State of the Union--Who Are These People?

If I may be so bold, let me just start by saying that I am embarrassed.

I tuned in to President Obama's State of the Union address Wednesday night. As usual--as with every president--there were things I agreed with and things I didn't agree with. As a relatively intelligent American citizen, I was able to listen to our President's words and draw my own conclusions, form my own opinions. It's a skill I value and one I believe too few exercise. The things I wasn't aware of (the Supreme Court ruling reference that made Alito forget his role as stoic observer, for instance) I made note of and have made a point to find out more.

As usual, our current President has proven his skills as an orator and I was particularly pleased--all individual issues aside--to see him stress our need to get past political parties and agendas and start working toward solutions for the American people. The line "every day can't be election day" was almost enough for me to give the man a standing ovation from the solitary confinement of my living room. I restrained myself.

I restrained myself because as the cameras panned the members of the legislative branch of this amazing country, the side of me more grounded in reality knew that by Thursday morning few in that room would remember anything more than whatever was most pressing on their political agenda. Instead I was left with one troubling thought, Who are these people?

Who are these rude, incorrigible children we have put in charge of our lives, of the direction of our country? Why is Pelosi fighting tears? Why are the Republicans scowling? What the hell are the Democrats cheering about? How come, watching them interact with each other, I feel like I'm watching a bad high school movie? Why is one senator stopping another from clapping with a solemn shake of her head? For heaven's sake, let the woman clap if she's moved to clap! How come the "average" citizens in the top balcony have more self-restraint and respect that those on the first floor?

Who are these people?

I've got bad news for all of us. These folks are our congressional representatives. Say whatever you want about the man behind the desk in the Oval office--whether its Clinton or Bush or Obama--its these jokers who are ruining our country... Running. I meant "running". Really. 

Perhaps it would serve us well to take a little more time to get to know them better.

Comments

[Daniel Webb]

I spent more time watching the crowd than anything. Y do they evn attend? Most aren't evn listening just waiting 4 their que to do what evry1 arnd them is doing. Idiots.
- Sent from my iPhone

[Matt]

But you have to admit. It was hard not to smile when Biden chose to do so. LOL.

[katie b]

I totally missed it. I didn't realize it was on!

[Zach T]

@katie b: is life difficult with that rock you're living under?? ;)

[Juli]

@katie b--We've all done that stuff even in our very well-connected world! The first two years I was eligible to vote I didn't because the next presidential election was a couple of years away! I didn't get it. Lol. During those years the same gov funded entity that helped me in my career lost its funding and had its doors closed. Had I known, I would have fought harder to save it. I would have, at the very least, voted. In my opinion, that was waaaaay more foolish than failing to catch the lastest speech by the president. ;-)

[katie b]

LOVE YA, J! ;x

[Chris Jeffrey]

I saw when the one congressman stopped another from clapping. Worse is that instead of continuing to clap the rebuked individual all but sat on her hands. wtf.