ABC and AOL News late last week began soliciting opinions on what ordinary citizens think about the state of the union via a poll, text messaging and even videos in a type of "citizen's journalism" in which the citizens tell journalists -- and their fellow citizens -- what they think about the nation's course. The efforts will ramp up tonight, when ABC News and AOL will carry President Bush's speech (and the Democrats' response) and offer the reactions of viewers and real-time bloggers beginning shortly after 9 p.m. ET, when Bush addresses the joint session of Congress. Elements of "The People's State of the Union" will appear not only on the AOL and ABC News Web sites but also during coverage on ABC News Now, its broadband/new-media channels, wireless, and in segments on ABC's "World News Tonight," "Nightline," "Good Morning America" and during the special report tonight.

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