Awright guys, this is Joe Geni and I’ll be live-blogging the President’s State Of The Union Address. Everyone’s applauding. Let the pomp begin!
9:08: U2 doesn’t get this much applause before their encores.
9:11: Is it a coincidence that the speech started at 9:11 p.m.? This is clearly a nod to Obama’s continuation of Bush Administration policies… or, something.
9:11: First mention of Iraq. Over a million Americans fought in Iraq, a remarkable statistic. Bet you didn’t think Iraq would be the first thing Obama mentioned tonight.
9:12: First mention of Osama bin Laden. Roaring cheers. Getting the foreign policy stuff out of the way first, I see.
9:14: Economy “built to last” is a clear shout-out to Ford. I’m pretty sure that was their advertising slogan. Also elicited a round of snorting derision from all the people I’m watching this speech with.
9:15: Obama’s hagiography of the 1950s draws this response from a friend of mine: “Dude, we all watched Mad Men. We KNOW they weren’t happy.”
9:17: Obama bravely wades into the housing crisis. What are the odds that he uses the word “bailout” in the next 5 minutes? 1 in 100?
9:18: Businesses have created 3 million jobs. Take that, Romney!
9:19: “The state of our union is getting stronger.” Everybody playing the Princeton State Of The Union Drinking Game take two shots!
9:21: GM is now the biggest carmaker in the world? We’re gonna have to factcheck this when we’re done.
9:23: Tax code reform! Andrew Sullivan would be pleased. Playing to the crowd by arguing that we should reward companies who keep jobs here. Are we going to see a message about Romney only paying 13% tax rate on his vast fortune?
9:25: Obama just made a hand gesture like he was in disbelief that he didn’t get bigger applause for doubling US exports by signing new trade agreements. Amid tepid applause, he just had this look on his face, like, “What’s wrong with you guys?”
9:27: SOPA reference. He wouldn’t dare support it, but he’s taking the easy way out by vilifying Chinese quality control and intellectual property. “Tonight I’m announcing the creation of a trade enforcement unit … to investigate trade enforcement in countries like China.” Standing ovation from both parties. Everyone can agree that China is evil. Good SOTU so far.
9:30: First mention of an outstanding random American. Each #SOTU must have 3. We’ve got Jackie who helped teach Americans how to manufacture again. Who will the other two?
9:31: “Teachers matter.” So let’s not trash teachers, let’s trash teacher’s unions. And, let’s trash teachers “who aren’t helping kids learn.”
9:32: Friend of mine points out that if you’re an old Supreme Court justice has seen 25 of these, doesn’t he/she get a little jaded?
9:33: Should we really force kids to stay in school through 18? Interesting proposal, everyone seemed to like it though.
9:35: Immigration. Daaaangerous waters here. Obama points out how ludicrous it is to educate people and then deport them. He also couples this with strengthened border security. “My Administration has put more boots on the border than ever before. … The opponents of action are out of excuses. We should be working on comprehensive immigration reform right now.” No chance this will get passed but I do approve of him daring to mention it.
9:37: My colleague: “The fashion scene in DC is really really lacking.” Lots of ladies in green jackets.
9:38: “Put them in a bill and get it on my desk this year!” is Obama’s slogan of the night. Clearly, he’s running on a “blame Congress” reelection campaign and given that Congress has 8% approval rating he will probably win.
9:41: Chris Novembrino weighs in: “Drill Baby Drill!”
9:42: “We’ve subsidized the oil industry for a century. That’s long enough!” Obama making the case for renewable energy and, key, public investment in it so we can keep up with China and Germany. Somewhere, Tom Friedman is happy. Too bad renewable tax credits have a snowball’s chance in hell of getting it out of this or any Congress.
9:46: Susan Rice sighting! That’s why don’t a new Syria resolution in the Security Council.
9:48: “Rescue” is our new euphemism for “bailout.” Nice.
9:49: Aha! “Bailout” mentioned. Derisively. As in, “No more bailouts!” Take that, Tea Party.
9:49: “Built to last” is the other slogan of the night. “Winning the future” apparently got too much derision from Republicans, even though it’s also the name of Newt’s super PAC.
9:55: The two things that are most likely to be mentioned before the end of the night that haven’t yet: the fact that Mitt Romney and Warren Buffett get taxed less than you and I, and the fact that Iran is a problem.
9:56: When you don’t watch one of these for a year you forget that they go on for, like, two freaking hours.
9:59: “Can you blame me for feeling cynical?” Nope. Not at all. Roni is bored.
10:04: “With or without this Congress, I will keep taking actions that make this country grow.” Translation: “Congress: FUCK YOU.”
10:05: First mention of Afghanistan. First mention of Qaddafi. “I have no doubt that the Assad regime …” aw man, my TV cut out. We UN reporters are disappointed. Whatever he said, it got a lot of applause.
10:07: First reference to Iran. The Weekly Standard will no doubt lambast Obama for waiting an hour to get there. “I will take no options off the table” to stop Iran from achieving nuclear weapons. Standing ovation from both parties. “But a peaceful resolution is still possible.” One person clapped. Probably Dennis Kucinich. Or possibly Ron Paul. President Romney is so invading Iran. China, I hope you enjoy the 21st century. It’s yours.
10:09: Obama lauds “a new hope” in Burma. Um, how bout calling them Myanmar?
10:09: “Anyone who says America is in decline doesn’t know what they are talking about!” My friends read between the lines: “We will blow you up! We will cut you!”
10:13: Obama references the fact that he authorized the mission to kill bin Laden. You know, just in case you guys forgot. Referenced Hillary Clinton as “a woman who ran for President against me.” Hillary gives him a smile of death. She’s going to be President in 2016 if Obama loses to Romney in November.
10:16: He’s done! Now comes the inane analysis. Like, the inane analysis not supplied by me. Hope you liked my blog. And Louis’s counterblog in the comments section. (Thanks Louis!) The state of our union is stronger. America: built to last! Built Ford Tough.
