Will the GOP scrap Obama’s State of the Union address?

[n2doc]

By Steve Benen

In early 1999, the political environment in Washington, D.C., bordered on surreal. President Clinton had just been impeached. House Speaker Newt Gingrich had just been ousted from his leadership post, forced out by his own members. Gingrich’s apparent successor, Louisiana’s Bob Livingston, was soon after forced to resign in the wake of a sex scandal.

And at the same time, the U.S. Senate was weighing the charges against Clinton, hearing arguments as to whether or not to remove the sitting president from office.

It was against this backdrop that the White House announced in mid-January that it was time for the annual State of the Union address. TV preacher Pat Robertson, an influential figure in Republican politics at the time, gave his GOP allies some stern advice: don’t let Clinton speak. To give the president an august national platform, Robertson said, would allow Clinton to solidify his support and end the impeachment crusade. Congress isn’t required to host the speech, so there was nothing stopping Republicans from denying Clinton’s request.

GOP leaders on Capitol Hill weren’t prepared to go nearly that far. So, Clinton spoke, he pretended like impeachment hadn’t just happened, and Gallup showed the president’s approval rating reaching 69% soon after.

Nearly 16 years later, another Democratic president, also hated by his Republican attackers, is poised to deliver his penultimate State of the Union address. And like Pat Robertson, the idea of denying the president a SOTU invitation is once again on the right’s mind.

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http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/will-the-gop-scrap-obamas-state-the-union-address

[Fred Sanders]

1. Fuck that. How about denying fucking secret holds on fucking nominees? Why does the GOP get to

play offence and get away with shredding the constitution and convention all because of rampant racism in their gerrymandered, unaccountable former shell of a party?

Just talking about such a thing gives it credibility.

[liberal N proud]

2. The State of the Union Address is called for in the Constitution

Article II, Section 3 of the U.S. Constitution
Clause 1: State of the Union[edit]

2011 State of the Union Address given by President Barack Obama
The President must give the Congress information on the "State of the Union" "from time to time." This is called the State of the Union Clause.[14] Originally, Presidents personally delivered annual addresses to Congress. Thomas Jefferson, who felt that the procedure resembled the Speech from the Throne delivered by British monarchs, chose instead to send written messages to Congress for reading by clerks. Jefferson's procedure was followed by future Presidents until Woodrow Wilson reverted to the former procedure of personally addressing Congress, which has continued to this day.[14]


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Article_Two_of_the_United_States_Constitution#Clause_1:_State_of_the_Union

[PoliticAverse]

8. Read it again. It doesn't call for a "State of the Union Address", it merely indicates

the President:

shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient;

[Liberal_Dog]

3. The SOTU Is Constitutionally Mandated

And we know how much the GOP loves the Constitution...when a Democrat is in office.

[Angleae]

6. But not mandated as a speech.

"He shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union" (Article II, Sec 3)

[global1]

4. I Say Let The Repubs Do This - Then If I Were The President I Would Still Hold A SOTU Address....

but not in the Capitol Bldg. Take it out of D.C. and bring it to the American People and do deliver it in some unconventional venue that identifies more with the American People and let the American People know that the Repubs tried to deny them of this address.

I think that if the President and the Dems responded in such a way it would be the end of the Repub Party. The American People would see very openly what the Repubs are doing to destroy this Country.

How about some suggestions as to where the President can deliver the SOTU Address. Post them here.

[Turbineguy]

5. He can deliver the SOTU

while sitting at his desk.

And get to bed early.

[Cha]

7. Invite his friends in ..

[PoliticAverse]

9. Indeed. n/t

[okaawhatever]

10. In front of the Lincoln Memorial. They need to be reminded...... nt

[tinymontgomery]

11. I like this idea

The mall would be filled to hear him.

[LuvNewcastle]

12. Or the Statue of Liberty

He could talk about immigration reform. Or, he could deliver it in NYC or Ferguson while surrounded by protesters.