front pager is going to take on Tweety’s stupidity. They would be better just quoting this comment.

  226. 226.

    Notorious P.A.T.

    January 27, 2010 at 11:20 pm

    Sounds like a good speech. Now let’s see if he actually DOES ANYTHING. You know, like calling the Senate and telling Lieberman “I saved your ass, how about paying me back?” or firing Geithner or something.

  227. 227.

    Martin

    January 27, 2010 at 11:21 pm

    @Ana Gama: I marinade in nuance.

  228. 228.

    Jason Bylinowski

    January 27, 2010 at 11:21 pm

    I like the reaction I’m hearing to this speech, wish I’d had the chance to see it live. Sullivan seems to like it, although he seemed a bit incoherent in the live-blog (maybe he’s drunk?). I also hear that he did not say to pass the HCR bill, specifically, though. What did you guys take from the HCR portion of the speech?

  229. 229.

    DaBomb

    January 27, 2010 at 11:22 pm

    @General Winfield Stuck: Exactly. I don’t get the excessive doubting either. Especially on leaks of information or from anonymous sources.

    I like how he mentioned, that he is governing 300 million people and that it was never going to be easy, and he will essentially need our help as well. I think he just trying to bring people back down to earth.

  230. 230.

    celticdragonchick

    January 27, 2010 at 11:23 pm

    @Davis X. Machina:

    If

    the president in Independence Day were GOP, that’d be the response to the alien attacks…

    Not quite. The GOP response there would be to torture any of them we could capture, and keep torturing them even after we find out they don’t understand the questions and the whole thing is a waste of time. Then, dump the body under one of the mother ships and claim we have no idea what happened. To wrap it up, instead of figuring out how to effectively attack their ships, we go and bomb Iran.

    Also, we invade Iraq again on general principle.

  231. 231.

    DaBomb

    January 27, 2010 at 11:24 pm

    @Jason Bylinowski: He basically lectured Ccongress about running for hills when things get tough. And he wants them to pass HCR. He reinforced the fact, that Congress and Senate have came to far along to not pass it.

  232. 232.

    Phoebe

    January 27, 2010 at 11:24 pm

    Ha. I was right.

  233. 233.

    General Winfield Stuck

    January 27, 2010 at 11:25 pm

    @Notorious P.A.T.: I wish that would work on Lieberman. The smarmy little shit can’t be reached, I fear. Doesn’t matter now so much since the mirage of a fili proof majority is gone. The silver lining is now obama can take it to the wingnuts who are now responsible for their obstruction having 41 votes and the dems 59. sounds like O started that tonight.

  234. 234.

    Notorious P.A.T.

    January 27, 2010 at 11:25 pm

    Why do people doubt this guys pol savvy? Getting the stim bill passed that was enough for moi for first year success, maybe even two years worth. People don’t think, they just react to the moments passions.

    Well, he negotiated against himself with that stimulus. Then he negotiated against himself with health care reform. Now, with his unsolicited spending freeze he has negotiated against himself on government finance. I don’t know about anyone else, but my anger at Obama is not a spur-of-the-moment thing.

  235. 235.

    Notorious P.A.T.

    January 27, 2010 at 11:28 pm

    I wish that would work on Lieberman. The smarmy little shit can’t be reached, I fear. Doesn’t matter now so much since the mirage of a fili proof majority is gone. The silver lining is now obama can take it to the wingnuts who are now responsible for their obstruction having 41 votes and the dems 59. sounds like O started that tonight.

    Maybe Lieberman couldn’t be reached. We’ll never know now! As for shame not working on him, no way it will work on the Republicans. “oooh, we feel so bad about not letting anything get done. . . by the government we would dismantle if we could”.

    Obama’s hands-off “leadership” squandered a 60-vote supermajority. That is unforgivable.

    Hey spellcheck, “supermajority” is a word!

  236. 236.

    General Winfield Stuck

    January 27, 2010 at 11:29 pm

    @Notorious P.A.T.:

    but my anger at Obama is not a spur-of-the-moment thing.

    I know, and I think your type of dissent is responsible. I don’t agree, but you don’t usually go overboard either, :)

  237. 237.

    Lev

    January 27, 2010 at 11:32 pm

    @Notorious P.A.T.: I’m imagining a universe in which Martha Coakley eked out a victory and Obama decided to play the same inside game on financial reform that he did on health care. Know what? I’m not sure that’s a better universe at this point.

  238. 238.

    General Winfield Stuck

    January 27, 2010 at 11:32 pm

    Obama’s hands-off “leadership” squandered a 60-vote supermajority.

    Never had a democratic 60 vote majority. And Lieberman voted and campaigned for the other guy. Nope, nothing Obama could have done to get joes 60th vote, nothing at all. at least that was legal.

  239. 239.

    SixStringFanatic

    January 27, 2010 at 11:35 pm

    @Notorious P.A.T.:
    “He negotiated against himself with that stimulus.”
    So that was Obama’s hand up Olympia Snowe’s ass every time she said the overall bill should be smaller?

