State of the Union Hot Spots

It’s no surprise that Obama will come out in favor of gays in the military; it’s a no-risk move for him to make, and it will regain for him a few friends who might otherwise be tempted away. Honestly, I think it’s an issue most people don’t really care about, and I am surprised he waited until he was practically backed into a corner before making that call.

I expect Obama to make a good speech that the press will suggest deserves “to be engraved in marble.” Making speeches and campaigning is what Obama does, so he’ll be on his game, tonight.

Drudge has portions of the speech up.

Protein Wisdom has posted the drinking rules.

Vodkapundit will be live-drunk blogging. Shaken, I think, not stewed stirred.

Hot Air will have an open thread

Althouse and STACLU are both liveblogging.

You can comment here if you like. I don’t really know if I plan on commenting, or not. I may begin and then just drop out – my deplorable attention span.

10:24 – Lorie Byrd is first out with her reaction.

10:30 My last thought: No gracious acknowledgment of Brown (I didn’t expect it; Obama is not a gracious man) and no sense that he “heard” what happened in Massachusetts as any sort of rebuke against him or his policies. He is doubling down.

10:22 Krauthammer calls the speech “interesting” and “unctuous.” “He tries to speak as an outsider, attacking Washington, but it sounded incongruous, since he and his party have been in charge.” As I said, the Most. Cognitive. Dissonance. Evah. Patronizing. And I didn’t like him dissing the SCOTUS.

Okay, let’s hear it, folks, before the GOP response:

10:20 “I don’t quit.” I’m sorry to hear that. Then again, the thought of President Biden…

10:19 Is he going to cry? “My setbacks are nothing compared to the setbacks of the American families…” Now the litany of ordinary Americans, “the woman who said this,” “the man who told me that,” “the 8 year old boy in Louisiana.” It’s a very tired device.

10:17 Talks about pointing fingers of blame, as though it’s a bad thing. Again, cognitive dissonance. This is the most cognitively dissonant speech ever. Does this president listen to himself?

10:15 For a president who has seen a couple of terrorist attacks on his watch (Ft. Hood and Christmas Day) he has said very little about terrorism, and what he said sounded perfunctory to me.

10:14 Mentions immigration: Secure borders, enforce laws, amnesty.

10:13 Repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. Can’t he just write an Executive Order?

10:11 Haiti gets a hand. Human rights for young muslim women (I guess that’s okay to talk about again) “America must always [missed] on the side of freedom and human dignity.”

10:07 stumbles while talking about respecting military.

10:05 – (paraphrase) “I’m killin’ more terrorists than George W. Bush.” Pelosi seems to either yawn or giggle into her hand. What is wrong with that woman? “We will support Iraqi government.” Well, good. “but make no mistake, this war is ending.” Um. Dude. Yeah. Victory. Blame Bush, please. When will he talk about mirandizing terrorists?

10:02 – “if the Republicans are going to insist on 60 votes” (the way the Democrats insisted for Bush) … then everything is their fault. There is awkwardness. This congress hates this president. He hates them back. “We can argue all we want about whose to blame for this…” But let’s just blame Bush. I believe nothing this man says, anymore.

10:00 – “shouldn’t disrupt a bill just because they can” – in other words, “the GOP shouldn’t do to me what we did to Bush.” His tone is lecturing, but “above it all.” He’s “not going to give” on trying to “change the tone.” Um. He sets it.

9:59 Pretending about transparency again. “we must reform how we work with one another…” from the president who said, “I won,” and has pretty much refused to work with the loyal opposition at all. The one who five minutes earlier, dissed the GOP. “We can’t wage a perpetual campaign.” OMG. DUDE! I can’t even believe what I’m hearing.

9:58 – Big business should not have so much influence on elections…says the man who raised 600 million for his campaign and turned down public funding. I just screamed at the tv.

9:57 – “we’ve excluded lobbyists.” You lie.

9:55 The president of the United States, who says he wants to unite, just dissed half the country, and the loyal opposition, and oh yes, blamed Bush again. He does a singsong, “it’s time to try something new,” and his tone is so condescending it is almost inexcusable.

9:53 – he’s talking about government spending while Mrs. Fly-Me-to-Copenhagen looks on. “We just can’t afford it.” Dude…you spent it. And spent it.

9:50 Why is he talking like a robot? By. Setting. the. Record.

9:48 – “if anyone has a better healthcare plan…I’m eager to see it.” Too bad he refused to look at the GOP propositions all last year. If he’d actually worked with the whole congress, and not left it to Pelosi and Reid, he might actually have a bill, now.

9:47 “by the time I am done speaking tonight, more Americans will have lost health insurance…” Well, yes…if more Americans lose their jobs.

9:42 that’s it, I’m done, really now. Must get coffee.

9:41 what is striking to me his how “laundry list” this speech is. No rhetorical flourish. He’s flubbing lines on middle class and tax credits. He’s reading. halt.ingly. This is so boring.

9:39 – Pelosi is sitting back, giggling, clapping by herself. Does she have someone sucking on her toes beneath the desk?

9:36 “some disagree with the overwhelming scientific evidence of global warming…” Geez.

9:34 – cognitive dissonance. He’s dissing the lobbyists, again. They’ve done splendidly under him, btw.

9:33 – “it’s time to get serious…” Well, HELLS BELLS SIR…weren’t you serious before?

9:29 – House is applauding itself. Obama is beginning to say he’s too great to not tackle “great” issues. Oh, I’m done. I’m going to go make some coffee. I’ll be back with reactions later!

9:27 – Both sides up on their feet; Business! Jobs! Tax-breaks! WIth 17% unemployment, you can’t go wrong saying these things. Does he mean it?

9:24 – “Jobs must be our number one focus in 2010. True engine of job creation will always be American business…” I hear a “but…” coming.

9:23 – Obama the taxcutter! He is talking about how people who pay less taxes have more money to spend, which helps businesses. It’s George W. Obama!

9:17 – “America needs a government that mirrors their decency.” And yet, he wants us to look to Washington.

9:16 – He’s getting comfortable; his cadence is less abrupt and he’s sounding a bit more “natural” and relaxed. “Hey, I’m in my element.”

9:15 – I knew he was going to say he’d been reading letters by children. “Change does not come fast enough.” Hello, conservative side of America? I still am not interested in being your president, too.

9:13 – One year ago; his first “I inherited.” “Worst of storm has passed; devastation remains.” A Katrina allusion?

9:09 – Vodkapundit wrote: 5:51PM Four years ago, Bush very classily welcomed “Madam Speaker” to her new job. Will Obama do the same for Senator Scott Brown? – Good question.

9:08 – Bush always kept his speeches under an hour. I’m thinking Obama will exceed 60 minutes. It is his way.

8:57 – Michelle Obama arrives, and in my head I hear, “when the deeeep purple falls…” She is very purple. Like the haircut.