Petty, Pelosi, petty. Just like your impeachment.
9
I didn't have to watch this nonsense because he's NOT my president...
7
Who wants to be governed under a system where God has decreed one's vote doesn't matter at all because one lives in the wrong place.
5
She tore up a speech, notthe Constitution.
9
Why bother listening to what this fraud of a President has to say? We won’t know what he is going to do because it will be dumped on us from his secret White House. Health Care? Medicare? Social Security? We know the Trump Republicans want to cut benefits.
And if, in November, this very stable genius decides it is in the country’s best interest to ignore the results of an election in which he loses and announce a state of emergency and jail his opponents, who is to stop him? The Democrats can’t and the Trump Republicans won’t. Far fetched? Can we really feel comfortable that such a scenario is not possible with this out-of-control-tyrant-wannabe? Oh, and keep an eye on Ukraine. The Trump Republicans and Trump can’t be trusted to stop Putin from finishing his invasion after November. Perhaps Putin only has to wait until the Trump Republicans “acquit” the presidential genius tomorrow.
44
It's funny but all the trend lies for unemployment and GDP growth are continuations, or fall offs, of those established during Obama's presidency.
Trump's job creation numbers are actually below Obama's. Manufacturing jobs are down and farm bankruptcies are up.
The only jumps attributable to Trump are those of the stock market which mostly reflect the massive tax giveaway to the top 10%, all subsidized by the broader taxpaying American public.
Trump* is a clueless, bumbling cheater. Expect more of the same going into election season.
*righteously impeached for high crimes and misdemeanors that would have resulted in federal criminal charges if he were not president. Yes, soliciting a bribe is a federal offense.
52
@Michael Tyndall If Trump wasn't the President he wouldn't believe his own administrations job numbers.
3
President Trump just bestowed the Presidential Medal of Freedom on Rush Limbaugh.
I am truly sad for his cancer, and I fervently wish that terrible condition on no human being.
But this conferral is a perfect example of how President Trump vandalizes and debases our country. He celebrates those whose life work is devoted to tearing our country apart.
776
@Mark Keller
Bravo!
This comment is truly worthy of being a NYT Pick!
64
@Mark Keller I agree wholeheartedly.
34
@Mark Keller Why is it tearing the country apart , to comment on a group of individuals who have lied and cheated to benefit there family members. My question to you is why is Rush debasing and they are not. Hate is hate no matter who does it. If Democrats would have been less public about there hate of this man maybe we could get something done for this country , I just want ALL people to get over themselves and get back to running the country, I am tired of Demo-drama.
19
Been wondering when we'd hit rock bottom?
Limbaugh gets awarded the Medal of Freedom - during STOU.
A man whose lies are legion, hate filled diatribes of venom, who's destructive and hateful rhetoric has done more to divide and take down every good thing America used to stand for, than anyone I can recall. And all for his ego and millions of dollars. McCarthy would be green with envy.
If that is not the bottom, I hope to never see what is.
74
This feels like watching Sally Jesse Raphael. These poor people are being used and don’t realize it. Exploitation of suffering. I feel awful for that thirteen year-old boy, watching his mother grieve on cue. Shameful.
45
@Kathryn
Grieve on cue??? That lovely woman was grieving on cue??? What an obnoxious thing to say. Perhaps you've never had the experience of grieving for a loved one.
13
@Kathryn
I agree. The young man was trying to comfort her but she seemed more interested in having her Trump moment.
8
@HotGumption -of course she was grieving and will grieve the rest of her life as will her son. I mean that Trump is manipulating and exploiting human suffering to make himself look good. The people are being used for his purposes but they do not realize it, just like Maury Povitch and Sally Jesse Raphael use people so they have compelling shows. I have grieved many people in my life. These days, I grieve for my country.
8
I started to watch and as #45 began to speak a wave of nausea swept over and my revulsion forced me to switch off.
65
I didn't watch. There was no Dramamine.
14
The ripping of the president's speech in half by Speaker Pelosi immediately after the president finished his State of the Union Address said it all.
Such a subtle yet direct signal shot right across the bow.
Well done Madam Speaker.
140
@Honeybee
No actually what she did was "perfect" as Trump likes to say. It was the only "perfect" moment of the evening and it was exactly the right response to that speech: speaking truth to power.
And all the invited visitors in the gallery that he celebrated (esp Rush Limbaugh)? I kept thinking about one person I would have liked to have seen in the audience (perhaps sitting with the Democrats); a true American hero: Marie Yovanovitch!
8
@Honeybee
Worse optics are a president who has 16,000 lies and counting plus a number of his administration in jail or on their way.
But I agree with you that it wasn’t subtle. It was admirably clear.
5
@Honeybee Bad optics for the Democrats? You have to be kidding. Did you watch ANY of the impeachment proceedings? The Democrats will have to go a long long way to match the vile behavior of Republicans.
1
With over 15,000 proven lies, one cannot believe a word he says. The figures were highly dubious.
49
I too didn't watch. This is a person who has no honor, dignity, integerity or patriotism. He is not deserving of my attention; other than continuing to support those who are focused on defeating him on election day.
49
Just as Trump had said that the American white supremacists in Charlottesville were OK, - - tonight Trump awarded Rush Limbaugh the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
What more is there to know in order to recognize that Trump has an authoritarian personality, is authoritarian, a person whose behavior is dangerous (?): Nothing more !
52
President Trump’s ratings according to Gallup are at 49 percent. After his excellent state of the union address it should rise even higher. It was extremely impressive and spoken from the heart. I am sure he won many new voters tonight.
65
He forgot to mention non nutritional lunches for students. He failed to mention the chemical people deregulating industry so they can pollute freely and not tell their workers. He also skipped the part about manufacturing going to cheaper countries rather then the US. It slipped his mind that Russia and China are going into countries we are leaving.
27
@KMW What heart?
11
@KMW Nope. There are no new voters to be had. Maybe a few who fall in and out of love everytime they turn on the tube or turn on the computer, but, nope, we’ve all made up our minds. Of course, if the Trumpsters keep handing out money, they may get some temporary boosts in the polls, but those folks probably won’t vote anyway. So, dream on.
4
President Trump at the top of his game. Displaying remarkable energy and sense of timing during the 90 minute presentation.
Good sense of cadence and timing. We oft forget how skilled a communicator is the President. Was nice to forget for a while the Impeachment Imbroglio. Pres. Trump hit high notes celebrating America. Who would be unhappy with that message ?
55
@ Peter Brugman
I wasn’t happy with it.
A lot of lies about the economy, and lies about his protecting people with preexisting conditions.
4
@Peter I Berman What message? Division and chaos?
4
@Peter I Berman
Me, it was a rerun of The Apprentice.
5
Mr Baker leads off with two of the falsehoods that continue to heap disrespect and distrust on the Times and MSM.
Pres. Trump does not oppose new people coming to the US, it's the volume of the illegal sneak-ins and insincere asylums-seekers. The US is sort of a "club" for us and our children, it's right for us to decide who joins, and how many.
It's not about suing cities for crimes by undocumented people; it crimes by repeat offenders that ICE requested be held for pickup.
If you can't see the difference, perhaps you're not as sophisticated as you imagine yourself.
OlEd
6
The Democrats are having a bad week, with a disastrous Iowa caucus results snafu and Biden in 4th place; a well-received masterful State of the Union speech from the president whose approval numbers continue higher; a petulant Speaker showing no class; and today’s Senate acquittal of a partisan impeachment attempt. But, please, continue to keep digging your hole, right up to November. The American people are starting to see what’s what.
9
We did not hear a State of the Union speech, we heard the State of Trump, mostly a fallacy.
Once again he disrespected the Office of the President by turning the State of the Union into his campaign rally and making clear he represents Trump-Republicans, not the country.
11
Think about the implications of the Dershowitz Principle when extended to everyone as equally protective law. Whatever a person does that they sincerely believe to advance the interests of the US is legal.
The Law of Dershowitz Principle legalizes terrorism. I look forward to seeing it applied by defense counsel in courts.
5
Manifest destiny! Couldn't believe my ears when I heard that.
Winthrop's reading of manifest destiny in the 1800s, is a spot on description of Trump and his enablers.
... advocates of manifest destiny are citing "Divine Providence" for justification of actions that are motivated by chauvinism and self-interest.
Robert Charles Winthrop: US Senator and one time Speaker of the US House of Representatives.
4
Trumps approval is 49% now (higher than Obama’s at this point in his first term). If you’ve been in the stock market you’ve almost doubled your money (more if you bought Tesla). Business is booming. No one wants change with a paycheck. Back away from social media, you’ll be just fine.
6
After “The Trump State of the Union Variety Show” Speaker Pelosi did to Trump’s speech what Trump has been doing to our Constitution for years.
10
I will never get tired of seeing military families reunited — ever.
9
What fabulous speech. He crushed the Democrats in spectacular fashion. They can’t even run a counting app while he oversees a soaring economy.
14
@Piotr Ogorek - May want to ask farmers about that. The ones who haven’t committed suicide of course.
7
Piotr Ogirek
Trump is bought and owned by the Russians and the Saudis. That is why he hides his taxes. He is a failed corrupt businessman who has been laundering money for Russia for years with the help of Deutsche Bank.
But you knew that, right?
4
It is obvious now that if 45 loses in November, he will not hand over power. This SOTU was the beginning of the end of democratic culture, principles, constitutional legitimacy in US. Clearly, after acquittal later today, he'll accept the he's above the law. Where is the courage of 67 senators? Can they stand up for the rule of law? In the 21st century, democracy will not die in darkness, but in a well-lit chamber of hypocrisy, betrayal as a funerary dirge drifts across the mall where Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, and Frederick Hart's memorial soldiers will be weeping.
13
Like the majority of Americans, I have no president; Trump is only the president of his base and has cheapened everything he touches, Including the medal of "honor" he hung on Limbaugh. A However, he is a master manipulator, and I fear that unless the Democrats get their act together (get an inspirational candidate, develop some effective political moves and slogans, and clean up their tech and other delivery systems), I will have four more years of no president.
15
Can someone explain to me the “white suits”? This year it's supposed to be about 100 years of women's suffrage, right? So what was last year? The 99th Anniversary of the same? White was worn in 2019 too. My point is that EVERY WORD Trump speaks is an affront to human decency. WHY have they chosen to focus so visually obviously on Trump’s misogyny? What about all the other people (i.e. all DECENT people) who are violated by this gangster-president? In my view it’s selfish and sends the wrong signal to dress so conspicuously when that dress only represents ONE of Trump’s countless prejudices! Are African-American and Caucasian MEN not under threat by Trump too? Do they not have issues of equal or greater gravity to protest? I find the gesture very myopic, to put it mildly.
7
@Manhattan William
I agree. The democrats need to speak for and represent all of us with these visible protest gestures. We are all in deep trouble here. Our democracy is at stake and women’s issues do not relay that. It dilutes our message - trump is bought and paid for by the Russians. He is corrupt and corrupting.
2
Nancy Pelosi ripping up his speech in full view of television is an unacceptable discourtesy.
Like it or not he is still our President duly elected by the American people.
Shame on her!
Ary Kempler
13
So his continued discourtesy of the office of Presidency and American citizens bothers you not? I think there is no comparison between his endless egregious behaviors and her tearing up a speech.
One has to earn respect.
7
@ARYKEMPLER I do wish such indignation and castigation was applied to the president for attacking, insulting, denigrating (and often even threatening): Gold Star parents, disabled people, non-whites, non-Christians, women, John McCain, allies, non-Trump voters, people who disagree with him (Republicans included), the free press, Congress, the foundations of the US, civil servants... the list is long.
7
@ARYKEMPLER he is not a king, he is a public servant, so yes Nancy has every right to be discorteous.
3
I hope someone with deep pockets will run this guy’s greatest hits over and over again. Maybe stamp them all as:
UNPRESIDENTIAL
& UNAMERICAN
8
Dear Nancy can tear up papers all she wants.
The DNC will tore up her contract as well, since she is the face of the farce called impeachment that is soon to die in ridicule. This is her mess, the DNC will never forget she is the one who said go ahead and made them all looked like fools.
Can't wait to see AOC take on Charles Schumer for the lead job. She might win. And the DNC is desperate right now for any one at all who can win anything at all in this race with the GOP.
7
Only VOX got the headline right —
“One of America’s most prominent racists just received the Presidential Medal of Freedom.”
You can always count on Trump to defile anything you hold sacred — the national anthem, the constitution, the American ideal.
20
As several commentators said last night, it was the opening volley of Trump’s re-election campaign. He listed what he believes to be his accomplishments over the past three years.
Used the personal stories to advantage.
I think Pelosi lowered her stature last night by ripping up the speech. Looked petty. She used that action to satisfy her base while Trump definitely directed his speech to a larger audience.
9
@Gail I'm surprised you would say she looked petty considering how many times Trump has been rude and made so many belligerent comments about scores of people.
12
@Nana B
The thing is, being upset over what someone does, then doing the same ... kinda negates any possible credibility.
3
@Gail
Trump is tearing up our Constitution, our democracy, and the truth.
And you’re concerned about Pelosi tearing up sheets of paper?
1
Thought I was watching a game show at times- you won a scholarship! surprise- here's your husband! How about a medal for you! And infrastructure week again!
Oh, and all those people didn't "move off" of food stamps- they were kicked off by horrible new rules.
20
@patricia
Such an accurate comment and observation.
Well said.
4
@patricia The people weren’t kicked off food stamps. The states used waivers to bypass the requirements for SNAP. The Federal government stopped issuing food stamps to the waivers which by the way should not have been issued in the first place. The states were abusing the program.
6
Medal of freedom for Rush Limbaugh? Freedom to be as nasty and as big a bully as the president I guess.
24
More power to Nancy!
21
Amazing how Trump bad mouthed “socialism” at every turn but failed to mention the billions of dollars being funneled into middle America as a bailout to farmers affected by his losing the war against China.
