SOTU pre-spin

The buzzwords in the early pre-speech spin seem to be optimism and confidence. So when Chris Matthews describes the president as confident and the speech as "full of optimism," you will know that he's working from the RNC talking points.

I would say, try a drinking game on those two words, but, with the Republicans stinking of desperation, I don't think you would stay vertical through the speech.

Also, the WaPo prespin piece is reporting that Bush is going to make four policy speeches following the SOTU un as yet unannounced topics. Looking to the last few State of the Unions, I'll take a guess: "Hydrogen Cars," "Steroids in Sports," "Mars, bitches," and the failed Social Security proposal.

Or maybe just terror,terror, terror, terror.

I mean, sure Three Dog Night got sick of performing "Joy to the World," but that's what worked and that's what people expected from them.

Really, from the leaks, it sounds like he's going to try to attack healthcare in this country. No, from the few leaked bits I've read, I mean really attack the availability, cost, and quality of healthcare.

The plan seems to be to offer "Health Savings Accounts." It sounds like it's going to be as disastrous as the social security privatization, which thankfully fell flat, and the medicare drug benefit which unfortunately didn't.

Oh, and they're planning for 24 minutes of applause in a 36 minute speech. "We Love Big Brother. There is none so glorious as our emperor." (Foxnews)

Without applause, practice runs have taken about 36 minutes. The speech will likely extend to an hour as members of the joint session of Congress, the Supreme Court justices, the Cabinet and the Joint Chiefs of Staff applaud their favorite proposals and rhetorical flourishes.

UPDATE: The NYTimes says Bush will aim low with no major new initiatives. And the spin has shifted in the late afternoon to some alternative energy initiative.