ELUCIDATING ON THE STATE OF THE UNION SPEECH
(…like half-time in the locker room, three points behind, with the Coach hollering for…let’s get it done!)

The President was in rare demagogue form this night, during our annual display on how our republic’s political power-elite gather together to show us, and the rest of the world, how to conduct political warfare in a bloodless and civilized manner.

It’s always a great show. A well produced one, with just enough pomp and circumstance to be worthy of a dowager republic such as ours.

On this occasion the President held the strongest political advantage…having been re-elected to a second term in office, and, because of that, now completely immune from any political pressures from either the far right or left of the political spectrum. He was in the catbird seat, free to speak his mind, to pitch whatever policies or initiatives he desired, in whatever manner he chose…with none able to gainsay him for it. In short…he could tell everyone…put a sock in it…I’ve got four more years…so live with it…or go suck eggs.

So he elucidated at great length on his desires and how he wanted these to come to fruition. It was much like it being half-time in the locker room, three points behind, with the Coach hollering for…let’s get it done!…as he presented his laundry list of initiatives in a finely crafted and forceful presentation…as his preacher-man style generated loud – amen- responses from his herd of party stalwarts filling their part of the chamber.

In the end, of course, none of this produced anything of real significance beyond high lighting the non-existence of that illusive ideal of “bi-partisanship” within the confines of Washington DC. Mainly because, throughout his performance, the opposing party members simply sat mutely in their seats, barely reacting to any of the President’s exhortations, and only politely applauding whenever it would have been extremely gauche no to do so. Speaker Boehner’s stony-faced and glum expression seemingly saying…show biz…what a drag…sigh! And capping it all off was the traditional post-session-response- presented by Senator Rubio (FL) with all the verve of a Saturday Night Live skit…and not much more.

Well, if this has left us wondering what the true state of our union might be…this was not the place to get any answers to that question. Not on this night. The only thing we may have gotten from it all is that …democracy…as we understand it here in America…lets us vote dumb…as well as smart…and this night just proved it!

CENTURION