Quote of the Day

"The audience for the most part is awake, because they’re bobbing up and down, and we sit there, stone-faced, sober judges. But we’re not, at least I wasn’t, 100 percent sober."

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg

Ginsberg admitted to The Hill that she was slightly drunk during the State of the Union.

Live Tweeting the State of the Union

I will be live tweeting the State of the Union @pushingrope. I will be posting updates here.

USA Today has State of the Union bingo.

It's almost time to play #SOTU Bingo! (Printable here: http://t.co/As8H4TD9j0) pic.twitter.com/vvMy3Iy3cT

— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) January 29, 2014

9:05 There is nothing more electrifying than than Chuck Hagel walking into a room. I'm shocked he wasn't mobbed by groupies.

Roper Litbrit fired off this tweet.

Guantánamo Still Open #SOTUin3words

— Deborah N. Tornello (@litbrit) January 29, 2014

Charles Johnson fired off this SOTU drinking game tip.

Note: I'll only drink if John Boehner weeps openly.

— Charles Johnson (@Green_Footballs) January 29, 2014

The House Republicans are going to fact-check the State of the Union. Seriously?

Note: I'll only drink if John Boehner weeps openly.

— Charles Johnson (@Green_Footballs) January 29, 2014

9:11 Here comes Obama.

Ginger Lee on the Man from Orange.

Boehner bangs that gavel so angrily. http://t.co/4UGpUOT8Nj

— Ginger (@gingerlee) January 29, 2014

9:16 Obama looks confident. We aren't getting rather be someplace else Obama.

9:16 Obama praises autoworkers.

"An autoworker fine-tuned some of the best, most fuel-efficient cars in the world"

9:18 Obama is praising Congress. Well, everybody just loves Congress.

9:20 Now Obama lectures Congress on the debt ceiling. Good.

9:20 "As President I am committed to making Washington work better." -- Obama.

9:21 Obama: "Let’s make this a year of action. That’s what most Americans want"

9:22 I wouldn't be surprised if Joe Biden is drawing a picture of a penis. #SOTU

Obama says he will use executive power to deal with economic inequality.

9:24 Obama said "inequality." Drink. #SOTU

9:25 Obama got a smile and a thumbs up from John Boehner. Damn!

9:26 Tax reform is dead on arrival. #SOTU

People across America are saying I rather listen to an infrastructure speech than watch Justified #SOTU

9:32 Not really. Obama; "America is closer to energy independence than we've been in decades."

Great picture of Biden being Biden.

Yep. RT @ethanklapper Biden! pic.twitter.com/ALDMAfsD6I

— Andres Almeida (@andresdavid) January 29, 2014

@BarackObama: "Climate change is a fact."

@BarackObama says fix immigration. Time for @marcorubio to take a drink of water.

9:39 Obama: "But first, this Congress needs to restore the unemployment insurance you just let expire for 1.6 million people." #SOTU

9:42 Memo to Obama: Race to the Top sucks. Big time.

Transcript of the SOTU.

9:45 Obama: "Women deserve equal pay for equal work."

9:50 Obama: "Today, the federal minimum wage is worth about twenty percent less than it was when Ronald Reagan first stood here."

9:51 @marcorubio will cringe that Obama gave him a shout out. I wish Obama would go and hug Rubio now. Rubio would see his political life flash before him.

9:53 Is Obama going to do something about toxic mortgage-backed sucurities? Not likely. #SOTU

I wonder if Karl Rove has any remorse about the Iraq war. I haven't heard him say he's sorry.

No remorse. No apology to millions who lost coverage because of ObamaCare or have higher premiums, larger deductibles.

— Karl Rove (@KarlRove) January 29, 2014

10:00 Zero chance Gov. Rick Scott will institute Obama's voting reforms. Scott wants long lines.

10:03 Obama: Together with allies, we will complete mission [in Afghanistan] by the end of this year & America’s longest war will finally be over.

10:06 That is an expensive martini glass holder Speaker John Boehner has in front of him. #SOTU

10:08 Short answer: talks between Israel and Palistine isn't going anywhere.

Obama on Iran: ""It is American diplomacy, backed by pressure, that has halted the progress of Iran’s nuclear program."

If Reagan and JFK could negotiate with USSR, then surely US can negotiate with less powerful adversaries today.

10:12 Shorter Obama: Our alliance with Europe is strong even though the Euro scares the shit out of the Treasury Department.

This is the first State of the Union that didn't make me want to pull my hair out. I don't miss neoliberal Obama.

State of the Union Live Blogging

Here is an excerpt of tonight's State of the Union address. The President Barack Obama that wanted to cut entitlements is not present. Obama is targeting his speech at the 99 percent.