Billions of dollars from the taxes of the librul coastal elites.
I for one feel real good that my NY tax is preventing McConnell’s constituents from starving (Kentucky is at the bottom #47 in poverty of all US states).
If there one accidental good thing that Trump had done, it is to make beggars out of farmers and make them card carrying socialists.
15
@Opinioned!
They have been coddled for years. Just another form of corporate welfare.
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/farmers-ride-the-gravy-train-as-trump-boosts-welfare-to-the-heartland-2019-05-25
6
@Les I think we need to distinguish between the giant farms owned by big monopolistic corporations who are feasting at the government trough versus the individual farmers who are struggling.
@Opinioned! Perhaps you’d prefer to go hungry than to help American farmers feed Americans? Even liberals in NY have to eat!
I scanned-through many of the comments here and am shocked to not see one about his attack on public school teachers and public schools. Rather than properly funding public schools, he wants to perpetuate privilege through privatization, masked by a token scholarship.
16
@Tami
There is just so much wrong with this corrupt dangerous man, it is difficult to attend to it all.
Education - learning to read and comprehend, to analyze information, to recognize truth over lies. Trump is against all of that. He needs people who cannot do any of those things, so they can blindly accept the dear leader’s lies.
3
@Tami Yes, the whole tee-up for Betsy De Vos's agenda sent a bad chill up my spine. A nation that forsakes public education cuts itself off at the knees. But an ignorant or uninformed citizenry easily distracted by the puppetry of the Trump Administration is putty in the grifter hands of Trump's cohort. Education is information; and Information is power. It's morning in America, all right. . .mourning in America, here in the Dark Ages.
3
Can the Presidential Medal of Freedom be revoked by a future President? Probably not. In which case a future President should give one to Sandra Fluke and anyone else who was savaged and slandered by this disgrace.
13
The Trump administration is in court right now, suing to take away coverage for people with pre-existing conditions.
https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/478892-trump-scrambles-to-defend-pre-existing-conditions-record-amid-obamacare
14
@ M
And yet his followers think he has their back. It is astonishing what they believe in the face of sll of the evidence of his lies and distortions.
2
Nancy tears up Trump speech; Trump tears up the Constitution.
20
Trump rendered the Medal of Freedom meaningless tonight.
18
Trump has not told a single riveting, poignant tale about the victims of bone spurs. What a gross oversight!
9
@H.Clark To put your comment in perspective there were many young men who did not go to war for bone spurs, varicose veins, near sightedness and a host of other seemingly mild ailments. In college I knew many of them.
1
@I Hear Ya
Another perspective is that during the Vietnam draft children of the wealthy were given exemptions.
3
Let me think. Watch the boor Donald Trump babbling and lying for an hour, or catch some solid college basketball games? The MSU - PSU game was great, as was the OSU - Michigan battle.
8
@Joe Miksis
And I watched Hallmark Christmas movies I saved for emergencies.
To each his own.
3
Creepy. Other worldly. Dystopian. The great divider.
16
Honoring Rush Limbaugh, the merchant of hatred and cynicism, is nothing short of disgusting. Trump's presidency has damaged our civilization and if given another term he will likely damage beyond repair.
19
Disgusting speech. As a Vietnam vet I am very troubled by the president’s use of GIs and their families as props and his use of the State-of-the-Union address as a game show.
17
@Richard We owe our freedom to you and the other brave fighters who were in Vietnam. There is nothing wrong in honoring their service and reminding a younger generation that fighting for freedom is a sacrifice and an honor. Thank you for your service!!
1
Nancy Pelosi was most eloquent in tearing up the lies that Trump read from the prompter. A real fascist, he put on a show with his loyalists rewarded with a scholarship offered to a black single mother’s daughter, a husband returned from duty in Afghanistan to rejoin his family but fueled his base by citing examples of “illegal immigrants” who committed violent crimes and a plan to punish to sanctuary cities. In one breath, he said he would fund neonatal care but punish those who may need late-term abortions.
He brushed off the Speaker’s hand shake but made sure to shake Brett Cavanaugh’s. He brought in Juan Guaido but acts like Madura himself. Trump is Mussolini-like in his myth of American exceptionalism with his belief that he is the prime example. With his cheering, adulating, fawning sycophants surrounding him and eating up his every lie, he is a nightmare to our democracy, a disgrace to this nation, and the polar opposite of our founding fathers. His deception knows no bounds. He must be defeated.
18
Fun fact: Brett still likes beer
10
Pelosi ripping Trump’s script was not a great publicity stunt because it made her look bad. She basically showed herself to be this resentful, petulant and childish character while not making much of a negative impact on the president.
9
@ Cassie
I choose to believe it represented trump and his republican sycophants ripping up our Constitution and our democracy.
Very eloquent.
4
Why not one brave Democratic congressperson couldn’t yell “Traitor” I don’t know. It wouldn’t have been without precedent. It wouldn’t have been untrue.
10
And then Pelosi rips the speech in half in hate.
She knows she has lost.
11
@ Frank
Read about how trump us bought and paid fir by the Russians. How trump had been money laundering through Deutsche Bank for years.
And then think about that trillion dollar deficit.
Then decide who has lost.
4
The Medal if freedom to a degenerate who made a fortune dividing the nation. Everything trump touches dies honor dignity, reason, the constitution, religion and truth, Everything. Luckily trump has touched Limbaugh,
9
Tuned in to listen for a minute, only to hear him give the Metal of Freedom to the biggest loser and liar on the radio, and I was shocked to hear all the republicans on their feet chapping and shouting for him. I pray that this loser we have to call our President, and the Republican "lawmaker" that support him are all voted out of office asap.
14
Democracy at its worst; no one should be proud.
4
What a terrible mess. Trump lying and exaggerating, Pelossi tearing the speech... I fear it will sadly backfire on Democrats... Plus the Democrats mess in Iowa...Country divided more than ever...I fear 4 more years is a high probability.
5
@ Salvador
Trump is ripping up our Constitution, our country, and truth.
Pelosi ripping up trump’s speech is an eloquent symbol of trump’s actions.
3
Things are so good in America that Trump is building a wall to keep us in.
7
According to the White House itself, "The Medal of Freedom is bestowed to individuals who have made especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors" Someone please tell me which of these Mr. Limbaugh has contributed to. Oh, wit, here's one: denigrating black people like myself. As a human being, I'm sorry that he has been inflicted with such a horrible disease. But he is far from deserving any medal whatsoever.
15
The putrefying fossils of GOP members cheering and leaping to their feet during the opposite of the Sermon on the Mount rendered by Mr Trump, reminded me very uncomfortably of the House of Lords speech in Peter O'Toole's Ruling Class movie wherein the mad politician hallucinates the members covered in cobwebs. Check out from 5:15 on in the following classic scene so reminiscent of todays SoU boastful rant that would turn the stomach of anybody who supports Western Democracy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Xz88K9YJOE
5
@Bob Guthrie
Just watched for first time. Thanks for the tip. “Those bones, those bones, those dry bones made a spectacle cheering for the demise of democracy. The. GOP traitors are a disgrace to the nation.
4
Trump knocked it out of the park. Hate him all you want, this was one of the greatest speeches of all time.
Trump 2020
9
Trump is speaking in a pent up rage monotone voice. Watch out everyone.
5
I would like President Trump to also bring an African American Veteran family forward because country was built on the backs of African blood and terror. We need to visually see African Americans who are also fighting in Afghanistan and know that we have always protected America a.k.a United States of Incorporated America.
6
Sad but this week on so many levels the Democratic party has jumped the shark. Nancy's petty gestures is the final demarcation of the end. What's next . . .
4
@ Eric
Trump has ripped up our Constitution, our country, and truth. And you’re concerned about Pelosi ripping up trump’s speech?
3
I skipped his delusional political diatribe. All lies. My prayer is that we get past him, move forward with truth and decency after 4 years and recover. Amen
9
Trump lauding and acting as a defender of the pre-existing conditions being allowed to be covered under health insurance while simultaneously fighting to defeat pre-existing conditions in the courts, is the height of hypocrisy. No surprise Trump trying to gaslight all of us, his lie count is up to 16,000 now. Be assured President Trump there are many of us who are not susceptible and see past all your lies.
19
He's going to win again, sad to say. He's like the monster in a horror movie, impossible to kill, and when you try he comes back with vengeance.
6
Trump brings the “president” of Venezuela to the State-of-the-Union. But why didn’t he bring the real president of the Ukraine?
3
Rush Limbaugh/Medal of Freedom, the venality of this president knows no bounds.
8
I didn’t listen to the speech - had it muted but read the (excellent) commentary from the NYT reporters. My only regret was that in order to read the commentary I had to see trump’s muted face on the screen of my phone. I missed Nancy Pelosi’s final ripping of the speech, but hoping it will become a popular meme🙏
9
@pkidd
I followed NYT commentary while watching on TV. They conveniently left out many of the positive highlights and couldn't help bring up some old digs.
Not satisified with their sham impeachment trial's debasing of our republic, the Trump cult in the chamber slavishly abased themselves before their criminal deity by chanting "FOUR MORE YEARS!, FOUR MORE YEARS!". How shameful, how disgraceful and how typical of them.
So is the press finally ready to admit the ugly truth about the radical and seditious identity of todays Republican Party? Maybe they will still be waiting to do so when Trump, after losing in November, declares the results invalid and with full Republican support declares himself the winner.
Don't think they won't go there.
6
Pelosi wanted to play “holier than thou” and still shake his hand. He played her very well.
3
Bless Nancy Pelosi for tearing those lies apart as he and his comrades tear Democracy apart.
7
It is with incredulity that I watch Trump’s State of the Union address observing what looked like humans jumping up and down, applauding and screaming to every Trumpian absurdity. Turns out they were well-dressed, well-trained Republican monkeys playing, on cue, the role of yo-yos with the fevered enthusiastic desperation of those afraid to be caught on camera not supporting their dear leader with the requisite hysterical display of love lest they be carted off to face the firing squad of Trump's lunatic tweets. It was a shameless demonstration not of how many spineless individual can fill a room, but of how many are willing to to go public with such a disgraceful show of sycophancy. And…Rush Limbaugh!? Marx was right: History repeats itself, first as tragedy second as farce. If Trump is re-elected, there may be a third act: America in the grip of madness as it descends to the ash heap of history.
11
Pelosi tears up Trump’s speech and Republicans’ heads explode. Trump tears up the Constitution and Republicans eagerly cheer him on. Sorry times for those who have not drunk the Kool-aid.
12
I think Nancy Pelosi tearing up the speech at the end was the Democrats hitting rock bottom.
6
@Mark
I think rock bottom was Trump giving Limbaugh the Medal of Freedom.
9
Along with the rest of America.
2
After witnessing this bizzaro State-of-the-union speech, do any Americans really know what the State. Of. Our. Union. Is???
1
Yes. The greatest it’s ever been !
3
Pelosi's behaviour is abhorrent. This is a classic left liberal attitude of vilifying and shutting others out who are not in conformity to their thoughts.
7
@ Neeraj
Please. Look up the word “abhorrent.”
Trump abusing power, obstructing justice. That is abhorrent.
1
Although it is unlikely that the extremely close minded Trump will read anything in this newspaper, or will many of his supporters for that matter, I have to say that Pelosi really gave it to him tonight, as always. What a fool he is to refuse to shake her hand. I suspect that when he looses in November, if he makes it that far, he will also refuse to shake the Democratic winner's hand. He will just whine. Democrats need to win the Senate also, no doubt about it. Make Republicans pay for hiding the truth.
9
Oh yeah. She sure “gave it to him.” Right before she was crushed by the steamroller. In the same way the Titanic really gave it to the iceberg.
3
Unfortunately for Democrats, Trump is a master show man and he smoothly lies every time he speaks to a crowd. Democrats and the press have to start hammering Trump on his falsehoods. As a con man Trump repeats his lies so frequently that after some time, people that should know better adopt Trump's lies as true.
Will American voters snap out of it by election day ? if not our democracy will collapse under the weight of Trump's constant lies and bad judgments.
6
For a non-American, this was a hugely embarrassing State of the Union address. How low can this "president" go? Award Rush Limbaugh? Pretend he wants to protect pre-existing conditions? Claiming the best economy ever?
I just don't get America. The (vast majority of the) rest of the world is stunned how an individual with a low IQ, a strained relationship with the truth, the literary skills of a 5th grader etc etc can be the president of a country (any country!), and almost half of the population let it happen. Unbelievable.
11
Whether you like it or not, he is to be addressed as PRESIDENT TRUMP>>> NOT merely "Mr. Trump"
3
@CatNap, maybe I will when Trump respects Speaker Pelosi.
1
If you're giving Limbaugh the Presidential Medal of Freedom, it must've been a really slow year for freedom!
8
I’ve been very patient with disgruntled hateful Democrats the last few years, encouraged by liberal media and the forces behind them. Figured they’d come around after Trump’s unexpected successes.
But no more.
Democrats hissing when our president reports that 7 million are now off food stamps. Huh? They prefer people to be on food stamps. Sick. They didn’t clap for so many honorable guests, patriots, kids. Democrats have become absolutely un-American, revealing they don’t want us to succeed. If you’re proud Pelosi ripped up the speech, be glad she can’t rip up this president’s accomplishments.
5
Included in that group of people are children, the elderly, and severely disabled Americans. Yes, I have an issue with those who can not help themselves being allowed to go hungry in a country that is plentiful. I'm told Christians like to quote that sentiment as, "the right thing to do." But, I'm an Atheist, what do I know about compassion?
3
The woman in white showed her true colors and lava hot anger and disgust for the president -- love him or hate him -- and all those who voted for him. She wasn't just anti-Trump but anti-America as well. Throughout the address, she could not restrain herself from biting her upper lip, so I was surprised that she still had some portion of it left at the end. Then, as a coda, the ripping asunder of her copy of the SOTU was as reprehensible a gesture as I have ever seen in that august body, and one one that will come back to haunt her and her acolytes in white.
