State of the Union Last Night

Once a year, for decades, the President is invited to Congress (a joint meeting of the House of Representatives and the Senate) to give the State of the Union address.
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This was Barack Obama's last State of the Union.  I won't critique it - since my guess is that if you were a Democrat you liked it and if you were a Republican, ever word out of his mouth annoys you.  However I do want to mention Paul Ryan - living proof that not everyone out of Ed's home state of Wisconsin is a nice person.

President Obama with Paul Ryan's I'm-A-Dick faced all night

I was, at first, annoyed -but later - saddened by our new Leader of the House Paul Ryan.  The President thanked him for getting a budget through on time - which many in his party have considered a stab in the back. And the President spoke of the things that he wants to do that they might do together.  But working with the President is an anathema to the Republican active base.  So Speaker Ryan did not react.  He didn't smile at any public thanks.  He didn't nod at any suggestions that the country might work well together.  He didn't applaud at any of the good things American has done.
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He did not react to anything.  He sat with a contemptuous stare that might have thrilled those in his deepest base, but was just offensive to many of us.  He showed the Office of the President the same respect he shows a sack of garbage - or the General Motors workers in Janesville.
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He must have had one of those pins he stabbed into himself when he wanted to acknowledge anything positive
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I'm not saying that this is unique, but I think it is.  Let's see some previous examples of opposition House Leaders applauding the opposition President - roll tape.
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Republican John Boehner finds something to applaud in President Obama's Speech

Republican Denny Hasart finds something to applaud with President Clinton

Newt Gingrich(!!) finds something to agree with with President Clinton

Democrat Nancy Pelsoi can find something to agree with in President Bush the Younger

Massive Democrat Tip O'Neil finds a smile and applause for President Reagan

And one last comment from a site keeping score

For those keeping score at home, here are just some of the issues that President Obama raised during Tuesday’s State of the Union address that Republican Senators and Congressmen in attendance refused to clap for, let alone get off their asses and cheer:

• Nearly 15 million new jobs and the unemployment rate being cut in half.

• Equality for all Americans.

• Cutting pollution levels.

• A good education for our children.

• Fighting terrorism.

• The idea that America is the strongest nation on earth.

• Avoiding war.

• Making it easier to vote.

And—drumroll, please—saving the best for last …

• Curing cancer! 

File this one under shit-you-can’t-make-up.