printNot that the Xbox nation would notice, but there are a lot more flashing images on Barack Obama’s website, at WhiteHouse.gov, than there are written words. As such, not much information is available on the president’s annual State of the Union message.
But like everything in the Constitution, a modest thing has morphed into a monstrosity. Article II, Section 3 of the Constitution required that the president “shall from time to time give to Congress information of the state of Union.”
A “Stalinesque extravaganza” that ought to offend “anyone of a republican (small ‘r’ …) sensibility,” is how National Review’s John Derbyshire has described the State of the Union speech. “American politics frequently throws up disgusting spectacles. It throws up one most years in January: the State of the Union speech,” writes Derb in “We Are Doomed: Reclaiming Conservative Pessimism,” a book I discussed in “Derb Is Right: ‘We Are Doomed'”
John goes on to furnish the quotidian details of how “the great man” is announced, how he makes an entrance; the way “the legislators jostle to catch his eye” and receive his favor. “On the podium at last, the president offers up preposterously grandiose assurances of protection, provision, and moral guidance from his government, these declarations of benevolent omnipotence punctuated by standing ovations and cheers from legislators” (p. 45).
Then there is the display of “Lenny Skutniks” in the audience, “model citizens chosen in order to represent some quality the president will call on us to admire and emulate” (last year it was the family of the little girl who was murdered by the Tucson shooter).
Derb analyzes this monarchical, contrived tradition against the backdrop of the steady inflation of the presidential office, and a trend “away from ‘prose’ to ‘poetry’; away from substantive argument to “hot air.”
The president of the USA is now “pontiff, in touch with Divinity, to be addressed like the Almighty.”
Prepare to puke.
UPDATE (Jan. 24): THE BARF RULE. The “Lenny Skutnik” for 2012 is …Warren Buffett’s secretary.
Debbie Bosanek “will be sitting with the first lady in her gallery box Tuesday night as President Obama announces his plans for tax reform at the State of the Union address. Bosanek, who has worked for Buffett for nearly two decades, has become as symbol of Obama’s tax reform plan. The ‘Buffett rule,’ named after her billionaire boss, aims to insure that wealthy taxpayers do not pay an effective tax rate lower than their secretaries.” (Via FoxNews)
Prepare to barf.
My mortgage was satisfied through XBOX development.
Derbyshire’s “Stalinesque extravaganza” is quite so, but damn it to hell this is America not the cabbage and potatoes Soviet. The extravaganza need something extra, it needs Hollywood production values.
As the President enters in procession an image appears back projected on a huge screen – the sun rises morphing into the beaming face of the leader, a fanfare accompanies the image, opening bars of ‘Fanfare for the Common Man’ or ‘Also Sprach Zarathustra’ depending on which Party is in. There’s so much that could be done to make people tune in – Hollywood has let their man down.
I long ago ceased listening to Obama’s speeches as I became less and less able to control my gag reflex.
THE STATE OF THE UNION…..
Reminds me of the old movie, CLEOPATRA, and her grand entrance into Rome.
I think describing POTUS as “pontiff” would be somewhat of an insult to him. XERXES, ALEXANDER THE GREAT, and the PHARAOHs of ancient Egypt are the role models for this man as evidenced by his speech in Berlin just over 3 years ago re changing the world.
Remember, he is THE “ONE” and the proof is in all the Czars he has appointed to rule us.
When his Highness was inaugurated, you wrote, “Lead me to the Vomitorium”.
We are there.
My best to you and yours, Ilana.
Jefferson got away with the Speech From The Throne until Messianic Woodrow Wilson brought it back. As the US has going further into the Warfare-Welfare Leviathan, THE SPEECH has evolved into its current obscene nature (I will skip it entirely).
Thank you Dennis, for your wonderful analysis.
Yes, tonight, HIS mortal subjects will be able to see THE ONE on Television … “Ladies and Gentleman, the Provider of Health Care, Educator of the Young, Savior of Democracy, Nation Builder of Nations, Bailouterer of Banks, Cleanser of the Environment, Protector of our Freedoms from Neanderthal Warlords, Supporter of Housing Prices, Rescuer of the Economy, Employer of the Multitudes, Friend of all Mankind, Houser of the Homeless, Nurturer of the Undernourished, Deliverer of the Downtrodden, Light of the Blind, Healer of the Handicapped, Fondler of the Airline Travelers, Hope of the Elderly, Messiah of Hope and Change, the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES (obligatory applause and whoops for 5 minutes).”
Fanfare for the common man, is one of my favorite pieces. Can’t you replace it with ‘Bad to the bone’ That’s my ‘after three glasses’ entrance favorite. That’s also about the same time I can handle the kings entrance; before totting off. You know, leave before I have to listen to drivel; I can’t drink enough to handle that.
Hey RP…Does he do the dishes, the laundry, and clean toilets as well?
I’m still chuckling over your stream of significant titles he holds! 🙂
If you have to listen to anything, the CATO Institute takes apart a lot of the idiotic socialistic blather here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQdwr-xNJIU