5
Pelosi is my hero. What incredible brass. She has the courage the Republican men in the Senate lack.
11
Thank you, Nancy Pelosi! You deserve a Medal of Honor!
10
Nancy Pelosi is a god. I’ve never been so impressed by her firm grasp of symbolism as I have been tonight.
8
Pelosi just gave the Republicans the House in November.
6
So Trump can put children in cages and we get radio silence from his supporters. But Nancy Pelosi tears up a piece of paper and these same supporters are outraged.
9
So can someone tell me what good Rush has done for me or America?
6
Better than Netflix... eyes on Pelosi reaction/ listening to not Mr. Trump but President Trump
2
What amazes me is the fact that no one is stating BOTH parties are a disgrace. That's part of this partisan issue... no one seems to be discussing how both parties are an embarrassment.
I get a chuckle over how so many stand up for the party of their choice. I tend to lean Republican but I at least understand both parties can come up with good ideas. I have liked a number of Trump decisions yet Trump has been an embarrassment many, many times.
Pelosi pulled a childish stunt tonight with the ripping up of the speech. Towards the very end Trump made 2 separate non-partisan statements where everyone in the room should have applauded; however, the Democrats remained firmly in their seats. Totally childish.
Yes, both parties have a lot of growing up to do...
@Billy Walker
Interesting how the tone and attitude expressed about childish behavior on both sides centered specifically on the Speaker ripping up the speech at the end while no mention was made of the President snubbing the Speaker's extended hand shake at the beginning of the Address.
I agree that there is always room for more improvement, growth and professionalism from everyone, but let's keep things more clear and real here. Even in the words expressed about both sides needing to grow up, the animosity was clearly demonstrated against the Speaker while only mildly mild correction was referenced towards the President.
Not exactly an unbiased opinion.
11
@Billy Walker
Let's keep in mind the ultimate snub that happened before the SOTU. That was Trump and his people willfully disobeying lawful subpoenas from Congress. That's not a simple violation of protocol or common courtesy, it's a breaking of the law. Given that, Pelosi should have never extended Trump the courtesy of letting him make a speech before Congress.
3
@ikalbertus
I'm fed up with the whole mess. It is obvious by reading the comments far too many people appear to be strongly partisan. I'm tired of partisan.
I want, no, I demand that our politicians respect the other side of the aisle. I demand that they wake up and realize both parties have something to contribute. I demand they realize sometimes compromise is necessary. I demand they stop acting like children.
I want intelligent adults who can sit down together and actually work together. I don't want a President who gets up at 3 am to tweet stupidity.
Sure, Trump has had more than his share of stupidity. By the same token he has done a few good things for the country. He may be one of the biggest children in D.C., but you know what, both parties have more than their share of childish behaviour.
But what is painfully obvious is how partisan so many non-elected officials, meaning the citizens of the U.S., are when it comes to their politics. As if one side has all the answers.
I guess we end up with partisan politicians, some of whom lie and cheat, because they once started out as plain ol' citizens. Partisan citizens, some of whom lie and cheat as well.
Both groups are disgraceful.
If this reality show ignoramus is re-elected, heaven forbid, it won’t be to a second term. It will be to a second season.
5
No, Trump didn’t snub Speaker Pelosi because she brought impeachment proceedings against him, she snubbed him and tore up his speech because President Trump violated his oath of office and violated the Constitution by obstructing justice in refusing to cooperate with a legitimate Congressional investigation into his attempt to enlist a foreign country to interfere with our elections and withhold vital military equipment from Ukraine while at war with Russia conditional on investigating his political foe Joe Biden.
In his speech, President Trump invoked the precepts of our Constitution while he himself trampled on it repeatedly. Since Trump, the Republican Senate, and the Supreme Court Chief Justice tore up the Constitution, Pelosi was right to tear up Trump’s false hypocritical “State of the Union” campaign propaganda speech.
9
Republicans have lost every sense of moral decency. It should bother every citizen to the core.
7
Tearing up a speech that contained names of U.S. citizens that were killed is beyond the pale. The image of that should appear in Trump's re-election ads. Bad move, Ms. Pelosi.
5
The presidential medal of freedom is awarded to rush Limbaugh. That, is the state of our Union.
4
Great speech. I am ready for acquittal and four more years of success. The Dems looked very anti-American.
5
Quite possibly the most effective SOTU address in my lifetime! By the time President Trump said “but Amy,” and brought out the Sergeant husband/father of the featured military family, I was almost exhausted with the awesomeness of it all.
4
Regis Philbin always seems his model TV impersonation when he needs to sound hokey and nice guy.
What qualified Limbaugh for the country's highest honor? For "excellence" in dividing America's citizens? He can't check out fast enough.
4
I did not watch Trump's speech tonight. I just could not watch his arrogant manner as he reads off the teleprompter as he has done in so many other instances. Reads words that I would know ahead of time will be lies, exaggerations, misleading and undeserved self congratulating statements.
I have heard it all before, and it would have been too depressing to have to listen to it all again.
5
I watched the whole thing gritting my teeth. The thing about Trump is that even when he isn't lying, the things he says are so narrow in their perspective, so limited in their understanding of what led up to them and what the consequences will follo, that they are, in essence, lies, even though no fact checker can label them as such.
I must add, as so many others have said, that awarding the Presidential Medal of Freedon to Rush Limbaugh may have been the low point of the speech. That man is one of the most hateful racists I have ever heard. My husband remarked that if he had received the medal , he would return it in protest. Rewarding LImbaugh with it tarnishes the medal forever.
6
Has Trump discovered the cure for Coronavirus yet?
3
No, it must have been Limbaugh.
3
The president was invited to give the State of the Union speech, but not to stage a reality TV show replete with award ceremonies ,a scholarship, a medal, a promotion to general and a husband....
The Democrats better get creative.
2
Giving the medal of freedom to someone of such low character as Rush Limbaugh tarnishes all previous medals given before. Sad night for America. This President has made us a second rate country
4
Folks, a “State of the Union” address would be a quaint exercise were there a union. But there isn’t. Can we now have a sober discussion about the blue/meritocratic/donor states letting go of the red/plantation/recipient states? Granted, that is what Putin wants. But it is also what most of red “murrka” has wanted since 1980. Let’s get on with it then, shall we?
3
Good for Nancy! Her ripping up President Tramp's self-congratulatory script was an apt response to his childish snubbing of her proffered handshake. Unfortunately, though, both illustrated perfectly the destructive division in our unhappy land.
3
Trump has a brilliant and well done speech.
I may think him a buffoon but he nailed the performance.
And, yes the economy is strong and the Democrats “the sky is falling” act is not going to work, again, in November.
Let’s hope Bloomberg momentum grows. It’s our only hope.
4
If I could change just two moments in this SOTU, it would be to erase the President's commending Rush Limbaugh and to prevent Nancy Pelosi's tearing up her copy of the President's speech. The world would be a better place tomorrow if I could somehow make it so.
1
Here’s my two-state solution: let conservatives have the states that were in the Confederacy — they’d feel right at home there — as well as some western states like Wyoming, Idaho, Utah and Arizona, and the liberals can have the coastal states and the Midwest.
2
Independent at odds with Trump, memo to Dems: get rid of Pelosi and Biden while you're at it. Her display, in spite of the handshake snub, which admittedly I would've done, was low brow, amateurish, and a display of elitist liberal arrogance.
The country's history is glorious, however we all can admit with warts. Her non response when the president was rattling off the nations accomplishments was noticeable.
Bring in Mayor Pete....Mayor Bloomberg...these old threads aren't serving the the Dems .
1
Trump's SOTU address was one big cheap stunt. I applaud Nancy Pelosi for tearing up her copy of the speech.
4
I congratulate Speaker Pelosi on her restraint. I would have been severely tempted to brain Trump with that gavel.
I sincerely hope we do not come to view that restraint as a lost last opportunity to remove Trump from office.
4
Speaker Pelosi's act of ripping up Trump's speech was priceless.
The only way she might have made it better was if she'd:
1. Saved the shreds
2. Doodled Trump's face on the topmost shred
3. Hung it all up in the House lunchroom
4. Proceeded to hand darts to all her Democratic colleagues
3
With a speech that turned into a show
Donald chose to insult his main foe
Then gave out a medal
And managed to peddle
A vision that sets his pals aglow
1
Trump cheapened the Medal of Freedom by giving it to Limbaugh.
I hope the next generation witnesses this spectacle of self-congratulatory angry old white men and votes them out of office. I’m 68 years old and desperately want change.
6
So now look for Trump to bestow this great honor posthumously for his pal Jeffrey Epstein. Why not? Obviously its value has no meaning for Trump.
3
Trump better have enjoyed the [partially] friendly spotlight tonight,
because starting tomorrow, and after the Senate's acquittal, the blinding lights of interrogation will follow him like an interminable shadow as the investigation into his corruption and abuse of power resumes, full throttle.
4
I boycotted the State of the Union. I have been appalled and depressed during the past 3 years. Now I am disgusted. Some of the GOP senators said that the stable genius (SG) behaved inappropriately but aren’t going to remove him from office. They aren’t concerned about the harm the SG can do to our country in the next year. They aren’t concerned about what he will do to have foreign interference in our elections so that he can win again.
The SG has insulted people who have left his administration. This weekend Kushner said that Bolton, Mattis, Kelly and other former senior officials didn’t last because they “didn’t have what it took to be successful.” I don’t understand why the former officials wrote books or said things in private about the SG but didn’t offer to testify during the House’s investigation. Why are they protecting the SG after they’ve been insulted by these two incompetents?
The SG has hugged the flag and criticized those that don’t “stand proudly” during the national anthem. Yet a video has been made public of the SG acting like a middle school boy during the playing of the anthem at the super bowl. As a former middle school teacher I would have taken any student behaving like the SG out into the hall to discuss the disrespectful behavior. Other teachers might have sent the student to the office.
But the GOP has no problem keeping the SG in office and his former officials stay silent? This isn’t sad; it is disgusting!
3
Trump supporters should thank Speaker Pelosi for tearing up Trump’s speech. The only reason conservatives even exist is to moan how unfair the whole world is to conservatives. Pelosi just gave them some new material to whine about. And they’ve already started.
America is in the ICU in very serious condition. She looks horrible. She needs a heart transplant, and she suffered brain damage when she fell. Right now her organs are beginning to fail and she's developing sepsis. We can't afford to pay for everything she needs now. Our insurance may or may not come through, because we don't meet the impeachment requirements, and were not even eligible until November!
1
America is in the ICU in very serious condition. She looks horrible. She needs a heart transplant, and she suffered brain damage when she fell. Right now her organs are beginning to fail and she's developing sepsis. We can't afford to pay for everything she needs now. Our insurance may or may not come through, because we don't meet the impeachment requirements, and were not even eligible until November!
congratulations to Nancy ,for making Trump look like the mature one in the building last night
5
Donald Trump thinks he is going to get ANYTHING he has asked for passed by this Congress?
In an election year??
After insulting the Speaker of the House???
I think that pretty much defines "delusional."
2
This is the one speech which is called for in the Constitution. It has one subject and purpose only: To brief the Congress on the state of the union. Giving out scholarships and medals and other garbage is not part of this particular speech. Once again, the impeached president sticks his thumb in the eye of the Constitution and the nation.
4
If either of my adult children acted like the president or the speaker, I would have serious words with them. You two represent the people of this nation. For heaven's sake, act like it instead of like cheerleaders fighting over a boy friend.
Poor Nancy Pelosi.
She doesn't have many options left. Award herself a pen signed and ordered by herself. Carry, in a solemn procession, an impeachment that is already forgotten, before the trial ended. Listen to her opponent's winning speech. Tear a speech apart...
5
Four more years of hatred between Americans. This country has lost its soul. Limbaugh given a Medal of Freedom? Dear lord forgive them.
2
Reopen the impeachment investigation. Trump giving that medal to Limbaugh is absolute abuse of power! And we've got witnesses, at least those few who could watch and stomach It!
2
Four more years? As if someone his age and temperament could live so long.
Rush. Really? This WWE presidency can’t sink any lower. Can we take it back after tRump is defeated?
2
Trump knocked it out of the park! Home run. The Rush thing was a cherry on the top. There is no doubt. Just look at the comments here to see that he hit every nerve!
2
The purpose of a SOTU address it’s not to hit nerves.
To the Republicans, Pelosi is the new Willie Horton. Pelosi makes the mistake of crawling into the gutter to battle with Trump. Her management of the impeachment process was a mess. Not calling the witnesses in the House and then trying to get the Senate to do her job - not going to happen. Attempting to delay the release of the impeachment to the Senate in order to gain some kind of leverage - not going to happen. Tearing up the SOTU speech - childish and not the moment she will want to be remembered by.
1
Early in the day we were treated to a smart phone filming of Trump mocking the playing of the the National Anthem at his Super Bowl party, while those around him at least politely showed respect.
Tonight we saw him mocking our intelligence and our patriotism.
Day in, day out.
3
In the future, the Medal of Freedom will only be awarded to political supporters. (I'd use another word that starts with a p and ends with a y, but my comment would probably not be approved. )
Definition of the Medal of Honor: "The Medal of Honor is the United States of America's highest and most prestigious personal military decoration that may be awarded to recognize U.S. military service members who have distinguished themselves by acts of valor."
Limbaugh? please. and i am sorry he is sick, but no way does he deserve this
2
@Patricia
Rush was awarded the Medal of Freedom and no he did not deserve it.
1
It’s time to abolish political parties. What purpose do they serve? They reduce the serious business of governing to a team sport, with winners and losers and overwrought spectators cheering them on.
Interesting to note that, while supposedly ‘serving’ the American citizenry, members of both parties manage to become extremely wealthy. For once, I’d like to see them actually earn it.
