The state of the union is stalled

Here are the live tweets from @americamag during last night’s State of the Union address:

“Upward mobility has stalled.” From advance excerpts of #SOTU. New York Times preview: http://nyti.ms/19YCqMf 

“NBC poll: Pessimism defines state of the union” http://nbcnews.to/1mUzFvL  via @nbcpolitics Audience ready for a lift – if they tune in? #SOTU

“If presidents before you said that the state of the union is strong, YOU say that it’s strong” http://wapo.st/1eGp8mv  @washingtonpost #SOTU

@smotus: “while it’s a presidential speech, the event is all about congressional superiority” #SOTU

ABC team pounding home that 2013 was “the worst year of Obama prez.” How quickly Oct shutdown is forgotten. #SOTU

1087 days left in presidency, notes Donna Brazile. No pressure! #SOTU

“It is you who make the state of our union strong.” #SOTU Not quite saying that it IS strong at the moment.

“When our differences shut down government… then we are not doing right by the American people.” Libertarian viewers hissing? #SOTU

“Those at the top have never done better.” Not an applause line. #SOTU

“The son of a barkeep is Speaker of the House.” Thumbs up from Boehner. “The son of a single mom is president….” #SOTU

“First-class jobs gravitate toward first-class infrastructure.” Obama: Let’s streamline permitting to get construction going. #SOTU

“Federally funded research” leads to innovation like Google. Implicit attack on sequestration spending cuts. #SOTU

“I’ll protect more of our pristine federal lands for future generations.” More applause than for job growth, presumably by Dems. #SOTU

“Fix our broken immigration system” is cue for Biden to leap up and clap. Eric Cantor stays seated. #SOTU

“This country needs them in the game,” on long-term jobless. Wants extension of unemployment insurance, more willingness to hire them. #SOTU

Getting them “in the game” is theme: unemployed, undocumented residents, students trying to attend college, builders and developers. #SOTU

“Opportunity agenda,” fulfillment of “potential” is less divisive than addressing poverty, income inequality. #SOTU

“Women deserve equal pay for equal work” seems the biggest applause line so far, but ABC is only showing women in audience. #SOTU

“It’s time to do away with workplace policies that belong in a ‘Mad Men” episode.” O might not realize how few Americans get reference #SOTU

Proposal: “MyRA. It’s a new savings bond that encourages folks to build a nest egg.” Appeal to GOP dream of a bigger Investor Class? #SOTU

“Zero” Number of Americans who can be denied health insurance because of pre-existing conditions. A shot at newly unveiled GOP plan. #SOTU

“The first 40 were plenty,” referring to votes to repeal Obamacare. That’ll come up in rebuttal. #SOTU

“Citizenship means standing up for everyone’s right to vote.” Dems primed to stand for that line. #SOTU

“America must move off a permanent war footing. That’s why I’ve imposed prudent limits on the use of drones.” He’ll be watched on that #SOTU

“this needs to be the year we close the prison at Guantanamo Bay” AG Holder leads partial standing ovation for that. #SOTU

On Iran: “If Ronald Reagan could negotiate with the SOVIET UNION…” #SOTU

Obama predicts success at Olympics. I hear “USA” chant from #SOTU audience, but I don’t see anyone doing it in close-ups.

“Sometimes we make mistakes. We stumble” in pursuit of democracy. (And health care?) “None of it is easy.” #SOTU

“God bless the United States of America.” @JamesFallows weeps http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2009/01/sorry-to-hear-obama-talking-this-way/9308/ … … #SOTU

ABC’s Jonathan Karl notes that John Boehner DIDN’T weep at “son of a barkeep” line. #SOTU

Rep. Cathy Rodgers: Prez promises “sound good” but “won’t help,” will “empower government” #SOTU GOP

RT @HuffPostPol: Here’s the text of @cathymcmorris‘ GOP response to #SOTU http://bit.ly/1a0jv3t 

Rodgers: Republican Party has plans to close the “opportunity inequality” gap. Or plans to have plans. #SOTU GOP

Rodgers: “May God guide you and our President, and may God continue to bless the United States of America.” Key word: “guide” #SOTU GOP