Times change. In recent days White House newcomers have been changing the speech of the US president. They are cleverly modifying his highest profile messages through the words he uses and how often he repeats them.

The latest State of the Union address reveals a shift in text patterns introduced by the new speechwriting staff. They drafted this script to fight the bitter pressure of political realities: a second faltering war, the loss of control of Congress by the president’s party, and a public approval rating fallen to 30% from 80%.

Times have indeed changed since the president’s first State of the Union address in 2002.

The State of the Union is part requirement, part tradition. The president finds this directive in his job description from Article 2 of the US Consitution: “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.”

Actual presentation of an in-person speech before Congress has fallen in and out of favor from the time of George Washington. But it’s been in vogue for the past quarter century. It amounts to an executive summary by the CEO of the country. As such it’s as likely to be filled with visionary fantasy as hard facts, as likely a report of the nation’s condition as an Oval Office wish list, as likely to make political posturings as to rally national concensus.

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