Get Up, No Sit Down, No Get Up…It’s The State Of The Union Address!

I have no doubt there are politicians and dignitaries all over Washington rubbing their aching lower backs today. After all, the State of the Union Address was given last night. If anyone has ever wondered where the inventor of ‘the wave’ got his idea, all they had to do was watch the address given by President Bush last night. It was like bobbing for votes.

Having to choose between American Idol and non-stop State of the Union coverage, I chose the Presidential address (ok, I TiVo’d American Idol, but that’s not really my point here). If election night is like a political pundit’s Oscars, then the State of the Union has to be the Golden Globes. Every network covered it and each network said basically the same thing with the exception of interchanging a few clichés here and there. Did you know that Bush’s 62 or so applause breaks fell short of his high mark of 70+ a few years back? I bet you didn’t realize that at approximately 39 minutes, his address was far shorter than the diatribe given by President Clinton in 2000. That one lasted one and a half hours!

Of course, we have entered a new era in politics and that was evidenced last night as President Bush addressed Madam Speaker Pelosi. With her now perched behind the President, our political pundits (and in fact all Americans) can discuss more than just politics. We can discuss her fashion! I can just see political correspondents yelling at Madam Speaker as she approaches the House Chambers. “What are you wearing? Is It Vera Wang or Donna Karan?” Ok, please don’t ask me how I knew that. To answer the question, it was a minty green dress. I have no idea of what color tie the President or Vice President had on though. Although I guess no one really cares. At least our Vice President was awake.

By far the most enjoyable moments of the speech were when Democrats and Republicans jostled for party attention by rising for standing ovations. When each party heard what they liked or supported, they would all stand up, practically on cue. There were times when Pelosi got up before Cheney and when Cheney rose but Pelosi wouldn’t. You just knew what Cheney was thinking as he stood clapping while Pelosi sat next to him. Then there were the times when one party didn’t stand up but realized that they should. When one party member would stand, they all would follow. From the vantage point of a television camera, it really was comical. Supporting the President is one thing, but did everyone in those chambers last night really think that their constituents noticed every time they stood to applaud? “Oh look honey, Senator Clambake is clapping about the President’s remarks on gum in public schools! I knew we were right to elect him to the Senate. What a great Patriot.” “Now look, he’s standing again. Oh wait, he just sat down.”

The last time I saw that much standing and sitting was in one of my childhood Catholic masses. Now that it’s all over, we as a nation and all of television land’s political followers can look forward to the election. Heck, half of the Democratic Party’s candidates were on TV after the speech last night anyway. For a minute, I got really concerned and double-checked with my wife to make sure that we were still in 2007 and not 2008. Just like Christmas, the Presidential election season starts earlier every year. This is just a guess here, but when the Chief Justice is swearing in our new President one year from now, half the people sitting behind them will be openly campaigning for 2012.

You know what? Watching everyone react to the State of the Union last night gave me a great idea. I think during my next staff meeting I’ll stand and loudly cheer every time I hear something I like. Heck, I might even try that at home. Ok, maybe not…