If you lived in fascist Italy, would you have attended Mussolini's public addresses? Probably not. Why? Because to attend such occasions would be an indication to others that he was a legitimate leader who was worthy of respect, and that his office was one that remained legitimate despite what he had done to it. From my pint of view, I cannot understand why Democratic Senators and Representatives routinely attend the SOTU addresses by Bush. His speeches are exercises in fantasy and subterfuge. He is a buffoon who has stipped the Office of the President of any credibility. Why on earth would you lend legitimacy to this political burlesque by sitting in the audience? Why would you appear attentive to a fascist buffoon intent on screwing the Republic into the ground? When people watch TV and see the chamber full, they see that their elected representatives regard Bush as a legitimate President with important and weighty opinions. If Democrats ensured that their side of the aisle was empty, I think it would be an enormously powerful message.