Retiring Senator Says Nobody Is Going To Watch State Of The Union, Anyway

[DonViejo]

TOM KLUDT – JANUARY 28, 2014, 9:39 AM EST

With retirement in sight, it seems Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) is done showing unconditional reverence for tradition.

During an appearance Tuesday on "Morning Joe," Coburn was downright dismissive of the importance of both the State of the Union speech and the GOP's multiple responses to President Obama's nationally televised address before Congress.

"Well, first of all, the vast majority of America isn't going to pay attention to this speech and the vast majority of America isn't going to pay attention to any of the responses to it," Coburn, who announced earlier this month that he'll step down before his term ends, told the panelists.

A poll released Monday by Fox News indicated that Coburn isn't giving the American public enough credit. According to the poll, 31 percent said they plan to watch the speech carefully while 28 percent said they plan to watch part of the speech. Twenty-three percent said they intend to read about the speech and 17 percent said they have no interest at all.

###

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/tom-coburn-state-of-the-union

[Mass]

1. "Nobody" is hyperbolic, but certainly, these numbers tell us that people do not really care.

31 % care about what will be said (or at least say so).

The rest either does not care or does not care enough to read more than the snippets and biased talking points the media are willing to report.

[djean111]

2. I will read about it, but won't watch any of it.

If any of the GOP "rebuttals" is regarded as comical, like Kenneth the Page or The Incredible Drinking Man, I will see that on youtube.
Blather is blather.

[riqster]

3. I read the transcripts.

I find that to be a better use of my time.

[SamKnause]

4. I will read the transcripts.

I have no interest in watching the charade.

I am sick of the secrecy, the lies, the hypocrisy.

Reading the transcripts will be maddening enough.

[The_Commonist]

5. Sometimes I wish the president would simply...

...submit a written report to Congress and forget about the speechifying. That's all he's required to do. And certainly the applause game and response game have gotten downright silly.

Maybe Obama in 2015 or 2016 will take that approach, and set a new precedent for future presidents to follow. One can dream! Meanwhile, I'll probably watch the silliness tonight.

[Chan790]

9. While he's at it, can he stop the Bush tradition of including the line...

"The State of the Union is ________"

It's not clever when he says "The State of the Union is strong!"--it's just gimmicky, cheesy word-play.

[jmowreader]

11. Reagan started it

[Chan790]

13. Okay, Reagan...

nevertheless, can we knock it off?

[Paladin]

6. Good riddance. (nt)

[CrispyQ]

7. Most Americans don't need the president to tell them the state of the union.

We're feeling it everyday. Maybe we should be the ones giving the state of the union address?

I won't even read the transcript.

[bigdarryl]

8. So why are four dick head rethugs responding if that's the case

[jmowreader]

12. Because there are four talking points

One of them has to blame everything on Benghazi.

One has to blame everything on Obamacare.

One has to blame everything on the fact the rich are still paying taxes.

And one of them had a speech but the dog ate it, but that's okay because Obama is a Socialist Muslim who was secretly born in Honolulu, Kenya, and if you don't elect lots of Republicans his commie wife is going to ban hot dogs and apple pie and make everyone get gay married and force everyone to have third-trimester abortions even if they want the kid because...well, freedom.

[Chan790]

14. Oh man...

I nailed some conservative's scalp to the wall last night on Quora and my Facebook wall...he tried to argue that Democrats hate America because we won't pass a balanced budget. I told him the GOP could have a balanced budget anytime they wanted one, all they had to do was raise taxes on the wealthiest Americans to cover the budget shortfall.

Then I went to bed, when I woke up, I had 20 upvotes and a pissy response that I was a socialist.

[jmowreader]

15. The GOP doesn't want a balanced budget

What they want is austerity. A balanced budget would erase justification for it.

[hack89]

10. I will read but not watch nt