Popped in twice to see if he was through. Nope.
An hour and a half of what? Pot stirring?
Both times I popped in I heard: "I..." and "MY administration."
I get the feeling those two phrases were repeated over and over for ninety minutes.
Hope someone got a couple of winks in the audience.
1
"Confront?" Listen to the language being used here. This is how we know it's all gone too far.
How about yelling "You lie!" before he says anything. It would save time, and by not referring to a specific lie, it would cover the entire speech.
I am finding it interesting that Trump is appearing to take a number of Democratic thrusts and claiming them as his own. I think he's going to use this to convince his base that he is the origin of these ideas, and not the Democrats (and somehow blame any failure of them on the Democrats. Interesting turn of the tables.
1
I've to got give Nancy Pelosi credit. Her demeanor behind a Republican President is far more measured and less caricature-ish as in the past. She may disagree vehemently with Trump, but she is respecting the office.
1
It would appear that fact-checking has become a difficult job in the Trump era since the falsehoods appear hour by hour, minute by minute. How do the WaPo, Snopes, PolitiFact and all the other fact checkers keep up?
2
I’m reading your articles and will more than likely also read your views of the speech. Tired of wasting time listening to a liar with skewered explanations for everything in our world. He is not the barometer of what this country is or at least what it was. And I refuse to listen to an over abundance of his views how everyone else is wrong and he is Christ reborn.
4
Lost me with 'upstart,' negatively singling out Representative Ocasio-Cortez.
Dictionary first definitions pretty much clarify that this is a generally derogatory description.
e.g. Cambridge English Dictionary: ' a person, especially a young one, who has suddenly got power or an important position and takes advantage of this in an unpleasant way'
Oxford English Dictionary: '... person who has risen suddenly in rank or importance, especially one who behaves arrogantly...'
Words matter, and this one is poorly chosen to describe this rather remarkable congressperson.
5
Nothing will make me watch this man address us as our President. He is 100% not mine.
I hope indeed that every Democrat there will make their feelings felt as to what an abomination he is. But they must do it with class. He has none.
8
Sir by you rejecting President Trump ...you are also rejecting 50% of your fellow Americans who support him...sure I wish he was much more diplomatic...after all he is the President...he shouldn't be concerned of rhetoric...however that weakness is nothing compared to his strength of putting America first...so where is the compromise on your part and the rest of the anti Trump citizens?...nothing gets done...is that working?
"Kellyanne Conway, counselor to the president, told reporters on Monday that... “He’s calling for cooperation, and he’s calling for comity — c-o-m-i-t-y — and also compromise.”
----
Just curious - did Kellyanne Conway think reporters wouldn't recognize the word 'comity' or know how to spell it?
6
Ana Maria Archila is a hero to have stood up to the flake, even if it made him only seek a weak investigation to cover his GOP loyalty. Ocasio does us all a public service to invite her to stand up to the loser now, even if simply being there dignifies him.
6
Ever watched the British politicians at work in the House of Commons? The so-called stoic, polite and sedate Brits? We need a John Bercow.
5
"Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the liberal Democratic upstart from New York, is bringing a sexual assault survivor who cornered a Republican senator in an elevator, demanding to know if he was going to vote to confirm Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh."
Way to define the Democrat party. Top one blatant and offensive stunt with another.
Maybe someone can wave a pocket constitution.
5
The people are speaking. Perhaps you should listen.
4
@Jack a Congressional district in Harlem are surely "people speaking", but they are not capital P, "We the People".
I'm surprised at the calls for Democratic restraint here when we have a president who is attacking democratic principles at every level. Why should anyone be restrained in the face of a constitutional coup by a wannabe despot?
18
Don't worry. They're the same not-Democrats like Bloomberg who say "impeachment talk is absurd". They either don't realize, or very much DO, that the GOP party-cult takes advantage of our restraint to handcuff and cower us even more. GOP refusal to agree on basic laws to restrain executive power's evils and increase its good, and their lust for such power to wage forever-wars when they steal the helm, are why we have no choice but to hope mere "norms" check the loser.
We just have to outvote do-nothings like any other Republicans. We need Sane representatives with teeth who won't just fight for "norms" but for America.
6
Someone that lacks empathy will not even be aware of the message being sent. But hopefully the American voters will.
4
The Dems would be wise to do nothing that makes them the story tonight. Continue to be the adults in the room.
5
Dem's message should be; health care, universal education help, $15 minimum wage, border security but no wall for Trump's campaign promises, a Green economy, reasonable taxes for the super-wealthy, solidarity with our allies, honoring our agreements.
9
I am interested to hear if Donald Trump will directly insult Nancy Pelosi when she is directly in view behind him. I doubt that the speech will be written that way, but who knows if he will tire of the TelePrompTer and revert to his actual feelings. But I hope he doesn’t and I hope that she has no reason to do anything more than show her lack of interest in his claims, many of which will be lies. Let the fact checkers do their jobs.
I think most people find the opposition party responses to be pointless. I hope that this time Stacey Abrams will lay out the broad Democratic agenda for 2020 and beyond: voting rights above all else, reversing the trend of worsening income inequality and reduced economic mobility, tax fairness for the middle class (including reversing the attacks on deductions for state and local property and income taxes), tax fairness for the ultra-wealthy (higher marginal rates, meaningful inheritance tax, equal treatment of investment and earned income), increased national investment in clean energy, valuing immigrants including comprehensive immigration control and extending DACA and TPS, extending women’s rights, protecting minorities from majority prejudice, returning to the international norms that truly did make America great). There is every reason to believe that Democrats can expand their base going forward and can make their case to voters who are not in anybody’s base, as they did in the mid-terms. Abrams can present that clear alternative.
3
I'd love to see guests pacing behind President Comity the way he lurked behind Secretary Clinton at the debate (which she won, unequivocally).
6
Quietly and with the utmost decorum, I hope Democratic members will bring Stormy Daniels (adult film performer), Summer Zervos ("Apprentice" contestant), Jessica Drake (another adult film performer), and Temple Taggart (Miss USA contestant) as their guests, to remind President Trump of the debate in which he brought Bill Clinton's accusers.
Better yet, let's welcome to the House chamber all those in the Intelligence community (FBI, NSA, CIA, etc.) Trump is so used to ignoring or insulting. The vast majority of Americans appreciate their continuing efforts to keep this corrupt administration accountable for its high crimes and misdemeanors.
6
@jim emerson
James Comey sitting in the front row probably would have made POTUS uncomfortable.
2
No matter how Ms. Sanders attempts to spin it or define what the SOTU will be, it will not be "comity", it will still be comedy and the only thing missing will be the clown car.
3
President should do very well tonight. A lot to crow about for sure. Great economy. Stock market up. Jobs up. Good luck, President Trump!
7
Same could be said Obama, we been on a bull run since 2009 and jobs were always going up
5
@Brian NEPhilly : President Barack Obama was never given an iota of recognition for the good and positive things he accomplished and the Incumbent now takes all the credit for the economy and has sought to stop and diminish all of Mr. Obama's legacy .And this is accepted by America as the natural order of things. what a way to go.
2
I don't know if I could stomach watching tonight.
The only pleasure in doing so will be to see Nancy Pelosi sitting behind Trump and knowing that the House is overwhelmingly Democratic.
9
I am watching sports during the speech.
More constructive use of my time.
I look forward to a better tomorrow.
4
"Last week, (Secretary of the Interior nominee David) Bernhardt amended an order that Zinke signed in November to keep eight handpicked deputies in place without Senate approval. Under the revised order, these appointees can serve in their posts for an additional four months, unless they are replaced or the department decides to extend the deadline again."
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/its-way-too-many-as-vacancies-pile-up-in-trump-administration-senators-grow-concerned/2019/02/03/c570eb94-24b2-11e9-ad53-824486280311_story.html?utm_term=.8b262efb3bd3&wpisrc=nl_most&wpmm=1
Trump thwarts the US Senate's duty to have hearings and to confirm qualified nominees. "..the White House has not bothered to nominate people for 150 out of 705 Senate-confirmed positions.."
"..even though the president’s party has controlled the Senate for his entire time in office. The Partnership for Public Service, which has tracked nominations as far back as 30 years, estimates that only 54 percent of Trump’s civilian executive-branch nominations have been confirmed, compared with 77 percent under President Barack Obama at the same point in his administration."
The State of Our Government is that it is missing! Assigned stooges are taking important actions without Constitutional authority! Tonight - talk about impeaching Trump for failure to stand-up a government.
2
Democrats, bring parents of children still lost from the separation at the border.
5
Ana Maria Archila is the Co-Executive Director of a multi-million dollar progressive advocacy agency. She's a great choice, but she is also a professional and I don't like that she pretends not to be when it suits the narrative.
2
This article's sub headline says "the new Democratic majority will have a rare opportunity to confront the president", when he delivers his address.
A rare opportunity.