It was a magnificent speech, and the show one to rival the Oscars. The unsettling risk the nation faces, however, as Pelosi's peurile behavior underscores, is what lengths the DNC may go, to try and prevail in November? Is the Iowa Causcus IT failure, a prelude? If the DNC will go to the lengths of mendacity that the Trump Senate trial defense overwhelmingly revealed, there may be no stopping their mendacity. The DNC is rogue, ungoverned, undisciplined and misled.
2
The President, intentionally one presumes, didn't give a State of the Union except for the human interest moments.
For the TV audience, he spoke only to his base, deliberately insulting Latinos -- part of the Democratic coalition. Not so important but symbolic was the fact that he never looked at the Sections occupied by Democrats but only at worshipful Republican Representatives and Senators. And of considerable significance, he refused to shake hands with the Speaker of the House. Lastly, I watched his face move from disturbing grimace to self-satisfied preening over and over.
It was not a speech with malice towards none, no call here for a more perfect union. For me it was a Hate of the Union Address.
Trump is a master Barnum. There was little Bread for average Joes and Janes in his speech but an awful lot of Circus for this continuing America Tragedy.
3
I was quite disturbed when Trump honored specific people in the audience. This is something that all past Presidents have done, but as usual, Trump seemed to take an opportunity to campaign. I noticed that the majority of those honored were African American. So it appeared to me that he was taking an opportunity to gather some more votes from the AFrican American community. Shameful. And Medal of Freedom ceremony at the SOTU - give me a break! I really don't think any of Mr. Limbaugh's actions led to anyone's freedom.
1
The photo of Trump and his Cabinet, looks like a rogues gallery. They have pledged their allegiance to Trump, rather than the US Constitution and the people of the US.
It would be mission impossible to sit through Trump’s speech, without screaming to try and balance the spin, fiction and conspiracy theories from Trump.
Great that Trump chooses to decorate a radio personality, who said Sandy Hook was fake, and that grieving parents were paid actors.
Those who wish to be associated with Trump, will never be able to remove the stench and corruption from their resume.
3
More people are off medicare and food stamps because Trump and his republican sycophants threw them off these programs, not because they are better off. I can make any picture look rosy if I don't have to watch out for the truth. According to Trump his daughter Ivanka created 15 million jobs, he did not say if it was in his dreams but that did not really happen.
2
That was disturbing to watch. I can't help but think our entire country is in decline.
2
Nobody will remember Trump’s awful speech.
Everybody will remember Pelosi tearing it up.
In terms of stagecraft Trump unfortunately runs circles around all the leading Democratic presidential contenders.
1
What is meant by “advanced lung cancer?” Most cancers these days are given designation in stages.
There were definitely a few tear jerking moments. Trump did a great job with his speech although I wish that would have stopped clapping every time he said something. It made the speech so much longer and I have work to do.
I am still hopeful that Bernie can snatch the presidency from Trump. I just think Trump is at the top of his game and it will be very difficult for anyone to beat him. Let us pray for a miracle.
1
Hollywood comes to Congress.
This is not the America I once knew.
2
Looks like we’re in free fall, a nose dive. It’s time to brace for the inevitable crash that we’ll all suffer for this President’s whims and wants.
2
Why shouldn't Trump give the Medal of Freedom to dean of hate radio Rush Limbaugh? He pardoned:
1)Joe Arpaio (accused of abuse of power, misuse of funds, failure to investigate sex crimes, criminal negligence, abuse of suspects in custody, improper clearance of cases, unlawful enforcement of immigration laws, and election law violations=--and ultimately found guilty of criminal contempt)
2) Edward Gallagher (accused by other SEALs of numerous war crimes, including murdering an injured prisoner, shooting girls and an elderly man--and ultimately found guilty of wrongfully posing with a corpse).
These are Trump's kind of guys.
3
Don’t offer your hand. The Republicans are fighting a war and the Democrats are trying to play fair. For the Republicans it’s not about democracy it’s about power. It’s not about truth it’s about money. If Trump is re-elected I can see things getting so crazy and violent he’ll declare an emergency and cancel the 2024 election. Dictator! Things are bad out there. People are starting to really hate each other because of Trump.
2
The democrats are in disarray. Trump is close to getting acquitted. And is all over the democratic policies in the SOTU. Lets get ready for four more years . He deserves it as the Democrats have not got the job done. Good luck putting Pete or Sanders against Trump!
1
The meaning of the Presidential Medal of Freedom will long outlast the memory of the loathsome creep who bestowed it to another loathsome creep. The creeps are aberrations, and everyone who is cognitively able to compare the merits of previous honorees, who include John Steinbeck, Marian Wright Edelman and Stephen Hawking, to today's recipient already knows that.
3
Trump lies. Bush the Republican caused the Great Recession and Obama the Democrat fixed it. Trump's tax cuts for the rich don't add up. Any middle class voters who vote for Trump will get just what they deserve, far less Medicare for the elderly. The coastal elites can buy more health care, the Southern and Midwestern working class cannot afford it. So be careful. You are only hurting yourselves. Watch what he does not what he says. You have been warned.
2
It's easy to feel anger at many things he said, especially the failure to say anything kind about the legal and undocumented Americans who make American great. But if anger blinds you to the reasons that millions of people will feel affirmed by his words, then clearly you lose in November.
1
I watched her tearing up his speech. He who is tearing up our constitution.
I voted for her. Wrote her to turn over the speakership to the next generation. And now I realize: I was so incredibly incredible wrong.
Madam Speaker Thank you!
3
The President put on a clinic when it comes to political skill. Tremendous speech and showmanship.
Why does the media continue to underestimate him? The Dems looked shell shocked and ready to waive the white flag.
4
The #StopTPP movement, supported by both Trump and Senator Bernie Sanders (and Progressive Democrats) was the deciding factor across the rust belt states, where Senator Sanders won almost every county in Michigan.
Senator Sanders called the Trans Pacific Partnership "another lousy free-trade agreement like NAFTA that does not protect American workers."
Meanwhile, manufacturing had contracted over the last 3 quarters.
1
As a TV game show it may work for some segment of America.
1
Nancy Pelosi did not" rip up" the presidents speech, language that suggests a much more melodramatic action than what happened. She calmly, firmly tore it in half and dropped the pieces on her desk, a silent statement on its value.
5
Watched it with my stomach churning the whole time. How I’ll get to sleep tonight won’t be easy!
1
Whoever watched Trump's SOTU out of a sense of civic duty much respect and sincerest condolences for your loss of two or so hours.
4
It was difficult for me to watch Trump take credit for good things he didn’t do, just as he is about to get acquitted for bad things he did do.
6
Today the President acted as a King with lots of magics and blessings to give. In a puff of smoke he could bring home an active duty member of his choosing back to their family, leaving others in the battle field. He could bless a girl's family with a scholarship for the show and gave the highest medal of honor to the most undeserved divisive figure of American's politic. But it's not at all surprising, the only surprise were all the claps from half of the house there.
5
I did not watch. I did see a video of Nancy Pelosi tearing up his speech, I wish she would have also set a match to it. This is the end of the USA as we knew it . . . though I do believe we have romanticized a bit.
People believe he is standing up for them. I’ll check back after his second term to see how his carnage has treated them . . . sad, sad, sad . . .
3
Oh how I wish Michael Bloomberg would use some of his self-made Billions to take out full-page ads in every Red State touting all of Trump's un-accomplishments.
Infrastructure: "Where's your new roads, bridges and airports?"
Healthcare: "I'll give you a cheaper and better plan."
Social Security: "I won't touch it."
My Wall: "Mexico will pay for it."
Farmers: "How bout those Tariffs?"
The Great American Comeback?
3
@Candlewick
I think Michael Bloomberg is just getting started.
This was the best speech I have ever heard the President give. It had many high moments and thoughtful reflections. I just wish he would confront the issue of climate change. There is no future in ignoring the obvious.
Meanwhile, Representative Pelosi looked petty and foolish -- aimlessly looking through her copy of the speech instead of acknowledging the special guests as they were introduced-- and then tearing it up with a flourish at the end. I am embarrassed for her. What happened to being a Catholic full of love only? Tsk, tsk.
3
Everyone knows Trump has appointed Gorsuch and Kavanaugh. But I found it particularly creepy when he looked at the Chief Justice and said he has a pipeline in the waiting.
1
As always, Trump was appallingly crass in form (this was one of the very times I've been able to bear to watch him, and the experience of doing so tonight was painful), but strong in substance on the subjects of illegal immigration, foreign adventurism, and infrastructure. His comments on those subjects made me stand up and cheer.
2
I spent my evening at a high school talent show full of truly amazing young people. It was a far better use of my time than watching this apparently disgraceful display of American political theater. Wish I had skipped reading the news when I returned home and gone to bed still feeling good about our country’s future.
2
I was concerned from the start that the President might lose it and start raging about the impeachment process. I never would have guessed that Pelosi would be the one to lose it, to disgrace herself after urging others to keep their composure and decorum. I still find this almost possible to believe. The names of dead Americans were in that speech, and much more. It's just mind-boggling and sorrowful. How can her action lead to any good? How can it win voters?
1
The president (if you think DT really is one) makes a serious set of falsehoods regarding the economic situation. The truth is that Obama took an economy in real trouble, and brought it back to security. Then Obama spent another 6-7 years stabilizing it, and developing a very firm rock foundation for this economy. It was that firm rock foundation that Trump was handed.
Then, the HUGE Republican tax cut was introduced, and all of a sudden investors of every stripe has had pools of free money (1 trillion dollars at least) to splash around. Of course this would make any society look & feel wealthy. [just think of how life would feel for a few short years if you could borrow 5-10 million dollars that you knew someone else must repay.]
But someday the national debt due to that trillion dollar tax cut will come home to roost. Trump will be gone, and so will the money-high.
Guess who will have to pick up the pieces? And guess how much environmental degradation comes with this GOPhead hayride.
4
Even with the country more divided than ever before, Trump manages to drive the wedge further in.
Putin must be delighted by Trump's performance.
3
When you decide to impeach a President, and the result is his getting the highest public approval rating of his Presidency, you have severely miscalculated the situation. Some people need to get out of their bubbles. Or, as the late Ann Landers used to say "wake up and smell the coffee".
2
@RM - Trump is a disastrous con man, and the only reason he isn’t out of office is because Republicans need him to ram through their agendas, not because they think he’s innocent or competent. You wake up and smell the coffee.
As an Independent it’s getting harder to ignore this President’s success. Pelosi didn’t look good tonight.
1
@Robert
If success is the total disregard for the Constitution, I agree with you.
I only hope that that soldier brought back for the reunion with his family will explain to the families of those soldiers that were injured in the Iranian missile attacks that their family members simply suffered headaches and should gave over it.
As to prayer in school, as the great Russell Baker used to say as long as there are math tests, there will be prayer in school. What Trump supporters want is organized prayer and only the prayers they want. When the evangelical Christians envision school prayer, I'm sure they have no intention of their children listening to a Muslim or Jewish prayer.
1
I have so much admiration for Nancy Pelosi and I loved how she tore up her copy of the speech at the end. If this wasn't such a sad occasion, with Trump tarnishing the Medal of Freedom and hate mongering against undocumented immigrants, I would say it was funny what she did.
4
I do not remember The State of the Union exploiting people to prove a President’s points or to make him look good. I remember heroic people - police officers, military personnel, 911 volunteers, exemplary young people, but I do not remember grieving people used as props.
Just like on reality shows, I believe that Trump and his staff have convinced these people that they have something to gain by publicly mourning in front of an entire nation. Trump tells a dramatic, terribly sad and tragic story and then the camera pans to someone crying, or trying desperately not to cry. I wonder if they know they’re being exploited? I wonder, in thinking back on the experience or watching the footage, if they are further traumatized. I cannot imagine that it is healing or cathartic for them.
And, we all know that Trump lacks empathy. It’s just like him to manipulate people to put on a good tv reality show. Just awful. I found this so base and low, but what else is new.
5
Trump made an excellent case for his re-election. I look forward to four more years.
2
I saw Trump hand copies of the speech to both Pelosi and Pence ... shaking hands with neither since his hands were full.
If that was a snub .. I'd say that is a "personal interpretation" of facts as was much of the impeachment testimony.
2
Probably the best week of Trump's Presidency. His approval ratings are peaking, the impeachment interlude strengthened him politically, and this Iowa fiasco symbolizes perfectly the failure of the opposition to get their campaign off the ground. Hardly surprising that Pelosi was trying to shred that speech in a fit of pique.
2
In a speech to the Wisconsin Agricultural State Society in 1859, Lincoln recounted the story of the Eastern monarch who had charged his wise men with inventing a sentence true and appropriate for all times. That sentence was
“And this, too, shall pass away.”
I am sure Lincoln would want that now.
2
Are you sure this will pass away? The Democrats are soo weak, scattered and disorganized that they have been reduced to tearing up speeches and throwing temper tantrums. If this is the best they got against Trump...they may as well forgo the elections...
Donald Trump's speech brought me back 60 years ago in Republican politics. It was like listening to Paul Harvey and the rest of the story. It was heart rendering, it was sincere, it was honest. It was all of those wonderful things until you did a fact check.
2
Trump was not looking good at all when he was leaving. Must have been having Twitter withdrawal.
5
There was no way that I was going to watch this spectacle. Even seeing a photo of him enrages me. And his voice is extremely annoying. Listening s speech full of lies and braggadocio would send It out the door screaming. It takes all I have to read about him and I do that only to see if he has done anything more to destroy the country.
As for Rush Limbaugh, all I can say is that those who have previously been awarded the Medal of Freedom should send them back to the White House, as they are now meaningless.
14
@Country Girl
Rush Limbaugh and Arthur Laffer. Mr. Motor Mouth and Mr. Trickledown economics. The bar for the Medal of Freedom is at a new low.
1
Another Trump debacle. Trump has made a mockery of The State of the Union. It should be abolished.
