Thoughts on the State of the Union address?

[TarHeelNation11]

I realize this is a futile effort and will turn into another uncboy / billyl / strummingram ring-around-the-rosie carousel of Trump bashing, but I figured I'd try anyway because, what the Hell, I'm a generous guy.

Anyone watch last night? Any thoughts/impressions? Criticisms? Praise? Was it what you expected? Anything surprise you? I'll allow a few comments before sharing my views.

 

[tarheel0910]

I realize this is a futile effort and will turn into another uncboy / billyl / strummingram ring-around-the-rosie carousel of Trump bashing, but I figured I'd try anyway because, what the Hell, I'm a generous guy.

Anyone watch last night? Any thoughts/impressions? Criticisms? Praise? Was it what you expected? Anything surprise you? I'll allow a few comments before sharing my views.

I had it on in the background and was kind of paying limited attention to it. Didn't really think one way or the other about it. I was curious to see if he would be able to tone it down, which I think he did except for the NFL jab. All that being said, I think those speeches are useless and the endless applause is irritating. If I was president I wouldn't even give the speech. I'd just write it and send out copies to congress and the media.

 

[ticket2ride04]

Didn’t watch. Anyone have unbiased cliffs?

 

[strummingram]

I bet I can speculate as to who liked it and who didn't, without ever hearing a word of it. I've never watched or listened to a SOTU address, and don't plan on breaking that tradition.

 

[heelz2345]

Didn’t watch it. Was at rehearsal for The Crucible until just before 9, then was driving home and eating dinner when it started, then watched A Futile and Stupid Gesture on Netflix (a movie about Doug Kenney, creator of National Lampoon and writer of Animal House and Caddyshack) which was pretty funny.

 

[strummingram]

Didn’t watch it. Was at rehearsal for The Crucible until just before 9, then was driving home and eating dinner when it started, then watched A Futile and Stupid Gesture on Netflix (a movie about Doug Kenney, creator of National Lampoon and writer of Animal House and Caddyshack) which was pretty funny.

A Doug Kenney movie? AWESOME!

Politics does pay-off. DId you see the National Lampoon Doc? Drunk, Stoned and Brilliant? That was incredible. Those people had a blast making fun of the establishment and told the absolute truth in the process. Satire is the great equalizer!

 

[TarHeelNation11]

Didn’t watch. Anyone have unbiased cliffs?

Basically, as @tarheel0910 alluded to, he definitely toned down the rhetoric. For him, it was definitely a speech aimed at unity. But those who don't like him or his rhetoric won't see it that way. It was a lot like all the other SOTU addresses: victory lap on things accomplished so far, lots of patriotic rhetoric, addressing special guests in the crowd.

I tend to exactly agree with this:

All that being said, I think those speeches are useless and the endless applause is irritating.

Politics is so polarizing now. How in the world is a politician supposed to sway those on the other side? Confirmatory bias abounds. It's a tough time to be a politician.

 

[BillyL]

 

[BillyL]

Ring around the rosie with Stormy Daniels in his whitie tighties . . for $130K . . ?

Too much money . .

 

[Heels Noir]

I didn’t watch and today, not surprisingly, my mind is sharp and clear.

 

[Hark_The_Sound_2010]

Anything surprise you?

I was unaware it was happening/happened, which is surprising to me because I figured I would have seen stories about what Trump said really meant that he wanted to mutilate babies or something of the like.

 

[toophly1124]

Ring around the rosie with Stormy Daniels in his whitie tighties . . for $130K . . ?

Too much money . .

For what it’s worth, I’d ring the **** out of a rosie w Stormy Daniels.

 

[ticket2ride04]

Basically, as @tarheel0910 alluded to, he definitely toned down the rhetoric. For him, it was definitely a speech aimed at unity. But those who don't like him or his rhetoric won't see it that way. It was a lot like all the other SOTU addresses: victory lap on things accomplished so far, lots of patriotic rhetoric, addressing special guests in the crowd.

I tend to exactly agree with this:

Politics is so polarizing now. How in the world is a politician supposed to sway those on the other side? Confirmatory bias abounds. It's a tough time to be a politician.

I thought I read he talked up unity but started taking shots at the end. Is this true?

 

[heelz2345]

A Doug Kenney movie? AWESOME!

Politics does pay-off. DId you see the National Lampoon Doc? Drunk, Stoned and Brilliant? That was incredible. Those people had a blast making fun of the establishment and told the absolute truth in the process. Satire is the great equalizer!

I haven't seen that, but yeah this one was pretty solid. Will Forte plays Kenney and there are a lot of familiar faces playing some of the greats. Joel McHale as Chevy Chase, Thomas Lennon as Michael O'Donoghue, and Jon Daly as Bill Murray were some of my favorites in the cast.

 

[tarheel0910]

my mind is sharp and clear.

That's subjective.

 

[TarHeelNation11]

I thought I read he talked up unity but started taking shots at the end. Is this true?

At the end? No. Last 20 minutes were all about pointing out special guests in the audience and patriotic rhetoric (which I thought he was actually pretty good at, surprisingly)

 

[prlyles]

Well, he didn't use the "n" word or anything so I guess he did as good as he could.

