US State of the Union speech

rainforests1

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I feel like I learned absolutely nothing yesterday. The same subjects that are usually ignored were ignored yesterday. Does anyone feel it's a waste of time? Are there any ways we could improve the speech for the future?
 
Changes I'd like to see:
Maximum of 30 minutes. No other politicians involved other than the President, no introductions of any kind. Just the President on the podium.

Change the subjects up. If we're not at war, some years you can just leave out foreign policy altogether.
 
Am I correct in assuming that you didn't intentionally set out to create a humorous thread, RF1?
 
I'd consider Obama's speech much humorous than anything said in this thread. I'm sure I'm the only one here who finds them very repetitive year after year.
 
I hate it when parents refer to their disabled children as "gifts from God".
 
I just want to know what this was all about:

State-of-the-Union-Style-Obama-and-the-Missing-Pocket-Square.jpg
 
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Okay, the bloody mary is kicking in, so instead of getting a snark post, you'll get an informative one.

This SotU address is basically setting up Obama's plans for his second term. Now, let's read between the between the lines. I'll translate the entire speech for you:

The introduction is pure cheerleading, as to be expected. America is great, go America, you're awesome, oh, and by the way, Obama is claiming some credit for the increase in awesomeness.

That's all par for the course.

Then, to the meat (translated, of course):

Obama isn't going to try to cut the size of the federal budget.
He holds out an olive branch to the Republicans (a carrot - expect them to **** on it, as usual).
Income inequality is something Obama thinks is important to act on.
He threatens Republicans if they won't act with him (the stick).
More padding (go America!)
He's open to tax reform, but not to lowering the overall tax rate.
He's planning on regional, targetted government funding of new tech and manufacturing.
Obama will push for natural gas and solar power, as well as tighter efficiency standards.
He'll also push for immigration reform.
Pre-K and some education reform.
He wants a higher minimum wage, and is acting unilaterally where he can (this could be considered an expansion of the executive branch's power, btw).
A new retirement investment vehicle (I haven't read the details of myRA, so I can't comment fully).
Defending the ACA (consider this an olive branch to Democrats that need to defend their seats, as well as trying to shape his own legacy).
Retreat from involvement in Iraq & Afghanistan.
Support for a limited drone program.
Another olive branch to allies (y'think Merkel is over having her phone tapped?).
More grandstanding (can't go wrong praising vets politically).

If you're pet cause is not mentioned, assume that it's not important to Obama.
 
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How would politicians know that an issue like all fish going extinct in the future isn't important to most people who vote? They wouldn't.

Well, I am pretty confident it's not an issue that gets out votes. Environmental issues in general don't. If they did, the Green Party would have taken the Presidency and both houses of Congress.

How is the Green Party doing, btw?