9
How the worm turns. Just days ago Nancy Pelosi was jubilantly signing articles of impeachment, passing out pens, and cheering on a parade worthy of Imperial Rome to walk the articles over to the Senate. Wednesday the Senate will call to account the baseless impeachment articles for the sham that they are by a vote of acquittal. Tuesday night was the State of the Union which can be seen as almost a statement that they have tried everything possible over the last three years to get rid of me (DJT), much of it nothing but fantasy and some of it illegal, it didn't work and here's what I have accomplished. Indeed there have been accomplishments.
I applaud the speech. And I applaud the recognition of Rush Limbaugh. The mainstream media is saturated with left wing bias and a constant and total anti-Trump slant, with the New York Times in the vanguard. The nation benefits from a Rush Limbaugh as a counterweight.
Amid all this the Democratic party is in complete disarray and chaos as reflected in the Iowa debacle.
7
@Donald Nawi Far away and removed from US, we can see how corrosive Donald Trump has been to not only US but the World in general. The World is being polarized and the last time it happened we had World War. You as a citizen, who can elect or deselect, I hope you see the polarization that is unraveling the very fabric of your country I hope you realize then only you can avert.
1
I really would like to know what impresses you by these people. I’ve yet to get an actual answer as to what has been done by these men you worship that has made your life better or made democracy stronger. If you can share something it would be appreciated.
1
Trump has good reason to be wary of shaking hands, now that E. Jean Carroll's lawyers are seeking a DNA sample.
11
Reality Check if those represent us deplorables still in denial. More homeless people in usa then all of great depressionin. For the record72 million people on medicaid receiving free health care at expense of working people.Congrees approved NAFTA 2 an was signed by prsident.Not word about that in state of union why?
1
I noticed he didn't mention the Coronavirus among his accomplishments.
Its virulent infection of the human population is a direct result of Trump and his fellow plutocrat's pillaging of the world's rain forests and jungles. Of his reckless mining, logging, and destruction of habitat.
25,000 infected in China, nearly 500 dead.
The Chinese economy at a standstill.
Hyundai shutting down in Korea.
Trumps defunding of science and research in favor of funding his Wall at the southern border. And just how many cases of this virus will the Wall filter out?
It's just a matter of time until the pandemic sweeps across America, taking who knows how many lives and the economy down with it.
He can keep telling us that Climate Change is a hoax but this is one ecological catastrophe even he'll have trouble lying his way out of.
6
Limbaugh gets the "medal of freedom"?
What did he free anyone from besides the chance to earn a decent living through a union?
14
@Bryan
Would you silence diverse speech just because you don't agree?
I've never heard his radio show but I am aware that it is one of the most listened to for year in the nation. I can allow others to have their day in a free speech country without taking it personally.
@Si Seulement Voltaire
No, of course not.
That's not the point. The point is that I question how he CONTRIBUTES to anyone's *actual* freedom (besides being allowed to say whatever he wants on the radio).
If this country is going to have a promising future rather than one of gradual decline, we need to make political choices based on facts, not propaganda. And as far as the economy is concerned, the fact is that there has been no material change in the economy's performance since Trump took office. Yes, stock values are higher, primarily due to lower corporate taxes and a correspondingly larger federal deficit. But the rate of economic growth is about the same as during the Obama years, and the perplexing problems of growing income inequality and languishing small towns and cities remain. If you like Trump's style and approve of his dismantling of environmental protections, go ahead and vote for him. If you feel the opposite, as I do, vote against. But let's not base our choices on imaginary economic accomplishments.
11
Oh don’t worry. This country won’t see a gradual decline! It will see a precipitous one that will leave them entire population in shock.
I watched the whole thing. Excellent speech. Trump will probably win the 2020 election, but maybe Bloomberg could defeat him.
3
I have been listening the state-of-the-union speech by American presidents since president Truman era. Never missed on speech yet. The best state-of-the-union speech was given by president John F. Kennedy. He also gave the best presidential inaugural speech in my memory. President Trump is also a great actor and he also invited so many supporting actors and actress to join him in the chamber tonight. This makes his speech even more dramatic and effective. Difficult for you to disbelieve him. He recognized so many common Americans for their dedication and contribution to our country under his leadership. The democrats tried to put up a fight but they failed. Nancy Pelosi makes me feel that she was helpless. Where was her congressional partner, Adam Schiff? If Trump is going to deliver his 2021 state-pf-the- union speech, Nancy Pelosi better to hire a coach to teach her how to express her displeasure about Trump's remarks. Democracy dies in Congress?
3
@McLean123 Despite the hostility, from the beginning of the session she extended her hand for a handshake, Trump refused. So Trump took the hostility inside the chamber. A clear indication of his mental maturity of a juvenile who has difficulty taking criticism and controlling his temper.
I think Madam Speaker acted very professionally and she expressed her take on speech by tearing up his speech at the end.
Were we watching the same SOTU?
1
The cameras cut away far too quickly when Nancy Pelosi tore up the State of the Union speech. It was the best part!
13
What was very noticeable at the end of the state of the union address by President Trump was Nancy Pelosi ripping up the speech given to her by him. It was so obvious that she was angry and despises this president. Her outrage was stunning. We have never seen such a performance like this before.
4
@KMW Not nearly as bad as the Republicans ripping up the Constitution and Trump ripping off the nation.
2
I'm sure that your fact checkers won't address these but there were two especially head scratchers.
The first was getting back a democratic Cuba. I'm still trying to figure out when that was. I guess that Trump considers the Batista regime that preceded Castro to have been democratic as it was controlled by the Mafia and run for the pleasure of American tourists.
And that great image of American freedom, the Alamo. Yes, the defenders were fighting for freedom. However, the freedom they most wanted was the freedom to have slaves and Mexico had outlawed slavery.
10
Poor Trump. He was supposed to acknowledge Rush Limbaugh during the part about the opioid crisis, not award him a medal. Melania kept smiling even though she hadn’t a clue about what was happening.
14
Oh my! That line about Melania—funniest thing I’ve read all day, and the previous one I didn’t think could be beat!
2
The Presidential Medal of Freedom awarded to one of the prime architects of the hatred and division engulfing this country. Awarded by the so-called "president" who drips hatred, racism, misogyny and ignorance from his very pores.
Apparently, the medal now stands for "Freedom to be deplorable."
16
@VB Well, of course, just look who awarded it.
2
If Donald Trump gave me the Presidential Medal of Freedom, it would be up on eBay within the hour.
15
The President is a known racist grifter, who lies, cheats and steals. Like most despots, very disheartening to know that 40% of the electorate is loves it.
7
Limbaugh: it is difficult to feign compassion for someone who has direçted so much hatred toward others.
19
We will dump trump and get on with our future.
Let’s not waste time crying over spilt milk.
Change, repair, move on. It’s the healthy way to go.
18
I'm writing this from the west coast of Canada. The United
States of America is in real trouble. People around the globe and especially in Canada, are afraid that your country is no longer a rational, reliable world power. You folks need to sort his out, very soon.
25
America should be focused on how to address issues such as healthcare, federal debt and immigration. Yet the discussion is who's behavior was more abhorrent.
Why weren't there any adults in the room tonight?
2
Nancy Pelosi ripping up Trump's speech was a huge mistake. She just gave Trump moral high ground, created a great political ad for him and will further energize his base. Her political instincts were really off tonight and it's now an even worse week for us Democrats.....Trump's reelection looks more and more certain because we Democrats keep falling into his traps and even worse--into our own.
8
@Hexagon Trump, Moral High ground? Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha. Thanks for the laugh, that's great. The guy who ordered toddlers kidnapped from their families and then lost them can never, ever, ever, have moral high ground. If it was Trump versus Satan choosing sides certainly wouldn't be based on which one is more moral. At least Satan was an Angel once. Trump's never done anything in his entire life even remotely close to minimally kind. Keep those jokes coming in.
Is it only me or hasn't the economy been growing steadily since 2010?
16
Homelessness and poverty and lack of healthcare is skyrocketing. So much for a civil society. But hey - at least 50 people have been able to hoard billions of dollars. Hooray.
@Bosox rule No, it isn't just you. Apparently half the US population also believes these lies. The other half actually checks the facts to seek truth. Economic growth under Trump is NOT higher than previous admins. Moreover, growth in the stock market is highly leveraged with national debt. 99 percent of the population has taken on a several decade mortgage payment on behalf of 1% of the nation's wealthiest people.
DJT, it’s a horror movie with a backdrop of our capital. Tonight’s SOTU was a taste for what’s coming to your hometown throughout 2020!
5
Bravo, Bravo and the best is yet to come .. Four More Years of prosperity the the Great America that Trump has made ! .. and now we can pray in the schools too ..
2
All round, might have been worst day for the "good guys " of the entire Trump presidency. Between, Iowa debacle, Nancy looking small, and (give credit where its due) a pretty effective speech by Trump, not good my friends, not good
6
Pelosi was outmaneuvered by Trump on impeachment. She should never have allowed it to move forward. Now she has no leverage. She should resign and make room for new leadership.
6
No. She has “no leverage” because the senate is in lockstep with 45. They are too afraid to vote their conscience when a man clearly has abused his power for political gain. So she did her job. If the Republicans are too feckless to do theirs, they should be voted out.
1
@Kho She didn't know how they would vote? Half the country is convinced that the media/deep state is the real energy, they'd rather follow a mob style boss than the Constitution. She could have held this thing in committee forever, called a million witnesses, and boxed in Trump. Now he can fix the election however he likes and face no punishment.
Regardless of who you support, the speech aptly recognized the unselfish sacrifice of military members and their families. To see those words used to honor them torn in half and discarded by the Speaker of the House made me sad and disgusted.
5
Bad week so far, huh? The concept of voting gets a huge black eye. Our president responds with a ceremony to fan partisan flames.
Our institutions are losing legitimacy. Polarization is as bad as ever. Misinformation campaigns about Iowa’s results have already begun — and both far left and far right are buying into the rigged election narrative.
Am I crazy to say we’re on the path to civil war? The general election means nothing if the losing half of the country doesn’t respect the result
9
Seen from abroad, the State of the United States of America is bad and getting worse. Trump's speech was a Hollywood-type show, nothing more. His announced policies were regressive.
12
Trump is doing Democrats’ work for them!
The more he continues his divisiveness the more he unites democrats and the opposition!!
Democrats will unite behind whoever is nominated like never before with one goal: defeat Trump!
He’s trapped! He has to divide the country to rule up his racist followers! But the more he acts unhinged the more determined and united the opposition gets!!
The more he divides, the more democrats will resolve to forget their differences just so they can defeat him!!!
The irony is he needs to play “reasonable” to get the middle! By focusing on his base he loses the middle and unites everybody else who might have been on the sidelines about their democrat choice!!
The more he keeps on this course the more people will volunteer to knock on doors!!!
He’s gone!!!!
5
It was too much for me to see Rush Limbaugh awarded the presidential medal of freedom. I felt sick in a way I haven't felt since election night of 2016.
23
Rush Limbaugh is one of the most destructive people in American history with 40 years of Hate Radio to his discredit.
Can't wait until Trump awards the the next Presidential Medal of Freedom to Alex Jones for his contributions in tearing apart the country.
This is a deeply disturbed President.
30
While I will surely read quotes from him, my goal is to never hear Donald Trump speak in real-time again, with the exception of presidential debates.
Rush Limbaugh deserves nothing but infamy.
It does not appear that Pelosi snubbed Trump.
Gretchen Whitmer did a fine job of speaking to the real-world meat and potato accomplishments of Democratic governors and of bills passed by the House that attempt to achieve fairness for the people Trump confuses with his message of fear.
Let's move as quickly as we can from Trump's spiteful and ineffective circus of deceit to an agenda of integrity and rational legislation that benefits the American people.
9
Nancy Pelosi spoke for tens of millions of American when she tore up that speech. God bless you, Speaker Pelosi.
Thank you Madame Speaker for standing up for America and truth!!
20
Trump tonight tarnished the prestige of the Medal of Honor. Rush Limbaugh is unworthy of this award. I wouldn't be surprised if true recipients of this award returned them. Great work Nancy, Trump's address was a passle of lies strung together in one of the worst examples of right propaganda. Good night America.
29
I for one believe it should now be abolished. It is tarnished and no respectable person should ever accept it again.
Tom, it was the Presidential Medal of Freedom, not the Medal of Honor, which is a military honor that actually means something. The Medal of Freedom is given by presidents to celebrities like Rush Limbaugh all the time. Bill Cosby even has one.
1
Trump and the people who support him are basically creating a fascistic state in American. There is no limits to this as there will be no laws that can curtail them. They should be stopped now. These are not real Americans!
29
Stronger than ever:
The Russians have infiltrated our elections;
The North Koreans are developing nuclear weapons and long range missiles;
The US lost Syria to Assad and Putin;
The Iranians have abandoned the nuclear treaty and are producing plutonium;
The Turks have turned to Russia to build their arsenal;
Ukraine is buckling under military pressure and the presence of foreign forces;
Israel and the Palestinians are further than ever from peace.
Safe and secure.
68
That was a good episode of the Apprentice tonight.
39
I listened to the entire speech, and I hate to say this my liberal friends, but unless the Dems up their game Trump will get 4 more years. Stuffed with lies as it was, this speech was effective, and it will appeal not just to his base but also to swing voters, especially if Bernie is the nominee.
23
@Laurence Hauben That depends on how many of his 2016 voters are actually doing better in 2020. He won in 2016 on promises. Four-five percent GDP growth. It’s 2.3% and falling.
His tariffs cost jobs in agriculture and manufacturing. Despite the “deal” with China, the tariffs continue. If Democrats turn out in 2020 like they did in 2018, Trump loses.
11
@Laurence Hauben -- thanks. Spot on.
1
What kind of country gives Rush Limbaugh its highest civilian honour? This one. I'm not thrilled about Pelosi ripping up her copy of his speech because I know how the Republicans will play it, it is a gift for them but I understand. If I had a Medal of Freedom I would return it just to avoid sharing anything with Rush Limbaugh.
