Will Obama, then, deliver the State of the Union Adddress?

But then, whatever state is there, is not of his making, or planning, etc.

I suppose this takes place whenever there is a new administration.. still strange.

Or what am I missing?

or Bush in 2001.

Still, could not help it. Had the Democrats controlled their "glee" perhaps we would not have lost Congress two years later. Had the Democrats not tried to trip Clinton at every turn, hey, we may have had some form of a universal health care by now.

The President shall "from time to time" give one, and they usually happen in mid-January, but who the hell knows?

I haven't heard anything definitive one way or another. Some suggest Obama will give "an address" to Congress (not a SOTU, specifically) in early Feb. We'll see.

Which is why I'm betting he skips the opportunity!

I don't think Pelosi wanted to invite him the last two years so I can't imagine why she'd want to invite him this year when she has the option not to.

From the American Presidency Project at UCSB:

"Finally, President George W. Bush delivered a State of the Union Address on January 28, 2008. It was widely stated that this was his last address before leaving office on January 20, 2009, but assuming this is incorrect. Bush has the right to deliver either a written or oral State of the Union in the days immediately before leaving office in 2009. Presidents Truman, Eisenhower, Johnson, Ford, and Carter chose to do so. Presidents Reagan, Bush, and Clinton, chose not to."


So Bush could, in principle, give a final SOTU before leaving, but almost certainly he won't.

FAST, too--in January, before he'd even finished unpacking, probably. Clinton did his first one in Feb after his inauguration.

I have provided cites elsewhere in this thread.

The purpose of the address if for the pres to keep in touch with congress and let them know where he thinks we are and where we need to be going.

It will be an important moment in the Obama presidency

for his first 100 days (first year, really). It sets the tone for the coming months. Even if it's not a "SOTU" but just an address to Congress

Inaugural addresses are designed to inspire the nation and lay out the President's broad vision for the country. After the President sets out his vision for the country he can then give the State of the Union to specifically explain his legislative agenda. But if he were to do that in his inaugural, the inaugural speech would not have the inspirational qualities needed to get people on board.

Imagine if Franklin Roosevelt had said in his inaugural "I propose a National Recovery Administration to set standards for wages and prices and I also propose a Securities and Exchange Commission to regulate the financial industry and I also propose deposit insurance, etc..." instead of "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself". Roosevelt would eventually give speeches about all of those programs but first he had to explain to the country that the New Deal wasn't just a laundry list of programs, it was a beacon of hope.

he could give one every 6 or 8 weeks or so. There is nothing stated that they be annual. That's like Easter duty for Catholics, just the bare minimum. And that the SOTU speach be of real substance and not a bunch of opportunities for standing ovations. When the speach is finished there should be a question period like in a real press conference.

I think that the above would make the SOTU message something to watch and hear.

and make it shorter - no more than 30 minutes.

I think that Clinton still holds the title of the longest one.

That's why its called the State of the Union!!

Good lord how can anyone not comprehend such an obvious notion - so BO will be giving one, and as we all can tell it will be sorely needed for 2009.

http://www.usa-presidents.info/union/

Recently ...

That are "de facto" SOTU addresses.

Not sure why they can't just call them SOTU, but whatev.

Obama can give one later, but the Dubster gets one last crack at it.

So I'm on my knees, begging him please....to just go!

Lame duck Presidents don't generally give a SOU as far as I know. The modern SOU is designed to lay out the President's agenda for the year and since he's out of office in a few weeks, he has no agenda.

The inaugural speech is designed to set the tone for the nation and lay out the broad vision of the President. The State of the Union is when the President specifically tells Congress and the nation what his legislative agenda will be. Given that we are facing a time of crisis, Obama will certainly want to lay out his agenda to Congress an the nation. And remember that one of Obama's great strengths is his speaking ability. He will use that to the fullest extent that he can to get his agenda passed.

I look forward to finally seeing a real President addressing a joint session of congress.

This is Barack Obama .... the man likes to get up in front of a crowd and talk. :-)

Throw in the fact that Democrats control the Congress, there's an air of celebration ringing in the halls of the Capitol ..... oh yeah, there WILL be a Sate of the Union Address.

And we will lap it up like little puppies! Can't wait! Bring on the rhetorical flourishes!!!