State of the Union: The biggest non-event of the year; Update: Jennifer Loven hit piece spotted! Update: Video: Jim Webb responds; Update: World’s worst anti-Bush song lyrics added!
posted at 8:38 pm on January 23, 2007 by Allahpundit
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I’ve never understood the fuss, particularly given that it’s Bush. By my count, he’s delivered exactly four memorable speeches in the past six years and only one of them is still remembered fondly: the address to Congress after 9/11, the “axis of evil” SOTU, the “Mission Accomplished” speech, and the second inaugural address. We’re looking at an hour of energy-policy wonkery, global-warming alarmism, and shopworn bromides about how crucial victory in Iraq is. What’s left to say? If it’s worth watching at all, it’s only to see at which key phrases Hillary ostentatiously rolls her eyes.
Captain Ed and Mary K are liveblogging it. You all may consider this an open thread. In the unlikely event that anything video-worthy happens, we’d of course appreciate it if you tipped us to it. In the meantime, read Barnett’s amusing Q&A, in which he attempts to convince himself — unsuccessfully — that this will be at all redeeming or useful. Or read this, which isn’t so much good news as delightful news. Or, if you’re in the mood for class warfare, read the transcript of Jim Webb’s rebuttal at Drudge. In two words: lose faster.
Here’s a left-wing comedy preview of the address, which is as tired in its own way as Bush is in his. The segment at the end with “Hillary” and “Obama” is almost amusing, though.
Update: It hasn’t started yet but Ace has already finished liveblogging it.
“He seemed uncomfortable and repeated many of the same tired slogans of the past. He proposed a raft of new spending initiatives designed primarily to win over the support of those who hate him more — much more — than Osama bin Ladin. He also basically said that Mexicans were good, nice people who deserved jobs more than Amercians.”
Update (Ian): 
Reaction (Bryan): This speech was a snooze. The SOTU, with its laundry lists of government programs and we’re-here-to-help bromides, has become the most liberal moment of the year. I’m glad it’s over and my wallet is still in my possession. For now, anyway.
Still, it’s revealing that the Democrats stand up when the President mentions Darfur–where there are no US troops and won’t be any US troops–but sit on their hands when he mentions Iraq–where there are US troops and where there will be US troops fighting hard for a while to come. What possesses a group of people to take Sudan more seriously than Iraq as a crisis? What possesses a group of people to rank the importance of international crises in an inverse relationship to those crises’ effect on US national security? I already skewered one Democrat over this phenomenon last month, so I’ll just apply that post to the entire Democrat party minus Joe Lieberman. What a bunch of unserious buffoons.
I won’t stick around for Webb’s response, though, again it’s telling who the Democrats picked to deliver it. Webb has a son in Iraq, but he’s a Sheehan on the war, and is most recently famous for being rude to the President. What a guy!
Update: Barnett, having not learned his lesson about pessimism from the election, says he’s pleasantly surprised and will have something gushy first thing in the a.m.
Update: Mary K sees an inbound attack from left-wing shill/“reporter” Jennifer Loven — and intercepts it!
Update (Ian): 84% say Bush was excellent:
Update (Ian): In the Democratic response Sen. Jim Webb (VA) threatens to show President Bush “the way”:
Update: Here’s what passes for an op-ed in the New York Times these days. The bard? Randy Newman.
I’d like to say a few words
In defense of our country
Whose people aren’t bad nor are they mean
Now the leaders we have
While they’re the worst that we’ve had
Are hardly the worst this poor world has seen…A president once said,
“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself”
Now it seems like we’re supposed to be afraid
It’s patriotic in fact and color coded
And what are we supposed to be afraid of?
Why, of being afraid
That’s what terror means, doesn’t it?
That’s what it used to meanThe end of an empire is messy at best
And this empire is ending
Like all the rest
Like the Spanish Armada adrift on the sea
We’re adrift in the land of the brave
And the home of the free
Goodbye. Goodbye. Goodbye.
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I never found these speeches to be too interesting. And the thought of seeing Stretch looking down smugly over the President’s shoulder gives me the willies. I think I’ll watch some hoops.
JammieWearingFool on January 23, 2007 at 8:55 PM
My opinion: I’m going to watch some Anime instead. (I just picked up “Full Metal Panic: The Second Raid” volume 1
SO long as the Main Stream Media want “Death to America, Death to Bush the Second”…
Nothing good can come from
DNCNBC coverage.Between
Captain HyperboleBrian Williams, andThe Cromagnon CretinDavid Gregory, and the other anti-reality-spin-meisters… sigh.I’d rather sit through Jury Instructions.
For a Patent Case.
Besides, Cable News will probably be focused on this for the next week or two. Especially if there isn’t any breaking news.
Sigh.
I’ll probably watch the speech anyway.