  240. 240.

    mcc

    January 27, 2010 at 11:35 pm

    I’m imagining a universe in which Martha Coakley eked out a victory and Obama decided to play the same inside game on financial reform that he did on health care. Know what? I’m not sure that’s a better universe at this point.

    I’m beginning to think we need a corollary to the “everything is good news for republicans” rule

  241. 241.

    BDeevDad

    January 27, 2010 at 11:42 pm

    CNN focus group seriously are saying the President and Dems are not being bipartisan enough. Actually, had an African American Republican say Obama should veto any bill that had no Republicans voting for it.

    WTF

  242. 242.

    Cain

    January 27, 2010 at 11:50 pm

    @BDeevDad:

    CNN focus group seriously are saying the President and Dems are not being bipartisan enough. Actually, had an African American Republican say Obama should veto any bill that had no Republicans voting for it.

    A wingnut. Probably not popular with a lot of liberals. I don’t know what the fuck is great about bipartisan when one party just obstructs everything. Thank God, Obama called them out on that.

    cain

  243. 243.

    General Winfield Stuck

    January 27, 2010 at 11:51 pm

    @BDeevDad: There are a lot of voters out there who think this, especially independent ones, something of a fetish with them among other similar nutty notions. I know cause I was one for twenty years and had my share of such odd ideas about politics. I viewed it like my family I think, so as no one would feel left out or something silly like that. Really dumb way to approach politics and lawmaking, but there you have it. It’s what low info creates, I suspect.

  244. 244.

    BDeevDad

    January 27, 2010 at 11:56 pm

    Did David Gergen just say he was biased for the repeal of DADT?

  245. 245.

    Elie

    January 28, 2010 at 12:07 am

    @General Winfield Stuck:

    You were right.

    It was an amazing speech and more than the words or delivery, I am linked in again to the underlying person with the values and the leadership. That was who I voted for and who I supported (though admittedly, I wavered here recently)

    God help us and let us all find the courage to do or support “what needs to be done”…

  246. 246.

    Wile E. Quixote

    January 28, 2010 at 12:10 am

    @celticdragonchick:

    @Davis X. Machina:

    If
    __
    the president in Independence Day were GOP, that’d be the response to the alien attacks…

    Not quite. The GOP response there would be to torture any of them we could capture, and keep torturing them even after we find out they don’t understand the questions and the whole thing is a waste of time. Then, dump the body under one of the mother ships and claim we have no idea what happened. To wrap it up, instead of figuring out how to effectively attack their ships, we go and bomb Iran.

    There would also be a picture of Donald Rumsfeld meeting with the alien leader, and it would turn out that the Reagan administration knew about the alien invasion but chose not to do anything about it.

  247. 247.

    Will

    January 28, 2010 at 12:11 am

    Tweety is now trying to walk back his “forgot he was black” comment on Rachel’s show.

  248. 248.

    Cain

    January 28, 2010 at 12:12 am

    @Elie: <blockquoteIt was an amazing speech and more than the words or delivery, I am linked in again to the underlying person with the values and the leadership. That was who I voted for and who I supported (though admittedly, I wavered here recently

    I think the reason is that he didn’t hedge on anything. He called out everyone who was causing trouble and scolded them. That’s essentially what we wanted at our emotional core. We wanted to lash out at senators and house members and he did it for us.

    That’s what I wanted. To have my rage and frustration channeled by someone they would listen to. I’m not disappointed.

    cain

  249. 249.

    MJ

    January 28, 2010 at 12:12 am

    @ruemara:

    Damn You Barack Obama, You Pretty Motha f**ker

  250. 250.

    Will

    January 28, 2010 at 12:14 am

    @BDeevDad:

    The only response to a statement like that is to remind them that a bill that gets any Republican votes, gets all of them, or none of them. That’s how lockstep they are now. So they’re saying that Obama should only sign bills with 100% backing of the entire Congress. Governing by criminal jury trial.

  251. 251.

    Elie

    January 28, 2010 at 12:15 am

    @DaBomb:

    Giggle giggle, yeah — you are right. I AM embarrassed.

    I am weak but I mean well and I want so much for our country. Its been a long hard road…

  252. 252.

    Will

    January 28, 2010 at 12:16 am

    @General Winfield Stuck:

    Nope, nothing Obama could have done to get joes 60th vote, nothing at all. at least that was legal.

    I was always in favor of the dead horse or dead hooker approach when it came to Joe, myself.

  253. 253.

    Elie

    January 28, 2010 at 12:21 am

    @MJ:

    Where you find this? BRILLIANT! Says it all for me

    Thanks

  254. 254.

    JGabriel

    January 28, 2010 at 12:23 am

    Re: SCOTUS

    How common is it for SC Justices to skip the SOTU? Looking at the audience shots, it appears that Scalia, Thomas, and Kennedy are no-shows.

    .

  255. 255.

    Elie

    January 28, 2010 at 12:26 am

    @JGabriel:

    Who cares? Really.

