Legal Activists of Color: State of the Union Drinking Game (2007)

State of the Union Drinking Game (2007)

http://www.drinkinggame.us/

"He shall from time to time give to the Congress information of the state of the union and recommend to their consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient." -- U.S. Constitution, Article II, Section III

"Madame Speaker, the President of the United States..."

The general rules of this game are no different from any other drinking game. A drink is either a shot or a good gulp from a beer (or cider). Different events call for different numbers of drinks and all you do is watch the speech and play along. If all goes well, you'll be unconscious by the time they show the other party's response.

GAME TIME
This year, President Bush's State of the Union address is scheduled for Tuesday, January 23, 2007 at 9pm (Eastern). It should be broadcast on all major networks and cable news/political networks.
For online coverage, go to http://www.c-span.org/executive/stateoftheunion.asp.

EVENT

# of Drinks

Every time he says....

"The state of our union is strongŠ" (or some version of this)

1
+1 if he breaks down in tears

"the American people"

1

troops

small 1

surge

quick 1

Iraq

1

Baghdad

1

"sectarian violence"

1 Car Bomb
recipe

Iran

1

terror (however it's pronounced)

small 1

detainees

1, with your hands behind your back

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

2 (+1 if he pronounces it correctly)

Saddam Hussein or Saddam

1

elections

1 if referring to another country's
2 if referring to the 2006 midterms

freedom

1

Homeland

1 if followed by "Security"; 2 if another context

"Bring it on"

Arm-wrestle the person next to you; loser drinks

"nukular"

1

bipartisan or bipartisanship

2 (+1 if followed by giggle or chuckle)

"addicted to oil"

shot of extra-virgin olive oil

Medicare or Medicaid

wait a really long time to get a drink you really need

education

1 (+1 if mispronounced)

"human-animal hybrid"

What do centaurs and mermaids drink, anyway??

"illegal immigration"

1 shot of cerveza/tequila

God (or any euphemism for God)

2

sacrifice

1 - in the context of the armed forces
2 - for civilians

"fiscal discipline" or "smaller government" or "responsible government"

if you're a:

congressman/lobbyist: Cristal, laugh derisively

private/other public sector employee: Andre, look glum

"tax burden"

1

hydrogen

shout "Oh, the humanity!", take 1 shot

ethanol*
* With all of the ethanol "serious players" of this game will consume, they will be their own alternative energy source by about 10pm.

We think you can figure this one out...

evil or evildoers

2

Ban Ki Moon

shot of kimchi-infused vodka

Mark Foley

one shot of Scotch, aged 16 years

"macaca"

Invite George Allen for a drink - he doesn't have anything better to do...

"Don't mess with Texas!"

Locate the nearest Texan; mess with him/her; then drink

Every time he....

praises a Democrat by name

1

....if that Democrat is not Joe Lieberman

3

uses a Bushism (i.e. says something that's not really a word, other than "nukular")

1

references a mistake he/his administration has made

pinch yourself, take shot to ease the confusion and disbelief

announces a new initiative

1

Every time the camera shows....

the First Lady

1

your congressman/woman

1
and pat yourself on the back for being able to identify your congressman/woman

John Kerry

Pour yourself a shot and drink it, unless, because of your lack of education, you "might get stuck in [the bottle]"

Barack Obama

1, with hopeful audacity

Ted Kennedy

drink until your liver cries

a close-up on Nancy Pelosi (without the president in the shot)

1 shot, taken without moving any facial muscles
+1 if surrounded by children

Nancy Pelosi and Dick Cheney...and only one is applauding
+1 if it looks like they're kicking each other under the desk

1

Tom Tancredo, announced presidential candidate

10 pesos-worth of tequila, yell something in Spanish

a "special guest" who is introduced by the President

1

a "special guest" who is a member of the armed forces

1

a standing ovation from HALF of Congress

1

Other

if the speech is under an hour

Finish your drink and have another beer

DEMOCRATIC RESPONSE BONUS GAME

any reference to the 2006 midterm elections

1

if you've never heard of the Democrat delivering the response

1

any mention of how the Dems hope to ride roughshod over President Bush

1

if he starts laughing uncontrollably

Dems: join in the laughter
GOP: sob, reservedly
Both: 2 shots
Greens & Independents: Still no drink for you!

if he references his military service and/or pulls off his shirt and starts flexing

grunt, drink, smash beer can on forehead

Reactions from those who've played in the past:
"Oh, God. I wouldn't remember a lot of last night had I not been online, too. And had "friends" print out a transcript. I couldn't feel my face...that was the most hilarious thing I've ever seen."
"[This game] is a danger... holy s**t. 5 beers in a half hour and I'm *behind*. BEHIND....Damn you!...*shakes fist*"
"25 minute into speech and slipping beneath tabl3, thanks for great game. Sent out ot F&F cros country and feed(drink?)back very [positive. Sorry about what spel chk did not catch, you inderstand tho'."

Please note that we do not now, nor have we ever, encouraged irresponsible use of alcohol. It is important to know your own limits and to act accordingly. We discourage improper use of alcohol.

You can send praise/comments to sotudg2007@drinkinggame.us.
Criticism can be shouted at your computer screen.

© 2007, Marc Melzer (D-NY) & Howard Deutsch (U-MA)
We welcome links to this site, http://www.drinkinggame.us, but copying and reposting of the contents of this page are not permitted without express written consent from the authors.