By Josh Smith
Anchor / WJHL
Published: January 28, 2010

Did you watch President Obama’s State of the Union speech?

What do you think about the President’s call for a new start, for a revived focus on fixing the economy and creating jobs, for the political backbone to finish the job on healthcare reform?

What about the “don’t ask / don’t tell” change proposed for the military?

Me?

I have to - I mean have to - go to bed by 9:30 a.m. if I’m going to make it to 11 Connects for a 5 a.m. newscast, so I only got to see the first half of the speech.  The rest I watched this morning, clips from our CBS news service.  Regardless of who’s making the speech, there’s something awe-inspiring about the spectacle of this American tradition that’s steeped in ritual.  Seeing the Supreme Court justices alongside the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the President’s Cabinet level leadership team never fails to send a cold chill up the back of my neck.  Watching the President stride through the door to the cheers of his political friends and foes reminds me of the centuries of men who’ve made that walk.  The machinations of a free people’s government at work is an awesome thing to witness.

Change the subject.

Far less “weighty” but still hard to miss - Nancy Pelosi’s pearl necklace.  Please tell me it isn’t real.  My wife was so impressed by the neck candy plastered just above the President’s left shoulder that I went in search of more information on-line.  Apparently, they’re real.  They’ve created a sensation in the jewelry world.  And one pear website estimated hers at costing $20,000.

Okay.

Share your thoughts on the S.O.T.U..