Jones Zemkophill on January 23, 2007 at 8:55 PM
I’m looking forward to Hot Air’s take on the up coming speech. An old friend is in town, time to slam a few…
Zorro on January 23, 2007 at 8:55 PM
Somebody has to keep an eye on this band of thieves and liars.
I’m in.
steveegg on January 23, 2007 at 8:59 PM
Who has the SotU drinking game rules?
steveegg on January 23, 2007 at 8:59 PM
1. Economy pulled back from recession
2. Employment lowest in years
3. No Attacks since 911
4. Tax Cuts
5. Border
uncontrol - well at least canada stays put6. Afgan/Iraq War - mixed nuts
Halp me - wounded duck syndrom
There’s more I’m sure, but 4 and 1/2 outta 6 ain’t bad.
Kini on January 23, 2007 at 9:01 PM
Somebody wake me up if he says we’re going to secure our southern border, deport the imams, and bring back our manufacturing from China.
Dave Shay on January 23, 2007 at 9:03 PM
Hope you brought your pillow Dave.
steveegg on January 23, 2007 at 9:03 PM
I’m going to predict right now, that some nutty lefty, invited by some Democrat in congress, shouts out and holds a brief protest before being dragged out. This will be followed by a couple days of news about how this person is considering legal action because they were “roughed up”. The left blogs will blame Bush’s police state, and say that the administration was once again trying to stiffle free speech.
RightWinged on January 23, 2007 at 9:06 PM
BARF… Bill Kristol just said he’s glad to see Pelosi behind the POTUS instead of Hastert… Said it will be “nice”.
RightWinged on January 23, 2007 at 9:08 PM
here he comes… everyone on the aisles get ready for your photo op
RightWinged on January 23, 2007 at 9:09 PM
May the good Lord forgive me…I’m suffering through Olby and Matthews on (P)MSNBC…I just couldn’t pass this opportunity up…
JetBoy on January 23, 2007 at 9:09 PM
w00t. Todd Platts on “Handshake Row” Its a bad sign when I can recognise US Representatives by their face.
Jones Zemkophill on January 23, 2007 at 9:11 PM
I was tempted to watch the new episode of Dirty Jobs instead… but decided to record it and tune in to this.
Ugly on January 23, 2007 at 9:12 PM
Hope you’re not Catholic, JetBoy. You’ll need a lot of penance.
steveegg on January 23, 2007 at 9:12 PM
Ugh… “Madam Speaker”
/not that there’s anything wrong with that
Ugly on January 23, 2007 at 9:13 PM
Pelosi is so out of place up there… she just doesn’t belong. (and no libs, it’s not about her being a woman, or even because she’s such a shameful human being). It just doesn’t fit for some reason.
RightWinged on January 23, 2007 at 9:14 PM
Unfortunatly…I am Catholic, steveegg…I’ve made reservations for a weekend retreat in a small room with a screen in it, and a nice place to kneel…
JetBoy on January 23, 2007 at 9:14 PM
I tried it for a couple minutes JetBoy, but I started to feel a little vomit at the back of my throat.
oakpack on January 23, 2007 at 9:14 PM
I’m pretty sure there was booing when Pelosi announced the president. Classy!
insomni on January 23, 2007 at 9:16 PM
OMG! It hasn’t even started and we have this many posts! As we speak, he just put a wet one on Pelosi’s butt…
I will see what comes from this, but I can guarantee you that whatever is mentioned by Bush on a political level will be trashed by the Dem’s response…it’s always a political game, hence politics.
PS Notice how Cheney is leaning away from Pelosi??hehehe
lsutiger on January 23, 2007 at 9:16 PM
Gotta love Cheney, as with all previous SOTUs, scanning the room looking like he’s trying to decide who he’s going to fight in the parking lot later.
RightWinged on January 23, 2007 at 9:17 PM
Star trek Voyager re-runs and SG1 re-runs are on…
retired on January 23, 2007 at 9:18 PM
Dems aren’t happy about promises not to raise taxes and to balance the budget… lucky for them the media won’t break their balls on it
RightWinged on January 23, 2007 at 9:19 PM
haha… Hillary sitting behind Obama
Ugly on January 23, 2007 at 9:19 PM
haha Check out the look on Pelosi’s botoxed face…
JetBoy on January 23, 2007 at 9:19 PM
Anyone notice Hillary! OMG same look as last year…shill
flyboy777 on January 23, 2007 at 9:19 PM
Ol’ Nancy was smilin’ and grinnin’ while the President was kissing her (deleted)… but boy, as soon as he started talking business she looked like she was chewing on a really sour pickle.
Yeah, and Kristol made me want to slap him too.
LegendHasIt on January 23, 2007 at 9:19 PM
lol, Teddy is taking a nap
RightWinged on January 23, 2007 at 9:21 PM
Is Teddy passing out?
oakpack on January 23, 2007 at 9:21 PM
I’m glad Teddy just moved his hand. Thought at first he might be a corpse propped up there. Guess he is just asleep or drunk or both.
