Jim Harbaugh Was At The State Of The Union Signing People's Ticket Stubs and Analyzing Obama's Performance

Politico – The State of the Union is a night drenched in pomp. Supreme Court justices don their robes. The speaker of the House introduces the president not once, but twice. Republicans look cautiously around at their colleagues, trying to discern just when it might be appropriate to clap for President Barack Obama.

But behind the scenes, all other norms of behavior one would expect from high-ranking federal officials go out the window.

Before the speech, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) — the second-ranking GOP lawmaker — screamed “coach!” to Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh, a guest of Rep. Justin Amash (R-Mich.). He wanted Harbaugh to turn his attention to McCarthy’s college-aged son. Harbaugh — seated in an area named the “ladies box” — obliged.

There were loads of pictures taken on the House floor — a blatant violation of the chamber’s rules.

Harbaugh — who coached the San Francisco 49ers before heading to Ann Arbor — was signing State of the Union tickets. Seated nearby Harbaugh was Bill Burton, a former Obama press aide, who sat for much of the speech with his chin in his hand, clutching a pen. As a Minnesota Gopher, one can imagine Burton had no use for Harbaugh.

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Of course Jim Harbaugh was at the State of the Union. Of course he was seated in the “ladies box.” Of course he was taking pictures in a blatant violation of chamber rules. Of course he was autographing everyone’s ticket stubs. Of course all the esteemed Congressmen were tripping over themselves trying to get his attention. That’s just a day in the life of Jim Harbaugh. Frankly the only thing surprising about this whole thing is that Coach wasn’t seated up on stage behind the podium. Paul Ryan, Joe Biden and Jim Harbaugh, that’s America.

At the very least Obama could have had Jim pitch in some lines for the speech, really punched it up a bit, leave the American people feeling motivated.

That’s the America I know. That’s the country we love. Clear-eyed. Big-hearted. Optimistic that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word. That’s why I stand here confident that the State of our Union is strong. And we need Americans to be strong. Drink milk. Lots of milk. Whole milk, though. Not that candy ass 2%. Don’t take vacations. Don’t get sick. Don’t observe major holidays. Be a jackhammer.

Thank you, God bless you, God bless the United States of America, and God bless the Michigan Wolverines.