  256. 256.

    rootless_e

    January 28, 2010 at 12:27 am

    @Corner Stone: Yeah, but I think you have to be a Republican to take that response slot.

  257. 257.

    Wile E. Quixote

    January 28, 2010 at 12:34 am

    @JGabriel:

    Re: SCOTUS
    __
    How common is it for SC Justices to skip the SOTU? Looking at the audience shots, it appears that Scalia, Thomas, and Kennedy are no-shows.

    They’ve got a regular gig, along with Ross Douthat, working as a Village People tribute band at a club called “The Gothic Asshole” every other Wednesday.

  258. 258.

    Elie

    January 28, 2010 at 12:35 am

    @Wile E. Quixote:

    LOL!

    I can see that actually…

  259. 259.

    celticdragonchick

    January 28, 2010 at 12:36 am

    @Wile E. Quixote:
    Yep. That sounds about right.

  260. 260.

    DaBomb

    January 28, 2010 at 12:39 am

    @Elie: I know you mean well. It’s okay to waver, but just don’t succomb to name calling and screaming at someone who genuinely seems to be on our side.

    Wait for all of the information to come out fully.
    He reminded us again of what we should be doing, to help him.

    That’s all.

  261. 261.

    Will

    January 28, 2010 at 12:42 am

    @Wile E. Quixote:

    Don’t a few justices always miss it on purpose, in case of a catastrophic attack on the Capitol, etc.? Same with a few cabinet members, if I’m not mistaken.

  262. 262.

    SIA

    January 28, 2010 at 12:49 am

    @MJ: Love that, thanks.

  263. 263.

    Wile E. Quixote

    January 28, 2010 at 12:50 am

    @Will:

    Don’t a few justices always miss it on purpose, in case of a catastrophic attack on the Capitol, etc.? Same with a few cabinet members, if I’m not mistaken.

    Yeah, that’s what Scalia, Thomas and Kennedy would like you to think.

  264. 264.

    Elie

    January 28, 2010 at 12:52 am

    @DaBomb:

    “don’t succomb to name calling and screaming at someone who genuinely seems to be on our side.”

    Did I miss something? I know that you must have had an example in mind, so lets hear it if you can present it. I try hard not to be a name caller unless I am provoked or name called, but I am imperfect, so may have. Would help to know so that I can apologize to that person

  265. 265.

    Wile E. Quixote

    January 28, 2010 at 12:53 am

    @Will:

    @General Winfield Stuck:

    Nope, nothing Obama could have done to get joes 60th vote, nothing at all. at least that was legal.

    I was always in favor of the dead horse or dead hooker approach when it came to Joe, myself.

    I’m not sure if that would work. Joe strikes me as the kind of guy who would be really into either one of those.

  266. 266.

    Will

    January 28, 2010 at 12:56 am

    @Wile E. Quixote:

    Yeah, that’s what Scalia, Thomas and Kennedy would like you to think.

    Ok, here’s Wiki on the matter. While I was right that a cabinet member intentionally misses the speech, it says nothing about USSCJ’s missing. Dicks.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_of_the_Union_address

    Sitting near the front of the chamber are the Justices of the Supreme Court, the members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and members of the President’s Cabinet. Customarily, one cabinet member (the designated survivor) does not attend, in order to provide continuity in the line of succession in the event that a catastrophe disables the President, the Vice President, and other succeeding officers gathered in the House chamber.

  267. 267.

    Elie

    January 28, 2010 at 1:00 am

    @DaBomb:

    Ohhh — I think that you meant me calling Obama names?

    I dont think that I called him names, but I may have labeled his behavior quite negatively —

    Okay (if that was the examples you meant)

    Hmmm. Dunno.

    I was pretty damned angry and that anger was justified at the time given what I knew. I could have been more patient, but then, HE and his team also made a few mistakes – what seemed BIG mistakes. I get pissed off at people I care about and I do yell a bit. Am I going to stay calm and cool in the future? Hopefully but can’t promise. I was pretty upset and I will not deny the validity of that emotion so — while I hear your point…

  268. 268.

    MJ

    January 28, 2010 at 1:03 am

    @Elie:
    and
    @SIA:

    Don’t you just love that poem! I’ve had that in my youtube favorites folder forever. I think I originally heard about it on a post at jackandjillpolitics.com. It’s crazy how prescient this artist was about the fight in the liberal soul between Barack Obama, hope & cynicism.

  269. 269.

    Elie

    January 28, 2010 at 1:05 am

    @MJ:

    I agree. Wow! It will be good to keep this and remember if times get hard again — and I am sure that they will

  270. 270.

    MJ

    January 28, 2010 at 1:14 am

    @Elie:

    Word! But right now, it feels good to remember why we elected that “Pretty Mothaf**ker” in November of 2008.

  271. 271.

    Da Bomb

    January 28, 2010 at 10:14 am

    @Elie: No I wasn’t very clear. I know you didn’t call him names, I am just saying some of the angrier supporters did. It wasn’t cool.

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