Contrast with the British House of Commons on CSPAN. Every week they have Prime Minister's Questions. The party opposite asks questions on varied issues of their leader, on TV for the world to see, and the PM responds. The media reports the problems raised.:
Each party head lays out their program on issues.
Then the Speaker calls on members who stand up and ask questions.
It's often noisy, with members saying "hear hear!" or making sounds of disapproval. The Speaker often has to call "Order, Order!" let the PM be heard!
This sounds like democracy in action, with conflicting views aired for voters to grasp the issues. Didn't work too well for Brexit---a messy issue. But PMQ means the govt tries to be accountable to voters.
Here, CSPAN shows our individual lawmakers giving speeches, droning on and on to no one in particular, no listeners, with no challenge, disagreement or Q &A. Our politicians and leaders talk to the media and the public, but don't confront each other on policy.
Just imagine if Trump, or any president had to answer questions from Democrats and his own party---on TV, EVERY WEEK! The public would judge. This might shape our whole govt differently, to be more responsive to the needs and rights of citizens.
Maybe even someday affordable health care for all? A revolution.
2
Someone should invite a loved one of the TSA worker that committed suicide at the Orlando airport this past weekend.
2
Will RBG be attending?
If not this should raise concerns, but Democrats will play this down unless her seat is “left” unseated...
2
The guests the Democrats invite, all intended to bring important messages of the lack of humanity by the Trump administration, will miss their mark. No one in the Republican party has an ounce of humanity left in them. They've sold their souls to moneyed interests and big corporations... oh and to Russian oligarchs!
4
How thoughtful and dramatic these gestures are. - bravo to those who thought them up! There's nothing like a little "street theater" to make a point. It would be nice to see a Congressman/woman bring as a guest someone who has a disability - representing a group also insulted/mocked by President Trump. That said, while I am sure that Ms. Adams will make an eloquent rebuttal, it would have been great to see one of the newly elected Native American Congresswomen so chosen - representing another group of individuals mocked/insulted by Trump.
2
Several years ago I stopped watching State of the Union broadcasts. The reason is simple. It is mass media forum for the two party system to visually display the wide divide in our country. Depending on the party associaed with the POTUS half the chamber will show their distain while the other half will wildly cheer.
3
The President is undermining himself. So Democrats should not distract that process with unseemly behavior.
4
All of DJT's outreach will be a childish attempt to play when he has clearly lost it as the playground bully. Best if he would graciously resign; the nation and the world will be a far better place, and yes, the playground too.
3
All commenters here say that don't care/ won't listen but they will.......
They will.
2
@There
I will begin listening when Stacey Abrams begins speaking. Not one second before that.
6
I won't be watching even though I usually do. I'll watch Stacy Abrams tho. Good night to read a book.
3
@There I won't. Trust me. I would rather listen to someone scratching their fingernails on a blackboard than listen to any more bleating from Trump about his successes, his grand plans (most of which never bear fruit), how grand he is, bleat, bleat.
3
I try hard to remind myself that not everything in this country that is trite, hackneyed, clichéd, platitudinous, vapid and ridden-with-lies is Trump's fault, but then a speech like the one we are about to hear comes along and convinces me otherwise.
6
And Nancy Pelosi would be seated right behind him: the weighted Speakers gavel within her easy reach!!!
3
Prolly should have an office pool on the weirdest thing trump will claim. Really no other reason to watch the state of the union address.
2
The State of the Union is Great!
1
While the Democrats have carefully picked out their guests to send messages, it is unlikely Trump will recognize any of it - unless of course an aide explains it to him and then he won't listen. He thinks he is above everyone else and he doesn't care about immigrants or parents who have lost children to gun violence. It's too bad he isn't a human being with an empathetic heart.
5
Don't think staying away is a useful tactic. Perhaps the best counter to a person who craves attention might be bored indifference. Take no heed of the speech, then get on with the business of legislating.
Republican Representative Joe Wilson yelled,"you lie", during President Obama's speech to a joint session of Congress in 2009.
Will he and his republican comrades remain silent tonight while Trump spins strings of nonsensical lies?
I believe they will.
Trump will go into full fabrication mode and the republican audience will sit there silent, eyes glazed over, smiling slightly, waiting painfully for it to end.
Trump will, again, lie to the American people and the party of Trump will sit there and take it in.
They will not say a word.
They are so well behaved. So complaint.
And if Trump should happen to look them directly in the eye when he lies they will look away. Or they will look at their shoes or at the ceiling. But they will not say "you lie".
They are so well behaved.
10
@Interested Party Well behaved, or, numb?
1
Trump did not consult with the military commander responsible for our troops in Syria when he tweeted that the troops in Syria were coming h0me in 30 days. Mattis resigned over this policy change by Trump while Putin praised it. It seems plausible Trump consults with Putin more than his intel chiefs and tends to push for foreign policy to Putin's liking. If Trump is compromised by Putin as suspected by the FBI how do we get to the bottom of that issue and how do we get rid of this president if he is indeed a traitor.
4
I don't understand why the Democrats didn't pick a winning candidate, with a winning message. Especially someone that won in a Red state, or a Red district.
Having someone that lost, with a, "They cheated." message, is just not inspirational.
5
Let’s be honest. The DNC is the lesser of two evils here. It’s not like they hold all the cards to correct our course in this world of wrongs. Independent I am not either. I guess i’m looking for a savior. Please come soon. I beg of you...
1
At 8 PM Central time, DirecTV has old Perry Mason reruns on channel 323, if anyone is looking for something more edifying than Trump's harangue.
4
the Dems will listen quietly, not stalk Trump like he did to Hillary
3
I would prefer all sane elected representatives to attend the State of the Union with their back turned towards Trump.
6
Yes, it's that time again, the State of the Union. In an earlier article in today's NYTimes’s I learned the United States has been designated a fractured democracy like Venezuela and Rwanda. International Peace Keepers have turned their energy and skills towards this divided country.
This is the State of our Union. Abraham Lincoln infamously said, "A house divided against itself cannot stand." Yet here we are, once again sitting waiting, wondering - what will the president say tonight?
I know many people who will not listen. I know many people eager to hear, I know people who are simply worn out by the never-ending 24-hour cycle of Trumpism. Yet should we ignore a president who so flecklessly puts our country in harm’s way? Will starving him of attention work? I don’t have an answer, except to say, it’s on us, the citizens of this country to create peace and bring health and wholeness to our lives and the lives of future citizens.
This President is masterful at holding court, he does it better than anyone. He works citizens into a frenzy, while behind closed doors, the machine that is him churns away our democratic government.
I know this country has shame written across its history from Native Americans to Immigration - signifcant issues. I'm ready for a moderator, someone who will listen, an empathic person grounded in humility, mercy and compassion.
That’s the State of the Union Speech I want to hear - I think I will be disappointed tonight, but you never know?
1
Who would I invite to the State of the Union? I would invite a parade of the disabled including the journalist he mocked during the campaign, blind musicians and the first blind man to climb Mt. Everest, perhaps Iztak Perelman any all those who work with their challenges. I would fill the Capitol Hall with them and if there was room left would invite every service man who had been captured in battle and suffered for their country.
2
Reading the things Trump says is bad enough, but watching him and listening to him are far worse. Fortunately I have a good excuse with the time difference, for shirking this address, and I’ll sleep all the better for not having Trump’s/Miller’s weasel words burrowing into my brain. Tomorrow is more than soon enough to parse a speech which will no doubt be full of lies, hyperbole, fearmongering and self-agrandissement and which the Fox team will pronounce “presidential.”
4
It is very telling...that Kellyanne Conway has to spell "comity" to be sure that everyone is aware she did not say, "comedy."
Or was this for Trump's benefit, on the off chance he would have brought up a self-described Proud Boy comedian as an opening act if he misunderstood Kellyanne's intended meaning. At that, there may be some question as to whether he knows the difference between the two words.
3
Just. Don’t. Watch.
This “man” deserves no more of an audience than the ignorant who hang on his every mis-pronounced word.
9
I. Won’t. Watch.
1
The word to use is "infamously", not "famously." That should not be controversial. Even the congressman who so indecorously interrupted President Obama's address later apologized.
Stated once before, would have been appropriate for the democrats to have given their seats to the federal workers affected by recent shutdown.
3
Trump couldn't care less who the Dems bring or if they even show up. He is speaking to an audience of the base. And, perhaps, Putin. He is not a good actor. He won't make a credible effort to reach out to the country. He will re-live his greatest hits. I will not be watching or listening. He has taken up far too much space in my head.
17
The best form of protest is to not watch or read about the event at all.
7
Haiku
Empty cat litter---
State of chaos diatribe...
Cats say "Take this , trump."
6
Although I don’t care for Trump or his politics, I hope the institutions maintain decorum and respect for the office of President.
We need to maintain the same respect and empathy for him as we want for his successor.
That said, I am unable to watch any public presentation he makes on live TV. It’s too much.
4
Respect? Empathy? To whom has he EVER shown either of these qualities?
