Is the state of the union address worth keeping?

[yurbud]

Below is the column that inspired the question.

Ban the Bombast!
State of the Union? It's Nothing but Theater

By Lewis L. Gould

Sunday, January 29, 2006; Page B01

It is time to end the meaningless annual ritual of the State of the Union address. What began as a yearly survey of the nation's condition has deteriorated into a frivolous moment of political theater and continuous campaigning.

On Tuesday night, President Bush, like his recent predecessors, will play his part in the gaudy spectacle of ballyhoo and hype that the State of the Union has become. From a Rocky-style entrance of the president through a gantlet of applauding solons to the introduction of mini-celebrities carefully situated in the gallery, the prime-time extravaganza will have all the spontaneity of -- and about as much meaning as -- a televised Hollywood awards ceremony.


More like an acceptance speech at a national convention than a candid review of the nation's situation at the outset of a new year, the State of the Union has evolved into a semi-imperial speech from the throne. In the process, the event has lost most of its reason for taking place. Congress and the president have better things to do than to be part of these empty festivities.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/27/AR2006012701331.html

[rodeodance]

1. His health care plan is junk--see here.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2074472

[yurbud]

3. the more times they do this crap, the greater the support for single payer

[jojo54]

2. Here's another one.....

How 'bout the SOTU address being replaced with a question and answer by non-chosen and non-partisan, plain ole' American working class people?? No bullshit, no posturing, he doesn't stop talking until the person is satisfied with the answer. Let's see him stammer and stutter his way out of that one!

[yurbud]

4. hold on, I'll try to add that...

[TahitiNut]

5. Remember, the State of the Union report is Constitutionally-mandated.

:shrug:

[yurbud]

9. the form it takes could probably be flexible since it was often given only

in writing in the past.

Imagine a Democratic president walking into the joint session, throwing his prepared text over his shoulder, and then Phil Donahue runs down the aisle with a microphone

[RB TexLa]

13. Correct

A President could even send someone else to give his or her "report" of the state of the Union, a cabinet official, the press secretary or even say .... her husband! :)

[jobycom]

6. Other: First, it's Constitutionally mandated, so it can't be done away wit

Congress and the American people should require a president to give a legitimate state of the union speech, highlighting the positives and negatives and laying out a clear agenda for the future based on the state of the union. Both parties in Congress, the media, and the American people should roundly condemn any attempts to lie or spin or campaign during the SOTU.

Personally, I think that since the Constitution requires the president to give a state of the union speech every year, that means that the speech is legally binding, and that any lies about current conditions or future policies should be treated as perjury.

[yurbud]

7. I agree with the second half--first would be tough to do since it's mostly

empty platitudes or a matter of the amount of effort they will put into the parts that are worthwhile. For example, Bush talked about hydrogen fuel cells, but I don't think any president has taken alternative energy seriously since Jimmy Carter.

[RaleighNCDUer]

12. Meaning, of course, that * could be, would have to be impeached

several times over.

[Imagevision]

8. Bush will use 9-11 20+ times tonite...! Victory in Iraq - wiretaps legal!

then he's off to visit 5 red states for msm video op's. yaaaaaawn....!

[yurbud]

10. 'i am not a crook--Karl said so.'

[peekaloo]

11. Bu$hit gets his hair colored and extra meds that night.

I'll bet Senor Snarly keeps a pocketful of treats for each correct pronunciation.

I'd rather watch 'Scrubs' & 'Boston Legal'.

[Bridget Burke]

14. It is in the Constitution.....

But I'd love a followup Q&A session--like the Prime Minister faces. Bushie would get angry, then flee in terror.

[TahitiNut]

17. If it were like a Prime Minister faces, it'd be primarily from ...

... the Opposition, not sycophants from his own party. Thus, a President should have to appear and take questions from the opposition party caucus, not the full Congress. G-d knows there're enough sycophants among the (so-called) Democrats!

[yurbud]

19. there would be no Bush if we did this. Tony Blair lies, but he has to do

it well because he faces that tough audience who doesn't let him get away with any crap.

[RaleighNCDUer]

15. Off topic, but is SOTU going to pre-empt "Surface" tonite?

I would sure hate to see it pre-empt something so much more reality based, like a silly sci-fi monster movie.

[RaleighNCDUer]

20. Never mind -- SOTU is 31st -- I was thinking it was the 30th for

some reason.

[Fox Mulder]

16. I think it should be like how they do it in Britain.

Of course, George wouldn't be able to handle it.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

18. Only as evidence in "high crimes and misdemeanors".