State of the Union

Watching last night’s speech, I can’t understand how the Democrats sit there in the chamber, listening to King George the Incompetent spout unrepentant fantasies about America, freedom and democracy, without walking out en masse while together humming “The Star Spangled Banner.”

I mean, I know we’re supposed to have a “loyal opposition” in this country, but things have gone too far in this direction. Look, Democrat Henry Cuellar, pictured above, is in kissy-face mode!

If the Democrats dutifully sit there out of respect for the office of the Presidency, I wish they wouldn’t. Bush has showed no respect to the Congress or the Constitution, so why should Democrats in Congress play props for his SOTU propaganda?

Rather, call in sick. Don’t show up. If you do, boo the guy. Chant “Stop Spying on Us!” Leave when they arrest Cindy Sheehan for her free speech tee shirt. Walk out when Bush smirks “freedom is on the march.” Refuse to shake Rumsfeld’s hand. Stop smooching Condi Rice. Get out of there.

Bush, in his speech, actually evoked a “system of two parties” as if the Republican/Democratic monopoly on power was enshrined in the U.S. Constitution rather than a sign of our calcified, stagnant system of politics. And, watching the Dems and Repugs backslapping and chuckling over who gives standing O’s for which lines, its easy to see why Bush mistakenly thinks we have a “system of two parties.”

This week, a couple of dozen Senate Dems found enough spine to vote against cloture in the Alito confirmation process. That is, I guess, considered a victory by some progressives. But last night, there was Alito in his SCOTUS robes nonetheless. In reality, it was never even close.

Enough of the collegiality, dammit. Until the end of the Bush monarchy, all Democrats, indeed all lovers of democracy, need to be in scorched earth, bare-knuckles, take-no-prisoners fighting mode.