Our Worst Political Ritual

(Originally posted by my husband on NRO)

I wholeheartedly agree with Kevin's assessment of the SOTU address and also believe Jefferson got it right. What is interesting in its monarchical design, though, is that it compares unfavorably to its actual monarchical counterpart. The Queen's Speech at the State Opening of Parliament also lays out the priorities of the executive for the year. The difference is that, despite all the splendor (crown, throne, Lords walking backwards, Silver-Stick-in-Waiting, Black Rod, etc.), it actually downplays the content of the speech and provides little glory to the government. Her Majesty reads the speech from paper in a flat monotone, while the chap who actually wrote it has to stand crammed in a small alcove literally rubbing shoulders with his worst political enemy (or, in Gordon Brown's case, the Leader of the Opposition). Advantage the Constitutional Monarchy there, I think