 

[tarheel0910]

Well, he didn't use the "n" word or anything so I guess he did as good as he could.

When has he said the "n" word?

 

[TarHeelNation11]

Okay, so no one watched it except @tarheel0910 and I. I guess there's not much use for this thread.

 

[toophly1124]

Well, he didn't use the "n" word or anything so I guess he did as good as he could.

You should tell that joke at parties. I bet you’re a real hoot.

 

[toophly1124]

Okay, so no one watched it except @tarheel0910 and I. I guess there's not much use for this thread.

I didn’t. Sorry.

 

[tarheel0910]

Okay, so no one watched it except @tarheel0910 and I. I guess there's not much use for this thread.

I'm sure there were more who watched it, but it's going to be hard to find people on here that can objectively look at it.

 

[heelbent]

I didn't watch last night but saw a condensed version this morning. None of the Dims fell over dead so nothing really good happened.

 

[prlyles]

When has he said the "n" word?

The point is I think he did as well as he could. Very low bar......

 

[TarHeelNation11]

I'm sure there were more who watched it, but it's going to be hard to find people on here that can objectively look at it.

That's the main problem with American politics in 2018. Very, very few people can be objective. Virtually no one is brave enough or honest enough to say "you know what, your argument on that convinced me. I've changed my mind." I don't know if it was my education as a journalist or what, but IMO, I'm able to look at most things with an open mind and be objective, even if I agree with something. I wish more folks could do so.

Like I said before, politics is all confirmatory bias now. Democrats probably didn't watch last night, so therefore there's 0% chance they were swayed on anything the president said. I'm sure many Republicans didn't watch Obama's SOTUs. It's all confirmatory bias.

 

[strummingram]

I haven't seen that, but yeah this one was pretty solid. Will Forte plays Kenney and there are a lot of familiar faces playing some of the greats. Joel McHale as Chevy Chase, Thomas Lennon as Michael O'Donoghue, and Jon Daly as Bill Murray were some of my favorites in the cast.

Oh, a dramatization? That'll be different. I'm going to definitely check that out. You should definitely check out that documentary. He goes to the entire Legacy of the Lampoon. It even talks in great deal about John Hughes who was one sick dude when it came down to it haha.

 

[tarheel0910]

The point is I think he did as well as he could. Very low bar......

Ok. I'm glad you brought up a non existent race issue to make your point. It's very constructive.

 

[tarheel0910]

I'm able to look at most things with an open mind and be objective, even if I agree with something. I wish more folks could do so.

Of course you can do it. All of those elitist UNC alums can do something that great.

 

[TarHeelNation11]

Of course you can do it. All of those elitist UNC alums can do something that great.

Didn't help me get a job so it ain't worth much

 

[strummingram]

That's the main problem with American politics in 2018. Very, very few people can be objective. Virtually no one is brave enough or honest enough to say "you know what, your argument on that convinced me. I've changed my mind." I don't know if it was my education as a journalist or what, but IMO, I'm able to look at most things with an open mind and be objective, even if I agree with something. I wish more folks could do so.

Like I said before, politics is all confirmatory bias now. Democrats probably didn't watch last night, so therefore there's 0% chance they were swayed on anything the president said. I'm sure many Republicans didn't watch Obama's SOTUs. It's all confirmatory bias.

If you're plugged into any kind of news source then you're basically incapable of being objective. I'm driving to Greer South Carolina from Clemson right now. I'm listening to Dennis Prager on the radio. This man has got some of the most demented, deluded rhetoric that I've ever heard in my life. His entire livelihood is to reinforce to every listener that he has that whoever or whatever the left is, is the enemy. And I listen to talk radio very regularly. And it is one, long diatribe about whoever is listening to this please be afraid and weary and suspicious of anybody that we're telling you you should be suspicious about. It's some crazy brainwashing s***. But I certainly want them to be able to do it. I oppose any kind of censorship.

 

[TarHeelNation11]

If you're plugged into any kind of news source then you're basically incapable of being objective. I'm driving to Greer South Carolina from Clemson right now. I'm listening to Dennis Prager on the radio. This man has got some of the most demented, deluded rhetoric that I've ever heard in my life. His entire livelihood is to reinforce to every listener that he has that whoever or whatever the left is, is the enemy. And I listen to talk radio very regularly. And it is one, long diatribe about whoever is listening to this please be afraid and weary and suspicious of anybody that we're telling you you should be suspicious about. It's some crazy brainwashing s***. But I certainly want them to be able to do it. I oppose any kind of censorship.

You're using the worst possible example though, no offense. Upstate South Carolina is one of the most socially conservative (i.e., the folks are conservative because of social issues 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, before they even think about fiscal policy) areas in the entire country. Bar none.

But yes, you're right that you have to watch/listen to multiple news sources to get a full view, and parse through the BS. Unfortunately, not enough folks do that.

