Oh fuck. I HAVE to listen to the SOTU.

[huskerlaw]

I have no choice. I'm at work...they're showing it on the TV in the lobby. I'm stuck sitting within earshot of the fucking TV for the next 3.5 hours.

:cry:

In the meantime, I'm going to entertain myself with my latest project: reading everything I can get my hands on about the making of the Constitution. The letters, the speeches...all of the background discussions. Damn it, if I'm going to have to listen to the Alito/Scalia/Roberts claim they're strict constructionists, I want to be able to intelligently tell them to fuck off.

I could be at a protest right now...but oooh no. Forced to listen to Bush. Damn it.

[GOPisEvil]

1. Can you listen to your iPod via headphones?

Actually listen to the Chimp? :scared:

[huskerlaw]

2. I can't...

I'm out on the reference desk. So...no headphones. And more importantly, no leaving. Fuck.

[GOPisEvil]

3. The horror...the horror...

Your boss owes you...big time.

[huskerlaw]

4. No shit.

Particularly since I so kindly agreed to switch nights with her. Picking on the newbie, really not cool.

And then there's the director, whose bright idea it was to show it on the TV.

And they're BOTH DEMS!

Fuck, I say.

[GOPisEvil]

6. Argh!!!

Done in by the good guys! x(

They owe you a dinner WITH drinks!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

5. Oh, I am so sorry, my dear huskerlaw......

Maybe we can help distract you......

I don't think he will be "speaking" for very long.....we can hope, right?

:scared:


:grouphug:

[huskerlaw]

7. Thanks, Peggy.

I'm dreading it, obviously.

However, one small victory for me...I convinced them to put it on CSPAN instead of CNN or MSNBC (praise all that is holy, nobody even suggested Fox). That should cut down on the talking head bullshit afterwards at least.

[Emops]

8. I'm a poli-sci major in college.

Without fail, I have to watch it every year for class and share my thoughs the next day. :puke:

[huskerlaw]

12. Could you at least

scream obscenities at the TV?

I had to watch it without making any discernable reactions. I think I deserve and Oscar.

[Turbineguy]

9. I used to have a rule:

If I had to call "the Office" (company HQ) I would put in for 1 hour overtime.

If they yelled at me it went to 2 hours overtime.

If they yelled and cursed at me it was 4

So I guess if I had to watch SOTU I'd go for 6.

[Zomby Woof]

10. The Federalist Papers, of course

(I feel like Mr. Obvious Man will slap me down for telling this to a law grad) :-)

After that, the various writings on the document by Madison (outside of the Federalist Papers) and Monroe.

Maybe Franklin's speeches given at the convention, if only for his admonition that all republics devolve into tyrannies.

My final recommendation: The Library of America's "The Debate on the Constitution". http://www.loa.org

[huskerlaw]

15. I love the Federalist Papers.

I've certainly read them (not only a law school grad, also a political science minor) ;), but I've put them on the list to re-read in light of current events.

Believe it or not, I actually grabbed "The Debate on the Constitution" earlier this evening. There are certain advantages to working in a law library. Now that I've got a recommendation, I'll bump it to front of the list.

We've also got the writings of Madison, Monroe, and Franklin's speeches...thanks!

[Floogeldy]

11. "The making of the Constitution. The letters, the speeches...all of . . .

My favorite subject. Have you read Madison's notes of the Convention?

:)

[huskerlaw]

16. No, I haven't...

they're on the list now though.

Any other recommendations? I work at a law library, so I've got an amazing selection at my fingertips...but a bit of direction might be a good thing.

[Floogeldy]

20. I would point you in this direction . . .

Everything you can find on the Ninth Amendment to the Constitution, which states as follows:

"The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people."

I have a lot of respect for your achievements and intellect, huskerlaw. Thanks for letting me share.

:)

[huskerlaw]

21. great suggestion!

The little-discussed, yet all-important 9th Amendment. Duly noted.

Thank you for your kind words, Floogeldy. I also respect your insightful comments and appreciate any suggestions you have.

:hi:

[GOPisEvil]

13. You didn't rip the TV from the wall, did you?

;)

[huskerlaw]

17. Goodness no

it's a large-screen plasma! My hatred for BushCo doesn't ovverule my intense love of all things flatscreen.

[GOPisEvil]

19. True...what WAS I thinking?

:D

[Redstone]

14. Walk past the TV and casually unplug it. Make it look accidental.

Then, while you're down on the floor (you pretended to trip, remember?) bend one of the prongs of the plug back and forth until it breaks.

Nobody should have to suffer like that.

Redstone

[huskerlaw]

18. The plug

is behind the TV, which is mounted to the wall (large screen plasma). No way to unplug it casually.

:(

Although, I can quit complaining. I convinced them to put it on CSPAN, so there wasn't much after-speech bullshit spewing...and they just turned it off. ;)