# 2016 State of the Union address tonight 01/12/16 **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 12, 2016, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2016-state-of-the-union-address-tonight-01-12-16/742971 "2016-01-12T22:17:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2016, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2016-state-of-the-union-address-tonight-01-12-16/742971/41 "2016-01-13T14:01:57Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > What an unpleasant, reductionist comment. She’s of Indian descent like Jindal. Apparently they all look alike. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Jayhawker\_Soule](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/57b2e6/32.png) [@Jayhawker\_Soule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jayhawker_Soule)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2016, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2016-state-of-the-union-address-tonight-01-12-16/742971/42 "2016-01-13T14:32:57Z")
\ pretty pathetic thread \ ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2016, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2016-state-of-the-union-address-tonight-01-12-16/742971/43 "2016-01-13T14:42:24Z")
[Full text of Obama’s address.](https://medium.com/@WhiteHouse/president-obama-s-2016-state-of-the-union-address-7c06300f9726#.gv16lumwg) [Full text of Nikki Haley’s response.](http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/12/politics/state-of-the-union-2016-republican-response-nikki-haley/) ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2016, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2016-state-of-the-union-address-tonight-01-12-16/742971/44 "2016-01-13T15:10:16Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > [Full text of Nikki Haley’s response.](http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/12/politics/state-of-the-union-2016-republican-response-nikki-haley/) Which response provoked . . . what else?! :rolleyes: . . . a [RW backlash](http://www.salon.com/2016/01/13/right_wing_backlash_to_nikki_haleys_gop_state_of_the_union_response_grows_to_reveal_ugly_racial_undertones/). ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2016, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2016-state-of-the-union-address-tonight-01-12-16/742971/45 "2016-01-13T15:39:59Z")
What tickles me about that is that after taking a (minor, weak) shot at Trump, Haley almost immediately gave him a li’l stroke: > [@Governor Haley](#): > > We cannot continue to allow immigrants to come here illegally. And in this age of terrorism, we must not let in refugees whose intentions cannot be determined. > > We must fix our broken immigration system. That means stopping illegal immigration. And it means welcoming properly vetted legal immigrants… I thought her speech was surprisingly good. It hit all the “establishment” Republican talking points, dug in on Obama and Clinton, and fairly deftly threaded the needle between “Damn, we really hate and fear The Donald” and “Damn, he might get the nomination.” Honestly, it was probably the best Republican response I’ve seen during Obama’s tenure. I still yelled at her a bit, mind. But she did what she was supposed to without looking like an asshole. She certainly didn’t tank her chances at future success in the Party…and they’re definitely going to need her in the next couple of cycles. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2016, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2016-state-of-the-union-address-tonight-01-12-16/742971/46 "2016-01-13T15:55:27Z")
> [@andros](#): > > What tickles me about that is that after taking a (minor, weak) shot at Trump, Haley almost immediately gave him a li’l stroke That wasn’t a little stroke at all. She was reminding that the GOP was still going to be tough on immigration just not nutjobs about it like Trump. ---
**Author:** ![Jayhawker\_Soule](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/57b2e6/32.png) [@Jayhawker\_Soule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jayhawker_Soule)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2016, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2016-state-of-the-union-address-tonight-01-12-16/742971/47 "2016-01-13T16:09:37Z")
> [@andros](#): > > What tickles me about that is that after taking a (minor, weak) shot at Trump, Haley almost immediately gave him a li’l stroke: > > I thought her speech was surprisingly good. It hit all the “establishment” Republican talking points, dug in on Obama and Clinton, and fairly deftly threaded the needle between “Damn, we really hate and fear The Donald” and “Damn, he might get the nomination.” Honestly, it was probably the best Republican response I’ve seen during Obama’s tenure. > > I still yelled at her a bit, mind. But she did what she was supposed to without looking like an asshole. She certainly didn’t tank her chances at future success in the Party…and they’re definitely going to need her in the next couple of cycles. She sure surprised me (as did Linsey Graham). That speech had to be vetted and seems to reflect the GOP saying to Trump et al: _“Not in our name.”_ Good for them. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2016, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2016-state-of-the-union-address-tonight-01-12-16/742971/48 "2016-01-13T16:56:08Z")
