Videos tk:

> Science! “The debate is settled, climate change is a fact.”

> “Give America a raise.” Nice one.

> President Obama, roasting GOP on their countless symbolic repeal of Obamacare votes: “The first 40 [votes] were enough” Commentary: hahahahah, sob.

> Via the NY Times (click here to read the rest): “never during his time in office has the state of the economy been better — yet rarely has he gotten such low marks from the public for his handling of it.

Not only have economic indicators shown progress toward pre-recession health, but many forecasters are predicting what one called “a breakout year” for growth. A new study from a Federal Reserve economist even put a more benign spin on a negative trend, the shrinking labor force, by attributing the decline not to discouraged unemployed workers who have quit looking for jobs, but to the first baby-boomer retirements.

Demand for labor is up and the unemployment rate is below 7 percent for the first time since November 2008. Consumers, buoyed by rising home prices and stock values, are spending more; so are businesses. Exports are growing as Europe regains health. The fiscal drag from state and federal spending cuts has abated. And contrary to Republicans’ claims, many forecasters do not see the health care law as “a job-killer.” …read the rest.

> via twitter, before President Obama arrived:

Representative Randy Weber, Republican of Texas, posted an error-riddled message that quickly went viral: “On floor of house waitin on ‘Kommandant-In-Chef’… the Socialistic dictator who’s been feeding US a line or is it “A-Lying?”

> “And with the Afghan war ending, this needs to be the year Congress lifts the remaining restrictions on detainee transfers and we close the prison at Guantanamo Bay – because we counter terrorism not just through intelligence and military action, but by remaining true to our Constitutional ideals, and setting an example for the rest of the world…”

> Full Text of the State of the Union, here.

> “That’s why, tonight, I ask every American who knows someone without health insurance to help them get covered by March 31st. Moms, get on your kids to sign up. Kids, call your mom and walk her through the application. It will give her some peace of mind – plus, she’ll appreciate hearing from you.”

> President Obama: “Every four minutes, another American home or business goes solar; every panel pounded into place by a worker whose job can’t be outsourced. Let’s continue that progress with a smarter tax policy that stops giving $4 billion a year to fossil fuel industries that don’t need it, so that we can invest more in fuels of the future that do.

And even as we’ve increased energy production, we’ve partnered with businesses, builders, and local communities to reduce the energy we consume. When we rescued our automakers, for example, we worked with them to set higher fuel efficiency standards for our cars. In the coming months, I’ll build on that success by setting new standards for our trucks, so we can keep driving down oil imports and what we pay at the pump.”

~

> Via the White House: The GOP-caused Shutdown cost our economy approx $4 billion. Also, FACT: Our manufacturers are adding jobs for the first time since the 1990s. #MadeInAmerica http://www.elephantjournal.com/2014/01/watch-the-state-of-the-union-here-live-video/

 

Watch here. We’ll be adding coverage and commentary and insights as we go from many sources.

Relephant: “Obama to sign an executive order requiring janitors, construction workers and others working for federal contractors be paid at least $10.10 an hour.”

> If you’re tired of the MSNBC, CNN, and FOX commentary don’t forget PBS or C-SPAN.

> Objectively, Obama has kept 4 out of 5 campaign promises. If you think that’s crazy talk, stop watching FOX.

> Congress addressed 2 of his 41 suggestions last year. General sentiment, via Reddit: “what’s the point of a State of the Union when the GOP hardliners will be against anything he says out of partisan bitterness. After all they have adopted the act of no good news for the economy is good news for them and bad news for Obama.”

> Giffords asks ‘What is Congress afraid of?’ in SOTU gun control ad

> Obama’s NSA blind spot: The president has no right to sit on the sidelines waiting for the Supreme Court to tell him what the Constitution means. (latimes.com)

> 200 Things Obama Can Do for the Environment—Without Congress. The executive order can be a beautiful thing. Use it, Mr. President! (newrepublic.com)

> Hate Obamacare, Love the Benefits From Mumble-Mumble-Care (motherjones.com)

> More than 67,000 in WA now have insurance through Obamacare (blogs.seattletimes.com)

> STUDY: The Affordable Care Act will improve the well-being and incomes of Americans in the bottom fifth of the income distribution. (brookings.edu)