Watch the so-called Obama State of the Union Address on Tuesday, February 24th 2009 on a live video stream feed with live-blogging commentary that will be simulcast on both Blue Star Chronicles and Right Pundits.
Read the transcript below as well and see the final video. Although the Obama speech to Congress’ joint session is not technically a “State of the Union” address his team is secretly calling it one and it has the same aura.
President Obama is addressing a joint session of Congress, so the only difference from a State of the Union address is that this first speech to Congress is occurring in February instead of January. What time is Obama’s address to Congress? 6pm Pacific Time, 9pm Eastern Time. Watch the live streaming video below.
A transcript of the Obama State of the Union speech is not difficult to find. Everyone and their brother has published it, but pundits are still scratching their heads.
The Obama Congressional address is obviously important. In a short five week period, the president has squandered much of the good will that was built up before and after the election. The country is perhaps maturing as the attractive campaign message of “hope” does not match the performance in office. His public opinion polls are sagging alarmingly for a new president, and he has already made several major stumbles.
Three of Obama’s cabinet appointment never made it to a congressional hearing. They withdrew due to scandals and investigations. Expect that Obama will not address these scandals in his speech to Congress, so do not ask if we have serendipitously edited the live video feed.
Meanwhile, the president promoted a huge spending boondoggle known to backers as the “Obama stimulus plan” and to opponents as “pork.” His own administration admits it will not stimulate much, at least not for a while. The plan lost much public support, and Obama’s favorability ratings fell as a result. The bill squandered the hope for bipartisanship in Washington as it got almost no support from the GOP. In an effort to regain lost support, Obama’s first Address to Congress will trumpet the pork-laden stimulus plan as a win of sorts, so watch for that in the live feed TV. This will be one of those moments were Democrat members uncomfortably cheer while Republicans sit on their hands with political glee.
But the reality is the unemployment rate rose alarmingly since Obama took office as businesses are wary of what is coming next from Washington. The stock market has plunged 30% in a month while he sends trial balloons of nationalizing industries. Such missteps have caused the administration to quickly backtrack when the consequences are felt by working Americans. Obama will address the banking industry in his congressional speech but expect it will do little to quiet alarmed markets.
Abroad there is war in the air as other nations are seemingly taking advantage of an inexperienced leader in the White House. Russia is challenging the new administration at every turn, prompting our allies to turncoat on military bases that are crucial to a successful effort to beat the Taliban. Meanwhile, the president of Pakistan made a deal with those same Taliban, perhaps thumbing his nose at Obama for bravado comments made during the campaign. Obama threatened to invade Pakistan during the primary fight with Hillary Clinton. Now the U.S. is paying the price for undesirable campaign rhetoric.
Iraq is angry over poor communications with the Obama team. Iran is almost ready with a nuclear weapon and it appears that Israel will be forced into war unless Obama acts swiftly to influence Iran. And North Korea is readying to fire a long-range missile figuratively over Hillary Clinton’s head. But who cares about the world around us when the economy is in recession and Obama seems to take sardonic pleasure in talking it down to the alarm of Americans.
Barack Obama will address foreign affairs in his first speech to Congress but do not expect any specifics because the specifics are grim. He will talk in the general platitudes that we are all familiar with already, that America is becoming a kinder, gentler nation which wants to work with friend and foe alike. Most of this speech will be dedicated to the economy, both righting the problems that his new administration created and the problems he inherited from the big-government president who preceded him.
So watch the Obama speech on the live stream video feed below and join us for an interesting live-blogging night. Right Pundits and Blue Star Chronicles bloggers will be offering their views on Obama’s congressional speech, and you are invited to join the conversation with your own observations.
So turn on both the live feed TV and the live-blogging widget. Just don’t call it a State of the Union address, because Obama would have to say it is not strong yet. The transcript will also be available below later.
Obama State of the Union Address Live Blogging
Obama State of the Union Address – Live Stream Video Feed
Obama Video (Congressional Speech)
[...] You may also follow this at Beth’s Blue Star Chronicles. [...]
[...] vent, or say ‘i love you’ like this dopey person during his speech, you can go here or here. they will be having a live video stream feed with live-blogging commentary. the speech begins at 6 [...]
[...] a speech to a joint session of congress tonight. You can watch live here at RightPundits and BlueStar Chronicles. Join in the fun of live blogging starting at 9 pm eastern. Kate, Beth, McCain and a host of [...]
[...] will be able to see a full transcript and video of the State of the Union address when it is available. The transcript of Obama’s [...]
No, of course Obama doesn’t believe in big government. Uh huh.
