A MODEST PROPOSAL for saving the State of the Union speech.

Instead of a formal speech, the president stands before Congress and the nation and has to answer five questions each from the speaker of the House and the Senate majority leader, with no answer allowed to go longer than two minutes (the House minority leader stands behind the Great Man with a cattle prod to enforce the time limit).

Sure, it would still be meaningless rhetorical drivel, but at least everybody would know from the outset exactly how long the misery will last, which ought to make it a little easier to endure.

At least it would have some entertainment value.