When SOTUs were spellbinding

Longtime reader Peter G. takes reasonable exception to my SOTU aversion:

If Obama weren't such a compelling speaker I'd be tempted to agree with you, or rather that Politico piece. I used to like to watch Clinton too.

But ...

George not so much but I did out of some demented foblo [fear of being left out].

George, yes. The matter of George. Now his were some memorable SOTUs, brimming poetically with apocalyptic references to global axes of evil; oh yes indeed, the hours we as a nation spent sitting white-knuckled on our couches, wondering with teeth clenched and hair raised just what in God's name this unspeakable idiot would say next, whom he would threaten or bully, what extraordinary disasters he might promise.

Yes, those were the days of must-watch SOTUs, which, however, come to think of it, I don't believe I ever did then, either. I've never been a horror fan. But for those who were, there was no better monstrosity than the alarmingly benighted George W. Bush.