Mr. Hartmann, you are not being intellectually honest with your blog, so I will help to clarify the reality of the situation for your readers, who's responses I welcome.

The Republican primary debate was already scheduled for that time slot (not just the same day, but the exact hour), and someone from the WH made the mistake of trying to schedule the president's speach for that time without the WH getting prior approval on the time from the speaker (which is how this is done). This was at best, a silly oversight on the part of the WH. Additionally, the Speaker did not REJECT the president's poorly planned joint session (as you inaccurately conclude); rather, he suggested the President chose a different time. To both the credit of the Speaker AND the President, they made a change. The Speaker in no way is forcing the President to give his speach on how he is going to finally address the jobs issue during the opening NFL game, nor could he. Whether the WH made a silly mistake, or had childish political games that they wanted to play, either way the Speaker, and ultimately the WH made the right decision (though I personally would advise the President to give his speach on Friday).

As for the birth certificate issue, I, along with the Speaker, along with the VAST majority of conservatives and Americans reject the idiotic birther issue. This is not something that was pushed by main stream conservatives, thank God, because it was a waste of time.

As for the rest of your comments, never before in history has a president directly and innapropriately attacked the Supreme Court during a State of The Union address, which resulted in the comment 'Not-True', which is different from calling the President a liar. I agree with you on what you refer to as being heckled as a liar by a Congressman (not sure what Southern has to do with this), even if he felt the President was lying, because that was disrespectful (and ultimately an apology was given).

You saying that Republicans are sabatoging the President's efforts to discuss jobs is completely dishonest, and someone of your influence should be able to make a more intelligent and factual comment. I can't help that you hate Mr. Perry for his good hair, and for the fact that he has a real chance at defeating Obama, but you need to understand that many Americans want to watch both the President's speach AND the Republican debate. Though the Left prefers to create an information loop and ignore and dismiss any decenting thought, there are still many (Libs and Conservs) who want to hear both. I would like to hear what the President is going to call the 'Stimulus 2', and I also want to watch and decide who I'm going to vote for to replace the last mistake of a vote that I made in '08.

I'll probably watch Obama, although I'm completely disgusted with him. He just will not fight the republicans and expose them for what they are.

It would be even better if the speech by the President was on Friday night of that week, or even Labor Day. That way it would not compete with everything else that people seem to find more important.

I think it's a little cynical to think 'most' Americans will be watching football instead of the president...I can tell you who will definitely be watching...unemployed Americans like me.

We liberals remind me of old married couples....they complain about their spouses lacks...instead of focusing on the positive. At least Obama is getting things done (slowly) .... this month no Americans died in Iraq....we took down Ghadafi (with help you say?...come on... we know better) and oh yes he got Osama (freaking) Bin Laden. The auto industry is still alive and kicking....and we want to focus on, he moved his speech? He seems to be slow but steady...I think he'll get them in the end....especially now that he has experience with dealing with them. Of course if he caves on that pipeline...I will be truly diappointed but since Bernie isn't running he the only choice we have...let's cut him some slack.

Republicans are losers. They have no respect for the United States Constituition. They do not have the best interests of We the People. The Republicans only know how to embarass themselves. They campaigned on the issue of jobs in the 2010 elections yet what plans do they have for jobs? They only want to kick people who are down and out. These Republicans deserve to be taught a lesson at the ballot box in 2012 . . . vote them out of office and allow our President to lead the nation to prosperity. The Republicans only care about their corporate masters, they have abandoned the People.

Philip Henderson, Ethical Magician

The more this drags on the more we, the hopefully intelligent ones, see the sheer outright level of disrespect for this president. We are witnessing the most subtle of, what? I'd have to say down right bigotry. I've heard enough clap trap from people I know that are tea baggin and in every conversation there is the underlying tone of anomsity all over the fact that a black cat is living in the "whitys" house. I got in an arguement today in respects to Obamas accomplishments and how the only time he managed to get anything done was before the mid term. the persons arguement was that he has gotten nothing done. I had to enlighten the gentleman to the fact that since the mid term there has been nothing but hard core obstructionism. this gentleman insisted that the downgrade was Obama's fault? Again I had to inform him that the debt cieling was being held hostage by the very boobs that won the midterm. all he had to reply with was..."your an idiot". It is a scary place when the American people are so brainwashed and living behind rose colored glasses that they survive on right wing sound bites and have scarce little desire to actually go out and read? Oh maybe thats the problem, with the dumbing down of Americans maybe a lot of these people can't read!

I have no reason to believe that Obama is any more capable of standing on his own two feet and doing what has to be done, than he has ever been. In other words, I don't think he has the guts. By rights, Obama should be a radio talk show host, and Thom Hartmann should be president. Then we would actually get something done. And that would be nice.

I will watch the packers. And I dont care who wins. I am so sick of caving into these crazy right wingers. I gave my money and my hope to someone who will fight. You cannot reason with people who put the nation at risk cuz their feelers were hurt when they lost in 2008. I think a fight will bring us back to the table or the TV. I have a living to make in the mean time.

At least if I watch football, the host isn't going to try to hit me up for another trillion dollars.

The mistake we made was voting for the crazy Republicans into Congress, not electing Obama.

Have Republican office holders read the U S Constitution? Maybe, maybe not. But an awful lot of the folks who vote for them can't and don't read.

I understand the idea behind adversarial debate, but debate is pointless when the adversary either lacks the intelligence or will to acknowledge the destructive insanity of the most fanatically right-wing ideological extremist, such as Eric Cantor and the like. Daniel (what's-his-name), recited almost word for word Eric Cantor's line 'we-need-to-act-like-a-family-would-when-tragedy-strikes...'. These people are drones; either complicit, or conditioned sheeple. It is truly sad, and it makes for a useless debate. A drone's response is formulated and obvious to anyone who has ever seen any other right-wing ideolog speak. There are (believe or not) many intelligent & rational conservatives that would offer a more robust debate. Debating one rational & intelligent conservative is better than debating two drones.