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@Friday Look at Pelosi’s “speech tearing” this way.... the Trumpublicans hate her guts anyway. It’ll be the usual venom and will show up on the campaign commercials. But.... Dems can’t stomach Trump, and can use the same video footage PLUS his refusal to shake hands to run hit pieces against him. It’s probably a wash to the very few true independent voters out there anyway. You’re not going to tell me that there’s many Americans that haven’t made up their minds. We all have. We ought to save the billions of dollars that’s going to be spent on this year’s election and hold it on March 1.
The American people got to see the President, Republicans and Democrats tonight, hear what was said, see how they acted.
As with the impeachment, the people will now decide. That really is as it should be in our Democratic Republic, in my humble opinion.
9
Don’t know if I was watching a State of the Union or an MTV reality show this evening. All I can say is that tonight was yet another reminder of the despair our country is in. I’m speechless.
42
@Concerned Citizen: Amen.
Speaker Pelosi, thank you for tearing that speech up. You spoke for the majority of Americans in doing that. I'm all for decorum but since he would not shake your extended hand, turnabout is fair play.
49
Well said, and agree completely.
2
Markus, would you shake the hand of the woman who impeached you?
(And I'm not sure he saw her hand. Nobody in the audience did, that's for sure. So it's hardly a snub like her tearing up the speech in front of everyone.)
1
@John Smithson He intentionally snubbed her. I never heard that Bill Clinton refused to shake the hand of the speaker who impeached him, so I'm assuming that he did. There's your answer, as to what Trump should have done.
This speech shows how difficult it will be to beat Trump. All he has to do is tone down the rhetoric and keep the economy humming.
The Democrats will a hard sell claiming the economy is bad.
7
@dave to paraphrase an old bumper sticker, if you think this economy is working ask someone who isn't.
6
@dave It’s not October yet.
I wonder if it is a game now for President Trump?
Where once his actions – his behavior and choices - were simply the natural expression of who he truly is, I wonder…
…is it a game now?
A game to see how far he can go?
A game to see how far he can bend the truth?
A game to see how much he can twist reality?
A game to see how much we will allow?
A game to see how many will follow him?
A game to see just how much the country, the world…will yield to him?
A game to see if he can break the American Spirit in two?
I wonder.
And I wonder when - or if - we will do something about it?
29
To listen to Trump, all of America was rooting through garbage cans in 2016, virtually unaware that in a country loaded with gated communities, $400 hotel rooms, and $75,000 pickup trucks, everyone else was, oddly, doing just as poorly. That a couple hundred men and women who’ve been millionaires the entire time would erupt in applause is almost funny.
It was, of course, vintage Trump. Serving up red meat to his base. It never fails to amaze me though, when he rails against “socialized medicine”, he’s speaking directly to people who, without exception, are covered by.....exactly that.
And while I’ve never been a fan of the people brought in as props, it was an especially partisan move to showcase the always odious Rush Limbaugh. Of course Hannity will now expect his Presidential Medal of Freedom,
Ugh. Wake me when it’s over.
37
Surprised Trump did not give the Congressional Medal of Freedom to Thomas Edison, after all, Trump after all he thinks he is still alive and needs protecting.Much more deserving of it than Rush Limbaugh.
8
Quite a stretch of good news for the President. Started last week that the impeachment did not have enough votes to continue. The Heart Land’s football team won the Super Bowl. He gets all the attention put of Iowa as the Democrats are still counting votes. He hits a laundry list of achievements in the State of the Union. Tomorrow, the Senate gives him a pass. The President keeps winning, winning winning!
11
@Christian
Christian,
And America keeps losing, losing, losing.
Oh, sorry, the Super Bowl means something in this conversation, right?
He gets a pass from the Senate because they're Republican. You and I and everyone else knows that if a Democratic president had done what Trump did EVERY single Republican senator, yes, every single one, would have voted for impeachment.
Please, let's be real.
8
@Christian He’s still impeached. I’d remind you that many Republican Senators admitted he was guilty of the charges the House had brought, but they chose a bar so high for conviction that one wonders if killing someone on 5th Avenue would have gotten Trump convicted. I’m sure that would be only “inappropriate” to you. We remember The Dershowitz Doctrine, stating that as long as a President was committing an act “ for the good of the nation” however that is defined, it was legal and proper. Which means Trump is unchained from any mooring, moral, ethical or legal.
You’re right, it was a good week for Trump and Trumpublicans. Too bad the Constitution and Americans who believe in the rule of law took such a beating.
@K.M. I was surprised that Republicans did not go for impeachment on President Obama for the cover up on Benghazi. Instead, they didn’t. There is a lesson for Democrats in that.
2
Symbolic Public snubs could have been avoided by both the speaker and the president but since Trump did not mention impeachment and waste of time, his snub was not out of line. As far as Trump's reelection, the state of the union address was a big boost and the socialist wing of the Democratic party that sat while others were standing will lose in November 2020. Big evening for president.
It is now clear that Doug Jones and the Arizona Democratic senator will probably join the Republican senators in acquitting the president. I suspect at least one senator will pull a Jeff van Drew and cross over from the Democrat to Republican side.
9
@Girish Kotwal gotta love your southern perspective.
@Girish Kotwal Great spin? Wrong, but, I’m impressed. Sure.... Sinema and Jones get a hall pass because they have tough elections coming up in Arizona and Alabama. In other words, the Dems need them in the future and they literally have permission to vote to acquit. And just which Senator is suddenly pulling up stakes with the Dems? Have you been reading the parody account of four fictional Senators leaving the Dems over impeachment?
@The Nattering Nabob Have you considered the possibility that Senators Sinema of Arizona and Doug Jones of Alabama if they were to vote to acquit the duly elected president not because they have a "tough election" but because they are being fair minded and don't want the partisan impeachment, which they may see as a persecution of the president to go beyond to removal from office. The very reason senator Sinema stood up and was seen wildly clapping is that she was appreciative of the state of the Union accomplished during the DJT presidency and not really clapping for the president.
2
Didn’t watch it. Haven’t watched any of his SOTUs. Mainly because I’m averse to watching an adult who reads on a third grade level read from a teleprompter. If I wanted to do this, I would’ve kept teaching high school English, where I was required to pass seniors who read and spoke on a third grade level even though they deserved to fail. But as it is, I could not devote my life to the dumbing down of our society by pretending that seniors who need to go to The Derek Zoolander Center for Kids Who Can’t Read Good deserve a high school diploma.
I have, however, watched the clip of Speaker Pelosi ripping up the speech about a dozen times now. Good times.
29
It seems that I have written too much lately. It is time for a break. It is a fitting moment for that anyway. No doubt we will see the media declare that Trump won the impeachment fight and maybe he did. His approval seems to be ticking up, although not by nearly as much as the media would have you think. Many do not seem to care that Trump tried to coerce a foreign government at war to support his re-election campaign or lose vital US support. He has appointed members of his family and dubious associates to run government affairs. He lies all the time. He can barely put a sentence together and does not even know many basic things about this country, let alone others. He frequently says things that would get others fired from their jobs. Yet the media and many others are still interested in a horse race analysis on how much he is winning and how, after all these actions, he is now emboldened. I am at a loss as to how this is possible. I am at a loss at how people, including his supporters, look away from all this and the other things, treating this whole circus as something that we should take seriously. Here and around the world, I see signs of baffling absurdity and I fear its conclusion. We have seen this before and it does not end well.
19
There was mention about guaranteeing coverage to those with Pre Existing Conditions. What happens to it when the Courts decide to strike down the Affordable Care Act?
9
Trump's term is in its final quarter. We've seen enough.
When are all of the living ex-presidents going to join together and issue a statement about how this man is destroying the country and needs to be voted out?
It's time to hear from them.
21
Actually, I'd argue that what pushed Venezuela over the edge wasn't politics. It was economics. Perfectly demonstrated was the danger of a single commodity market. When the price of oil was high, they did well, but when that price plummeted, there was nothing to offset the loss of revenue. Republicans who are single-minded about oil and natural gas should remember that.
4
I listened to the speech because it is in my self-interest to know what my enemy is saying and doing. Democrats and others who know that this bad situation can become worse if 45 I'd reelected must work to support our nominee and restore sanity and respect in the US.
13
That was really gross.
Rush is a terrible actor.
The whole thing...just disgusting. Gross, lying speech filled with YouTube-style unboxing surprises.
98
@Texan Dem I never have listened to Limbaugh but don't understand why you would mock a man with terminal cancer? Have you no humanity? People who demonize others become demons themselves.
2
@Tom Carberry Limbaugh needed no one's help - he demonized himself by his bigotry, dishonesty and greed, the very traits that appeal to and are displayed by the President.
1
@Tom Carberry
It was no surprise that Limbaugh was getting the medal. Trump mentioned it at the luncheon that day and it was widely reported by 3PM. No way Rush didn’t know, so yeah, he was acting.
If you’ve never listened to Limbaugh, then you’ve missed out on one of the truly most divisive, hateful, incendiary people on the airwaves.
2
I watched "Dracula" on Netflix; which seems to be appropo considering Trump is sucking the life out of our democracy.
79
This country is all messed up.... Rush Limbaugh ..... It's sickening ..
106
More degradation. Everyone who has ever gotten a presidential medal of freedom just had that honor cheapened to the point of a joke. This president is a genuine Chauncey Gardener, but narcissistic and mean spirited.
81
Medal of Freedom? Don't worry David Duke, George Wallace, Charlton Heston... your day is coming. How do those Senators look in the mirror. The man demeans John Lewis, John McCain, ambassadors, military leaders, un-named FBI agents whose security he puts at risk, scientists.... and the racist gets the medal.
122
I watched the speech for about five minutes. Then I switched to a few episodes of a favorite old TV rerun. That part was the best and most uplifting part of the state of the union for me!
29
I monitored my tv from time-to-time with the sound completely down. My cat chose to cover her face.
11
Awarding a hatemonger a Medal of Freedom is the most disgusting display of partisanship.
139
If only someone would have pulled the plug on the teleprompter. Then we would have seen how shallow this president is. He debases Americans.
78
The Presidential Medal of Freedom to a man who despises and insults 60 percent of the country on a daily basis? Nobody deserves cancer, but, then again, nobody deserves to be on the other end of his hateful diatribes either.
103
I have not missed watching a State of the Union speech in about 30 years, until this speech tonight! I cannot tolerate a criminal/traitor president giving a speech filled with LIES and then topping it off by giving a tarnished Medal of Freedom to Limbaugh!!!
101
Skipped the Super Bowl, and skipped this maladdress too.
40
Go figure. This president brags about grabbing women by their private parts, but can't shake one's hand?
104
@Randall After all the 'grabbing' that hand has done, why would anyone want to shake it ?
Has Rush made any snarky comments about RBG’s health over the last year or two?
35
Did our country just award the Medal of Freedom to someone who popularized the term "feminazi" ?
What is wrong with America ?
178
@Steve Pomerantz
It began in 1981.....
1
Giving the medal of freedom to a hate monger like Limbaugh makes it as worthless as pardoning a Navy Seal or Joe Arpaio.
165
Trump's America is a little different for women. Just one example:
https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/brittany-smith-loses-her-stand-your-ground-hearing
25
I remember when they wanted to make Pelosi House Speaker again, I wrote to my Congressman and asked they consider someone different. Someone new, with different ideas, perhaps with a fresher point of view. Then when she was elected, I saw how because of her experience, she was able to manage Trump - I thought perhaps I was mistaken. After watching her tear up the speech, as disappointed as I am to say this, I'm thinking I was right from the beginning.
57
@Laura I absolutely loved her for that. There will always be grifters; but no decent human being should be put up with that kind of person, no matter what position he is in or whatever the circumstances are.
4
@Laura Laura, respectfully, I disagree. Pelosi extended her hand to shake hands,, call it respect for the office, Trump, desire for civility,,, and she was pointedly snubbed.
Trump had his chance to display a 'higher ground.' Trump failed. Pelosi consistently resisted impeachment proceedings until Trump violated his oath of office and the US Constitution,, enlisting foreign aid in domestic elections. That is illegal and un Constitutional.
Pelosi is very much interested in the Constitution and doing the right thing. The extended hand is just the tip of the iceberg. Trump is a rude, unmannerly, person.
7
Tend to agree, she lowered herself to his theatrics.
Bad optics.
1
Thanks to Peter Baker who watched the speech and wrote this so we didn't have to. I couldn't stand to see Limbaugh honored!
119
Using the SOTU as a campaign stop; disgraceful. Trump is a complete and utter disgrace to this country, and to humanity.
Awarding Limbaugh a medal; pathetic and craven.
Republicans, you just keep getting lower and lower.
285
@Baruch It’s called Winning, Baruch....
13
@Peter
Let me correct that for you. THEY win. (i.e. the rich) The rest of the country gets to lose.
1
@Peter Trump has made losing a winning way only for Trump
1
Of course Trump bragged about himself and how he has made "America Great Again". It might come as a surprise to Trump and many of his supporters; but America, with all its problems, was a great nation, before he arrived on the scene. Unless the American people completely drink the kool-aid and let Trump, McConnell and other power grabbers completely compromise the Republic, the nation will continue on its path to greatness long after Trump has left the stage.
69
@Dearson: Don't expect justice from people who claim they only do the necessary dirty work of the Almighty.
The presidential medal of freedom awarded to I hateful shock jock? Who's next .....Hannity and Ingraham?
200
@biglefty
Limbaugh is why there is talk radio.
17
@biglefty They are on deck for Cabinet positions in the second term, gd forbid.
14
@Wright No, although he was smart enough to exploit the situation created by Reagan when he and his FCC commissioner tore up the Fairness Doctrine in 1987. We wouldn’t have AM grievance radio and cable noise channels without that. And probably not Trump.
1
Giving it the treatment it so richly deserved, Nancy Pelosi tore up and cast aside Donald Trump’s falsehood ridden, obnoxious SOTU speech.
235
Well that was unhinged, to say the least.
