State of the Union Address

[Phasad1913]

http://news.yahoo.com/fc/us/bush_administration

Did any of you watch it? There wasn't anything really different included, in my opinion. He did include more ideas on the environment, which was good, and strengthening American competitiveness in various ways. I liked that. He seemed to be a bit more congnizant of some Democratic measures too. I guess it was ok.

[wrigley]

I want to know who had the cell phone that went off during one of the pauses in the President's speech or was that on just the ABC feed?

Poor Cindy Sheehan. She had a ringside seat for The State Of The Union. Then she gets arrested for trying to bring a banner inside.

[Sister Havana]

I heard the cell phone go off on the C-Span feed too.

[Phasad1913]

Originally posted by wrigley


Poor Cindy Sheehan. She had a ringside seat for The State Of The Union. Then she gets arrested for trying to bring a banner inside.

well, we don't know for sure if she actually had a banner. I immediatly thought when I heard the report that maybe, just maybe, it was the repubs scheme just to get her out of there. I'm serious. I can't help it. That's what I think. We'll see, though. But if she later denies that she even had a banner, I won't be surprised.

[alum]

My daughter (who worked in Congress in high school) said that a "banner" would never be allowed. She was appalled that earlier today the Army Sgt. was allowed to bring her dog ONTO the Senate floor!

[honeychile]

I heard that the dog was the famous bomb-sniffing dog - they've been at State of the Union Addresses before.

I doubt that Cindy Sheehan could get a banner through security, but she covered up her t-shirt until she got into her seat. That's when she was asked to leave/escorted out/arrested.

[alum]

The dog was at the regular Senate session earlier today, NOT at the joint session on the House Floor for the SOTU.

[KSigkid]

Originally posted by honeychile
I heard that the dog was the famous bomb-sniffing dog - they've been at State of the Union Addresses before.

I doubt that Cindy Sheehan could get a banner through security, but she covered up her t-shirt until she got into her seat. That's when she was asked to leave/escorted out/arrested.

That's what it sounds like - she had it covered up, she was allowed in, and then she started to unfurl it when she got there.

I wouldn't be surprised if she started some sort of loud ruckus as well, which may have contributed to her getting the boot.

[Coramoor]

She's an idiot.

[DeltAlum]

Didn't hear the phone.

You can bet that the dog had some security reason for being there.

The President has excellent speech writers and delivers written speeches well. He has a real gift for communication in certain situations.

He needs to work on the little "smirk" (well, I think it looks like that anyway) when he takes applause. Anyone else think it looks a little arrogant, or is it just me?

Not much new in the speech. It's certainly not just a Republican thing, but I think the State of the Union should be about just that, not a propaganda tool.

I wonder about the First Amendment considerations of removing someone from a government building for wearing a tee shirt with an anti-war or anti-administration message.

[KSigkid]

Originally posted by DeltAlum
I wonder about the First Amendment considerations of removing someone from a government building for wearing a tee shirt with an anti-war or anti-administration message.

I thought she was removed for trying to unfurl a banner; my understanding was that it's not allowed, and she tried to do it anyway. Also, I'd be surprised if she went quietly; i.e. someone told her to put the banner/flag away, and she made a scene about it.

I could be wrong though - I haven't read anything this morning with more detail.

[honeychile]

I can't say for sure, but while Sheehan would have the right to an anti-war t-shirt on, she would probably be taken out of the room as a security risk. The news I watched had said that she was being "detained" at that time.

By the end of the speech, however, she was formally arrested. Something happened between being detained and arrested!

[Rudey]

It's just you. *Smirk*

Arrogance is Hillary smiling at certain points.

It was actually a pretty good speech. He stood firm and didn't pull some flip-flop/lame duck act.

Cindy Sheehan should be deported. She can go live with another famous American nutjob parent, that Walker Lindh guy's dad.

-Rudey

Originally posted by DeltAlum
Didn't hear the phone.

You can bet that the dog had some security reason for being there.

The President has excellent speech writers and delivers written speeches well. He has a real gift for communication in certain situations.

He needs to work on the little "smirk" (well, I think it looks like that anyway) when he takes applause. Anyone else think it looks a little arrogant, or is it just me?

Not much new in the speech. It's certainly not just a Republican thing, but I think the State of the Union should be about just that, not a propaganda tool.

I wonder about the First Amendment considerations of removing someone from a government building for wearing a tee shirt with an anti-war or anti-administration message.

[KSigkid]

Originally posted by honeychile
I can't say for sure, but while Sheehan would have the right to an anti-war t-shirt on, she would probably be taken out of the room as a security risk. The news I watched had said that she was being "detained" at that time.

By the end of the speech, however, she was formally arrested. Something happened between being detained and arrested!

There's that part of it too - I think she could at least be described as feisty...

[NutBrnHair]

Originally posted by DeltAlum
He needs to work on the little "smirk" (well, I think it looks like that anyway) when he takes applause. Anyone else think it looks a little arrogant, or is it just me?

I agree.

I also wish Senator Clinton would refrain from her looks of disgust & disdain.