2
I’m so tired if hearing the tired old line “respect for the Office of the President”. The office is just that, an office, an inanimate object. The person who holds that office isn’t automatically deserving of respect, he or she earns respect just like anyone else. To suggest otherwise is to expect thinking people to behave like sheep who blindly follow and “respect” someone who is a habitual liar and probably the most corrupt person to ever have been elected. No thanks.
If anyone can sit behind Mr. Trump and keep a straight face while he's speaking, it would be Speaker Pelosi. But it won't be easy.
As Louis XIV told his son before seeing his fiancee for the first time: "Do not make any faces, express dismay or in any way betray your feelings of disappointment. Metier du dauphin," (the business of being the heir)."
5
Early in the Obama administration the Democrats had both houses, and none of them cared at all about what the Republicans thought or did.
Similarly, now, those who voted for Trump could not care less what any of these people think or do.
8
No TV for last thirty years. And don't plan to listen. This ego-driven human being has used up all my patience tweeting his way into daily headlines like no other. The least I can do is ignore him when he, actually, is most entitled to speak. But I will listen to the pundits and the fact-checkers.
6
Regardless of how House Democrats express themselves, I do hope, as a Democrat myself, that they do so respectfully.this is a time for decorum, and to show that we are better than Trump, not better than him at being immature and disrespectful towards people we disagree with.
7
@Mike Polite behavior by the rank and file, would be a good indicator of Pelosi's control.
Can we have a moratorium on articles about AOC ? Sorry but this saturation coverage feels sexist - like fawning over a celebrity until someone newer and prettier comes along I have nothing against her and hope she does a good job. But nothing she has done merits this constant adulation. This year, there were were seven new senators (five Democrats, two Republicans) and 52 new representatives (25 Democrats, 27 Republicans) at the start of its first session. Give someone else a little coverage please.
15
@Joe Amen!
3
Pardon me? I believe the House has 40 new Dems, not 25.
Speaker Pelosi is the one person with maturity and wisdom who will be on the dais tonight - thank goodness!
5
Lights, camera, action! What was once a dignified and ceremonial address with occasional genuine drama and eloquence has degenerated into imbecilic social-media and reality-TV-style spectacle, complete with costumes, rehearsed responses, Hollywood-like self-adulation, and "special guests."
Trump may not serve another term or even complete this one, but he has turned US politics into pure showmanship and set the tone and manner of public discourse for years to come.
2
I have to admit that seeing so many women take their rightful place in the House Chambers this evening, many of whom will be easy to identify all dressed in white, will in fact be the defining moment of this SOTU.
It won't matter who Trump has sitting in the balcony as his guest. It won't matter if Pelosi and Pence play thumb-war behind him. It won't matter how ironed Kavanaugh's robe is. It won't matter who shakes the hand of the most powerful man as he walks down the aisle with a pat on the back "attaboy".
That is why I am pledging to actually watch the first few minutes of the SOTU. I want to see that sea of white.
That my friends is the history of this evening.
7
Donald Trump can call for cooperation all he wants. He and his sycophant Republican enablers deserve nothing more than the cooperation they afforded President Obama: zero.
3
@Norman Dupuis, sure, and then when the next Democrat president ascends to power, in '20 or beyond, and their various sycophants call for unity/cooperation, we'll have come full circle.
Meanwhile the 'silent majority' in the US, independent and moderate voters, grow increasingly tired of the hyper partisan bickering escalating every 4 years.
1
This State of the Union affair just seems like a spectacle to me. A way for this pompous president to brag in his Teleprompter false voice. The pundits will claim how presidential he is and gush over his call for unity. His pundits will applaud as he boasts about how he wants make a deal on the wall (but not really). He will denigrate immigrants and refugees with false facts. Oh dear...I am sickened already.
2
I hope all the Dems keep it classy. He is the President, so listen to what he has to say no matter how much you disagree. Let’s not be the party that shouts “You lie!”
Let’s go high when they go low.
170
@Manish
Bringing refreshments to a gunfight never ends well.
The Republican party is an organized criminal political syndicate.
Fight against them like the Devil.
192
@Manish
Speaking truth to power is classy and also biblical. There is a time for silence and a time to speak up. The time to speak up to this President is now.
110
@Manish Good plan. Also, let's make some awesome drinking game out of the whole farce and then get together later and watch "The Big Bang Theory." First round is on me! :-)
5
Moral clarity. Those two words jumped out at me. The SOTU gathering tonight will be a showcase of moral clarity. When Congressional Republicans stand and cheer their man, they will seal their fates. Trumpism and American values have zero in common. Tonight will make that very clear.
225
The best protest would be for all Democrats and the few Republicans with conscience to stay home. Let him preach to a half empty house.
256
@Jake
I hope that the Sea of White (for Rebuke and Re-orientation), the audience diversity and symbolism , and that silence instead of applause or outbursts will carry through. Walking out and other such gestures fuel the Trumpian nastiness.
Trump and his ilk will not "get it"; but the rest of us will.
I won't give Trump my attention, in watching his theatrics. Next-day news recap and analysis works for this concerned northern neighbor.
140
@Jake
While he bloviates with a half-empty head.
22
@Jake
That goes for the television audience as well. Spend your time wisely. Tune out--read a book.
33
I know Speaker Pelosi will make sure that her congresspersons behave and same for Senator Schumer and the democratic senators. Just give the office of the president the respect it deserves, irrespective of what the current holder says. No need to applaud if don't like something, just be respectful. There will be time enough to take action. And actions speak louder than words and last a whole lot of time longer!
5
Only 1 in 7 Americans watches the State of The Union Address. It has become spectacular homage to the corrupt and necrotic alliance of politicians and the media. In a week, no one will remember a word of the speech or the response.
4
Does anyone really believe that Mr. Trump actually cares about what guests the Democrats bring or their choice in clothing?
If the Democrats really want to make statements they should express themselves fully and if that means not applauding or standing on cue, calling out his lies, that would be fine with me and if they feel like it, getting up and walking out even better.
This is not some rally for the party faithful and Mr. Trump hasn't yet been crowned.
3
Send a message? Hold my beer . . .
Remember when Addison Graves "Joe" Wilson Sr., U.S. Representative for South Carolina's 2nd congressional district, shouted "You lie!" at President Obama? Every Representative in Congress could stand up in turn tonight and shout "You lie!" at President Trump, and still fall short of the number of Donald Trump's demonstrable, damaging, and deliberate falsehoods to the nation and the world.
6
I will not be watching the SOTU speech tonight. I've read quite enough of Stephen Miller's writing, and frankly, watching Donald Trump struggle at reading off a teleprompter makes me anxious.
10
When he walks in he will be between democrats. Smile, but no hand shakes. When he lies, no boos, no claps either. It a visitor makes a comment, clap.
1
They should take a page out of Trump’s playbook and bring each and every contractor “The Donald” stiffed.
4
This will give me an excuse to buy a new 4K UHD Smart TV after i throw something at my old smart TV watching this horror show tonight.
2
For those who don’t know the game or how to play it here is how to send a message.
Win the Senate.
Stop shooting yourself in the head by doing everything you can to lose the House. Again. By sneering at whatever democrat representative doesn’t have the right identity label or cant. With these silly slap fight identity politic games.
5
Yes Democrats, please bring many illegal immigrants with you tonight so the whole country can see who you are prioritizing over actual American citizens who pay taxes and obey the law.
7
Tonight morality will face immorality.
1
Allow me to fantasize for a moment:
The second Donny opens his mouth in chambers, I have this vision of all the Dems all standing at once and, throughout his whole presentation repeating softly, but aloud this mantra, "Liar, Liar Pants on Fire!"
4
I have no interest in watching President Donald Trump read Stephen Miller's words off a teleprompter tonight; I'll wait and read the SOTU transcript tomorrow. But I will tune in later to hear Stacey Abrams deliver the Democratic response; her speech should be one for the ages.
27
Democrats should avoid the masochistic urge to tune in to the SOTU just to stoke their disdain for Trump. Low Nielsen ratings will hurt him far more than any other political statement.
23
Ms. Jayapal told reporters on a conference call on Monday, “and to call out the very specific ways in which he has pushed policies to undermine our climate, undermine immigrants, undermine worker protections and undermine, of course, women’s reproductive rights.”
---------------Too bad Ms. Jayapal seems to know nothing of the history of the labor movement in the US, nor the Democratic Party's historic opposition to even legal immigrants. Samuel Gompers, a founder of the AFL-CIO and an immigrant himself, opposed immigration because it made it harder for him to unionize and negotiate with employers for better wages. Cesar Chavez opposed illegal immigration for the same reason when he was organizing the UFW. Our immigration laws are supposed to act the way unions, and our labor laws do, by limiting employer access to immigrant and illegal alien labor. Protections for American and legal workers have been eroded by high levels of immigration, especially illegal immigration. Why for example, would an employer who knowingly hires illegal aliens be concerned about following wage and hour laws, OSHA, or tax laws?
