# Possible Republican Refusal of SOTU Address? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 26, 2014, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-republican-refusal-of-sotu-address/705685 "2014-11-26T16:37:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2014, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-republican-refusal-of-sotu-address/705685/101 "2014-12-09T01:11:47Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > It isn’t Obama not wanting to do it, fool. It’s _your_ guys not wanting to \*invite \*him. > > Maybe they don’t want to take time away from the latest urgent Benghazi hearing. :rolleyes: There are 435 voting members and 6 non-voting members in the U.S. House. At least 1 Representative suggested that Obama shouldn’t be invited to speak from the House floor. 1 Representative doesn’t want Obama to visit and 1 Obama hasn’t indicated that he wants to give his SOTU from Congress. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2014, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-republican-refusal-of-sotu-address/705685/102 "2014-12-09T01:25:39Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > 1 Representative doesn’t want Obama to visit and 1 Obama hasn’t indicated that he wants to give his SOTU from Congress. So you are concluding Obama may snub Congress? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2014, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-republican-refusal-of-sotu-address/705685/103 "2014-12-09T02:29:15Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > It’s interesting that you say, “The president isn’t a ceremonial King with no real power”. Are you suggesting that the president is a ceremonial King with no real power or that the president is a King with real kingly powers? The FFs deliberately designed a system where the president would have at least as much real power as George III had at the time, and rather more. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2014, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-republican-refusal-of-sotu-address/705685/104 "2014-12-09T02:32:33Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > I’ve watched a grand total one State of the Union, and the ridiculous performance of pauses in the speech and ovations by the audience, designed as a political version of a laugh track to let the TV viewers know which stuff is Important, made me vow never to watch another. Now that would be awesome. The Pubs sitting there, not saying a word, not clapping. Absolutely no response. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2014, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-republican-refusal-of-sotu-address/705685/105 "2014-12-09T02:33:30Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > If Obama doesn’t want to give his SOTU address from the floor of the U.S. Congress, that’s his call. And if he wants to, is that his call? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2014, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-republican-refusal-of-sotu-address/705685/106 "2014-12-09T02:35:17Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Now that would be awesome. The Pubs sitting there, not saying a word, not clapping. Absolutely no response. An improvement over “You lie!”, at any rate. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2014, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-republican-refusal-of-sotu-address/705685/107 "2014-12-09T02:50:42Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > The FFs deliberately designed a system where the president would have at least as much real power as George III had at the time, and rather more. ?? I would have said quite a bit less. Couldn’t the King dismiss Parliament? Imagine if John Adams had tried to dismiss Congress… (Boris Yeltsin pulled it off, but only with tank fire.) ---
**Author:** ![42fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/4/b487fb/32.png) [@42fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/42fish)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2014, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-republican-refusal-of-sotu-address/705685/108 "2014-12-09T03:00:07Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > It isn’t Obama not wanting to do it, fool. It’s _your_ guys not wanting to \*invite \*him. > > Maybe they don’t want to take time away from the latest urgent Benghazi hearing. :rolleyes: To be fair, they may be worried about taking away time from the latest vote to repeal Obamacare. If the Republicans aren’t careful, they may fall short of reaching triple digits. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2014, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-republican-refusal-of-sotu-address/705685/109 "2014-12-09T03:36:04Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > ?? I would have said quite a bit less. Couldn’t the King dismiss Parliament? Not by the time of George III, he couldn’t. I’m pretty sure he could not even really use his veto, though he had it constitutionally (and Elizabeth II still does). ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2014, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-republican-refusal-of-sotu-address/705685/110 "2014-12-09T04:05:11Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > So you are concluding Obama may snub Congress? Yes. Obama has made it clear that he doesn’t need Congress. > [@BrainGlutton](#): > > And if he wants to, is that his call? First things first. Will Obama alter his position and request a little face time with Congress? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2014, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-republican-refusal-of-sotu-address/705685/111 "2014-12-09T13:42:31Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > First things first. Will Obama alter his position and request a little face time with Congress? That would require no alteration. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2014, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-republican-refusal-of-sotu-address/705685/112 "2014-12-09T13:59:45Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > Yes. Obama has made it clear that he doesn’t need Congress. No, he hasn’t. ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2014, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-republican-refusal-of-sotu-address/705685/113 "2014-12-09T15:21:15Z")
**doorhinge** , you’re making even less sense than usual. ---
**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:** [December 9, 2014, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-republican-refusal-of-sotu-address/705685/114 "2014-12-09T17:03:15Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > Yes. Obama has made it clear that he doesn’t need Congress. > First things first. Will Obama alter his position and request a little face time with Congress? Amazing, isn’t it, how the media hasn’t reported on to your amazing discovery that the President has declared that he isn’t going to go before Congress to deliver the State Of the Union Address. This conspiracy is so broad even Fox News isn’t broadcasting this astounding news. Either that, or you’re just a partisan idiot. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2014, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-republican-refusal-of-sotu-address/705685/115 "2014-12-09T17:40:30Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Amazing, isn’t it, how the media hasn’t reported on to your amazing discovery that the President has declared that he isn’t going to go before Congress to deliver the State Of the Union Address. This conspiracy is so broad even Fox News isn’t broadcasting this astounding news. I have no idea if Obama has decided to address the Congress in house. You expect the media to report that Obama has not yet decided whether or not to request time to speak from the House floor??? Is that even news? Obama will make his decision in due time. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2014, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-republican-refusal-of-sotu-address/705685/116 "2014-12-09T17:48:54Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > I have no idea if Obama has decided to address the Congress in house. > > You expect the media to report that Obama has not yet decided whether or not to request time to speak from the House floor??? Is that even news? Obama will make his decision in due time. What decision? Whether he makes a “decision” on whether or not to give the SOTU seems about as likely as whether he makes a “decision” each day on whether or not to resign and convert to Islam. ---
**Author:** ![Sterling\_Archer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Sterling\_Archer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sterling_Archer)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2014, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-republican-refusal-of-sotu-address/705685/117 "2014-12-09T17:50:19Z")
Obama has also not decided whether or not he’s going to eat puppies for breakfast tomorrow. But I’m sure he will decide in due time. ---
**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:** [December 9, 2014, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-republican-refusal-of-sotu-address/705685/118 "2014-12-09T17:57:32Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > I have no idea if Obama has decided to address the Congress in house. > > You expect the media to report that Obama has not yet decided whether or not to request time to speak from the House floor??? Is that even news? Obama will make his decision in due time. If it’s not even news, what the fuck is your obsession about it, then? ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2014, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-republican-refusal-of-sotu-address/705685/119 "2014-12-09T20:41:43Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > If it’s not even news, what the fuck is your obsession about it, then? Obviously, he’s _un_hinged. Assuming I understand his blither-blather correctly, **doorhinge** is trying to make it Obama’s “fault” whether or not he makes an address to Congress by making it sound like Obama is supposed to request an invitation. That’s not the way it happens. Congress issues the invitation. There’s probably something in Miss Manners or Emily Post that says it’s unseemly and ill-mannered to ask for an invitation. It also would imply that the Executive branch is subordinate to the Legislative branch, something I’m pretty sure Obama wouldn’t knowingly do. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2014, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-republican-refusal-of-sotu-address/705685/120 "2014-12-10T00:43:58Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > If it’s not even news, what the fuck is your obsession about it, then? Hahahaha. One Congressman out of 435 says that Obama shouldn’t be allowed to give his SOTU address from the floor of the U.S. House. (In reality, I expect a Concurrent Resolution to schedule Obama’s SOTU address will easily be passed by both houses.) The lame stream media then barrages leading Republicans with questions about Republicans refusing to allow Obama to give his SOTU address from the floor of the U.S. House. The LSM then tells their viewers that leading Republicans keep talking about the issue. The LSM ignores that fact that the leading Republicans only mention the issue in response to the media’s questions. It’s the LSM and blogosphere who appear to be obsessed by this issue. However, it takes two to tango. Obama has said that he does not need Congress. Obama has not made it clear that he wants to give his SOTU from the floor of the House but he has weeks before a decision should be made. If Obama has decided not to give his SOTU in front of Congress, there is nothing that Congress can do about that. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-republican-refusal-of-sotu-address/705685.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-republican-refusal-of-sotu-address/705685.md?page=7)