# State of the Union 2018 follow-along thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [January 31, 2018, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-of-the-union-2018-follow-along-thread/807846 "2018-01-31T00:03:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Ace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/6bbea6/32.png) [@Johnny\_Ace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Ace)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2018, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-of-the-union-2018-follow-along-thread/807846/221 "2018-01-31T19:11:14Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > Umm, you mean almost exactly what I said? You do remember how Bernie, that independent, registered as a Democrat? I’m gonna go out on a limb here and say that it wasn’t because he suddenly became a fan of Dem policies. > [@](#): > > Bizarre guess about a bizarre observation. Calling Kennedy a newbie Dem Congressman who got elected by virtue of his last name is an obvious and straightforward observation, not an indication of “virulent dislike”. wtf? That ‘obvious and straightforward observation’ that you just keep on dunning? No, no axe to grind there. I was making a serious point about the speech itself, which you then used to turn into an attack on Kennedy. ---
**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 31, 2018, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-of-the-union-2018-follow-along-thread/807846/222 "2018-01-31T19:20:13Z")
> [@Johnny\_Ace](#): > > I was making a serious point about the speech itself, which you then used to turn into an attack on Kennedy. Your point was that Kennedy just recited stirring platitudes and should have got Bernie’s speechwriters to help him out. Yes? But you’re casting me as the spurned Bernie supporter and Kennedy attacker? Tres bizarre. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Economist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c89c15/32.png) [@Evil\_Economist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Economist)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2018, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-of-the-union-2018-follow-along-thread/807846/223 "2018-01-31T19:30:34Z")
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**Author:** ![Johnny\_Ace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/6bbea6/32.png) [@Johnny\_Ace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Ace)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2018, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-of-the-union-2018-follow-along-thread/807846/224 "2018-02-01T00:47:35Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > Your point was that Kennedy just recited stirring platitudes and should have got Bernie’s speechwriters to help him out. Yes? But you’re casting me as the spurned Bernie supporter and Kennedy attacker? Tres bizarre. That wasn’t a campaign speech; it was the Democratic response to the SOTU. I’ll bet the DNC had more to do with the speech than Kennedy did. So wait…let me get this straight. Are you now trying to say that you _didn’t_ attack Kennedy, probably 5 or 6 times now? (I’ve lost count.) The rest was me theorizing because you have, again much like Trump, not justified anything you have said. I know you’re not a right-wing crazy, which leaves the left-wing. ---
**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:** [February 1, 2018, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-of-the-union-2018-follow-along-thread/807846/225 "2018-02-01T00:53:41Z")
> [@Johnny\_Ace](#): > > I know you’re not a right-wing crazy, which leaves the left-wing. I think we just spotted your incomprehension problem. It’s a common one. ---
**Author:** ![betterlifethroughchemistry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/betterlifethroughchemistry/32/3094_2.png) [@betterlifethroughchemistry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betterlifethroughchemistry)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2018, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-of-the-union-2018-follow-along-thread/807846/226 "2018-02-01T04:54:36Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > Nonetheless, there is never anything to be gained from watching/hearing the speech that one cannot glean from the transcript. The students would probably get a better understanding of what was said from reading it than from hearing it. If there is a valuable lesson to be had, it is: what did he say, what is he doing, and how do the two compare? Perhaps that would be a valuable lesson, but you’ve still not addressed my concern as to your original post: “My Govt. students have to report on the SOTU, but I told them not to watch it, just catch the low-lights online tomorrow.” Do you actually teach, or do you simply preach? I am curious as to your teaching style. We have lost the ability of civil discourse, IMHO…and when teachers abandon critical thinking, it’s a disservice to the student… ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Ace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/6bbea6/32.png) [@Johnny\_Ace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Ace)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2018, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-of-the-union-2018-follow-along-thread/807846/227 "2018-02-01T16:36:35Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > I think we just spotted your incomprehension problem. It’s a common one. Frankly, I don’t think you’re capable of seeing the real problem. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-of-the-union-2018-follow-along-thread/807846.md?page=11)