4
How do you know she knows nothing of the history of labor in this country? It's irrelevant to what the Republicans, and Trump in particular, agree doing right now. That's what she's mad about - as we should all be. And if immigration reform were achieved, we could reap the rewards of getting taxes from, and providing safety for, everyone.
4
No you lie statements please, just boo him each time he lies.
13
Or laugh.
4
@David Underwood Try laughing. It stunned him at the UN.
6
“This is a president — I can’t even say he struggles with empathy; he lacks any signs of an empathic capacity to understand the suffering or plight of other people,” Mr. Connolly said,,,
I think Mr. Connolly gives Trump too much credit. To me, it appears Trump relishes watching people in (literal and/or figurative) pain, especially when he can laud himself for having caused it.
15
No rudeness or shouting. But perhaps the members of Congress could all turn their backs on him as he departs, in silent protest.
10
"Representative Ilhan Omar, Democrat of Minnesota and a Somali refugee, is bringing a Liberian refugee who is threatened with deportation.”
Foreign nationals apply outside of the U.S. to come here as refugees, and are admitted on a case by case basis. Ms. Omar is a Somalian refugee. The Liberian woman who will accompany her tonight is not a refugee. She came here illegally, and then, was able to benefit from a temporary stay of deportation issued by the Administration to prevent illegal Liberian migrants from being sent back home while a civil war was raging. So many Liberians received this status that they were able to bring political pressure on Administrations to continually renew their status, long after the war ended in 2003.
They had no trouble getting their status renewed when ebola broke in Liberia in 2014. The outbreak ended in 2016.
Instead of returning to Liberia, they have continued to campaign to be able to remain here. To them, to those from other countries who have Temporary Protected Status, and to activists for illegal immigrants, “Temporary Status” is a guise for “Permanent” status.
If they are right, why would our country offer this so-called temporary status to anyone ever again?
7
@William Kramer. Of course you make a valid point about all these folks who supported Trump and were betrayed by him as though they were owed nothing. The problem is that there isn't a sports stadium or other venue large enough to hold that many of what Trump would call suckers. With all those Trump rallies to raise cash, you would think that some people who spotted the con-job did not get his message loud and clear to ask not what you can do for your country but rather what you can do for me and my super rich pals.
I long for the old days when the folks up on the "Hill" acted like mature adults!
4
I don't know many people who plan to watch this insult to democracy huff and puff out lies. Comity, compromise, and common ground are not possible with this creature. I expect him to blame everybody named Nancy for his inhumane shutdown while accusing her of being unpatriotic. Of course, i will be reading about this tomorrow because i am now checking out Netflix or Prime for movies or series to binge watch tonight.
4
I respect Democratic efforts to confront Trump at his SOTU speech with an audience filled with victims and passionate opponents of his destructive policies.
Were I one of the invited guests though I would have to decline: Being forced to remain seated while passively listening to this lying, hypocritical, fear-mongering, fraud of a president go on and on sounds like the worst kind of nightmare.
I can only admire those who manage to do it without squirming, making faces, booing or cursing, vomiting at their desks, or running to the exits mid-speech in horror or disgust.
4
Perhaps the Democrats should heckle Trump, like Obama was heckled. That would keep things classy!
3
The only message that any Democrat may send while the liar-in-chief is mumbling, or reading the words in the teleprompter, is a shout out: you lie, every time he lies.
Hey if some idiot GOPer could shout that out at President Obama who deserved no such a shout out, it is the responsibility of the Democrats to point that out when the liar-in-chief lies, which will be through the entire hour or so.
2
I also wish the Dems had paddles reading FACT CHECK to be held up at key moments. But of course the paddles would be up continuously!
I just heard Rush Limbaugh telling his fans that Ocasio-Cortez's tax proposal includes 10% on $25,000, 30% on $50,000, etc., or some such rubbish, so that a married couple with a $100,000 income would owe a federal tax bill on $25,000+ ...
3
It would be nice to hear laughter at his speech rather than applause. It will probably be more appropriate.
30
What is the point of bringing guests who may represent a particular message? Few people watching will know who they are.
6
and Trump is perhaps the least likely of anyone in the chamber or watching at home to recognize any of them
2
@Aaron Adams
The broadcast media are briefed in advance, and typically announce to the viewership at home.
6
Tonight the president might well talk c-o-m-i-t-y but in his case doing so is all c-o-m-e-d-y, and pretty bleak comedy at that. I, for one, won't be laughing.
12
he will get all the respect he deserves ... HAH
1
"“That photograph is worth the price of admission,” said Representative Gerald E. Connolly, Democrat of Virginia, who is bringing Amer Al-Mudallal, an Iraq-born chemist who was furloughed from the Environmental Protection Agency during the record-breaking shutdown, along with his wife.... Members of Congress each get one ticket to bring a guest"
Not to quibble, but doesn't this imply his guest's suffering had zero cost/value? (in other words, the opposite of demonstrating the cost of suffering from the furlough) In any case, I would think that a government employee struggling to pay bills would have more substantive problems to deal with that outweigh the momentary psychic joy of seeing Pelosi's awkwardness behind Trump, but this calculation depends on the value assigned to that moment of joy for someone like Connolly. To me, this statement while minor shows a lack of empathy in itself.
Is it now too much to expect above-average financial literacy and fluency with language from our legislators tasked with writing the legislation that governs our economy?
1
It would be nice if there is a way to see who does better on ratings, Stacey Abrams or Donald Trump. The former will be uplifting, nuanced, and hopeful--whereas Trump will be playing his greatest hits from his Failed Dictators playlist.
11
Democrats should give trump the wall he promised his clueless base - exactly as he promised them.
Indeed, Pelosi should put up a bill for trump's promised wall - verbatim. I.e. that trump's big and beautiful wall will be built upon receipt of funds from Mexico, just as trump promised. That's exactly what trump promised, right? If he can't correctly phrase his promises properly and what he ran on, then too bad. Instead he should have promised that he will build his big, beautiful and expensive wall off the backs of tax payers, including his base, and would be willing to resort to closing the government indefinitely - Coulter, Limbaugh, Mitch and his base would still have voted for him.
Let's see the Senate not pass that bill, or trump not sign - fully breaking his solemn and hateful promise to his base.
Warning - any national emergency implemented by the trump is simply his rehersal for when he imposes martial law when he loses the 2020 election. Believe me!
11
I am torn about tonight’s speech. Part of me feels that I should listen because the office is owed respect even if the man is not. It is also important to hear what this man is thinking. But his thinking is so muddled and generally atrocious. I really do not want to sit and listen to him and get upset and infuriated. I do want to hear Stacy Abrams though. Hopefully I won’t get home from my daughter’s volleyball practice in time to hear it. I shall perhaps mysteriously forget to charge my phone...
1
I wait to see which networks or publications report on the Democrats' invited guests and their unbiased coverage of those choices. I suspect that the majority will only do so if they can make the story "bleed" sufficiently. Fake news against factual news will be a welcome, but unanticipated, surprise. I expect great things from the New York Times and the more responsible MSM. I may be disappointed. They still have a choice but with this so-called president, I don't know for how long. Good luck tonight, everyone.
Do what they did at the UN: laugh at him!
40
Can you imagine any president bringing the family of someone killed by a black person or a jewish person or gay person to the State of the Union to argue “See how dangerous they are?”
But somehow Trump bringing the family of someone killed by a Mexican person to say that and it just seems like today’s political business as usual.
6
@JSD fair point, but this type of zealotry has been part of our politics for some time now -- Biden in 1991: https://www.jacobinmag.com/2018/08/biden-crime-mass-incarceration-police-prisons
https://www.c-span.org/video/?18528-1/violent-crime-control-act-1991#&start=656
"Ms. Omar’s guest, Linda Clark, fled civil war in Liberia in 2000 and has lived in the United States for the past 18 years, but may be forced to leave because of Mr. Trump’s decision to end special protections for thousands of Liberian immigrants.”
Special protection from deportation is a temporary status. Liberians who were illegally living in the U.S. were awarded this special protection while their country was in civil war. The war ended in 2003. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was elected president in 2005. A Truth and Reconciliation Commission was set up in 2006.
A 9/22/18 BBC page titled “Liberia profile - Timeline", said the UN completed a program, in 2013, that helped over 155,000 Liberians return home, "hailing it as evidence of the return of peace after the civil war”.
The Liberians who were living here could also have returned home, but they successfully kept campaigning to be given extensions to remain here longer.
Then, in 2014, ebola broke out in Liberia so they were once again given temporary protected status. The outbreak ended in 2016 so there was no longer any reason to extend the protected status.
Liberians could have returned home after their civil war ended in 2003, and after ebola outbreak of 2014 to 2016. They have continually campaigned to be able to stay here longer, and now they are claiming that they have been here for so long that they should be allowed to stay. They are ignoring the word “temporary” in Temporary Protected Status.
7
Always amused when Trump and the Republicans talk about bipartisanship - but only when it suits them.
As far as I'm concerned, I'm fine with the Democrats log-jamming every Republican proposal made from now until they haul Trump off in handcuffs.