LegendHasIt on January 23, 2007 at 9:22 PM
Are Teddy’s pants on?
JetBoy on January 23, 2007 at 9:23 PM
Hillary seat behind Obama, perfect. She looks like she hasn’t had a good movement in about 6 months.
freebird on January 23, 2007 at 9:23 PM
uh, that’s seated
freebird on January 23, 2007 at 9:24 PM
Obamarama looks like he is asleep too.
LegendHasIt on January 23, 2007 at 9:24 PM
I think Shrillary killed Obama.
oakpack on January 23, 2007 at 9:24 PM
Gotta love the Shrillary Smirk
elpresidente on January 23, 2007 at 9:26 PM
Sounds nice, but the libs have driven all the private insurance companies out of the state… the cheapest individual plan I (self employed) can get is something like $400/month. But good ol’ socialist VT, they’ve got a new plan coming in in October that is going to screw small businesses.
RightWinged on January 23, 2007 at 9:26 PM
The Dem’s are glued to their seats again…
JetBoy on January 23, 2007 at 9:27 PM
Well, the only really good thing so far is malpractice suit reform.
LegendHasIt on January 23, 2007 at 9:28 PM
Does anyone else find Pelosi’s constant blinking distracting?
RightWinged on January 23, 2007 at 9:28 PM
Tancredo not too impressed
elpresidente on January 23, 2007 at 9:28 PM
First Boo - Don’t raise taxes
clapity, clapity, clap,clap,clap(from southpark if you recognise)
OMG ROTFLOL - saw Kerry raise and clap..looks like he was biting his tounge and in a pre
lsutiger on January 23, 2007 at 9:29 PM
you guys are right… curious that Obama is seated right in front of Hillary, so they repeatedly share the shot… the ticket is already decided.
RightWinged on January 23, 2007 at 9:29 PM
I find Pelosi’s constant breathing distracting.
But she must have gotten some loosening work done… She used to not be able to blink.
LegendHasIt on January 23, 2007 at 9:30 PM
Wow….did I really just hear the Pres say, “without amnesty” when referring to illegals?
American_Jihadist on January 23, 2007 at 9:30 PM
Not only her… McCain seems to have a chronic George Costanza Wink happening.
Ugly on January 23, 2007 at 9:31 PM
*pre-seisure
lsutiger on January 23, 2007 at 9:31 PM
I think it’s the lemon she’s chewing on.
oakpack on January 23, 2007 at 9:31 PM
Ol’ Nancy was smilin’ and grinnin’ while the President was kissing her (deleted)… but boy, as soon as he started talking business she looked like she was chewing on a really sour pickle.
She may have chewed a few sour ones in her day.
freebird on January 23, 2007 at 9:33 PM
I heard it, too. Is this a change of heart or change of terminology?
Editor on January 23, 2007 at 9:33 PM
Did Bush just give creedence to man-made global warming?
JetBoy on January 23, 2007 at 9:33 PM
but I wonder, on all he has asked in the past, how much of it has come to fruition?? With a Republican house and senate???
Yay!
lsutiger on January 23, 2007 at 9:34 PM
Durbin apparently invited two wounded Iraq vets. They don’t appear to be war critics, so one has to wonder if they’re familiar with Durbin’s comments about the troops at Gitmo. Considering they didn’t get a lot of MSM play, I think it’s perfectly reasonable to assume they never heard about it, especially if they’ve been busy on the ground in Iraq.
RightWinged on January 23, 2007 at 9:34 PM
Off topic, but that reminded me of a joke I read the other day: “When life gives you Aids, make Lemonaids”
Ugly on January 23, 2007 at 9:35 PM
Cute! Cheney and Bush just took a sip of water in perfect synchronization.
If I were over at DU or Kos I’d be calling that “proof of puppet/puppetmaster”
LegendHasIt on January 23, 2007 at 9:35 PM
Jerry: Pulp can’t make it across the table.
George: Pulp can move baby!
RightWinged on January 23, 2007 at 9:35 PM
Didn’t catch it, but I wouldn’t be surprised. Big money in scaring people to death.
Ugly on January 23, 2007 at 9:36 PM
He has never been willing to call ‘amnesty’ “amnesty”, so that’s nothing new.
LegendHasIt on January 23, 2007 at 9:37 PM
Stick it to ‘em! We are fighting terror, whether you Dems and the MSM want to admit it or not… we could always do more, but we are breaking up cells all the time, and I’m sure efforts are forcing others in to hiding or to figure out other plans… and I’m sure there are plenty of other things going on that we don’t even know about… and shouldn’t.
RightWinged on January 23, 2007 at 9:37 PM
LOL RW…
Ugly on January 23, 2007 at 9:37 PM
What? The seinfeld quote?
