State of the Union - why does everyone applaud every time President says something?

Anonymous
Literally - after every sentence <<applause>>.
Anonymous
Well, everybody isn't clapping all the time. The democrats are. Occasionally the republican join it. It is a polite (read: politically motivated) way to say 'we support you'd.
Anonymous
Just part of the drama ..... happens with every president.

The other part is members of the president's party applauding or giving a standing ovation and the other side stays seated and does not applaud.
Anonymous
Let's just say that folks applaud liberally.
Anonymous
I have no idea. Weird isn't it?
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:I have no idea. Weird isn't it?


No. I have been very pressed by what he has said. A great speech, and an inspiring vision for our country.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:Just part of the drama ..... happens with every president.

The other part is members of the president's party applauding or giving a standing ovation and the other side stays seated and does not applaud.



True. The speechwriters write the SOU speech in sound bites. Each sentence then is marked with hashmarks. One hashmarks means pause and wait for applause. Two means pause pause, wait for applause, three means hold your breath and wait for lots of applause and clapping. The supporting party knows this and knows when to just politiely applaud and when to go crazy. It's nonsense but it's just the way it's done - wife of former WH speechwriter.
Anonymous
Sometimes they applaud to be snarky.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Just part of the drama ..... happens with every president.

The other part is members of the president's party applauding or giving a standing ovation and the other side stays seated and does not applaud.



True. The speechwriters write the SOU speech in sound bites. Each sentence then is marked with hashmarks. One hashmarks means pause and wait for applause. Two means pause pause, wait for applause, three means hold your breath and wait for lots of applause and clapping. The supporting party knows this and knows when to just politiely applaud and when to go crazy. It's nonsense but it's just the way it's done - wife of former WH speechwriter.


How long has this been the practice. So annoying. One of the reasons I don't watch anymore.
Anonymous
He is our leader....o great one.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:Sometimes they applaud to be snarky.


And sometimes the President gives the line of the night in response.
Muslima
Member

Offline
I wondered if any president ever said anything other than "The State of the Union is STRONG" and just what did they say when they said otherwise. So did some research while I watched'':
1960's: Lyndon Johnson said the union was “free and restless, growing and full of hope.” John F. Kennedy declared that “the state of this old but youthful Union, in the 175th year of its life, is good.” Coolidge said in 1928: “No Congress of the United States ever assembled, on surveying the state of the Union, has met with a more pleasing prospect than that which appears at the present time.”
1860's (civil war times): James Buchanan declared in December 1860, four months before the Civil War began, that “the Union of the States, which is the source of all these blessings, is threatened with destruction.” Andrew Johnson said in December 1865, the year of Abraham Lincoln’s assassination: “Candor compels me to declare that at this time there is no Union as our fathers understood the term, and as they meant it to be understood by us.”
The bleakest assessment in modern times came from Ford, who amid the recession in 1975 admitted: “I must say to you that the state of the Union is not good: Millions of Americans are out of work. Recession and inflation are eroding the money of millions more. Prices are too high, and sales are too slow.” It wasn’t what his audience wanted to hear, but, as Kusnet would say, it had the benefit of being accurate.
.....off to bed.... Good night


What's it like being Muslim? Well, it's hard to find a decent halal pizza place and occasionally there is a hashtag calling for your genocide...
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:Literally - after every sentence <<applause>>.


Oh, how cute. This must be the first time you've ever seen a SOTU

</sarcasm>
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I have no idea. Weird isn't it?


No. I have been very pressed by what he has said. A great speech, and an inspiring vision for our country.


talk is cheap
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Sometimes they applaud to be snarky.


And sometimes the President gives the line of the night in response.


+1
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