11
Big deal . Do you think anyone recognizes their guests?
4
Well, anyone watching will know, because they'll be discussing it on the news show. Duh!
Bend the truth? Diplomacy is great but this man has broken the truth!
1
One of the messages democrats need to convey to their own party is, we are tired of our lawmakers, republicans and democrats, both, being beholden to Big Money, Special Interests, Big Military Industry Complex, Big Ag, Big Oil, Big Pharma, Big Physicians Associations, Big Sugar...Big everything that has held our lawmakers hostage all these decades. Our democrat leaders are as susceptible to being "bribed" by lobbyists as our republican leaders. There are a handful of democrats who will reject big money, who are truly incorruptible. We citizens are owed honest lawmakers, but we all know that's a pipe dream, because even our supreme court justices are not immune to politics, big money and lobbying.
4
“He’s calling for cooperation, and he’s calling for comity — c-o-m-i-t-y — and also compromise,” said Kellyanne Conway, counselor to the president.
How...special, Ms. Conway. Thanks for...spelling it out for us.
If the president is true to...pretty much any of his past speeches, addresses, or general M.O., he'll voice a stiff, somewhat forced, unnatural sounding appeal for unity, likely followed a paragraph or two later by...attacks or attempts to demean his political opponents, in the typically coarse, bellicose insulting manner, that we're more than familiar with. Great...statesman, unifying figure that he is.
God, I hope he wanders off script. Hearing him attempt to riff will be reason enough to have watched, and wasted the time hearing him deliver more of the same old, same old.
Worst (excuse for a) President, ever!
6
Netflix is gonna have an EPIC night.
9
I hope there is a very prominent fact checking banner on the news’ screens. Better yet would be a big flashing “Lie” icon.
8
"Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez...is bringing a sexual assault survivor. Pramila Jayapal...is bringing a climate change scientist."
Is anyone else repulsed by this cynical deployment of human props and tokens?
10
@Ed L.
Nope, we're just repulsed by the cynical token occupying The White House.
9
@Ed L.
No more repulsed than when Trump brought human props /women who had accused Bill Clinton of affairs and assault, to a debate with Hillary Clinton. The human props in this case are symbols of real and vital issues which our president doesn't address.
7
Victims of sexual assault & scientists who believe in climate change aren't "tokens" - they represent a large number of people. But they're reasonable people, so perhaps you wouldn't recognize them...
‘my feelings! DACA! impeachment! Abolish ICE! Open borders! Welcome all refugees! Free school, jobs and medical!’
There, I saved you from watching their response.
5
You forgot “some people have more money than meeeeeee”
Will Trump stop calling the Democrats names such as “hardened democrats”, “angry democrat thugs”, treasonous”, “Un-American”, “traitors”, “wackos”, “the party of crime”, “radical socialists”, “angry ruthless unhinged mob” after his SOTU advocating compromise and comity?
5
What a joke the whole parade is!
This stupid ritual emulating some old traditions that are not ours but cheap copies of Britiain or even older empires means absolutely nothing.
The clown in chief deserves being booed as he is brought in on a rail, covered in tar and feathers. At least it will serve as comic relief.
Decorum indeed!
3
I feel that the Dems would do well to be vocal during the address and to hell with decorum. Show us that you are outraged by this man instead of stating calmly that you are. Show beats tell. Instead of staying silent, boo his bad policies to deny him a quality sound bite that he wants so badly.
2
Trump is such a disgrace as a President and a human being that he makes open dissent against him a certainty, a rare thing in real life. But it is pointless after two years of his dishonest representations of reality and disregard for the welfare of this country. The people have chosen sides already and the dissent will change nothing.
His supporters believe in reactionary dogmas and unconsciously want an autocracy that does as they want. He’s giving them that which they have asked and they love him for it. But what they want is a system where money and power determine political power not law and mutual trust. When they have a society where everything looks and feels as they want except for liberty and equality, they will not be happy but it may take more than another election to restore what they have lost.
5
This flock of people had better be prepared to be irrelevant. the message is only received if the person to which the message is aimed even bothers to care in the first place.
3
I doubt I will watch it live. I'll probably catch the highlights tomorrow. Although listening to Trump lie and whine tends to lead me to drink, the main reason I have no interest is that it's nothing more than a partisan spectacle.
The president's party members are going to go wild with standing ovations every few words while the opposition party sit on their hands and scowl. Doesn't matter if the president is a republican or democrat. It's all a show.
Add the fact that Trump is going to lie about everything and whine about how mean everyone is to him, I just don't think I can stomach it.
I might tune in when it's Stacey Abrams' turn to speak.
12
To me this spectacle is far more important than the NFL Championship game. My admiration and respect for the office of the presidency is in stark contrast to this disastrous current occupant
My guess is that after listening to just a few minutes of Trump's Altered State of the Union address, many viewers will be saying to themselves that they actually would have been happier had the government shutdown remained in effect rather than have to listen to Trump repeatedly lie.
9
Perhaps what Speaker Pelosi should do rather than just stand behind the President is to walk around behind him a bit. Anybody with so much as a pulse would understand what that was about.
24
That would be excellent! And yet I admire her for sticking to the rules of decorum and taking the higher road. Dems need to demonstrate that they are better than Trump and his minions.
4
In addition to a signer for the hearing impaired at tonight's SOTU address, there should also be a fact-checker to simultaneously translate Trump's fiction to real-world facts.
13
Fashion statements and self-aggrandizement. Same old politics.
7
Tax and spend. Can’t wait.
2
It is patently foolish to think Trump’s future behavior will change based on the subtle messages these guests will send. Sociopaths have NO empathy or compassion so these antics will have no effect on Trump.
However, the guest messages may reach the remaining Trump supporters and help them realize their mistake.
Trump has never spent a day in jail, despite all of the shenanigans he’s been involved it. One has to assume he's not afraid of the criminal system and completely immune from public opinion until it no longer serves him.
6
They should all take a sip of water every time he lies - I would say alcohol but they'd be under the table in the first two minutes.
10
The democrats need to unite in their goal of reining in our out of control president who has been come drunk with power as he discovers all the levers of power he can exercise. Trump is ignorant, erratic and unwilling to learn the duties of his job. Trump was not elected our dictator and he seems to create his own reality and dismisses our vast intel complex as wrong based on his beliefs which are not fact based. Trump is a pushy loud mouth bully who trashed his opponents as the school yard bully he is endearing him to the disenfranchised folks who he pretended to care for. Trump will lead us into a disaster as he is ill informed and charges ahead like a bull in a china shop answering only to Putin who he cowers before being compromised.
5
Historically, and hopefully still today, people who were and are liberal Democrats, presented a high degree of knowledge, sober progressiveness, and reflection, on the issues of the day! Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez does not meet those criterias! Why the New York Times keeps pushing her brand, as a significant face of the party, whatever that actually is in 2019, will work to the detriment of us Democrats, as we go forward into the November elections! Sad...
6
Members of Congress should remember that they represent people not party, but the party ownership will tell the party leadership what these party members must do. And, just like North Korean soilders on parade they will high step in unison. Baa!
2
Pelosi Aid privately tells Insurance industry exec Dems will fight against medicare for all. What is their real message?
https://theintercept.com/2019/02/05/nancy-pelosi-medicare-for-all/
4
My husband says I should watch the State of the Union: “Know thy enemy.” I won’t. I already know my enemy. There is nothing to be learned here.
11
Such childish and irrelevant behavior from supposed adults.
The State of the Union Address is a stage for the incumbent President to make a political speech. It is not the Oscars, where the audience shows up to be noticed. Congress's "job" on this particular occasion is to sit and listen. Applaud if you feel like it. Don't applaud if you don't.
No one, least of all this President, cares who your guests are. And can we stop seeing pictures of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, whose only "accomplishment" to date is holding office for a month?
Actions speak louder than words, dress, or guest list. If Democrats are unhappy with the current state of affairs, DO something about it. Hold hearings; pass legislation. Better yet, become the next President. Then you can hold your own State of the Union address.
13
Trump disrespects most of the electorate and it’s proven by polling that shows low approval and high disapproval. So the dissent is a true representation of the state of the nation.
3
@Casual Observer Trumps poll numbers are about the same as they were when elected. Considering the non-stop 24/7 attack from liberal media, he is actually holding up pretty well.
3
@alexander hamilton
Couldn’t agree more about “AOC”, the representative with a nickname and celebrity without yet casting a vote. She has not yet shown a profile in courage in having to vote her conscience against her district over an issue. We will see...
3
I will not be giving this creature who currently occupies the WH any of my precious time tonight. I will instead be working at developing my business and doing some volunteer work.
I will rely on the NY Times and others for a summary in the morning.
Good luck to the freshman class. Make it count.
12
But it is Trump who invited a survivor of the worst antisemitic attack on the US soil to the State of the Union, not the Democrats. Where are their guests who symbolize denunciation of all forms of racism, including antisemitism? If this is the message the Democrats are sending to Jewish Americans, they do it at their peril.
