State of the Union - The Musical! "How to Succeed as President Without Really Trying"

State Of The Union with phone and pen.  

Welcome to the Dividist's annual coverage of the Presidential Address to Congress - aka State of the Union - The Musical!

In 2007, as a blogging toddler, the Dividist despaired at finding a unique approach to the SOTU when so many other bloggers would be traversing the same ground. The answer came from Bob Woodward. In an on-line Washington Post forum the Dividist asked whether the SOTU had any real relevance. Woodward responded by saying it was "mostly theater." Genius. That was the answer. What better way to frame the SOTU, media and blog reactions than within the lyrics of a Broadway show tune?

The game is to start with a Broadway song then find blog posts, news stories, tweets, essays, and commentary that can be vaguely referenced in the song and link them to the lyrics. It keeps the Dividist awake and blogging throughout the speech and mandatory drinking game.



In 2007 it was "Comedy Tonight" from A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. In 2008 it was the 1966 hit "Georgy Girl Boy". For 2009, we welcomed President Obama with "Razzle Dazzle" from the musical Chicago.  In 2010, the man behind the curtain was revealed in - The Wizard of Oz. We mostly skipped 2011, but in 2012, with the President and Congress erecting barricades against mobs wielding pitchforks and torches, we were drawn to Les Miserables and "Do you hear the people sing?"  Last year, after the people handed the President an overwhelming 52% mandate for absolutely no change, we offered a tribute to our prog friends as they gaze lovingly at President Obama Superstar and thought "I don't know how to love him".

It's 2014, an election year. We are virtually assured of continuing our happily divided government for the balance of this administration, so the President has declared he will rule with a pen and a phone.  Whatever that means. It kind of sounds like he is going to mail it in for balance of the second term. Presumably we will be getting a lot of Executive Orders from the President's imperial pen. But let's keep in mind that anything done with the stroke of a pen can be undone with the stroke of a pen. No problem, as long the President does not care whether or not his legacy outlasts his last day in office.

But I digress. Back to the President's address to the nation. What could be more appropriate for the State of the Union than President Obama gazing in a mirror and singing "I believe in you" from How to Succeed as President Without Really Trying while his Republican colleagues harmonize the chorus "Gotta stop that man"? 

We'll post the lyrics now then update with links to live-bloggers, pundits, twitteratti, analysis and reviews before, during and after the speech. It'll be over when we get tired of the speech or too drunk to type.

The Dividist welcomes any and all suggested links, in comments or twitter, for any and all lines anywhere in the lyrics, from any who accidentally stumble across this post, at any time.

To help get you into the spirit. Music up... Raise the Curtain...

I Believe In You  

Cue Republicans in executive washroom:  

Gotta stop that man,
I gotta stop that man cold . . .
Or he'll stop me.
Big deal, big rocket,
Thinks he has the world
In his pocket.
Gotta stop, gotta stop,
Gotta stop that man. 

Cue President Obama staring into a mirror:  

Now there you are;
Yes, there's that face,
That face that somehow I trust.
It may embarrass you to hear me say it,
But say it I must, say it I must:
You have the cool, clear
Eyes of a seeker of wisdom and truth;
Yet there's that upturned chin
And that grin of impetuous youth.
Oh, I believe in you.
I believe in you.
I hear the sound of good, solid judgment
Whenever you talk;
Yet there's the bold, brave spring of the tiger
That quickens your walk.
Oh, I believe in you.
I believe in you.
And when my faith in my fellow man
All but falls apart,
I've but to feel your hand grasping mine
And I take heart; I take heart
To see the cool, clear
Eyes of a seeker of wisdom and truth;
Yet, with the slam-bang tang
Reminiscent of gin and vermouth.
Oh, I believe in you.
I believe in you.  

Republicans: 

Gotta stop that man,
Gotta stop that man . . .
Or he'll stop me.
Big wheel, big beaver,
Boiling hot
With front office fever.
Gotta stop, gotta stop,
Gotta stop that man. 

Obama: Oh, I believe in you. 

Republicans: Don't let him be such a hero!  

Obama: I believe in you. You! You! Mwah!

Drop curtain. Polite applause (right half), standing ovation (left half), exit stage left.