49
Fascism is a form of far-right, authoritarian ultranationalism characterized by dictatorial power, forcible suppression of opposition, and strong regimentation of society and of the economy which came to prominence in early 20th-century Europe.
It’s striking how much Trump relies on a ‘fascism-lite’ kind of movement —the hyper-nationalism, the GOP leader cult, the idea that this is a leader who is going to save us, the fear of white population decline, the lost golden-age syndrome, anti-feminism, anti-left, and the high theatrics... with exaggerated gestures and overheated speeches full of absolutes and superlatives. He constantly calls things and people the worst or the best ever. His rallies feature repetitive chants. Even his studied frown of disapproval recalls a classic Mussolini pose.
My god, it right in front of our faces people!
Wake up!!!
205
@CLee If only the American people could use critical thinking instead of tribal politics. Well stated - one of the best yet!
3
@CLee
Yes, exactly it is easy to look up a Benito Mussolini speech on youtube. The similarity is quite striking. Especially when he turns his head to pompously to display his profile. Also check out the remarkable similarity of their signatures. It is gobsmacking.
The best part of the evening was Nancy Pelosi ripping her copy of his speech in half.
255
re:Jaco; But, it was perfectly fine for Trump to refuse to shake Ms. Pelosi's extended hand? And, puleeeze don't try to sell the 'he didn't see it routine. It has a smell of 10 day old fish.
1
@Chief Six Floors Walking Up, I missed that because I was just listening to Trump, while cleaning the fridge.
Honestly, I'd like the Democratic leaders and candidates to avoid gestures like that. To quote [or maybe to paraphrase] Michelle Obama, "When they go low, we go high".
@Chief Six Floors Walking Up I strongly disagree. one cannot look down one’s nose at another’s childish behavior and then act the same. Her position demands higher decorum, whether he shook her hand or not.
1
How can a "Christian" man support a man who makes his living lying and cheating, while that man gives the Presidential Medal of Freedom to another man who makes his living lying and cheating. I can't help but think that Jesus Christ would be absolutely mortified!
119
Trump takes liberties with religion to decree himself a cult. It will all make sense when Mars is colonized.
49
Trump honors a white supremacist demagogue - Rush Limbaugh - and offers him the medal of Freedom.
That Medal is worthless now.
291
@SCZ Rush Limbaugh has had Bo Snerdly as his 'chief of staff' for many years. Mr. Snerdly is black. Walter Williams has hosted Limbaugh's show. Justice Thomas is a friend. Your comment that Limbaugh is a 'white supremacist' does not fit the facts.
16
@Tim Farage the fact that you can actually name all the exceptions does speak volumes.
1
Wow, Rush found some tokens willing to work for him, you say? What a giant of civil rights.
1
Well, he managed to keep his eyes on the teleprompter the whole time...
40
Why waste my time watching Trump lie more while he fails miserably to unite the country?
79
@Anthony
The way I see it, the country doesn't want to be united...if they did they wouldn't be so hateful...
9
Please identify the lies.
9
WaPo has identified 15,000 of his lies. Why do Trump supporters expect others to do their homework for them? Do they not want to be educated, and finally escape the stereotype?
4
The Presidential Medal of Freedom to Rush Limbaugh. How much lower can we go? Not watching, BTW. I'd rather open my veins.
181
Folks, let them have their Fun. “ I really don’t care, do you ? “ in the unspoken words of Melania, literally written on her Back.
In ten years, most Americans will look back on this time as an aberration and a cosmic joke, much like the Reagan Years. The rest will be dead, of old age.
NOVEMBER.
121
Guessing Sanders, Biden, Pelosi, Bloomberg will be among them. Good riddance.
6
Walk Away --
You just gotta love Phyliss Dalmatian's much-deserved 94+ "Recommends"!
1
@Phyliss Dalmatian I so hope you are right, Phyllis. In the immortal words of Adam Schiff, "Here Right Matters" I believe it, and hope it is true.
1
What did Guiado have to promise Trump to get a meeting?
45
Whoever wrote that speech and scripted the honors deserves an Oscar. The honorees stories were very moving. The speech was the best I’ve heard in years. Pretty sure some data was exaggerated, but great and moving speech
63
@Annie Stewart Just no. We know better.
34
@Annie Stewart
'Pretty sure some data was exaggerated'
Do you mean like Trump's claim he is protecting
pre-existing conditions while he is in court to
destroy them? That is a bold lie among the many.
14
Annie Stewart -- Wow.
Reading your comment, I was teetering over Alice in
Wonderland's Rabbit Hole. Thank goodness I've finished;
I'm back in reality.
8
I don't know what was worse - listening to Trump's vanity speech or his cult cheering him on. What a disgrace!
212
@Nancy
I think the biggest disgrace of the night was Nancy Pelosi!
27
No vanity tonight. Just the facts, ma’m.
5
One publicity stunt after another. Sic
63
Amazed how little some readers know about our traditions...unless you are a young or new voter. This is called the State of the Union address. Happens every year! Not a publicity stunt. This was full of facts and accomplishments that have benefitted you whether you realize it or not. Say thank you.
1
Oh yes, the American patriots at the Alamo... I was surprised he didn't praise the American heroes of the Confederate States of America while he was at it...
104
@Nils Sundblad
Actually, the Alamo defenders were Americans who had come to settle in Mexican territory, but once they got there, decided they wanted to repudiate their Mexican hosts and set up their own sovereign regime.
Effectively the were illegal aliens.
He is still droning on. Word salad.
36
I decided to watch Hogan's Hero's instead.
79
Get used to it, our Senators love our liar in chief and they will defend and applaud him until he sinks us all.
92
Tя☭mp forever degrades the Presidential Medal of Freedom.”
145
Absolutely arrogant, pompous, and self righteous, Trump exalts his "achievements" as never having been thought of , none the less achieved before, while insulting many of our ancestors who came here with nothing and built this country. He calls for the ones who can contribute to the country, he means money, but forgot who built it, poor immigrants from other than white only countries. How blatantly racist and politicizing can he get? Only worse, wait for it.
111
@Marian Passidomo
Because Trump's ancestors came here flush with illegal money from their brothel in the old country. They were kicked out of the old country.
8
Where did Pelosi snub Trump? Must have missed that.
All the other headlines are that Trump snubbed Pelosi, refused her offered handshake.
Also, others are saying the speech was a speech that would more work for a campaign rally.
34
@Jon Ummm...when she ripped up his speech?
5
When she ripped up his speech? Lol
4
@Jon
By leaving out the standard words "honor" and "privilege" while introducing him, and by openly tearing up his speech at the end. I have no idea how she kept a straight face during his numerous outright lies and half-truths, but indeed, that's the feature that would work for a rally.
1
The Democratic governor of Michigan said more of substance in ten minutes than Mr. Trump has said in his whole life. Perhaps honor still lives and I hope all of her constituents were listening. Your vote counts.
125
@just Robert
I appreciated her speech so much.
@just Robert her response was terrible - we turned it off after a few minutes.
It would have been smart if Democrats had agreed to feature Adam Schiff for the response to Trump. When he speaks, people listen. The speech by the governor of Michigan was as compelling as a PBS pledge break.
42
@Whole Grains Disagree. I see her as a future presidential contender.
We need to cancel this reality TV show circus into which Trump has turned the State the of the Union.
Initially, the State of the Union was simply a written document that was submitted to the House and Senate that detailed the president’s vision and agenda.
49
I could not take my eyes off of Pelosi. I can't tell whether she was a study in rage, hate, defeat or bitter loss, but she absolutely didn't want to be there.
Her tearing up of the speech at the end was an act that will likely lead to some amazing repercussions. She has no judgement, no discipline and no ability to rise above her personal hatred. She has no business leading the opposition in a democracy.
85
@Arthur Taylor Speaker Pelosi represents the majority of Americans, not the minority that continues to support Trump regardless of his continued attempts to divide this country. Trump has never had a majority of Americans supporting him. 75% of Americans wanted there to be witnesses during the impeachment proceedings in the Senate, several republican senators admitted they had a majority of calls to their office to call witnesses but once again, inexplicably, they wouldn't dare cross their king. I give Pelosi all the credit in the world for not walking out on our lying president tonight.
122
@Arthur Taylor Oh, please. Pelosi ripping up Trump's State of the Union is precisely what this venal crook deserves, and it will long be remembered as a brilliant act of civil disobedience and free speech. You have a problem with that? Or would you rather have a lying king/dictator, instead of our democratic rights?
92
@Arthur Taylor She was heroic!!!!
19
Face it, Republicans are better at politics, especially political theater, than are Democrats. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute.
55
Spot on. Politics as theatre; as play acting. Like our showman president - pretending to care about anyone but themselves. All the people losing health insurance and food assistance and experiencing the increases in bankruptcies are surely enjoying the Republican show.
63
@Thomas
But its not a good enough reason to ever vote for them. Ever.
1
@Thomas Yes, better at manipulating the public's emotions. And I find that to be frightening.
1
The speech should say, "I started on third-base as a pinch runner, but I'm not only going to claim that I hit a home run, but I am denouncing the guy who hit the triple and set me up."
79
@The Sanity Cruzer
Born on third base and thinks he hit a grand slam.
Who did Trump mean by 'Ancestors' who built rails and skyscrapers? Did he mean the immigrant labor? Does Trump agree that Chinese and African hands that help build those things are our Ancestors? I hope so but then Stephen Miller helped write this thing.
59
If wages are rising it’s because Democrats are raising minimum wage in certain states and cities, not because of anything Republicans are doing
103
Did anyone notice Trump was slurring his words and losing concentration? I don't support Trump so I'm biased, but his speech, especially at the end, seemed lackluster.
48
Bread and circuses - an official production. Surreal!
15
I didn’t watch the SOTU this year. Trump and the Republicans in Congress are very cynical, way more than any Republicans in my lifetime and I go all the way back to Goldwater.
18
Nancy Pelosi managed to say what all Americans who actually care about this country were thinking, without saying a word.
‘The Party seeks power entirely for its own sake. We are not interested in the good of others; we are interested solely in power – pure power.’
We’re living 1984.
(And clearly the Trump trolls, foreign and domestic, are back!)
89
For the first time ever, I found myself wholeheartedly agreeing with something that this President said.
When he Pledged that he will never allow Socialism to destroy our Health Care System, he was absolutely right.
What he Failed to mention, is that Capitalism has Succeeded in nearly destroying that same Health Care System that's about to go on Life-Support...….
37
@BINSAFI
So, if neither of them will work, what do we do?
Tearing up the speech was disgraceful. And what does it say to all those people who were honored?
67
@Luke That they were props in his charade? Trump cares for those people only in what they can do for him. Limbaugh would not have been there but for being in the headlines with his cancer. Trump parlayed that into kudos for himself, profiting again off the misery and suffering of others.
49
@Luke
How much she cares.
16
@Luke It says what it should. You have just been honored by a lying, cheating, imposter POTUS, whose word to the American people -- and our foreign allies -- has been proven untrustworthy again and again.
15
Didn't watch don't care what lies he told today. hope Rush gets to wear his medal before the final call comes for him.
That call comes for us all and its wonderful to know that everything comes to an end sooner or later no matter how rich and white you are,
24
I haven’t seen so much blatant pandering since...his last rally. And the medal of freedom is now officially a bad joke.
91
Didn't watch. He lies anyway. I'd just as soon read about it rather than watch him. I go in the other room or immediately turn off the TV if he is on. And conferring a metal of freedom on Limbaugh? What a laugh. They are both masters of hate, divisive speech. Limbaugh was once on Sac radio. I thought he was a kook then too.
56
Okay, so Pelosi tore up his speech. He has torn up the Constitution. And if you’re not focused on that, he’s successfully worked his shell game on you.
230
Please explain how President Trump has torn up our Constitution. As a professor who teaches a course solely examining the Constitution, there is no evidence of this. To your chagrin, it is those with a progressive agenda who regularly show contempt for it.
@vsr More specifically, he disrespects the flag when he fondles it, and he was fooling around during the national anthem. He tramples on national iconography. Tearing up a speech is an exercise in free speech.
1
Sadly the SOTU truly reflects the SOTU ... utterly polarized no inspiration just partisan divisiveness....this predated Trump’s Reign of Error ...but he has pushed the limits.
12
Well, that was fun. I watched the State of the Union address. The Imposter, exercising one of his many tells, thrust his chin forward with every exaggeration of a fact, every stretch of the truth, and every lie; while Pence beamed his sycophantic support and Pelosi sorted and paid her utility bills. I learned the most from Pelosi.
109
@IsThisThingWorking
"while Pence beamed his sycophantic support and Pelosi sorted and paid her utility bills."
Great comment, thank you-- humor is much needed at this time.
1
Pelosi is the utmost drama queen. The lack of respect shown to the Office of the President was beyond appalling. She should be removed from office.
61
You have it exactly backwards.
98
So, her behavior is worse than lying to the American people over 15,000 times?
53
@George Actually, your lord and master is the one who has shown the utmost contempt for the office by his continuous irrational and repulsive behavior.
38
Medal of Freedom for that hateful man! I feel like I've woken up in Animal Farm.
157
We've been Living in this so-called Animal Farm, for much Longer than you can imagine.
3
Madame Speaker just tore up his speech
28
Madam Speaker Pelosi with her awkward facial gestures don’t help the dems.
53
@sebastian
Pelosi don't help the Dems....at all
10
@sebastian
How she managed to not roll her eyes, shake her head, or grimace at all the blatant lies is beyond me!
1
If this is a tilted universe in which Rush Limbaugh can snag a Presidential Medal of Freedom, I'll patiently await my Nobel Peace Prize.
108
@AX, well, to be fair, Donald Trump got a Purple Heart facsimile from someone at one of his silly little events.
15
@AX: Nobel believed that dynamite would make war futile. Little did he imagine nuclear bombs.
@Karen Lee If that's true, I want a Nobel in Physics too.
