constitution does not require a rebuttal. why do repubs get one? hmmm nt

[msongs]

[FrenchieCat]

1. This is when I turn the television off....

thank you for reminding me.

[WillowTree]

2. It's called tradition.

[valerief]

3. I wonder when they first started. In the past ten years? nt

[onenote]

9. 1966

Its been going a long time.
And there is no requirement that the President appear in person before a joint session to deliver the SOTU. It can be, and for many years was, delivered in writing.

[valerief]

15. Rebuttals since 1966? I just remember seeing them within the past ten years.

Maybe I'm thinking of the rebuttals for EVERYTHING now.

[unblock]

4. to make us think we still have a fairness doctrine.

[valerief]

5. Ha! Right. Ah, back to the 80's. nt

[onenote]

10. Not the 80s. If you take a second, you can look up the history of the SOTU response.

[valerief]

14. The Fairness Doctrine was eliminated in '87. nt

[Nye Bevan]

6. Did the dems get one after Bush's SOTUs? (nt)

[NYC Liberal]

7. Yes. It's been done since 1966.

[Recovered Repug]

8. Started in 1966. Was off and on until 1982.

http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/resources/pdf/RespondStateUnion2.pdf

[msongs]

11. they are always boring, even ones by dems lol nt

[Old and In the Way]

12. If I were the Republicans, I'd mail it in.

Why bother? They will only look small and petty in trying to discredit Obama's brilliant speech.

[DavidDvorkin]

13. The Constitution doesn't require a speech by the president, either

And the first few presidents didn't give one. They delivered a brief report in writing.

[shraby]

16. With today's technology, there is no excuse for the President NOT to address

the nation as a whole instead of a written note to congress.

[onenote]

17. true, but the Constitution doesn't call for an address to the nation as a whole

Article II, Section 3:

He 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.

Also, the first few SOTUs were delivered in person. Jefferson stopped the practice and it wasn't revived until Woodrow Wilson's presidency. Jimmy Carter delivered his final SOTU in writing rather than in person.