Impact of the First Obama State of the Union

[Kadagar_AV]

Wow CA, that is great numbers. I really had no idea

Some kudos to the US then, those numbers are not far from Scandinavian ones... I am very suprised!

I always thought sexual orientation has very little impact on ability as soldier. And from my own time in the forces, having worked alongside openly gay men, I must say I never noticed a problem (well, ok, once I opened a door without knocking and saw something I would have prefered not to, but still, my lack of manners was behind it, and a grown up should be able to see a sight or two he would prefer not to).

Have any idea of how the numbers could swing that fast? Fab 5? Gay army? TV-shows with gays has bloomed the last decade, however, I'd say they havent really shown gays in a positive light from an army stand point (but maybe its more important that the shows has showed the human standpoint?).

[KukriKhan]

Scatter-shot feel-good lecture delivered enthusiastically. Twice as long as needed. By the time he got to: "Third, we need to export more of our goods...", I'd forgotten what 'first' and 'second' were, and although I paid close attention (so as to not miss 'fourth') I can't tell you now what 'fourth' was.

Maybe he should bring a blackboard with him next time, list out the 4-5 points he wants to make, then dwell on them 10 minutes apiece, ala Uni Prof.

I notice he spanked SCOTUS for the corporate free speech thingy, didn't have much good to say about the Senate, and thanked the House several times. The scene was so long, he didn't have time to introduce the cops & soldiers sitting with Michelle - whose choice of gown really did make her butt look big.

Little to no impact, I'm afraid. The entrenched positions are just entrenched deeper.

[Husar]

Michelle - whose choice of gown really did make her butt look big.

Must be very fertile then.

[Lemur]

The scene was so long, he didn't have time to introduce the cops & soldiers sitting with Michelle [...]

Actually, I don't miss the 20-year-old trope of, "Now I'm going to talk about American farms, and to illustrate my point, I'm going to mention a chicken farmer who just happens to be here." Started with Reagan, maintained by both Bushes and Bubba Clinton, never did a damn thing to better the dialogue of the nation.

Nah, that's a cheap rhetorical device that I won't miss. Buh-bye.

[KukriKhan]

HuffPo shows the dress, and intro's the guests. I thought I remembered Carter using the "honored guests" device too... maybe I'm getting delusional. :)

[Lemur]

Well, whatever your personal take on this SOTU, it certainly polled well. Surprisingly well. (Heavenly Father forgive me for posting poll-bait for CA.)

[Vladimir]

Well, whatever your personal take on this SOTU, it certainly polled well. Surprisingly well. (Heavenly Father forgive me for posting poll-bait for CA.)

But not as well as W.

...when George W. Bush gave the State of the Union Address a year into his presidency — 85% of speech watchers approved.

[Lemur]

But not as well as W.

Yes, well, I'd imagine the SOTU address given four months after the 9/11 attacks would poll well. There was moment of national unity that had not yet been squandered.

[Tellos Athenaios]

The speech has some good bits. But it is mostly harmless.

[Devastatin Dave]

I notice he spanked SCOTUS for the corporate free speech thingy

Probably the most disgusting display of power envy of another branch of gevernment I've ever seen, and at a State of the Union address? This community organiser has no class. Go back to Chicago, Hawaii, Indonesia, Kenya, where ever you claim to be from when the political winds suit you, you worthless effeminate windbag.