“Think about the America within our reach: A country that leads the world in educating its people. An America that attracts a new generation of high-tech manufacturing and high-paying jobs. A future where we’re in control of our own energy, and our security and prosperity aren’t so tied to unstable parts of the world. An economy built to last, where hard work pays off, and responsibility is rewarded. “
…
“….The defining issue of our time is how to keep that promise alive. No challenge is more urgent. No debate is more important. We can either settle for a country where a shrinking number of people do really well, while a growing number of Americans barely get by. Or we can restore an economy where everyone gets a fair shot, everyone does their fair share, and everyone plays by the same set of rules. What’s at stake are not Democratic values or Republican values, but American values. We have to reclaim them.”
…
“As long as I’m President, I will work with anyone in this chamber to build on this momentum. But I intend to fight obstruction with action, and I will oppose any effort to return to the very same policies that brought on this economic crisis in the first place.

No, we will not go back to an economy weakened by outsourcing, bad debt, and phony financial profits. Tonight, I want to speak about how we move forward, and lay out a blueprint for an economy that’s built to last – an economy built on American manufacturing, American energy, skills for American workers, and a renewal of American values.”
…
“Let’s never forget: Millions of Americans who work hard and play by the rules every day deserve a government and a financial system that do the same. It’s time to apply the same rules from top to bottom: No bailouts, no handouts, and no copouts. An America built to last insists on responsibility from everybody.”

What is interesting is that Obama says he will fight Republican obstruction. Hopefully, Obama's naivety that Ryan Lizza showed in internal White House memos is gone. The sheer stupidity of Obama's assessment of the Republicans is staggering.

In Obama's world he equates Nancy Pelosi to convicted felon Tom Delay. In Obama's world, religious fundamentalists that discriminate are the same as gay rights activist. In Obama's world, the award-winning New York Times is equal to the political propaganda of Fox News. Obama stated so in his book the "Audacity of Hope."

Tom DeLay or Nancy Pelosi, big oil or greedy trial lawyers, religious zealots or gay activists, Fox News or the New York Times.

Obama is not a smart man.

8:52 Gottalaff wasn't kidding. John Boehner is really extra orange tonight.

8:53 Ladies, Mitch McConnell is in the house. Control yourselves.

8:55 Secretary Tom Vilsack is the one cabinet member not at the SOTU.

8:56 Gabby Giffords gets a standing ovation.

8:59 Joe Biden and Michelle Obama wave at each other. Matt Drudge should post a rumor in about 5 minutes.

9:00 Good God! More Brian Williams. I had enough of him last night.

Benjamin Kirby is live blogging.

9:06 Obama is in the house.

Peter Schorsch makes note about how political followers like to turn the SOTU and debates into a drinking game.

It's getting to the point where there is a political drinking game every damn night of the week.

Schorsch is live blogging the debate.

9:13 Obama points out that Osama bin Laden is dead. Big cheers. Obama will hammer Republicans on that.

9:14 After last night's Republican debate, it is interesting to hear the striking gap the GOP candidates have with Obama's speaking skills.

9:18 Obama bashing Wall Street. This is the Occupy Wall Street election.

9:19 Obama should not brag about the watered-down Dodd-Frank bill.

9:20 Cash for Clunkers did work. I was against it.

9:22 This speech is Obama being defensive. Obama is saying the economy is rebounding. Believe that when I see it.

9:26 Obama is selling in-sourcing of businesses.

Funny tweet from Kevin Drum.

Sort of amusing watching Boehner's painfully reluctant applause.

9:30 Obama: "It's time to turn our unemployment system into a reemployment system." Who know Obama was Bob Dylan?

9:33 Am I the only one who notices that the Republicans are on their best behavior?

9:34 Obama talks about work study. I was on a work study program in high school.

9:36 Obama bringing up the Dream Act. This is bold the risk adverse Obama. Republicans boo. GOP, kiss Hispanic votes goodbye.

9:37 Obama: "Women should earn equal pay for equal work." Are the Obamabots going to say they love deficit commission era Obama better?

9:42 Both parties are starting to fall to sleep listening to Obama talk about car batteries.

9:43 Yes! Get rid of the oil subsidies!

9:46 Obama is pitching infrastructure projects. The Republicans will not support it because building highways is socialist.

9:47 Obama say the banks have a "deficit of trust."

9:48 Both parties about to shit themselves when Obama talks about new regulations on banks. Those banks are who Congress represents.

9:51 I'm fearing that Obama truly believes that Dodd-Frank would prevent another market crash.

9:54 No applause from either party for Obama's proposal of financial crimes unit. Congress really hearts the banks.

9:55 Obama: "Do we want to keep these tax cuts." Republicans will fight tooth and nail to keep the Bush tax cuts.

9:59 Ginger Lee makes fun of the likely Republican response.

13.9% is fair, Barry. Stop trying to take money away from people that didn't work hard for it!

10:01 Obama gets booed for wanting to ban insider trading in Congress. Hysterical.

10:05 Obama talks about the Arab Spring and Libya regine change. Republicans are going to have problems attacking him on foreign policy.

