I have a confession: I’m not sure when the last time was when I watched the State of the Union address. I think I may have watched it in 2003. But I’m not even certain of that. Perhaps a glance through the archives would show that I watched a bit of it last year, I don’t know.
The truth is, I find it unwatchable.
Now, I read the transcript later. I’ll often go back and watch key sections so I can get the flavor of a particular passage in the speech or of a debate it has spawned.
But the thing itself (watching the actual production in real time) and then the imbecile chatter afterwards — I just can’t deal. I just find it unbearable.
Are there others out there like me? I know that a great portion of the country never watches the thing and can’t be bothered with politics in any case. But are there others out there who are genuine political junkies — downright incurables — and yet can’t bear to watch this thing?