There are a lot of things we must do in life, not because they are really necessary or really make a difference, but because they are tradition and we are expected to, plain and simple.
Increasingly, watching -- or at least pretending you watched -- the State of the Union Address appears to fall in this category.
According to a new poll out from Rasmussen, 44 percent of likely voters think the State of the Union Address is important in setting the nation's political agenda for the upcoming year, but more likely voters -- 47 percent to be exact -- believe the speech is just for show. Yet that same survey also shows that 79 percent say they are at least somewhat likely to watch or follow news reports about this year's address with 53 percent claiming they are VERY likely to do so.
So which is it? Is the State of the Union Address truly important or is it -- as a plurality of survey respondents believe -- "just for show?"
Well, in a recent column for Politico, veteran DC reporter Roger Simon noted that very rarely does anyone remember a single sentence, reference, phrase or idea from the State of the Union Address one month after it takes place, let alone a year or years later. The lone exception may be George W. Bush's reference to a so-called "axis of evil."
To Simon's point, in recent years it's arguable that the most memorable moments from the State of the Union have not come from the speech or the president. During the president's first address to the Joint Session of Congress (which is what the president's first post Inaugural State of the Union Address is officially called) Republican Congressman Joe Wilson infamously stole the show by shouting, "You lie," while First Lady Michelle Obama famously courted admiration and controversy by displaying her envy-inducing arms. (Click here to view more First Lady fashion at previous State of the Unions.) I'm sure most of you reading this remember Wilson's outburst, but do you remember anything the president said, anything at all?
If you don't, you're not alone. You're also not alone if you don't really care all that much.
According to a Gallup poll, the State of the Union address rarely has any impact on what Americans think of the president, barely moving presidential poll numbers an inch. The one exception is former president Bill Clinton who saw a three-point increase in his favorability following the State of the Union address, which is still statistically negligible.
But there is perhaps no better testament to how seriously Americans do, or rather do not, take the State of the Union Address than the fact that a Google search of "State of the Union drinking games" yields more than a quarter of a million results. Some highlights from this year's game? Apparently every time the president says "bipartisanship" we are supposed to drink two shots of beer, and if Speaker Boehner begins to cry we are supposed to down one shot of bourbon.
So what could possibly make the State of the Union Address more memorable, more impactful, something that Americans actually believe makes a difference in their lives and in the political process?
For starters, what if presidents did away with all of the pomp and circumstance, just looked into the camera and told the truth, for a change which is this:
I could spend the next hour of your time, trying to convince you that I have all of the answers, but the truth is I don't. But I'm doing the best that I can. Here are the ten things I'm focused on working on at the moment. If you have any further questions or suggestions, shoot me an e-mail and I will try to respond to as many as possible. Because after all, I work for you.
But I guess that wouldn't make for a very interesting drinking game.
This post originally appeared on TheLoop21.com for which Goff is a Contributing Editor.
Follow Keli Goff on Twitter: www.twitter.com/keligoff
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If you need this speech to inform you of the actual state of the country then you are a sheep and wont have a clue what is going on anyway. I don’t even view the news weekly and I have more of an understanding of the actual state of the union than anyone who gets their info from this political vomit.
Where is the real CHANGE that was promised? Same big government wasting our money, Same political decisions not in the best interest of the nation but only in the self-interest of politicians, No real projects or policy that is actually improving America, just CEO buyouts and more posturing. Same CRAP different President. I'll admit he does SOUND smarter than Bush but as for actual performance I cant think of one thing that was ACCOMPLISHED by this administration that would encourage me to vote for them again. Might as well give Sarah P a shot… She will at least be entertaining to watch while she lies to us.
The Health care reform wont help me or any of my family, I dont personally know any gays that want to serve Openly in the military, and the economy still sucks so how exactly have upper middle class Americans benefitted from this president? Whats NEW that I need?
You need to read the Health care bill for yourself and then decide what is in it for you. You probably have some pre-existing condition or you are or have a child who needs to be insured by a parent's insurance.
You have conveniently forgotten that it was Bush with his version of "trickle down" that ruined our economy, and how in the hell do people like you think such ruin can be turned around in just two years, especially with your favorite Republicans working so hard to block recovery? Wake up once.
Just because you are in love with Obama emotionally doesn't change the fact that those feable benefits you list above cost America Billions we dont have. I voted for Obama because he promised real change but he did not deliver any real change. There is nothing to stop the financial industry from screwing America AGAIN. There is no change in the unfair benefits and tax shelters for the RICH. There is no reduction in oversized unproductive government agencies. There is no lasting improvement in America's economy, just band-aid fixes.
Even your own rebutle above fails to list any significant accomplishments. No, I dont expect America to be FIXED in 2 years but I dont even see any PROGRESS. Certainly not enough to justfy voting for this person again. If he has a REAL plan he best come out with it because so far its just more of the same CRAP. SSDP. .
But in the end, he will sign any cuts congress sends him because more than anything, he's a socialist that wants to get re-elected.
Considering the extensive coverage , and preponderance of the Right Wing Politicians presented on a daily basis by all the networks, I would say it's redundant.
Then he could heap praise on the American people, businesses, other groups. Very uplifting.
And then encourage the people to go forward and be as good and productive, as is their true nature. This could help immensely.
And then launch programs that would unburden the people from the most onerous obstacle ... and that is government itself.
Although I think they render themselves irrelevant 5 minutes after the end of most of the speeches, I still think addressing the American people once a year is important.
Remember? What struck me was Obama's seeming happiness that the "stock market has come roaring back" and "Corporate profits are up".
How many of the corporations on the market have outsourced their labor and built factories in other countries? And the same question applies to the second statement in his speech - corporations' profits.
What we are going to hear is that Corporations are going to screw more people (with governments help) create more conditions for industry to pollute (with the governments help) allow corporations to create more minimum wage jobs, (with the governments help) rolling back workplace protections (with the governments help).
When need change the name to the State of the Corporation Address, to the slaves of the corporation.