 

[strummingram]

By the way, I could not care less how many women Donald Trump has had sex with. I don't care who he paid to have sex with him. I don't care how many pornstars he's had sex with. I don't care how many anybody he's had any kind of sex with. The more the better for the man. I have no interest nor do I care one iota how much sex The man has had or will continue to have. As long as it was consensual? Good for him. I'm sick of hearing about who he had sex with in or out of wedlock.

 

[strummingram]

You're using the worst possible example though, no offense. Upstate South Carolina is one of the most socially conservative (i.e., the folks are conservative because of social issues 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, before they even think about fiscal policy) areas in the entire country. Bar none.

I'm completely aware of that. But it's not just upstate South Carolina, dude. Not by even a remote long shot. Rural America anywhere is like this.

 

[tarheel0910]

I'm completely aware of that. But it's not just upstate South Carolina, dude. Not by even a remote long shot. Rural America anywhere is like this.

It's like that in urban areas as well. The only difference is that it's the left wing trying to freak you out instead of the right wing.

 

[TarHeelNation11]

I'm completely aware of that. But it's not just upstate South Carolina, dude. Not by even a remote long shot. Rural America anywhere is like this.

I've been to a lot of rural America. Upstate South Carolina takes the cake for me. But I agree with your overall point that politics has morphed completely into a "good guys vs. bad guys" thing where Dems are the enemy if you're Republican, or Repubs are the enemy if you're a Democrat. Folks don't even want to LIVE in areas where folks of the other party live. Look it up. It's completely ingrained in our society.

 

[strummingram]

I've been to a lot of rural America. Upstate South Carolina takes the cake for me. But I agree with your overall point that politics has morphed completely into a "good guys vs. bad guys" thing where Dems are the enemy if you're Republican, or Repubs are the enemy if you're a Democrat. Folks don't even want to LIVE in areas where folks of the other party live. Look it up. It's completely ingrained in our society.

This coming from the person that said nobody would want to go to any college except for Chapel Hill in the North Carolina school system. Forgive me if I don't trust your judgment or analysis in the demographics variable.


What I'm trying to say is, these people who make a lucrative living off of indoctrinating people into an ideology that they're basically fabricating out of fear is not healthy for the society.

 

[heelz2345]

For the record, I didn't watch Obama's ones either, or at least didn't sit down to watch them and pay full attention, probably watched highlights after one or two of them, so it wasn't specifically because of who was doing it. With that said, the person speaking played a part this year; it's hard to go do rehearsal for a show as emotionally taxing as Crucible, then also be irritated we lost the basketball game, and then be like "Alright, let me watch a guy I'm not a fan of for two hours." So I watched a comedy instead.

 

[TarHeelNation11]

@heelbent @tarheel0910 and anyone else who watched.... and this kinda goes along with my discussion about how I believe it's impossible now to sway people who are on 'the other side.'

I was arguing with my buddy about this (also a Republican who went to Carolina; we may be the only ones who aren't from the North). At one point in the speech, Trump made note that African-American unemployment rate is at an all-time national low. They panned to the black caucus, none of whom stood or clapped in response to this, when lots of other folks stood. I do not know for sure if CNN and other outlets showed the black caucus. Fox News did. Supposing the other news outlets showed it.......my buddy thinks that blacks saw that and will get irritated by it and it will make them angry and demand more/change from black Democrats. Y'all buy that at all? I don't think it makes one lick of difference. If they did see it, blacks will just be in agreeance with not standing or clapping. And it's not a racial point I'm making. I'm just saying that I think it's impossible to sway people now.

 

[TarHeelNation11]

This coming from the person that said nobody would want to go to any college except for Chapel Hill in the North Carolina school system. Forgive me if I don't trust your judgment or analysis in the demographics variable.

I said no one with good grades, i.e. honor students and the best of the best at schools. Obviously I was exaggerating for effect. But okay, fair enough.

What I'm trying to say is, these people who make a lucrative living off of indoctrinating people into an ideology that they're basically fabricating out of fear is not healthy for the society.

On this, we agree. Also, the media doesn't do a good job of stating who is a journalist and who isn't. Hannity, Matthews, et al. are TV personalities. They are not newspeople. They do not break news or report. That distinction isn't pointed out enough.

 

[tarheel0910]

@heelbent @tarheel0910 and anyone else who watched.... and this kinda goes along with my discussion about how I believe it's impossible now to sway people who are on 'the other side.'

I was arguing with my buddy about this (also a Republican who went to Carolina; we may be the only ones who aren't from the North). At one point in the speech, Trump made note that African-American unemployment rate is at an all-time national low. They panned to the black caucus, none of whom stood or clapped in response to this, when lots of other folks stood. I do not know for sure if CNN and other outlets showed the black caucus. Fox News did. Supposing the other news outlets showed it.......my buddy thinks that blacks saw that and will get irritated by it and it will make them angry and demand more/change from black Democrats. Y'all buy that at all? I don't think it makes one lick of difference. If they did see it, blacks will just be in agreeance with not standing or clapping. And it's not a racial point I'm making. I'm just saying that I think it's impossible to sway people now.

I don't think it will make a difference to black people for a multitude of reasons, which doesn't really make sense to me. I do think it would have made a small difference had they stood up and/or clapped though.