Best commentary of the night came from blogger [Awesomely Luvvie](http://www.awesomelyluvvie.com/2016/01/miss-edith-childs-sotu-kim-davis.html). Speaking about Kim Davis: > [@](#): > > This mullet, though. It’s not even business in the front, party in the back. It’s camping in the front, bed head in the back. None of it makes sense. Why is it so high and slick then long and frizzy? > > And you got invited to the State of the Union address but decided to wear an UGLASS sweater that looked like it was made of kitchen mittens. What part of the game is that? The sad part is that this is probably her special occasion sweater. You ain’t got the right to be this much of a bigot AND be unstylish. You gotta pick one. It’s the first that’s making me make fun of her for the 2nd. If she was a decent person, I might let her cook a little bit. And a comment from her Facebook page on Davis’ sweater: > [@](#): > > The sweater is the Savior of all things Extreme Christian right. It smells like the scorn of unwed mothers, homophobia, burned PPH pamphlets and Donald Trump’s hairspray. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2016, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2016-state-of-the-union-address-tonight-01-12-16/742971/49 "2016-01-13T17:14:07Z")
The Donald immediately tweeted some deep, trenchant, insightful political analysis. “It was boring.” Thanks, Don, or the 4th grader who hacked your twitter account. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2016, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2016-state-of-the-union-address-tonight-01-12-16/742971/50 "2016-01-13T17:17:20Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > Thanks, Don, or the 4th grader who hacked your twitter account. [That actually seems to be the basis of his appeal.](http://www.salon.com/2016/01/10/donald_trump_talks_at_a_fourth_grade_level_maybe_thats_why_the_fox_news_audience_loves_him/) ---
**Author:** ![Jayhawker\_Soule](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/57b2e6/32.png) [@Jayhawker\_Soule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jayhawker_Soule)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2016, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2016-state-of-the-union-address-tonight-01-12-16/742971/51 "2016-01-13T17:25:08Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > [That actually seems to be the basis of his appeal.](http://www.salon.com/2016/01/10/donald_trump_talks_at_a_fourth_grade_level_maybe_thats_why_the_fox_news_audience_loves_him/) I hate to sound like an old fart, but if this is how 4th graders sound we have some serious parenting failures in this country. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2016, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2016-state-of-the-union-address-tonight-01-12-16/742971/52 "2016-01-13T17:29:09Z")
> [@Jayhawker\_Soule](#): > > I hate to sound like an old fart, but if this is how 4th graders sound we have some serious parenting failures in this country. Well, parenting failures of **previous** generations are more relevant here; many of Trump’s base apparently have entered into their second childhood. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2016, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2016-state-of-the-union-address-tonight-01-12-16/742971/53 "2016-01-13T17:36:59Z")
> [@andros](#): > > What tickles me about that is that after taking a (minor, weak) shot at Trump, Haley almost immediately gave him a li’l stroke: > > I thought her speech was surprisingly good. It hit all the “establishment” Republican talking points, dug in on Obama and Clinton, and fairly deftly threaded the needle between “Damn, we really hate and fear The Donald” and “Damn, he might get the nomination.” Honestly, it was probably the best Republican response I’ve seen during Obama’s tenure. > > I still yelled at her a bit, mind. But she did what she was supposed to without looking like an asshole. She certainly didn’t tank her chances at future success in the Party…and they’re definitely going to need her in the next couple of cycles. Her delivery was a bit stiff. The content was okay. I did wish she didn’t have to go over the top with things like this: > [@](#): > > "We would end a disastrous health care program, and replace it with reforms that lowered costs and actually let you keep your doctor. So, what’s your plan? And why are you calling the ACA “disastrous?” It may not be perfect, but I’m not seeing a disaster anywhere, especially in contract to the prior situation. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2016, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2016-state-of-the-union-address-tonight-01-12-16/742971/54 "2016-01-13T17:38:46Z")
[Apparently,the GOP soft-pedaled their anti-immigration stance](http://mediamatters.org/blog/2016/01/13/the-miami-herald-exposes-how-the-gop-tried-to-s/207944) when they gave the Spanish language version of their response to the president’s speech, leaving out some of the harsher phrases. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2016, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2016-state-of-the-union-address-tonight-01-12-16/742971/55 "2016-01-13T17:39:30Z")
