Impact of the First Obama State of the Union

**Lemur** · 01-28-2010, 15:25

Originally Posted by KukriKhan

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** · 01-28-2010, 15:29

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** · 01-28-2010, 15:58

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** · 01-28-2010, 16:07

Originally Posted by 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.)

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** · 01-28-2010, 16:12

Originally Posted by Vladimir

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.

**Vladimir** · 01-28-2010, 16:22

Originally Posted by Lemur

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.

Exactly; when you praise the success of something it needs to be in context. How does it compare to similar events?

**TinCow** · 01-28-2010, 16:41

I agree that I don't expect much to result directly from the SOTU, but it strongly reinforced my support of Obama. That was the first time I've ever watched a SOTU and felt like the speaker actually understood what the country needs. It might just be talk, but Obama makes be believe that he actually understands our domestic problems and is fighting to solve them. One of the things that struck me about that speech was that it came across strongly as POTUS criticizing both political parties for playing the political game without caring about the impact on the country. I think a lot of Americans are pleased to see a POTUS scold the legislative branch for embodying everything everyone hates about politicians. Obama still feels like a President who's more of a citizen than a politician. That alone is extremely welcome.

Will it change anything? Probably not, but Obama continues to keep the dim light of hope alive that our government will start working properly at some point in the future.