If only all news coverage resembled Wes Anderson films. Here is CNN's take on the #SOTU in Anderson's style. https://t.co/jpatTzm2Oo

— Mark Caleb Smith (@markcalebsmith) January 13, 2016

#SOTU always strikes me as too monarchical as we practice it. Far too much adulation of the president–any president–in this setting.

— Mark Caleb Smith (@markcalebsmith) January 13, 2016

Pres Obama has the seeds of greatness in him. It is too bad he did not nurture them and become a moderating, bipartisan force. #SOTU

— Mark Caleb Smith (@markcalebsmith) January 13, 2016

Odd not to see Boehner behind Obama. Ryan seems stunningly young by comparison to the normal faces of Washington. #SOTU

— Mark Caleb Smith (@markcalebsmith) January 13, 2016

Economic security vs. freedom. The classic divide right up front. #SOTU

— Mark Caleb Smith (@markcalebsmith) January 13, 2016

Free community college, of course, is not free. I love education. I love students. Not everyone should be in college. Just facts. #SOTU

— Mark Caleb Smith (@markcalebsmith) January 13, 2016

I do appreciate the president's calls for bipartisanship. He has had 7 years to pursue them and has generally refused. #SOTU

— Mark Caleb Smith (@markcalebsmith) January 13, 2016

Big banks. Big oil. Big is a common progressive slur except for big government. Progressives never fear centralized gov power. #SOTU

— Mark Caleb Smith (@markcalebsmith) January 13, 2016

I love politicians. They take the hard positions. "We're against cancer!"#SOTU

— Mark Caleb Smith (@markcalebsmith) January 13, 2016

So, two issues for agreement. "We hate cancer. We love our troops." Bravery personified. Yep, that is Congress. #SOTU

— Mark Caleb Smith (@markcalebsmith) January 13, 2016

still waiting on the "short speech." #SOTU.

— Mark Caleb Smith (@markcalebsmith) January 13, 2016

I agree with Obama on the avoidance of nation-building. A useful corrective. This cuts across both parties. #SOTU

— Mark Caleb Smith (@markcalebsmith) January 13, 2016

Obama broadcast this as a speech about the future. Only "future" he is targeting is GOP presidential primary unfolding now. #SOTU.

— Mark Caleb Smith (@markcalebsmith) January 13, 2016

I agree w/ Obama's take on bipartisanship here, but, his presidency has done nothing to address these problems. POTUS regrets. #SOTU.

— Mark Caleb Smith (@markcalebsmith) January 13, 2016

A "better politics" could have started with Obamacare. He jammed it down GOP throats without a thought of bipartisanship. #SOTU

— Mark Caleb Smith (@markcalebsmith) January 13, 2016

His recipes of bipartisanship? Abolishing redistricting now that the GOP controls House and most state legislatures. How noble. #SOTU

— Mark Caleb Smith (@markcalebsmith) January 13, 2016

Pres Trots out Dem talking points as a path toward a better politics. "We could be unified around my ideas." Disappointing. #SOTU

— Mark Caleb Smith (@markcalebsmith) January 13, 2016

Obama is right that citizenship is the key to a better politics. Agreed. Disagree, I'd guess, over how to foster that citizenship. #SOTU

— Mark Caleb Smith (@markcalebsmith) January 13, 2016

The Gulf Between Rhetoric and Reality: The Barack Obama Presidency. A book for some poor soul to write. #SOTU

— Mark Caleb Smith (@markcalebsmith) January 13, 2016

President Obama could have been great. Instead, he chose to be an ideologue. #SOTU.

— Mark Caleb Smith (@markcalebsmith) January 13, 2016

It seems that President Obama thinks Donald Trump is a viable candidate. Half of this speech was about him…fascinating. #SOTU

— Mark Caleb Smith (@markcalebsmith) January 13, 2016

Obama lamented partisanship and squarely aimed his speech at Trump, Rubio, Cruz, and Graham. So perfectly captures his presidency. #SOTU

— Mark Caleb Smith (@markcalebsmith) January 13, 2016