3
Mor, what kind of twisted logic did you use to ascribe blame to the Democrats on the basis of Trumps invitation to the Pittsburgh survivor?
6
@jonathan why didn’t they invite a Pittsburgh survivor, a rabbi or a member of the Jewish community to symbolize their repudiation of antisemitism, especially in the light of the recent scandals concerning the Women’s March and AOC’s embrace of antisemite Corbyn? See David Leonhardt essay on this very topic in the current issue of the NYT. Omission may be as grave a sin as commission.
3
Couldn't somebody bring Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal to the SOTU?
11
@Blazing Don-Don My thoughts exactly. With them there, it will really be a good time.
3
In my fantasy SOTU address, all the Dems are wearing buttons that say “I’ll applaud whenever you tell the truth”.
30
@MImi
Brutal. Utterly brutal. You win the comment box for today.
6
An individual who has made a career of bullying and cheating and a pastime of misogyny will be faced with a House full of women.
My first thought was of then-candidate POTUS placing the female accusers of Bill Clinton front-and-center in a political debate.
6
The SOTU has become a waste of money and time. It has turned into a platform for divisiveness. I don’t plan to watch. Not watching is the best way to resist the spectacle.
173
@Scribbles
Guests are fine. Disrespect isn't. I hope Pelosi can control her far left who are attracting more centrists every month.
5
@OldTimer
I take your point and I agree with you 90%. It's interesting, though, that we haven't seen a "you lie!" moment coming from the left.
6
@Longtime Dem Perhaps that day has come...
1
Dear Fellow Democrats, Please keep the protests understated and nothing beyond what has been written in this article. Keep it to special guests and classy, symbolic attire and nothing more. No attention seeking nonsense. (I’m looking at you, the progressive Freshman class). There are millions of voters out there in the Southwest and Midwest sitting on the fence and they are looking for the ADULTS in the room. Let’s show them that it’s the Democrats who are the unified grown-ups.
471
Well stated Andy agreed@Annabelle
18
to Annabelle Tucson . It. won't be US,shouting "You Lie!" .Nor Us shaking our head with our arms folded.!
30
Annabelle, I agree! Democrats must show America that they are the adults in the room. and be prepared to answer every one of Donald's lies with the clear and concise truth!
30
AOC and her socialist agenda is the best thing that has happened to the Republican Party since Jimmy Carter.
Those Republicans and conservatives, who hold their nose when Trump speaks are going to be out there supporting him in droves. AOC is pushing those moderates & independents who live on the fence right over to the Republicans.
Bloomberg should just pack it up and move over and run with Schultz as an Independent. Bloomberg has about as much chance of grabbing the Democratic nomination as Ayn Rand.
Kamala Harris is co-opting AOC's socialist lingo in order to grab the nomination. She is one smart, ambitious woman who is going to leave tread marks across AOC's back by the time she is done, which will be fun to watch. Once Harris gets the nomination, she is going to forget about AOC, Sanders & their lot and drive to the center-right faster than an Indy car.
9
C-o-m-i-t-y from a Team of Vipers? Remember the parable of the Scorpion and the Frog? Here it is, courtesy of Wikipedia:
"A scorpion asks a frog to carry it across a river. The frog hesitates, afraid of being stung, but the scorpion argues that if it did so, they would both drown. Considering this, the frog agrees, but midway across the river the scorpion does indeed sting the frog, dooming them both. When the frog asks the scorpion why, the scorpion replies that it was in its nature to do so."
The Donald T. Scorpion has shown his true nature in how he treats friends and foes alike. Sooner or later they all get stung.
Yet Americans, like the frog, continue to trust that the scorpion's sense of self-preservation will allow them safe passage across the river. Bad assumption!
The only explanation for the frog's behavior is that he is, despite his dutiful swimming across the river, fundamentally asleep. If he had been awake, he would have known that the only proper way to treat the scorpion is to squash him underfoot.
11
Since the only message this president seems to take note of is the size of the audience, I won't be watching. I would encourage others to tune out as well. I don't need to listen to his excuses and lies to know the state of the union.
9
This could be a wild event. Hope it just starts and ends with no drama. Better to just ask the president, from time to time, to make a statement from the White House, and leave it at that. Cut the theater.
3
This “president” should have been impeached ten times over by now if Congress had been doing its job. No report by a Special Counsel required. When is being “a clear and present danger” not grounds enough for impeachment? When is building prisons for children not enough?
The takeover of the media for this event is unwarranted and only serves to lend legitimacy to this criminal conspiracy our country has become.
In any case, what he says doesn’t matter. Most of it will be lies and the damage is done.
5
For this so-called "address" by Trump, the members of Congress could, after every single one of his disjointed sentences, in unison, yell out "liar" and in every case they would be correct.
8
Joshua Trump, a 6th-grade boy who has been bullied because of his last name, Trump, is one of Melania Trump's to the State of the Union. This clueless gesture will not be overlooked nor will Mr. Trump's obvious use of fear mongering by his invitation to the grieving family members of an elderly couple allegedly killed by an El Salvadoran man believed to be in the country illegally. There are simply no words to describe the shameful exploitation of those in mourning as pawns for his own political glorification.
11
The best part of tonight's speech will be the fact that Nancy Pelosi will be seating right behind Trump while he's giving his speech. The faces that she will make during that time will be the real show and will set the stage for Feb. 15th.
7
If the Republicans were smart, they would run advertisements with clips of AOC & her agenda. That's all that is needed. They can keep their candidates behind a curtain. Nobody even needs to know their names.
5
I will not be watching this. I'm sorry, I was brought up to respect people, but 30-45 seconds is the maximum I can stand to hear/see him. I'm sure there's something on Netfilx/Hulu. :)
11
I was thinking about a drinking game where you chug a beverage each time he tells a lie.
1
@Nurse Peggy
Peggy, as a nurse you should know that drinking that much of anything can have severe, even fatal consequences.
Kudos to the newly elected women of color as they stand together to show Mr. Trump and the American people the damage this president has caused. Last night, I attended an event sponsored by "Women Can Change the World" (a local PAC): We watched the documentary about Ilhan Omar in a theatre in a Twin Cities suburb. The evening before, the theatre received death threats and a slew of nasty emails and phone calls. The threats were taken seriously; members of the local police force, fully armed, were brought in to guard the theatre. Were the death threats a result of Ms. Omar being a woman, black, Somali, or Muslim? Trump has spewed hate of all four. I have never attended a movie with armed guards and hope to never do so again. This simply wouldn't have happened if we had a different president.
11
Trump may deserve all this, the nation does not. But as all that has happened since the ‘16 election, political childishness of the few is much more important than the nation.
Joshua Trump, a 6th-grade boy who has been bullied because of his last name, Trump, is one of Melania Trump's guests to the State of the Union. The irony of the gesture is rich and shamefully clueless as to how it will be perceived.
3
The only symmetrical response to the Donald’s SOTU would be for every Democrat to pull out his or her phone and live tweet the facts about every one of the lies Trump tells during his address. That would be hundreds of fact checkers...probably still not enough to cover an hour of Trump speaking.
5
I won't be watching, doing my part to make this the lowest rated SOTU address in history. Instead, I'll be having "executive time" at home that doesn't include watching a bunch of (theatrical) lies to the American people.
14
I for one will not be watching the state of the union. We know its state: destroyed. I will not five that lying “man” the airtime. One pits out a fire by starving it of oxygen.
6
Below is a link to This American Life where Jeff Flake says that the women in the elevator were not the reason he called for an F.B.I. investigation.
https://www.thisamericanlife.org/658/the-unhappy-deciders
I cherish the image of KellyAnne the Leaker calling for comity while treating reporters as snottily as she could manage.
5
Why is it that the NY Times feels the need to add the pejorative term “upstart” to the description of Ocasio-Cortez? I don’t see “old” , or “out of touch” added to the description of much more senior members of Congress. She is not an “upstart”. She is a duly elected member of Congress and deserves respect, especially from the Times.
52
Comity? Puleeze. Too little too late plus the "Useful Idiot" will continue to insult his audience and the world tonight. He's an aberration. I'll watch the Democratic response only. I won't be insulted.
7
I hope someone would invite Mueller to The State of The Union address. He should have a yellow legal pad taking notes.
19
Will Nancy Pelosi wear white? Please Nancy wear white.
3
Now HERE is some really good news, readers.
Another article in today's NY times says that a courageous school board in Louisiana refused to continue the HUGE property tax breaks Exxon Mobil has gotten for years. The business community is "aghast" at the temerity of the school board.
Good Job, courageous school board members and thank to the organization behind it. Stand your ground. Let's turn OUR United States of America back around.
This is how democracy works - it starts with change at grassroots level and will take off like a runaway forest fire when people hear of it. What GREAT news.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/05/us/louisiana-itep-exxon-mobil.html
41
We won't be watching the SOTU. I for one, do not like being lied to and cannot stand the obvious fake bravado of the fake president!
