State of the Union – live blog

Bare with me here, this is a long one. And this probably won’t be interesting to all of my readers. But I thought maybe some of you would appreciate my live blog on the State of the Union (SOTU). Here goes!

• Obama is going grey. Guess that’s what a year as the President of the United States will do to you.
• Nancy looks like she’s sick, blowing her nose in the background. Hope she remembers to sneeze into her elbow.
• Okay, speaking to the tough economic times, he says, “these struggles are the reason I ran for President.” I wouldn’t want to deal with this shit…are you kidding me? I call bullshit.
• I’m tired of the partisanship too. Can someone please do something about it?
• While we’re on the topic, I’m sick of politics in general. Let’s just get rid of all politicians.
• For the record, I really do like our President. He is still an amazing speaker.
• He is hopeful about America’s future. Now that Bush is out, at least things are looking up.
• On the bank bailout, “I hated it, you hated it, it was about as popular as a root canal.” Shoutout to my sister, Jean, who is a dentist.
• I am really not a fan of this clap, not clap, stand up, not stand up based on party. This is so predictable. Oh well wait a minute, the entire assembly just stood up for his talk on the bailout. Not bad.
• I mean, this is getting interesting. Some Republicans are standing again. Maybe I am missing something here.
• I love him, even though he’s a politician.
• Oh my, CNN b-line shot of Harry Reid in the middle of a huge monstrocity of a yawn. Was that scripted? Maybe, if it was caught on Fox News.
• Seriously – was that planned? He tried to hide it too, hilarious.
• You know what I like about the Recovery Act? The creation of the Dupont Circle Dog Park. I’m not even kidding, that dog park is from Stimulus money. Really not sure how the dog park stimulates the economy other than paying the workers it took those few weeks to build it, but I’m not complaining. Thanks.
• Really though, what was the impetus for that? If people bring their dogs to the Dupont Circle dog park, it means they are out and active and maybe they’ll stop and buy something at a store on the way home?
• He’s calling for a “jobs bill.” Is that what we are going to call it? Wonder what that could possibly entail.
• Community banks will give credit to small businesses to stay afloat. If that helps Goody’s in times of need, I’m all for it.
• Watching Obama speak is 100x more pleasant than watching good old Dubya, but let me tell ya, Dubya had a ton more material to make fun of. In fact, didn’t he dub “internets” and infamously pronounce nuclear as “nucular” in the SOTU? That’s some good stuff right there. Not gonna lie, I sorta miss that.
• But that’s all I miss about Dubya.
• Jobs bill again! Interesting terminology there. Simple, yet effective! LOL
• He doesn’t “accept second place for the United States of America.” Why does that not surprise me?
• Is he ending with health reform? I think he might.
• Hey, there’s Chris Dodd. Last time in the SOTU assembly?
• I’m hungry.
• For the record, I just ran home from work to catch this. I am a DC nerd.
• I’m bored with jobs and finance reform. Can we talk health care?
• ….still waiting…..
• Johnny Larson! (my parents love him…family friends)
• Energy and climate. Clearly this is not my area…fading out here. Apparently the audience likes it though. Lots of cheers.
• 70 minute long speech they are predicting? Okay, I think they might be right. Hasn’t even gotten to the big issue yet…HEALTH REFORM!!!!!
• I wonder if he will just say that he’s calling it quits on health reform tonight. That is pretty much how Congress is acting. Poor Ted Kennedy. It is really oh so sad that this all has happened. Depressing really.
• Double our exports? This is all jibberish to me.
• National export initiative. Well that doesn’t sound all that bad. Help those local farmers.
• Health care….health care…health reform….health reform…..come on!
• Maybe he’ll mention Haiti too. I hope so. I mean, he pretty much has to. If he doesn’t, we WILL be second place.
• Oh, education. Okay, I’ll take that.
• Is anyone else here sick of politics? I am. Maybe I’m actually in the wrong town.
• What’s the Elementary and Secondary Education Act? I guess we are renewing it? Community colleges. Okay, I feel ya.
• $10,000 tax credit for college and increase in Pell Grants. Why didn’t you do this when I was in school? I’m swimming in debt. FORGIVEN AFTER 20 YEARS? FORGIVEN AFTER 10 YEARS IF IN PUBLIC SERVICE? No more than 10% of income on student loans?  SAWEEEET!  I hope that applies to my broke ass. If not, I’ll consider going back to school and then reconsolidate the new loans all into one.  Brilliant!
• HEALTH INSURANCE REFORM!!!! 9:43pm mention.  WE STILL NEED IT!!!!
• Yes, we do. “Let’s clear a few things up – I didn’t do this for political reasons.” Awesome.
• Olympia Snowe!  Love her.
• Lord ,we are so close – yet so far away.
• How did this happen? How? A year we have worked for this. But something about it does not surprise me.
• $1 trillion deficit reduction over 10 years. Holla
