I watched President Obama’s State of the Union speech tonight. Don’t worry; I’m not going to get all political on you. I said I watched it, I didn’t say I listened.
Michelle went for the no sleeve thing. Note to self: Go to gym. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
I watched to see what everyone was wearing. Some people watch the Grammy Awards for the fashions. I watch the State of the Union. How else would I know that lilac, periwinkle, and Pepto Bismol ties are all the rage? For women, sleeves, or no sleeves? If you are Michelle, sleeves be gone! Or should we wear polyester pantsuits with a jaunty bow at the neck to hide the ravages of time?
No, this post isn’t about the fashions either. It is about something I learned today.
You know those guys and gals who are on the aisle and meet and greet the president as he makes his way down to the podium? They aren’t the inner circle. They aren’t the favorite children and next generation of leaders of our great country. They aren’t the next best thing since chocolate martinis.
Those enviable people are on the aisle because they had nothing better to do than save that seat for up to 12 hours before the speech. I kid you not. And, they can’t place their napkin on the seat, put a note on it that says, “saved,” or have an unpaid intern sit there. If you want to have 5 seconds of fame on TV while you shake the hand of the president as he comes down the aisle, your sorry ass has to save the seat.
My first question when I heard about this was, “Can they go to the bathroom during that 12 hour wait?”
Marco Rubio (R) didn’t drink water for 12 hours while he was saving his seat on the aisle. He was obviously dehydrated, hence the big drink of water during his rebuttal after the speech. Give the guy a break. (I have no idea if he was on the aisle or not, but he was thirsty.)
Robin Coyle 
Too funny, no way I could do that, I’m afraid even a thermos wouldn’t help me! 😉
12 hours is a long time to wait for ANYTHING! But for 5 seconds on national TV and shaking the presidents hand, it is ridiculous.
AGREED!!! lol!
Now that’s dedication!
Or crazy, depending on how you look at it.
The moral, I suppose, is to bring a Thermos and, I guess, something to pee in.
Or, better yet, watch it on TV in your jammies.
Or be careful to not drink out of the urinal and pee in the thermos. Ew.
It’s the same when a new video game comes out (at least, on some) or a new playstation: People will get in line at the store the night before and stand outside, to get it. I saw a Best Buy store where it was too cold, so they allowed them to “camp” inside the store and wait.
My opinion: Well, when that happens – I wait for about 2-4 weeks and then buy it on Amazon without waiting and at about 40% of the cost.
Just sayin’…
I don’t understand camping out to get the latest iPhone either.
lol
Amazing, the things people will do..
Yes, but I wouldn’t do that one!
Twelve hours in a seat even with bathroom breaks is more than I could handle. I’m surprised someone didn’t get carted out with a blood clot!
Or bladder infection.
Ha ha. I WOULD watch anything to see what the latest hot styles are but I wouldn’t last TWELVE minutes without a bathroom. Holey Moley.
I’m with you on that one.
Hmm, a drink of water makes the big news (albeit an awkward drink). Does the media know that N.Korea blew off a nuclear bomb this week that can ultimately reach the west coast of the US? Oh well, never mind. No big deal. BTW, I didn’t see an answer to your question about whether or not they get to go to the bathroom. I’m guessing that’s a ‘no?’
Bomb, schmomb. We want real news, like the brand of the water.
And no, I don’t know the answer to the potty breaks. I must do some investigative reporting.
As much as I’d love to shake the president’s hand, I’d never be able to hold my water for 12 hours. Never.
I need to find a Washington insider and ask their technique. I’d love to sleep through the night.
Urinary catheters, diapers, or severe dehydration. None sound too pleasant.
I’ll take just watching it on TV with the comfort of the bathroom down the hall and the mute button on the remote.
On Wed, Feb 13, 2013 at 10:27 AM, Robin Coy
12 hours? You’d do that for Paul, wouldn’t you, Robin? You know Paul … the “oooooo” guy in She Love You … Ya? I thought so.
True. I’d wait 12 days. Maybe 12 months. Make that 12 years. You get the idea.
Interesting point, Robin. So they got there at nine in the morning and sat there all day! I had the same question: what do they do if they have to go to the bathroom?
Gives the term “constipated government” a whole new meaning. Ew. Sorry.
Yes, the tie colors confounded me! Who knew? I kind of figured they should be U.S.A. colors… but obviously lilac and Pepto Bismol are all the rage.
Well, Spring is in the air!
and he illustrated that thirst again on Good Morning America, even though as a Canadian I should be watching Canada AM. I love that you watch the speech for the fashions–it is so like you (lol)
Who needs Glamour magazine when you have a bunch of politicians. Now they know fashion.
I used to read Glamour – about a century or so again–now I look to Times magazine
I read Popular Mechanics.
I read my Dad’s Popular Mechanics–but missed the fashion pages
You have to read between the lines.
ha ha ha ha
Michelle has great arms, hence the sleeveless dress. I knew about the seat-saving responsibility, because they do that at the Emmys and Oscars and all the big to-dos. They’ll be doing it at our book events, Robin, when we’re published and world-famous and reading excerpts from our bestsellers. So, be ready.
I like the way you think!
Michelle has great arms AND shoulders. Who needs cleavage when you have that?
NOw the question is who would you sit in a seat fr 12 hours to meet? Think I certainly would have made it for Duran Duran in my younger days and would still give it a damn good go just not so sure I would make it now lol
I wish our congress men and women were so dedicated to the mission of balancing the budget and fixing the economy.
sorry couldn’t stomach the state of union… missed all the excitement I guess
Oh, it was a real love-fest.
oh dear why are you up? You have the Audra disease?
Seems so.
well i am terribly sorry. I was up at 2:30 myself if that makes you feel any better. I hope you are sound asleep right now
What were you doing up? Yes, I crashed again and slept hard.
I’m glad you did
I can’t and won’t queue. Ditto for not going to the bathroom for 12 hours. That was my first thought also 🙂
And like they don’t have anything better to do. Hello? How about fixing the economy?
You had me at chocolate martinis 😉
I find it hard enough to sit for an hour without having to go to the little girl’s room. I bet all those people now have kidney infections…yick! 😯
The article was specific that they had to sit there to save the seat. Maybe there is a provision for potty breaks. It begs a bigger question. Don’t these people have other things they should be doing? Like fixing the economy?
Hmmm – good point…
Funny!
Yup. Can’t make this stuff up!
Polyester pantsuits? Oh yeah. Bring ’em on!
Yeah. I rock the pantsuit.
Oh yeah? Well, I rock blue jeans and sweatshirts. 😉
That sounds waaaaaaaaaay better.
I have been to two State of the Union addresses during the Reagan years. Stood on the floor at the back of the chamber. I still have a “Reserved for Supreme Court” sign. No waiting for them. Apparently membership does have its privileges!
You mean all you need to do to get a front row seat is be on the Supreme Court? Easy peasy.
Bingo!
Then I will be in the front row in 4 years. Oh wait. I have to go to law school first? Damn.