10:09 Jill Filipovic's reaction to inexclusive Obama surprised me

"Christians, Muslims and Jews." Um... crap.

It comes off as pandering but the SOTU is all about pandering.

10:12 Standing ovation for the "people in uniform."

10:13 Obama proposes a Veterans jobs corp to employ military vets.

Please no.... Obama making his pitching for bipartisanship. Give it up.

State of the Union over.

Peter Schorsch is wrong about this being Obama's worst SOTU speech. It was a good speech. Most over all it was a great campaign speech. Obama is staking a clear contrast between himself and the GOP candidates. With the exception of the end, Obama didn't try to triangulate. Obama has learn that the Dick Morris strategy doesn't work.

John Boehner looks extremely uncomfortable as Obama proposes legislation on lobbying and members of Congress owning stocks in companies they regulate.



10:30 Mitch Daniels starts the SOTU response by saying nice thing about Obama. Daniels admits that Obama didn't start the economic crisis. Smart move politically.

10:31 Daniels compares America's economy to the European Euro crisis. The Daniels answer is less regulation.

10:33 People are rightly pointing out that Daniels had horrible policies as President Bush's budget director. Daniels can hardly brag about his fiscal conservatism by preceding over record deficits.

10:37 Daniels talks about bipartisanship and then attacks Obama. A true bipartisan statesman.

10:38 Mitch Daniels sound like a David Brooks op-ed.

10:39 Daniels is talking about cutting entitlements. The Republicans want to run against Obama on cutting Social Security and Medicare. This is what happens when a party goes to the extreme right. They think the American peoplke are the tea party.

Live Blogging State of the Union

8:42 Joe Biden in the House.

8:49 "Deficit" will be mentioned 11 times in SOTU speech #sotudrinkinggame

8:52 Speaker Boehner introducing members of Congress. Biden introduces Obama's Senate escort. The Joint Session is officially in order.

8:55 The State of the Union transcript.

8:58 Michelle Obama in the house.

9:02 The SOTU takes longer than Lebron James' The Decision special.

From Obama's speech. The President is fundamentally wrong about this.

We are part of the American family. We believe that in a country where every race and faith and point of view can be found, we are still bound together as one people; that we share common hopes and a common creed; that the dreams of a little girl in Tucson are not so different than those of our own children, and that they all deserve the chance to be fulfilled.

The Republican Party openly plays to xenophobic fears. Bashing gays, Muslims, feminists and Hispanics is what gets them elected into office. The President should have used his bully pulpit during the health care debate to call them out on it. Instead Obama cowered.

9:06 Obama in the house.

9:11 John Roberts doing a great job hiding his enthusiasm.

9:11 So far this is coming off as a bipartisan lovefest.

9:12 Obama: "And as we mark this occasion, we are also mindful of the empty chair in this Chamber, and pray for the health of our colleague – and our friend – Gabby Giffords."

9:14 Obama's energy level is good. Past speeches he seemed tired.

9:15 Obama: "We will move forward together, or not at all – for the challenges we face are bigger than party, and bigger than politics." Will Republicans get the message? Doubtful.

9:19 Obama bashing China and India for taking American jobs. That might be corporations make money by investing and not creating.

David Corn tweeted this.

Number of times "Wall Street" appears in speech: 0. #SOTU

9:22 Obama said "deficit." Drink up.

9:24 Obama giving NASA a shoutout.

9:25 If Obama's hope for creating jobs is research and development grants then we are in trouble. R&D grant seldom pay off immediately.

9:29 Obama: "Over the next ten years, nearly half of all new jobs will require education that goes beyond a high school degree. And yet, as many as a quarter of our students aren’t even finishing high school."

9:29 Obama says success not a result of fame. Tell that to the Jersey Shores cast.

9:31 Hillary Clinton looks like she is about to fall asleep.

9:33 Obama's pitches for children to become teachers. Kids will think twice when they find out how much teachers get paid.

9:37 Immigration reform is the red herring issue politician like talking about. Americans don't care.

9:39 Infrastructure jobs! Obama needs to pound the jobs aspect of infrastructure.

9:41 Obama: "Over the years, a parade of lobbyists has rigged the tax code to benefit particular companies and industries. Those with accountants or lawyers to work the system can end up paying no taxes at all."

9:43 Shorter Obama: pass my fucking South Korea trade agreement.

9:45 Obama really shouldn't brag about the watered down financial reform bill.

9:49 Spending freeze! Welcome to the Herbert Hoover administration. Obama's economic policy DC is merely talking points.

9:51 Republicans have group orgasm over tort reform.

9:52 Where is Obama going with Social Security? He is vague.

9:57 Obama on earmarks: the most unintimidating veto threat ever.

10:01 Bullshit. Obama: "But we are strengthening the capacity of the Afghan people and building an enduring partnership with them."

10:07 Obama mentions about Don't Ask Don't Tell.

It is over.