As my husband just said, “What stupid ass bullshit.”
oops – hope that last comment doesn’t get censored. It was a quote. Sorry about that.
America invented the automobile? Well it must be true if Lord Obama says it is.
Fact is, the French invented a steam powered automobile, and the Germans invented a true automobile, long before anyone in America built an automobile. The great American innovation was the mass production assembly line.
Bet the media won’t even bother to fact check this, like they did Reagan, GHW Bush and GW Bush.
Did someone say sour grapes? You guys are incredible. It’s really a stretch to tie the things that have gone wrong recently to Obama. How much difference can he make in a month? For the record, if the rest of the world had had a vote in the election, he would have won by considerably more
(http://www.rd.com/your-america-inspiring-people-and-stories/global-poll-how-the-world-sees-the-2008-election/article102257.html)
I’m guessing your readers don’t look at the international media much… or else they wouldn’t swallow such crap. (interesting to see if this gets censored when comment #5 didn’t)
mike – its more important what the rest of the world thinks than what Americans think? What is it with you ‘progressives’ and wanting the rest of the world to like us. That’s so weird. Do you have to like the French President or the German Chancellor? Do the French or Germans care if you like their leaders? No, actually, they don’t.
If you paid attention to the PEOPLE in other countries, you’d realize that they have their own cultures and identities and think we are fools for being so willing to give ours up for their approval. They’ll take what they can get from us, of course. And they need our protection – they are mostly afraid we’ll be weak and in the vacuum of power, there will be turmoil while the world sorts out who the big dogs are. The countries we have protected all these years know that we are the benign power. They need us to be strong and Obama isn’t giving them any confidence that will be the case.
mike – as far as censoring comments. This blog isn’t run by the fascist left – we believe in free speech (with responsibility) – not in bullying the weak willed like the left does.
Beth, it’s “sour grapes” when Republicans criticize Obama. It was “patriotic dissent” when the Dems relentlessly bashed Bush the past eight years. To the left it is ALL about rhetoric. If it sounds good, then it is noble and a-okay.
isabel, take it from someone who does not label himself Republican OR Democrat:
It’s “sour grapes” when Republicans criticize Obama with very little substance in their criticisms, and when the President has barely been in office for a month, having been left a huge mess by the previous administration.
It was “patriotic dissent” when Democrats largely gave Bush a pass for several years (and much longer, on some key issues), and then started complaining about — but doing very little to counter — the effect of his myriad policy failures, when they finally started to realize how bad things had become.
I don’t think things are going to be all rosy and perfect under an Obama administration, either, and I’ve already found a few things to criticize in the first snippet of his first term. However, I still perceive (some) Republicans sniping for petty, partisan, and self-serving reasons.
JeffMo,
The Dems bashed bush before he even took office saying he stole the election. Lets not forget the mess the previous administration left him.. what was that. passing on Bin Laden 3 times. falsifying the economy and assuming the next administration would fix it. Dems cant have it both ways. thinking they can chastise the republicans and assuming that noone will say anything bad about them. Bush didnt make me happy but im glad he was there when he was. Obama is my president and i will watch and see how he does. thats more than any liberal ever said about Bush.
JeffMo, Whew! I’m glad my comments aren’t “sour grapes” according to your definition since I have LOTS of substance for my criticism of Obama. I don’t know of any Democrats who gave Bush a pass for even a minute. All I heard for more than 8 years was relentless and brutal criticism and mockery.
Personally I think it’s unfair to mock someone just because they have learning difficulties.
Mike,
Not only what beth says, but … have you heard any general statements about what the rest of the world thinks of us? Any clue how much the rest of the world likes America (ever heard the expression “the ugly American”?)?
So if I got to elect the leader for a country I hated, I’d sure be voting for the guy I knew could and would totally destroy that country’s way of life and bring to an end anything good that country had going for it. I’d vote for a guy I knew would make that country weak, so I could march right in and conquer it.
Oh, so you were saying the whole world was wishing Obama on us? Whoops!
No, I don’t think you make any points for Obama by saying the whole world wanted him to win the presidency of the US….
Though, I do agree with the whole world … the worst has happened. Fasten your seat belt, and put your head between your knees … we’re about to crash!
Live Streaming: Chairman Obama’s Lecture Of Empty Platitudes (24 Feb 09)…
Gather serfdom in front of your burning barrels of American currency and bask in the wondrous glory that is Dear Leader, Chairman B. Hussein Obama.
WINDOWS MEDIA PLAYER LIVE STREAM
Live blog event at Blue Star Chronicles
To start things off, here……