The State of the Union

The state of our union is....cold!

Tonight is the President's annual State of the Union Address to Congress.  I will probably not be watching. I am much too cynical to actually watch what our Commander in Chief has to say.  I know, it seems strange that someone who tends to write about politics will not be watching the single largest political speech of the year, but, that's the way it is.  There are two main reasons:  1.  My wife won't want to watch it with me.  This one should be good enough, but, there is another.  2.  The whole concept kind of bores me.  The President will spend around ninety minutes talking, and won't actually say anything.  There will be long passages about what he wants to do in the upcoming year, but, when he's done talking, he won't have actually given us any details.  Then, after the speech, the partisan spin doctors will get busy telling us all exactly what he meant...and why it's either the best thing since sliced bread, or concepts tantamount to the destruction of the Union.  Thanks, talking heads....I'm not able to think for myself, so, I need you to spoon feed me the salient points, and tell me how I should feel about those salient points.

One difference, tonight...some Republicans and Democrats will be seated next to each other during the speech.  I am a fan of this arrangement.  Up until last week, I always thought that seating was dictated...with Republicans on the right, Democrats on the left, and the Supreme Court and Joint Chiefs front and center.  Apparently, the only seats that are reserved are those for the Supreme Court and Joint Chiefs.  Huh...who'd've thunk it?  The news agencies are really playing this up, now, creating drama.  Can you imagine....what do you do when you disagree with the President, but the guy sitting next to you leaps to his feet in an unadulterated binge of applause?  I'm guessing you just quietly sit there, and I'm not sure why it's an issue.  I guess the news agencies are concerned that they're not going to be able to determine the partisan differences in the Hall because it won't be obvious who's applauding, and who isn't.  Hey, new stations...here's a clue....the people applauding will be Democrats...the people sitting there with those disdainful looks on their faces will be Republicans.  With the current partisan tones, you can bet that even if the Republicans agree with the President, they won't dare applaud.  Oh, and the people yawning in the back?  Those are the Freshman Senators and Representatives, who haven't been around long enough for the lobbyists to tell them what they're supposed to be thinking.

The President is expected to focus a fair amount of his speech on bi-partisan government.  Look, people, we have two political parties for a reason....they represent disparate viewpoints, and bring those views to Congress.  This is a GOOD THING.  Debate between differing views should lead to better legislation, and a better rule of the country.  Unfortunately, the recent political history has shown that our representatives in Congress are more concerned with denigrating anything the other party has to say, and refusing to work together to accomplish anything.  The abject lack of respect for anyone else's ideas in politics these days is preventing anyone from doing the people's business in Washington.  Until this changes, I fear we won't see any meaningful legislation accomplished.