SOTU Liveblogging

SOTU LIVEBLOGGING....This just doesn't seem it's likely to be a very exciting State of the Union address, does it? I mean, the big talking point earlier in the day from the White House was that Bush was going to focus on earmark reform. Yippee!

But hey — we're professionals around here. When the CinC gives a speech, we're here to liveblog it. So on with the show.

9:55 — Here it comes....wait for it....Yes! "We need to know who the terrorists are talking to." Etc. etc. Bottom line: Pass the FISA extension and give telecom companies immunity by Friday or else everyone watching tonight will die.

9:47 — Jeez, Bush is really trying get credit for bringing the surge troops home, isn't he? You'd hardly know that it had been planned ever since the surge began.

9:41 — We're ten minutes into the foreign policy part of the speech and it's....completely lacking in substance so far. Terrorists bad, surge good, yadda yadda yadda.

9:30 — Well, everybody's in favor of keeping the United States the most dynamic country on earth. Good to know. But what's Pelosi reading? A copy of the speech? Everybody seems to have one, so I guess so. Are they reading it to make sure they don't get snookered into clapping for something they shouldn't?

9:25 — If we don't pass a bunch of trade agreements, "we will embolden the purveyors of false populism in our hemisphere." Obviously he meant Hugo Chavez, but I'd guess that less than one person in a hundred watching at home figured that out.

9:20 — Man, it's the same old hectoring Bush. Congress must do this. I'll veto that. But jeez, he can't even get applause from Teddy Kennedy for a call to extend No Child Left Behind.

9:17 — What are Pelosi and Cheney chatting about?

9:12 — "Wages are up, but so is the price of food and gas." Translation: adjusted for inflation, wages are down.

9:10 — Ah, an appeal for bipartisan unity. Heartwarming.

9:05 — I predict that the state of the union will be "strong."

9:03 — A bit of inane chatter on CNN about who's shaking Hillary Clinton's hand and who's not.