America's State Of The Union Pantomime In 10 Key Moments

The State Of The Union Boiled Down To 10 Key Moments
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NEW YORK -- President Barack Obama delivered the annual State of the Union address on Tuesday evening in front of a joint session of Congress –- Democrats and Republicans.

Traditionally, either a round of applause or a sulking silence greets individual proposals within the speech.

The address is then followed by a series of Republican rebuttals. This year there were five. That’s five -- an official rebuttal, a Spanish language rebuttal, a Tea Party rebuttal, a Libertarian rebuttal and, lastly, some waffle on a camera-phone from Senator Ted Cruz.

Here are the evening’s key moments:

Obama bowled into the chamber on Capitol Hill like Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania 3.

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The president demanded Republicans raise the minimum wage to help "hardworking Americans". They responded with indifference.

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Obama asked Congress to guarantee paid sick leave and paid maternity leave to help "hardworking Americans". Ted Cruz closed his eyes.

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Obama cracked at funny at the Republican's expense: "I have no more campaigns to run... because I won them both".

The men and women of Congress held aloft yellow pencils in solidarity with the cartoonists slain in the Charlie Hebdo massacre in France.

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Everyone applauded the return of Alan Gross, the captive released by Cuba as part of the recent thawing of relations between Washington and Havana.

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Hog-castrating Senator Joni Ernst gave the official Republican rebuttal in which she talked about wearing bread bags as shoes.

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The Joker delivered the Tea Party response.

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Presidential hopeful Rand Paul gave a downbeat YouTube speech about America "being adrift".

Finally, Ted Cruz delivered this camera-phone riposte via YouTube, including an aborted take...