Snapshots from the State of the Union

President Barack Obama gave his fifth State of the Union (SOTU) address to Congress.  The 6923 words spoken over 69 minutes formed an instructive word cloud.

2014 State of the Union Word Cloud (graphics: USA Today)

President Obam  wanted to emphasis work, newness and make Congress.  Note that the word cloud excluded common English words like "I".  But to be fair, Mr. Obama seems to have done a better job at being self referential  as unofficial Twitter total count: 50 "I"s, 11 "mys" and 8 "me"s.

When Vice President Joe Biden was not resting his eyes, he often had a demonic grin which would scare trick or treaters at Halloween. 

The President made plenty of acknowledgments during his State of the Union speech,  including prefunctory welcomes to the grandees gathered in the House Chamber, as well as eleven guests which the White House brought to focus on  Mr. Obama's stated priorities.  It is ironic that the Obama Administration made a big deal about having former pro basketball player Jayson Collins in the Presidential box, presumably because of his very public declaration of his sexual preferences last Spring.  

Jayson Collins sitting near Michelle Obama at 2014 State of the Union Address

Yet Collins did not even merit a shout out by name, only to be a prop for the Obama Administration's concern about homosexual rights as America participates in the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russian Federation.

To make his point about how there can be upward mobility in America from humble origins, President Obama stopped using composite parables and credited House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH 8th) with rising from being son of a bar keep.

Speaker Boehner's silent thumbs up seemed like a response which seemed reminiscent of his late night television appearances.  It is unclear if Mr. Boehner blushed due to his deep tan.

The State of the Union audience was less contrarian than when Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC 2nd) shouted "You lie" at Mr. Obama September, 2009 speech before a Joint Session of Congress.  Supreme Court Associate Justices Alito, Scalia and Thomas chose not to attend, but this is understandable considering how Mr. Obama attacked the High Court in 2010 during that State of the Union Speech. 

But this did not mean that there was an abundance of decorum for the State of the Union.   Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CN 2nd) stood up and pumped her fists in the air during prized passages of the speech. 

[C] Rep. Rosa DeLauro,  [front L] Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee [back C] Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz hardily cheering President Obama's 2014 State of the Union speech

But at least Rep. DeLauro's animated atta boys drew attention to some hideous coifs and outfits in the Chamber. 

President Obama used a more restrained tone in delivering his State of the Union speech, often opting for the emphatic horse whisper to underline his points.  However, Frank Luntz's focus panel thought that Mr. Obama's delivery lacked passion and credulity.  In fact, the Luntz group noted that Mr. Obama kept mispronouncing the proposed My-IRA program and then expected the audience to intuit the parameters of the policy.

There was a torrent of passion displayed at the end of President Obama's State of the Union address as he pointed to the Presidential box, where First Lady Michelle Obama was sitting besides 30 year old Army Sgt. 1st Class Cory Remsberg, a Ranger who served ten tours in Afghanistan who was severely injured by an IED in 2009. 

[Front row 2nd L] Army Ranger Cory Remsberg at the 2014 State of the Union address

Assuredly the alluvia of applause from the attendees was not for the First Lady's dress.

There were two other noteworthy events attached to this year's State of the Union speech.  One of the attendees of the speech was Will Robinson, invited by Rep. Vance McAllister (R-LA 5th).  Robinson was attired in what he would typically wear on Duck Dynasty, as seen shaking hands with Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI 1st).

Another noteworthy moment needs to be seen to be believed.   As part of the post State of the Union spin, Rep. Michael Grimm (R-NY 11th) gave an interview to NY 1.  When the reporter went off script and asked about the Congressman's fundraising controversy, Grimm reacted harshly.  

At first, Rep. Grimm walked off the interview, then he reproached the reporter with threats which sounded like it was from the Sopranos.

Savage Hate Speech?

As the A&E network suspension of Duck Dynasty patriarch Phil Robertson for comments published in GQ  magazine which paraphrased 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 of examples of egregious sinfulness, homosexual activists have been seeking publicity calling for the show's cancellation. In case Phil Robertson's comments concerning homosexuals isn't enough for the celebrity sacrifice,   Progressive fellow travelers have been piling on to the public feeding frenzy pointing to Phil Robertson's un-acrimonious experiences working side-by-side with black in the pre-Civil Rights South.

These ad-hominem attacks lack the charity to even read Phil Robertson's comments in context and entirety.  Phil Robertson has been painted as a "hater" so he must be destroyed, as a Bible believing Christian can not share his faith in the public square if it does not conform to the liberal fascism's politically correct version of the "new normal" which is the party line today. Phil Robertson was such a "hater" (sic) that he received news of his A&E suspension while praying with a church member afflicted with cancer.

Dan Savage is an outspoken homosexual writer who has published the "Savage Love" sexual advice column since 1991.  Savage  also has been heavily involved in founding the "It Gets Better Project" since 2010, which is meant to counsel teenagers questioning their sexuality and those who choose to embrace alternative lifestyles from committing suicide.  As noble as those Savage's endeavors may be, Savage has repeatedly made at best intemperate remarks aimed at his "enemies".  In 2012, Savage was speaking at an anti-gay bullying high school rally when he insulted bible believing Christians and taunted teens who walked out as making a "pansy assed move".  Recently, Savage offered a "dangerous idea" on Australian television that abortions should be mandatory for women under the age of 30.  Where was the hue and cry from the media?   What is hate speech? Does it really get better?  

As George Orwell asserted in Animal Farm (1945)   "All animals are equal but some are more equal than others."  

Si Robertson on Life

Men's Journal Oct. '13

Phil Robertson on Life

Contrasting Two Tales of Mistaken Celebrities

Recently, there have been two instances of mistaken celebrities.  The way both handled not being recognized for their celebrity status tells about their temperament and character.

On the one hand, Oprah Winfrey was attending Tina Turner's wedding in Switzerland and wanted to see an expensive handbag. The Oprah seemed to have used her recollections of this incident as a vehicle to promote her new film "The Butler" , which has a subtext of black civil rights as told through a butler who served eight contemporary Presidents. 



 

When Oprah was impeached on the details by shop owner Trudie Goetz on a BBC interview , Oprah then gave what TMZ labeled as a passive aggressive "b.s." apology for having the matter blown up. The Hollywood gossip news site reasoned that going to the national media and crying racism was bound to blow up the incident, whether or not the Swiss shop was named.

On the other hand, Jase Robertson of Duck Dynasty was in Manhattan to promote the fourth season of their A&E series.  Trump Tower staff mistook the bearded Jase as a homeless man and he was kindly escorted out of the hotel.







Jase's wife tried to straighten things out with Trump Tower and he was allowed back into the establishment.  Jase jocularly shrugged the incident off as "facial profiling".

Jase's case of mistaken identity at Trump Tower occurred AFTER the season premiere of Duck Dynasty, which drew 11.8 million viewers for a cable reality series broadcast at 10 PM Eastern time.  The Butler was number one at the box office last weekend drawing an audience of $25 million, but it opened in wide release of nearly 3,000 screens for what is thought to be a very good drama.  Alas, the same can not be said for the eponymous OWN- The Oprah Winfrey Network. Discovery lent Oprah $509 million for her fledgling network but it was not drawing the viewers and Oprah admits to being at the edge of a nervous breakdown with the financial pressures and the lack of success.

Personally, I may not enjoy watching bearded rednecks who live relatively unpretentious lives do their antics, but it seems authentic.  And where else is the Bible directly quoted on the boob tube?  However, Jase Robison's self-deprecating response to an instance of mistaken celebrity shows good character and a temperament that should be emulated amongst celebutards.