I did not watch the State of the Union address. It's not because I'm on a TV fast. I just had something else to do last night. But even if I hadn't, I most likely wouldn't have watched. I really don't see the point. The entire thing is just a bunch of pomp and circumstance.Don't get me wrong, I still have a great deal of respect for G.W. I think that no matter what his failures, he was the right man for the job at the right time. I shudder to think where we'd be had Al Gore been at the wheel these past six years.
I hear that he actually did a pretty good job last night. Much to the surprise of most media pundits, the immediate poll numbers for the speech were somewhat favorable. Of course they were then quick to point out that it's mostly Republicans watching the speech, so you really can't go by those polls. Which begs the question, why do them then? You people are so ridiculous.
Anyway, what makes me not want to watch the speech is 1) I already know everything he is going to say by the time he gets to the speech because it's all been leaked to the media and they've been dishing over it all day, and 2) I can read it online in about 1/10 of the time it takes to watch due to all the gratuitous applause and ovations.
When exactly did the State of the Union turn into this ridiculously childish display of schoolyard politics? I can't answer this, because it's been going on as long as I've been watching. I must admit that I never watched it when Clinton was President because for most of his presidency I was in college and a newlywed and just wasn't paying all that much attention. But I also couldn't stand to look at him, so it would have pained me to have to listen to him fawn all over himself and the great job he'd been doing the past year for an hour. (Which I realize is precisely the way most liberals feel about Bush and why they weren't watching last night either.)
But can we address the whole "we don't like you so we're just going to stay seated, na, na, na, nee, boo boo" mentality? This looks SO RIDICULOUS! Would you PLEASE grow up!? I mean, truly, you look like a bunch of big babies. When did this first get started? Whose idea was it that this would be a really meaningful and powerful display against the President? It is so juvenile.
And while we're at it, do the Republicans really have to stand up and applaud every other sentence fragment? That is almost just as annoying. Let's applaud the President out of respect when he gets up to the mic. Then let's make a rule that you only get to stand up and clap at three predetermined intervals. They should all get a marked-up copy of the speech on arrival that has the appropriate clapping times highlighted. Would that really be so much less contrived than what goes on now? At least maybe we could shave a little bit of time and save the President from those awkward moments where he thinks people are going to clap and they don't so there's just a slightly too long pause, which then throws off his concentration and makes him get that scared look which we wish was endearing but somehow just isn't.
Perhaps it's time to go back to radio. Maybe if our esteemed members of Congress weren't so preoccupied with how they look on TV they might actually pay attention to the speech instead of just watching Pelosi for cues on which posture to take and making sure they are sitting with their best side to the camera.
There are times that it really scares me how much power these people have. If they would start to act like grown-ups instead of whiny, selfish pre-pubescents, things might actually get accomplished to help make this incredible country of ours even better.
Good job, George. You've still got supporters out here, no matter how lonely it must feel from where you stand. You're coming up on the home stretch. Please finish strong.
4 comments:
Amen. I didn't watch it either. Perhaps I'm jaded, but there's only a handful of things I even believe anymore.
Everything is so slanted or spun. One day it's the hottest day on record and we're all going to die, then the next you have Weather Channel meteorologists saying it's all political.
Which is correct? (As if I didn't know).
This is how I felt about the SOU. Same old thing.
(Yet, I still remember the old days when we would spend a full hour on the phone discussing the speech as it happened).
What changed?
I'm afraid that I must disagree with you on this one. While I grant that the histrionics of those in the chamber border on the preposterous, I still think that it's an important part of citizenship to participate in these events.
Of course, we generally know what will be said. We know what the reactions will be. We know that the whole exercise is a constitutionally-mandated throwback to an era when this sort of thing hadn't been surpassed by mass media technology. Nevertheless, this is an event where every senior manager of the United States government (save a few well chosen exceptions for security purposes) makes the time to come together and meet about a common purpose. How then, can we as citizens not attend as well? I'm sure I'm in the minority, but I still believe in watching the nominating conventions, the debates, and the Presidential addresses to the nation. It's rare enough that we get to hear directly from our leaders' mouths, and not just an interpretation from Rush, Howard, O'Reilly, Olbermann, or Colbert. However carefully worded and re-worded, we at least get to hear the communication from them directly and process the information ourselves. We don't "hear that he actually did a pretty good job", we get to judge for ourselves. I think that's an important part of our decision-making process. I event think it's important to see the rehearsed reactions of the others. All of it helps us gauge our choices in our leaders. I was discouraged to see Senator McCain napping. I was appalled to see Speaker Pelosi looking totally lost as to her actual responsibilities in the event, then so over-prepared in her party-driven responses. It all adds up for me. I still think these events matter. Not as directly as they once did, but for me they have impact nonetheless. Besides, the visual of Dikembe Mutumbo next to that rather diminuitive Asian lady they seated next to him was some comedy...
Also...and not that you asked, mind you...I trust you didn't mean it as disrespectful, but it bothers me when people don't refer to our national leaders with the respect due to their offices. Whether or not you agree with their politics or their personal conduct, President Clinton was and President Bush is the President. That carries with it the respect due to the office (if not the person). Like her or not (and I don't, really), Speaker Pelosi is the Speaker, and should be referred to as such. I know this is just one of those things my father drilled into me that's coming out, but it's one with which I happen to agree, and it's based in biblical principle. Our leaders deserve our respect because they have the job. We may well disagree with their approach and their decisions, but we should respect the position nevertheless.
I'm off my soap box now...
Okay, Paul, my wrist has been sufficiently slapped. I really wasn't intending to disrespect President Clinton and Speaker Pelosi, but I admit that it stems from my less-than-subtle distaste for them both.
But you and Brandon have both reminded me that I did once enjoy watching the speech. Was it because I really, really loved President Bush in the early years and now I've become kind of jaded? Or is it just because I'm so sick of politics in general that I'm rebelling against participation entirely? Well, not entirely, because I will always vote, no matter what.
But you have reminded me that it is important to hear things firsthand and not rely on others' interpretations. I do agree, although I would probably still rather just read it. You are making me wish I had watched, though, for Dikembe Mutumbo if nothing else.
I love that you disagreed with me out loud. You made me smile this afternoon. But it may just possibly be time to switch to decaf for the rest of the day. I'm just sayin'...
Or something . . .
OK, Blogger Paul has a point. I guess.
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