Update (9:55 p.m.): Welcome to the blog, first-timers. If you’re as bored as I am with politics, check out my hobby blog, Fantasy Fiction for Christians.
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I used to invite blog-less readers (although bloggers were free to participate) to “live-comment” events. The first such post (first presidential debate) generated 166 comments. The third debate post generated 544 comments. I couldn’t believe my eyes as I watched the thread grow. But the Election Day post holds the record with 623 comments. Those were heady times.
Unless he says something particularly inspiring, the only portion of Bush’s speech I’ll live-blog tonight is illegal immigration. I’ve heard rumors that he won’t even mention it, so this post may not be updated. 
If you plan to watch the State of the Union address tonight at 9:00 p.m. EST and want to comment on it, the thread will be open. I prefer listening to these things on the radio. I’m usually not in the mood to watch Big Teddy and Maxine Waters scowl and politicians preen.
Related: Blacks, Illegal Aliens, and the Preening President
Live-bloggers: Blogs for Bush, Captain Ed, MM, Sister Toldjah (live-commenting but no live-blogging), Arch Radish, California Conservative…
Unrelated Addendum: I made The Nation. I’m “honored.” This pro-life blogger is here to stay, baby!
9:00 p.m.: I heard right here and read on another blog that SOTU invitee Cindy Sheehan has been arrested by Capitol Police. Lucianne.com is also reporting. [Update: a link]
The 16-word SOTU speech:
“Economy up. Wiretaps work. Adios terrorists. Here comes the veto. Borders will be closed. Thank you.”
Funny. 
I’ll wait patiently for the president’s immigration remarks. In the meantime, I’ll swing by Randy Thomas’s blog for live updates.
9:18: I have to note this. Bush called Islam a “noble faith.”
9:30: Waiting, waiting. Bush still pronounces nuclear nu-cu-ler.
9:39: Here we go. He says our economy can’t function without immigrants. Perhaps it’s true, but no one is suggesting we keep out immigrants. ILLEGAL ALIENS are the issue, Mr. Bush! That better not be all he has to say…
Corny joke about Bill Clinton. How do I make a gagging “smilie?”
9:44: You know what? I think that’s all Bush is going to say on “immigration.” So far he’s made no distinction between border jumpers and people who go through the proper channels to immigrate to this great country. At my age, I’m still hopelessly naïve. 
OK. I spoke too soon. Now he says we must have stronger borders and protection and welcomes guest worker programs (OK with me), but REJECTS AMNESTY! Is Bush pulling my leg, choking my chain?
You know what? The guest worker program, as proposed by Bush, is nothing more than amnesty under the table. I guess Bush and his pals just don’t want to give up their low-wage, illegal alien domestic help. It must be like crack.
10:01: He said “African Americans.” Crrrrriiiinnnnnge…
OK. The speech is over. I’m bitterly disappointed with George Bush for vague and empty platitudes about illegal immigration. He didn’t address the social costs and national security issues surrounding the illegal scourge, nor did he mention anything about the incident that happened at the border last week or offer anything concrete to his pro-enforcement base. Just fluff, slogans, and hot air.
Text of the speech, AP reaction and downloadable MP3s at MSNBC.
Well, despite our fallible leaders and all of America’s problems, this is still the greatest country in the world, and I am blessed to have been born here. And in this country is where I’ll die, God willing. Thanks, live-commenters!
(Especially Agent Tim, Renee, and Patrick Lascon)
Nighty-night, kids.
Update II (2/1): I’m no fan of Cindy Sheehan, but I’m a big fan of the First Amendment. I read a misleading post on a blog that implied Sheehan was thrown out of the Capitol because of an “anti-war” t-shirt. She was thrown out for that? I thought. I, right-winger and war supporter, was prepared to defend the woman’s right to wear the shirt.
Well, there’s more to it. She was being “vocal” and wouldn’t pipe down. Demonstrating is not allowed in the gallery for obvious reasons.
Another Update: It happened under Clinton’s watch, too. A man was kicked out of the gallery because he wore an anti-Clinton t-shirt. Here’s the difference: the man, unlike Cindy Sheehan, wasn’t making a fuss. If Sheehan was running her mouth when she was supposed to be quiet, she deserved to get bounced.
Another Update II: OK. Now I don’t know what to believe: Sheehan’s version or journalists’. Why do I care? Although Sheehan has milked her 15 minutes of fame to death and has pretty much become a tacky caricature, hugging up Communists and whatnot, she has a right to express her views. We also have a right to criticize her views, but in my opinion, conservatives have given the woman too much press.
Last year I wrote a post called Lay Off Cindy Sheehan because I was appalled by what I considered nastiness in the conservative blogosphere. I riled up many a conservative blogger with that one. Fortunately, I’m not here to please liberals, conservatives, or other Christians.
I couldn’t understand the ravenous blog swarm against Sheehan then, and I still don’t.
Later: Capitol Police apologize to Sheehan and drop charges.
