*Note: This was suppose to go up on Wednesday but my posts got all out of order, so here it is!*
Some of you watched it, some of you didn't. If you did, you will know exactly what I am referring to. If you didn't you missed out on a wonderful opportunity.
The State of the Union (from here on SOTU) is an opportunity for the President to address both houses of congress during a "joint session". They basically layout what will be a priority for them in the coming year. Obviously, this is a very important speech because it is full of major policy decisions that could affect everyone in the United States...blah, blah, blah. Now yes, I was a political science major, and I am interested in policy and government, but I don't need all the bells and whistles that come along with a SOTU. Its over an hour long with the majority of it being a processional of important leaders entering the Capitol Building, and the rest is time taken for everyone to stand and clap at every other word. I mean really? I love great political rhetoric, but just send me a fact sheet.
So anyway, this got me thinking of how I could make a SOTU drinking game. I know some people out there definitely did this last night and I fully support you. Here are some of the rules I thought would make things a little more interesting:
If you don't know this already, the Speaker of the House John Boehner is a crier. Big time. "A good book, a great film, a birthday card, [he] weeps." (Bonus points to the first person to guess the movie.) I think I saw tears in his eyes at least 4 or 5 times last night. All that talk about America, land of the free, home of the brave, pull ourselves up by the boot straps, really got to him.
So the people who attend the SOTU address include the House (435 representatives and 6 non-voting members), the Senate (100 members), the Supreme Court justices (9), the Cabinet and Cabinet-level Officers (21, not including the "designated survivor" who doesn't attend just in case something happens to the rest of them and has to become president), the Joint Chiefs of Staff (6) and then a bunch of special invited guests that are usually mentioned in the President's speech, the First Lady, the Vice President's wife (the Second Lady?) and more. So, needless to say there are going to be at least 600 people there, and unless you are a member of congress, or your name is Jake Reilly, you wont know more than 10 at best. So raise a glass every time you see the camera flash (does that rhyme?) to someone that makes you go.. huh?
Ugh, one of the worst parts of watching these SOTUs is the constant standing standing and clapping. Literally the President could say just about anything, and they would all go bananas (at least his party would). "...And let me be clear, happy hours will be subsidized by the federal government to promote happiness and prosperity among the American people.." And the crowd goes wild!!!!!! Well, I mean who wouldn't for that, but you get the picture. So every time they decide to stand and clap, you stand and drink until they finish clapping. Get ready to chug!
Some of Obama's favorite lines are:
"Let me be clear"
"Make no mistake"
"the American people" (as opposed to the other country you would be referring to?)
"Fight for the middle class..."
If you want to be really aggressive you can drink every time he claps his hands... might not last long though..
The President always invites special guests to sit alongside his wife at the SOTU, and most of these people are there because they are going to be mentioned in his speech at some point. Maybe as "the farmer who decided to give away free pumpkins on Halloween....." or "the school teacher who ran out of chalk in her classroom so used bark..." Whatever the reason, when they are being talked about during the speech, the camera will flash to them so everyone can take a look at this everyday American hero. Last night there was a hilarious moment when guest Kathy Proctor was being acknowledged and she was so excited she turned to the people next to her to inform them that it was she that was being talked about. Adorable, but also hilarious so catch one of these moments and you must drink. Bonus points if someone is sleeping or picking their nose.