How I wish that the MSM would have fact-checking column right under the TV screen, like they do for other news. Live fact checking would do America a huge favor!
80
@Mari
It would be awful to risk having your mind changed.
Can't risk that!
3
@Steve W: POTUS has had two years to change my mind. He hasn’t done it with his decisions, why should I expect more from a speech.
13
Bring the native Americans to talk about Bear's Ears and drilling/laying pipe up and down the coasts and fracking across America. Bring National Geographic to talk about how they have a Photo Ark of all the animals so our grandchildren can look at pictures of all the ones that are no longer around. Bring the people of Flint, MI. Bring the teachers. Bring the students of the school shootings. WHEN will the protests be loud enough?!
308
Amen!
10
@Shiela Kenney - Amen to you Sheila! When indeed will the protests be loud enough?@lenore nugent.
7
@Shiela Kenney - why do you think protests are necessarily the avenue to get your desired policies enacted? I likely disagree and oppose most of the policies that you support. Why do you feel that you have the right to get your way just because you make noise?
4
I'm still shocked by the disrespect the Republicans showed President Obama.
And they are the first to cry about being victims of the very behavior they themselves participate in.
Trump's likely appeal to "unity" is a joke after all of his personal attacks, and his obliviousness to the cruelty immigrants endure.
Unity to him means: people should be nice and loyal to me, and do things my way. Period.
83
@SLBvt Republicans had good reason to disrespect Obama, just as Democrats have good reason to disrespect Trump. Lies are lies.
The best protest would be having the rebuttal to the State of the union addresss done live right after trump. Done in the House of Representatives.
14
I hope the Democratics have given some thought to the staging of the response. Instead of the traditional,bland setting, It should be delivered to a large audience that displays energy and enthusiasm for the speech, rising and clapping often.
12
If Dems pull a Joe Wilson and interrupt Trump's State of the Union Address by shouting "you lie" every time he strays from facts in evidence this address could go on until Christmas.
81
@Richard
Maybe they’ll just hold up numbers. Each one will have a number. And the first lie is #1 and so on. Just hold up a number. And at the end there will be a pretty good idea of how many lies.
6
@Richard
Maybe the Democrats should just sit there and say nothing, and not move.
That's what Republicans have been doing.
@TheraP: Even better: a "lie panel" who will hit the button in front of them, with a TV game show worthy LED counter always in view. Count them live, on the air. Maybe have another group of players make their best guess of the ultimate total. Great TV, a true Trumpian spectacular.
2
Why not bring federal workers who were denied their salaries while being required to work or were furloughed, and had their lives and livelihoods disrupted during the government shutdown?
12
I'm sure that democrats and other socially conscious lawmakers, military and judicial people in the room will have more class than to "boo" The Con Don or shout out anything.
However, they can certainly put "thumbs down" with hands held high to show their disapproval. Every time he lies or suggests another democracy-destroying mantra.
It will throw The Con Don - he can't take any disapproval.
Every day I get extremely furious at the idea that he is actually inhabiting OUR white house and trying to destroy OUR governments and democracy.
Why do people in power, with a social conscience and true love for OUR United States of America, let him remain when they could easily remove he and his Robber Baron brethren right now? I just do not get it. Do they think we are a "kingdom"? We are not. We are a self-governing democracy and it's high time those who benefited from it - and benefit from it today - take action.
These are unprecedented times in OUR America and they call for unprecedented action by people with power.
27
In addition to the guests mentioned in the article, the Democrats should also be inviting a soy bean farmer who is going broke because of tariffs; an assembly line worker who has watched her community die as companies continue to leave the country; and a person who received a one-time benefit of $2000 from Trump's tax cuts but still does not have the money to pay for health care or higher education for their family. This seems like a missed opportunity for Democrats to connect with people who believed in Trump but have borne the brunt of his policies.
430
Aren't you the lucky one, Jose Pieste.
90% of people aren't. Just wait for the market crash and WW3. Nobody wins.
51
Count your blessings and realize you are in the minority these days.
30
@Jose Pieste ~ No, no, all the stories should be represented. However, statistics indicate that you are in the minority. Fortunate you.
19
I've cut the cord to watching these repulsive events, which are not even redeemable by humor. Even Obama's SOTU's were repulsive. And however bad the speech, the pre-prepared, self-righteous "responses" are even worse. Not even worth the price of popcorn.
The other reason why I won't be watching tonight is that it's pretty clear that Trump has positioned himself better, going into this, than the Dems, who seem intent on using the same old "never failed" playbook, and who think that Trump's self-avowed ownership of the shutdown is an ace they can play over and over and over. And over. It would make me sad to see our inspiring new Democrats pulled into this vortex of putrefaction.
I can't watch... but I'm still hoping to read about a miracle tomorrow morning.
Dems, Trump - stop thinking about making the other side look bad. Instead of misrepresenting the other side's views, tell us yours. Please stop trying to win. We are so tired of your "winning".
12
I'm very surprised that Donald Trump didn't invite his puppet master and controller, Vladimir Putin, to attend the State of the Union address. To Trump, that would be like giving an apple to his favorite teacher.
Comrades McConnell and Graham, and others, would be giddy with excitement and drooling anticipation of a pat on their loyal subservient heads from the master, Vladimir.
23
@Doremus Jessup
I'm sure he'll be Skyped in.
I for one, would like to see Democrats boo his speech, call out his lies and possibly walk out.
Why, because it just might bring an end to the political spectacle the the SOTU has become. The adress has become nothing more than free air time for the president and his party to pander to their base.
The constitution reqires the president report the state of the union to the congress, henceforth, let it be in writing, no matter who is president.
28
Me too!
2
Good grief. THESE are the people who are supposed to be running the government? No wonder nothing is getting accomplished.
Why do they even need to "invite guests?" Is there going to be a red carpet thing next time? ("Madame Speaker, who are you wearing?) Why should anyone besides Congress be there? It's all on television for the world to see. Using people to "make a statement" is just super wrong.
Oh, and the co-ordinated "we're all going to wear white" thing? Please. That's not as lame as the prom. That's as lame as the JUNIOR PROM.
These legislators have better things to do than stoop to these levels. Too bad they would rather spend their time being petty. Because THOSE are the things that will be on the front page of USA Today tomorrow (probably the only paper any of his base reads, mostly on account of the color pictures.) . And Fox "News." (need I say more?)
I cannot believe I am quoting her, but, as Kamala Harris says, "We are better than this." Well, some of us are. But it seems as though most of our elected officials - on every side of everything - are NOT.
10
@Nadia I support members of congress protesting in this fashion, since trump, the electoral college president, has been on a rampage to destroy our country to please Putin, racists, and abusers like him.
6
@Nadia
They're taking a page from Trump - they have realized the importance of public displays.
5
Sound and fury, signifying nothing.
Pass some laws, Democrats.
16
@Aaron
The House has already passed a number of bills, but it's hard to get the Russian-Republican Senate to approve anything that would upset the oligarchs.
https://www.congress.gov/search?q=%7B%22congress%22%3A%22all%22%2C%22source%22%3A%22legislation%22%2C%22search%22%3A%22actionSessionCode%3A%5C%22116-1%7C8000%5C%22+AND+billIsReserved%3A%5C%22N%5C%22%22%7D&pageSort=documentNumber%3Aasc
19
Trump is facing a far-different audience as he delivers his State of the Union Address. This deservedly-despised President faces an inflection point of his tenure tonight. He can back off from his Wall Fetish and propose legislation that benefits all Americans, such as putting a ceiling on prescription prices (I am currently taking heart medications) and promoting improvement in our national infrastructure, or he can continue his 'Wall Fetish', perhaps by invoking a 'fake' 'State of Emergency', and thus toss out any minute dust of respect accorded by Americans who embrace common decency.
13
Nice word "comity"; I had to look it up.
Seems to refer to "courteous, friendly": so no more name-calling, a promise to listen to rather than to dismiss the other's point of view, perhaps ... will he lead by example?
A close homophone with comedy - but who's laughing any more?
20
Hopefully we'll have a few nice "You lie!" moments (there will be so many lies) - exactly what that vile Republican bigot Joe Wilson shouted out during Obama's speech before Congress on health care in 2009. (Obama should have had Wilson thrown out of the chamber and then lectured Republican racists right then and there on national TV on respect for the office of the presidency - but Obama was too much of a gentleman to do so. And he shouldn't have accepted Wilson's phony Republican apology either.)
It's time for Republicans - a criminal mafia masquerading as a political party - to receive a big fat dose of their own medicine. You lowered the bar, now enjoy squeezing under it. The GOP has been polluting our politics and degrading our democracy since that fiend Newt Gingrich began their war on America in 1994, equating compromise with surrender. No more bipartisan kumbaya nonsense that gets us nowhere. No truck with fascists, which is what Republicans are. Schumer and Pelosi should tell McConnell and McCarthy that they are going to get exactly the same degree of cooperation they gave President Obama when he tried to pull the nation out of the toilet Republicans left it in in 2008 - that is: NONE.