• Yep, longer it was debated, harder it is to beat. Same thing happened in the Clinton years. What didn’t happen was a clutch 60^th vote, and a champion of the cause no less, literally dying so that we no longer have it. It is mindboggling.
• Obama’s not walking away from health reform. Good. I was getting worried. Policy consultants who left, come back to DC!
• It’s not an ideal bill, but it’s something. We need something! ANYTHING at this point!!! Can’t we just work with that last 60^th vote (Olympia?), negotiate with her only, and pass this thing?
• Why in the world do we owe so much in the first place anyway?
• Government spending…here goes!  2000 (think Clinton), budget surplus. 2009 (think Bush), huge deficit. Result of expensive prescription drug program(!!!!), and not paying for two wars. All this before he walked through the door. Way to slew off that blame there. And by golly, he is “just stating the facts.” So what you are saying is that a republican got us into this mess? Funny, aren’t they supposed to be fiscally conservative?
• Okay, we need to make tough decisions about the budget….drumroll……
• Oh here we go – freeze gov’t spending for 3 years beginning in 2011….Medicare, Medicaid, SS, national security are not affected. You don’t say?
• Bipartisan fiscal commission he’s calling for, since Medicare spending etc. is still going to skyrocket.
• PAYGO!!!!! It’s all coming full circle right now.
• Still on the freeze – won’t take effect until 2011. Why did someone in the audience break out laughing when Barack said “that’s how budgeting works?” Um, it does.
• He is a great speaker…adding in some lines based on feel from the audience. Love it.
• Did someone say “transparency?” That’s an Administration priority? Had no idea.
• How about the politicians who actually make the decisions saddle up and not listen to the lobbyists? Unfortunately, money talks. Everywhere.
• And yeah, how about that Supreme Court decision last week? It will open the floodgates for sure as far as special interest money making the most of policy decisions. Scary. Is it not already bad enough? There has to be some sort of limit there. Freedom of speech my ass. Way to call out our Superior Court judges like that, Pres.
• Earmark reform – all stand.
• It’s 10pm. Let’s see what else he’s got to say here.
• Still hungry. Is it time for dinner yet?
• I hate politics. It’s getting really difficult to deal with these days. So frustrating, and frankly, unbelievable at points.
• “Still have the largest majority in decades and people expect us to solve problems, not run for the hills!” Thank you!!!!!!!! Okay yeah, I like this little pep talk here. It is possible to work together!
• He’s funny. Monthly meetings with both Republican and Democratic leaders. “I know you can’t wait.” Love it.
• Why do I feel like the President falls outside of these political divides? Maybe I will try for an OMB job. I like him.
• Speaking of OMB, saw Peter Orszag walk in earlier, and sadly, all I could think about was all the recent news about his affairs and children from different wives/girlfriends. Gotta love the media. Focus on what’s important.
• Still nothing on Haiti…for real? He HAS to say something about this. Has got too. -15 points for him if he doesn’t. BIG negative.
• Hey there’s Joe Lieberman! Gotta love that man. (I hope you can detect the sarcasm in that statement)
• Longest SOTU ever. Only in DC would we make the State of the Union an acronym.
• Michelle and Jill Biden just stood up and clapped for themselves. Is that socially acceptable?
• Hungggggryyyyyyyyyyyy
• Rosa DeLauro in the audience!!!!!! Yep, I worked for her once. 🙂
• Still no Haiti….this is a huge disappointment.
• Public Health…infectious diseases…HIV….OMG HAITI!!!!  +20! Back on the charts. Because the health of developing nations circles back to our health. Yes, we can all pass things on to each other in this world. We don’t live in a US bubble, despite what many of us think.
• America must stand on the side of human dignity, always. And do what is right. Thank you.
• Nothing about Haiti’s debt and debt cancellation? Something tells me that might not be all that popular right now.
• Okay they didn’t say much on Haiti other than that we’ve got 10,000 troops there. -10
• Seriously, is there really still a law out there that prevents homosexuals from serving in the military? What is this, 1920?
• Immigration…well, he’s really touched on everything here…
• Tell me you’re winding down cause I’m done.
• Can I bill my time for this? Because I’m really watching this for work.
• This is longer than 70 minutes people.
• Love him.
• Another Lieberman b line – CNN ruined an otherwise great finale.
• Okay he’s talking about Haiti again – +10.
• Okay, not a bad ending. Very motivational. When you hear him speak, you have to wonder whether a quote from this will be used for years to come. He really is an amazing speaker.
• Final tally (all Haiti): +5 (but this was all Haiti. Next time I’ll add plus and minuses for all items)

That’s all folks. I’m done with this Virginia dude. Glad I moved out of that State.