I liked the speech. I’m gonna miss that guy when he’s gone. > [@jsc1953](#): > > The Donald immediately tweeted some deep, trenchant, insightful political analysis. > > “It was boring.” Gonna miss that fat belligerent buffoon too. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2016, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2016-state-of-the-union-address-tonight-01-12-16/742971/56 "2016-01-13T17:47:56Z")
Was at a family dinner over the weekend, and at some point the FIL saw fit to go on at some length how much he agreed with Trump, with his second choice was Carson. Not sure how sincere that second choice was, as this guy is an unabashed bigot. Wife and I managed to keep our mouths shut, and switched the topic as quickly as possible. Just stunning when you come face-to-face with an ostensibly sentient human being who strongly supports these 2 as potential presidents… ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2016, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2016-state-of-the-union-address-tonight-01-12-16/742971/57 "2016-01-13T17:54:56Z")
> [@digs](#): > > Which is why reading it is purposely missing most of the experience. > > I’m picturing Cap’n Amazing telling his friends “No thanks, I’m going to skip Star Wars and just read a transcript tomorrow.” On my “List of Five Things that are Entirely Unlike the State of the Union Address,” Star Wars movies are, like, four of them. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2016, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2016-state-of-the-union-address-tonight-01-12-16/742971/58 "2016-01-13T18:05:15Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > The Donald immediately tweeted some deep, trenchant, insightful political analysis. > > “It was boring.” > > Thanks, Don, or the 4th grader who hacked your twitter account. Coming from The Donald, this is high praise. The Donald only knows about half a dozen adjectives in total. People or things he doesn’t like are “terrible”, “stupid”, “idiotic”, or “incompetent”. So calling the speech “boring” tells us that The Donald didn’t feel obliged to pin any of his standard insult-descriptors on it. The Donald also learned the words “great” and “terrific” but those are only allowed to be applied to The Donald himself or his best friends. BTW, I saw a recent interview with Obama in which he was asked if he could see Trump ever giving a State of the Union address. “In a Saturday Night Live skit, I could,” he replied. > [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > Best commentary of the night came from blogger [Awesomely Luvvie](http://www.awesomelyluvvie.com/2016/01/miss-edith-childs-sotu-kim-davis.html). Speaking about Kim Davis: > > And a comment from her Facebook page on Davis’ sweater: _Awesomlyluvvie_ is a born writer, thanks for that! The description of the sweater is priceless! Of course one would expect Kim Davis to be the epitome of style, considering that she’s married to someone who looks exactly like the old Red Skelton character [Klem Kaddiddlehopper](http://www.redskeltoncomedyshow.com/images/Clembib.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2016, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2016-state-of-the-union-address-tonight-01-12-16/742971/59 "2016-01-13T19:44:18Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > What an unpleasant, reductionist comment. > [@John\_Mace](#): > > She’s of Indian descent like Jindal. Apparently they all look alike. :rolleyes: Yes because the only similarity between Haley and Jindal are that they are of Indian descent. :rolleyes: By that sort of reasoning, I could just as easily have written 'genderbent Ami Bera" since he is also a politician of Indian descent. But obviously, there are lots of other similarities besides their ethnicity-being governors of Southern states, being on the hard-right of the Republican Establishment, being puffed up as token minorities, being low-energy losers etc. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2016, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2016-state-of-the-union-address-tonight-01-12-16/742971/60 "2016-01-13T20:09:25Z")
> [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#): > > Yes because the only similarity between Haley and Jindal are that they are of Indian descent. :rolleyes: By that sort of reasoning, I could just as easily have written 'genderbent Ami Bera" since he is also a politician of Indian descent. But obviously, there are lots of other similarities besides their ethnicity-being governors of Southern states, being on the hard-right of the Republican Establishment, being puffed up as token minorities, being low-energy losers etc. This is a great point to say, “On second thought, you’re right–that was an unnecessary and kind of gross comparison that relied on lazy ethnic grouping rather than on cogent political analysis, and I shouldn’t have made it.” Or, y’know, you can double down and expect everyone to believe that ethnicity was purely coincidental to your grouping. Up to you. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2016-state-of-the-union-address-tonight-01-12-16/742971.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2016-state-of-the-union-address-tonight-01-12-16/742971.md?page=4)