66
Kellyanne Conway reported that the president in his SOTUS was going to call for "comity" and then quickly spelled it out C-O-M-I-T-Y because most of us, including Ms Conway herself, realized that a speech delivered by Donald Trump was more likely to invoke black COMEDY than COMITY.
34
AOC has brought rivers of life and passion to American politics, pushing away old white men Congressmen who think she is too wild and starry eyed to be professional pol. AOC, like Robert Kennedy and MLK, Jr. before her, represents people and not just people with money and power. This scares the Congressmen; look at them quiver as big shot lobbyists buy them another gin and tonic, look at them mocking AOC as they sleep in Palms Springs $500 a night hotel rooms Koch Brothers paid for.
24
Why is Trump being allowed to give the State of the Union speech in the House chamber? Couldn't his staff book the Kroll State Opera House?
6
Keep it classy, Dems. No throwing red meat to Faux and Friends. I’m hoping that some of the Congress bring wildfire and flood victims, an additional symbol of the urgency to address climate change.
21
@MF Indeed...and rakes.
3
"Nancy" appears to think sitting presidents CAN be indicted. It would thrilling if there were sealed indictments against Trump that could be executed as he arrives.
PERP WALK! GREATEST RATINGS EVER!
Well, I guess that will take a bit more time.
15
Trump didn’t need a message of unity w/a GOP controlled Congress. In fact, he demonized Democrats, and painted them not simply as opponents, but as radical enemies. Suddenly Trump is politically hamstrung by a Democratic House that intends to hold him accountable and he magically has a bipartisan message. Therein lies further proof that Trump is a charlatan and a political novice, eager to say whatever is necessary to sell his political snake oil.
74
@Tony C
Compounding the travesty of leadership that is both this president and that GOP-controlled congress, they couldn't pass any big legislation, save for a grotesque, regressive tax cut.
Even with no resistance, the GOP can't govern.
I'm only looking at 2020, with hopes for Democratic control of both houses and the presidency.
And this time, a president less concerned about "bipartisanship" than Obama.
The GOP needs to be buried. Totally buried. It is a rotting corpse of rotten dreams of a vision of America that shouldn't exist anymore.
4
Kelly-Ann Conway was just on NPR. Why bother - she does not know what truth means. Unity, from trump? You must be kidding. I'd hate to miss such tantalizing theater as will be on display tonight. trump lies will be flowing for all to witness.
25
@LoveCourageTruth
It’s like Torturers now saying Kumbayah!
6
When I saw the "attire sending a message" part, I immediately thought of red carpet culture.
8
Trump is not speaking to all of America tonight. His address is to only his 30-35% base. As I'm not a member of his base, I will not watch.
81
@Jefferson
That's right, the is a State of the neo-Confederacy Address to a third of the nation.
No one sinks to the occasion like Cadet Bone Spurs.
43
@Jefferson
It is said that "ignorance is bliss", so I will watch the SOTU, even if there's a lot of ignorance spouted in the talk itself. I want to hear it from the horse's mouth.
2
So, Kellyanne Conway claims POTUS will make gestures of peace by calling for cooperation, comity, and compromise.
Calling for behavior he himself has no intention of manifesting is shallow posturing, NOT a gesture of peace.
POTUS believes that cooperation, comity, and compromise means getting everything his way.
88
@MichinobeKris He had to start that while he was running for office. It is a little late now.
1
I hope the Dems focus on "Pocket Book" issues !
Thanks to Trump's Tax Cuts for the rich...
1) The richest 1 percent received 82 percent of wealth created in 2017.
2) The poorest half of humanity got nothing.
3) Instead of investing in their workers, raising wages and expanding job opportunities for the middle class and poor, Corporate America just bought back their stock, creating more wealth for their Board of Directors and big shareholders.
47
@JM
The Dems must focus on "Pocket Book" issues, else what's the difference, except in style? This is a tough one, as both parties are so very bought by corporate/1% campaign contributions.
2
Citizens, representatives, Senators, justices.....the Matryoshka-Doll-in-Chief of the United States of America !
What a disgrace to the country and our entire history.
Investigate
Impeach
Indict
Incarcerate
...this Impostor-In-Chief.
206
@Socrates
I love your posts, but impeach means to indict.
1
@m.pipik
I think there's a difference between impeach and indict regarding a sitting President, my lord.
The House may impeach the President, but it is not a criminal indictment; in fact, most believe that a sitting President cannot be indicted.
However, a President who has been impeached by the House AND convicted by the Senate is thereby removed from office and THEN can be criminally indicted.
So there is a difference between the two terms in that they both mean "to charge", but only one of the terms is criminal, whereas the term impeach is procedural.
15
@Socrates
Not to nitpick, but if that is what you mean, then there is a step missing between impeach and indict--remove. After all there has never yet been a "removal" by the Senate. Nixon quit.
Since we don't really know if a sitting President can be indicted for crimes of any sort so without "remove" or some such word your actual wording leaves room for confusion.
Yeah, it's a cute saying but.
I wish I could be there tonight. If I was, I'd hold up a sign that says, "The whole world is watching you,"
7
@BSR I'd hold up a sign that shows the number of individual votes Hillary got vs his.
3
Don't worry! At the end of the night, Trump will boast that he had the most bipartisan support for his Sate of the Union address of any President.
11
Apparently no veterans, serving members of the military, cops, fire fighters, or any type of first responder have been invited by congressional Democrats.
9
@BD - we don't know that. This article is specifically about guests chosen to send a political message. It doesn't tell us whom the other 200 House Democrats have invited.
14
@BDyour point? I'm sure there are some. Besides the congress has those within their body.
12
@BD
Are you insinuating that, by inviting some of the people who have been harmed personally by this administration's policies, Democrats don't respect first responders and the military?
Quite a reach.
58
Nancy Pelosi will show the dignity she always shows. I wish I could say the same thing about Trump.
Pelosi is the one person who is able to handle any situation that Trump throws at her. Including the faux State of the Union address that Trump will deliver.
She is the only one worth watching and I only wish she were the one to respond to his address after he gives it.
35
@Jean There is a very real chance that the cameras will catch her rolling her eyes. Or falling asleep. If she is our only hope, we are screwed.
4
@Jean
At least it's a woman who's giving the rebuttal. That in itself will be enough to irk him and have him tweeting a goodness knows what hour.
3
" imagine " ( State of the Union Address )
1. we have a crisis in our country and it's the health of the American people. We need to declare a National Emergency to combat the opioid crisis and take positive steps to ensure that all American citizens receive basic health care, including mental health care.
2. we have another crisis in our country and it's the state of our bridges and highways which are failing and in many cases dangerous. We need to immediately assess our most urgent needs and fund them appropriately.
3. we have a talent crisis in our country. We need to strengthen our educational system for all American citizens and implement a fair immigration system where the skills needed in the US can be met. Along with this we need a sound policy on how we treat refugees.
4. to defend our country from attack, we need to develop sound relationships with our allies and identify weaknesses in our physical and cyber infrastructures. This includes fair and sound policies for our elections.
5. while there are many important and urgent issues that need attention in the US, we cannot forget the most vulnerable people in our society. everyone in their lifetime stumbles, and as a society we need to be quick to give a hand up. often it takes only a small gesture to clear away a roadblock or get over a hurdle.
we need to put aside our tribal differences and think of the good of all American citizens. but not at the expense of others.
234
@VM Excellent points. The last sentence could be read that there are tribal differences from both sides, but it is clear from the diversity of guests included by the Democratic members that the “tribalism” exists only on the Republican side - the party that fully embraced and now owns racism and exclusion.
21
@VM
GREAT State of the Union Address!
Thank you.
14
@VM We have another crisis - that of the homeless. We must build cost-effective, affordable housing for all those who are living on the streets.
8
Did A.G. offer Our President this breathless hype as a condition of that Gilded House audience last week?
1
The theatrics of Trump's speech to a divided Congress will show that we have a State of Disunion! He has had the luxury before of preaching to the Republican choir and receiving standing ovations.This time he will face a House full of Democrats who took the seats of Republicans who could not make a case for Trump policies in Nov.2018.The House and its Speaker, Nancy Pelosi have a voter mandate and it is to oppose much of what Trump stands for.They have been sent to Congress by voters who care about health care, affordable education,infrastructure, and fair treatment of workers and real action on climate change-will he have any serious proposals on these subjects- the answer is NO.He will have a greatly diminished cheering section.The majority in the House will be a silent majority when it comes to approving Trumps ideas.
37
I applaud these representatives of the people for what amounts to as direct a confrontation with this president as they are able to make. Unfortunately, he will see only what he wants to see, just as he accepts only what is convenient to his ideas whether factual or otherwise.
49
@Rick Papin, Fortunately, the cameras will see everything Trump does not want to see. One hopes those Republicans who disapprove of his outrageous acts will not stand or applaud the utter stupidity of what he is doing, demonstrating to at least a few with questions just how out of touch this person is who now occupies the White House after a stolen election.
18