RightWinged on January 23, 2007 at 9:39 PM
Thata boy W. A little mid-east truth.
oakpack on January 23, 2007 at 9:40 PM
Hillery and Nancy don’t believe we have any islamic enemies at all. Just W.
techno_barbarian on January 23, 2007 at 9:40 PM
wonder if he brings up discount-mats story of dissing soldiers to marginalize critics tonight
fudgypup on January 23, 2007 at 9:40 PM
Evidently Bush doesn’t give a crap about his base any more, but he’s hell bent on shoring up his support with his opponent’s base - which will hate him for all eternity.
Smrt.
Real smrt.
Hoodlumman on January 23, 2007 at 9:41 PM
*tear* I’m so proud - the president said “totalitarian” and said it RIGHT!
rhuseman on January 23, 2007 at 9:41 PM
Yes, but that’s not surprising. Many sops to the greenies tonight.
The big government capitalists have finally figured out how to make money off of ‘global warming’ so it is going to be a fact of life from now on, even though not a fact of true science.
LegendHasIt on January 23, 2007 at 9:41 PM
Pelosi’s reptilian blinking Must. Stop.
Bryan on January 23, 2007 at 9:43 PM
McCain appears to be napping too.
That’s a nasty twitch he’s got… But at least he has earned a good excuse for it, so I can’t fault him for it..
LegendHasIt on January 23, 2007 at 9:43 PM
He needs to go oldschool Dubya on ‘em:
RightWinged on January 23, 2007 at 9:43 PM
God bless you kids; I don’t know how you can do it. I won’t even turn it on. I just don’t have the stomach, and I already know what I think about Bush, etc.:
Iraq and Federal Judges: good for you, and don’t go wobbly.
Health Care, Global Warming, Illegal Immigrants, Domestic Spending: go f*ck yourself, you leftist weenie.
Jaibones on January 23, 2007 at 9:44 PM
Yeah. Just saw that one a few days ago. Glad someone remembered it ;)
Ugly on January 23, 2007 at 9:44 PM
Thank you! I asked about this a while back, and wasn’t sure if it was just me.
RightWinged on January 23, 2007 at 9:44 PM
I just put a piece of tape over the TV screen…covering Pelosi’s eyes…I can’t take it anymore…
JetBoy on January 23, 2007 at 9:44 PM
Victory! We must have victory in Iraq and the ME.
techno_barbarian on January 23, 2007 at 9:45 PM
Dude, you can’t even imagine how vast my Seinfeld knowledge is.
RightWinged on January 23, 2007 at 9:45 PM
I see the Dems didn’t clap for victory, how becoming
flyboy777 on January 23, 2007 at 9:45 PM
Sitting here watching this and seeing Cheney and Pelosi seated side by side and occasionally speaking quietly makes me wonder if the conversation is something along the lines of:
Cheney: Want to go hunting?
Pelosi: You mean with guns and stuff?
Cheney: Only for you, my dear.
American_Jihadist on January 23, 2007 at 9:45 PM
I think if she just moved that piece of hair in her left eye it would stop.
oakpack on January 23, 2007 at 9:46 PM
Anyone know Morse Code?
freebird on January 23, 2007 at 9:46 PM
Notice that the liberals wouldn’t stand when he called for victory in Iraq.
Just disgusting.
Dr. Gecko on January 23, 2007 at 9:47 PM
c’mon Cheney, sweep the leg!
fudgypup on January 23, 2007 at 9:47 PM
I’m waiting for her to stop blinking and resort to licking her eyes. You know she’s a reptilian, right…
Ugly on January 23, 2007 at 9:48 PM
Via Malkin:
via Drudge (h/t Malkin)
SOTU text - Dem response
RightWinged on January 23, 2007 at 9:48 PM
They didn’t stand for judges either.
oakpack on January 23, 2007 at 9:48 PM
Crane kick Pelosi right in the eye..
Dr. Gecko on January 23, 2007 at 9:48 PM
hahaha
Ugly on January 23, 2007 at 9:48 PM
Was that a hint toward a more rational, less PC rules of engagement on the war on terror? If so, my first really big BRAVO to the President in tonight’s speech.
LegendHasIt on January 23, 2007 at 9:48 PM
Nancy didn’t even clap for success in Iraq.
oakpack on January 23, 2007 at 9:50 PM
I remember when GW was President. Good times.
Editor on January 23, 2007 at 9:50 PM
freebird wins the thread!
RightWinged on January 23, 2007 at 9:50 PM
Oh *NOW* you stand up!
F*cking scumbags.
The Ugly American on January 23, 2007 at 9:50 PM
Have they shown the wife of the jailed Border Patrol agent yet? I read that she’d be there tonight.
Ugly on January 23, 2007 at 9:51 PM
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