I wish Nancy Pelosi had introduced Donald as “the president of the United States and the world’s smallest man”.
58
@ron glaser
...and don't forget world's biggest liar. He has certainly earned that title.
16
@ron glaser: Many cultures have measured the substance of their rulers by their heights and girths over the millennia.
Medal of Freedom to Limbaugh???? What a degradation.
168
@J O'Kelly Disgraceful for sure. But he also pardoned Joe A, so not all that surprising. Pathetic.
20
@J O'Kelly: I can't wait for a re-invigorated Rush Limbaugh to rant all over the airwaves about how his cure overcharged Medicare.
1
The SOTU is a joke - it's like reality TV or an Oprah show: the scholarship, the Limbaugh disgrace, and now the surprise military appearance. STOP the series! It has jumped the shark, and we have all had enough.
83
@CAEE : It was a religious ritual. God bless the US and pass the ammunition.
@CAEE
I'm waiting for the sequel. I think they can milk four more. (after reelection)
Pelosi’s petulant behavior was childish and disgraceful.
54
Have you ever read Trump’s tweets?
105
@Brewster’s Millions she had one moment of this throughout. While Trump has hundreds of childish moments including temper tantrums. Good to keep things in perspective.
@Brewster’s Millions Why not the same comment for baby Donnie, snubbing Pelosi in the first instance. I wonder why all Trump supporters never mention the myriad examples of adolescent, whining, childish behavior Trump displays every day. It's an amazing parlor trick I guess. As DJT himself claims, "I could shoot someone on Fifth Avenue and not lose a supporter." Amazing short-sightedness of the Trumpsters.
1
War is Peace
Freedom is Slavery
Ignorance is Strength
We have always been at war with Eastasia
51
Ugh. Please diversify your political analysts for these political live streams. A group of weak-snark white women admiring Trump’s “performative aspects” and clutching their pearls at Pelosi’s paper rip is not edifying. Do better! Aren’t there analysts of other races, classes, ideologies to add to the analysis?
37
Pelosi tearing up her copy of the speech right at the end was extremely cringey... trying so hard to be a meme again. She is leading the Democrats off a cliff...
67
@F. Jozef K. if she is she is just trying to keep up with the bus full of Republicans leading the way.
20
@F. Jozef K.
Didn't Pelosi lead Democrat off a cliff the last time she held that gavel?
If memory serves, the worst losses in decades.
14
@F. Jozef K. ,
After the Limbaugh medal of honor and Trump lie about saving pre-existing conditions the speach deserves being shredded.
53
Limbaugh?? Seriously???
123
Loved every minute of it. I am ready for Four More Years!
50
By then our rivers will be back to 1970’s status.
42
@Rose Mariani
Thanks to Jan. 31st, 2020 - the day the Senate GOP broke faith with our justice system and voted to block witnesses and documents in Trump's trial - you will get at least nine more months of the Con Man.
Id like any Trump supporter minded to praise the speech tonight to explain to me in detail exactly what Trumps plan to preserve the preexisting condition part of Obamacare is.
I’m listening.
Go ahead.
96
@Xoxarle. I will as soon as you explain how you can have a financially viable health “insurance” policy that allows people with a pre-existing condition to get “insured” as soon as they are diagnosed. That is not insurance, it’s an expensive gift that is unaffordable.
11
@Xoxarle, well, because he SAID so. More than once.
They believe whatever he proclaims through his pursed lips.
22
I’m not the empty suit who assured a national tv audience I could be trusted to preserve preexisting conditions while simultaneously seeking to have the courts annul the ACA.
So tell me what’s going to replace it. In detail.
38
Some of the best television I've seen in a long time.
29
The exchanges between Trump and Pelosi tonight: he refuses to shake her hand, she tears up his speech! This outrageous exchange shows just how horribly dysfunctional our branches of government are toward each other. It's one thing to be the child in the midst of parents viciously attacking each other about to divorce. It's a wholly more frightening prospect to be a citizen in a country whose government branches and parties are in the process of tearing each-other's eyes out.
26
She didn’t tear up his speech, she was tearing up Democrats’ chances of being re-elected.
35
@Paul I wish she had succeeded in your "description".
2
@Paul
You got it! It is long past the time to call in the divorce team. There already unacceptable collateral damage.
“Both” of their behaviors were embarrassing and not befitting leadership role models - like two little children- spoiled ones at that.
18
@Guidomele
Both their behaviours were perfect. It was what Americans have told me about American governance a government of checks and balances.
checks as in hockey and balances as thumbs on the scale.
1
Trumps' speech included references to US history including the racial charged phrase "manifest destiny" and "new world." While Trump deployed this racist language, he painted a rosy picture of the nation's beginnings, failing to even acknowledge the presence of Native American people cultures and the violent genocide against them that was carried out by the United States government. Here are some of his statements:
"In reaffirming our heritage as a free Nation, we must remember that America has always been a frontier nation. Now we must embrace the next frontier, America's manifest destiny in the stars."
"We are Americans. We are the pioneers. We are the pathfinders. We settled the new world, we built the modern world, and we changed history forever by embracing the eternal truth that everyone is made equal by the hand of Almighty God."
"This Nation is our canvas, and this country is our masterpiece. We look at tomorrow and see unlimited frontiers just waiting to be explored."
12
@Julie Risser I have said for years that America has never been great. It's been great for white males in power only!!
27
Your headline that Trump and Pelosi sub each other isn't what I saw on tv. I saw Pelsoi's hand extended forward to shake Trump's as he walked past her, clearly with her extended hand in his view. Did I miss something? If not, once again, your headline is deceptive, incorrect and presenting a false equivalency when, in fact, Trump was the one person who did the snubbing. Not Pelosi. Let's not start the 2020 campaign with you reporting inaccuurately and favoring Trump.
87
@Liz
It's debatable that he saw her extended hand. She was holding the notebook, and he was already turning away.
Trump did not attempt to shake Mike Pence's hand either, so maybe people are just assuming the worst.
@Liz
He ignored her hand, she tore up his speech. Roughly equivalent, tho I would call his action a snub and hers a dis.
1
@Liz
Read further. Pelosi skipped the traditional terms (used previously by her) of, "high privilege and the distinct honor . . ."
So painful listening to the lies and rhetoric. I shudder to think of four more years of this.
66
Neither my husband or I thought he even saw her out her hand out. He had already turned and was both facing and looking at Pence. I am not Trump fan but it honestly feels like the media just looks for things to drum up.
It was also a bit embarrassing that dems didn’t even stand when he spoke of our economy doing so well. This is good for all of us. It’s not the state of politics. It’s the state of the UNION.
I’m tired of us complaining about a lack of decorum when so few of our democrat representatives practice it. Walk the walk.
55
You sure sound like a Trump supporter. He's taking credit for something he really didn't do. Did he mention the trillion dollar deficit?
44
It is a standard practice, before the president gives his speech, that he shakes hands with the Vice President and the Speaker of the House. I’m sure you have noticed that in all of the State of the Union speeches you have watched throughout your life.
It is not an incident caused by his not seeing her hand. It is Donald Trump ignoring the common decorum of the Presidency of the United States. Surprise, surprise.
42
@Emily S I'm sorry but the media got it right. Even if you think he didnt see her hand he didnt offer his, which he should have rose above and made sure he did shake her hand. Then, he would have been a leader showing unity; which by the way, he has never shown. I have never seen the USA more divided since he became President.
39
Here's an antidote for Trump's anti-Muslim, anti-African, anti-immigrant attitude: Ronald Reagan's last speech as president. Hold it sacred, like a cross, or a bunch of garlic to protect us from this man who does not do what Jesus would do. We have 4,000 motherless children among asylum seekers. How far the party of Ronald Reagan has fallen.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2R8QxCD6ir8
18
@Sherry
It was Reagan himself who accelerated the sharp decline of the Republican Party.
1
Guess it was OK for MS. Pelosi to ask for the removal of the president but bad for him not to shake her hand. And I guess good for her to rip up his speech but bad for him not to thank her. Get a life. Actually quite a good speech based on the presentation. Of course he exaggerated. They all do.
36
Nancy Pelosi ripped up his transcript the moment he finished. The sound of that pack of lies and hatred being torn in half is the sound of freedom and liberty.
136
@aek TDS Detected!
11
Snub(ed) each other?
What my eyes saw was a hand-off of a folder from President to Speaker; an extended hand from Speaker-to-President and refusal to shake hand...by President.
30
@Candlewick Trump, not a President.
11
@Steve
I lost my mind for a moment.
As a Vietnam vet I am very troubled by the president’s use of GIs as props and his use of the State-of-the-Union address as a game show.
177
@Richard, while I agree, I also recognize that US service members and their families have long been treated as "props" at every Fourth of July and Labor Day celebration, Veterans Day observation, and at political events like the party conventions. Nothing new here.
13
@Richard, while I agree, US service members and their families have long been treated as "props" at every Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, and Veterans Day observation, and at other political events like the party conventions. Nothing new here.
2
He snubs her handshake - she introduces him in a bland way - no high honor etc - and in the end she just tears up his speech. She chides someone in the gallery with a wave of her finger.
What theater!
Who says SOTU is boring!
14
Not watching. Have never voluntarily watched anything where he has talked. If he’s ever the center of attention and doesn’t speak, maybe I’ll watch. But, honestly, I doubt it.
34
Three things Trump knows: self-aggrandizement, stagecraft, and playing to his base.
44
What an amazing speech by incredible President! So much accomplished! I wonder how Pelosi feels now what the circus she created and all the time that was wasted for naught.
41
@Bob
It was great when she tore it up! Good sarcasm from you! LOL.
20
Before we thought he was a crook and a cheat, now everybody, including the Republicans know it for a fact. Well worth it. History will not forgive this grifter and con artist. And Rush Limbaugh? He’s actually running the Republican Party and Trump is just his puppet. Beyond revolting.
15
So great that he was able to keep his eyes on the teleprompter the whole time!!
5
The last State of the Union Speech I watched was given by President Barack Obama. And that was the last time I heard a POTUS speak truthfully.
70
Gosh I miss him. So much. Every day.
2
Thank you, Speaker Pelosi, for tearing that speech into pieces. It means a lot to those you fight for day in and day out.
97
That speech honored a 100 yr old Tuskegee airman, his biracial grandson, a young black girl striving for a better education, a reformed and redeemed drug addict, the family members of murdered Americans, the widows of service men, and the reuniting of a service family, tell me again how glad you were about Her ripping it up? No wait I’ll tell you in 9 months
16
trump didn't writr that speech nor does he care about those people or the ones that look like them.
One speech doesn't negate the last 3 years.
Everyone doesn't drink the koolaid.
5
@Ray L
I'm sorry to clarify that the people he honored were just being used as props in his sideshow.
4
He called public schools "government schools" can you believe it? Public schools are the foundation of our democracy. We need support for all our schools, not just Christian schools; what is happening?
82
@Sherry Public education are the very foundation of America's greatness. Our Public schools are our real MAGA. I am sure Putin and XI are dancing in delight as Trump trashes our public education,
17
That is not a new tactic by the republicans. Sarah Palin was deriding public schools as "government schools" when she was running with McCain.
Part of the republicans' continuing attempts to normalize the idea of tax dollars being funneled to religious (i.e. non-government) schools.
@GUANNA
And not a trace of chagrin over failing "government schools", nor any mention of plans to improve public education.
1
It would have been much better if he cut out 30 minutes. He looked like he was ready to faint at the end. He was fading fast, and began to slur his speech.
And he used human props, first pioneered by Ronald Reagan, well, except way too much. It became tiresome.
Pelosi looked like she wanted to clobber him with her gavel. I suspect most Democrats felt that way as well.
But for the most part he spoke well - if only it were all true.
17
Watching Bing Crosby movies on TCM. Much better use of my time.
31
Pelosi has zero class and is a relic of a bygone era. Will be gals when the GOP wins back the house and shutters her odd career.
28
@Nature, we missed the address. We were hard at work working to unseat each and every Republican senator that is up for re-election and voted to fix the trial in favor of their mob boss.
Well, I hope he is right about AOC, at least.
7
Masterful job by Trump. He tried to bring Americans together. Talked to African Americans in such a heartfelt way. Talked about the economy that is helping blue collar workers.
It was funny that Pelosi ripped up her copy of the speech afterwards. She's a bit upset with the impeachment loss I guess.
34
@Jay Peters What loss? He is still impeached, and he always will be. Forever and more.
Notice how many of those generals, all sitting up front, applaud anything Trump says? Most of the time, they sat still.
24
Only hope for when he is re-elected is the forthcoming crash and burn. I am willing to help pick up the pieces. I bet the Republicans will blame someone else. This is depressing.
13
Sorry Dems, but Trump just knocked it out of the park. Why else would Nancy tear up the speech on camera? She knows. 2020 is Trump’s.
36
In ur bubble you think trump hs king.
In mine, we all hate his guts.
Results matter. not speechwriters.
trump lies like we breath in and out.
24
@ehillesum
There's no way I will vote for him but you are right. Trump looks much more comfortable in front of an audience (all those rallies must have gotten him up to speed) and with one exception the choices of individuals to honor were very compelling, especially the 100 year old Tuskegee airman. (The notable exception being Rush Limbaugh, altho considering his recent diagnosis it would have been very rude to boo).
Trump has a good speechwriter (also too), with a great sense of timing and weaving in the surprise elements.
I tried unsuccessfully to imagine Herself giving such a well received address, and didn't have much luck with any of the current crop of Dem. candidates either. Sad.
1
And so AOC and the squad didnt attend the SOTU? So they resorted to "cancelling" the president. I'm a moderate dem. "Cancelling" is the new technique for denying 1st amendment right to freedom of speech. This is what we, the party of the defender of peoples rights has become? On one hand we defend and on the other hand we cancel? Is that what we have become. We are now worse than the enemy. And that's embarrassing. And we call them fascists? I am changing my vote as of today. We should be ashamed.
31
@bored critic No one denied our POTUS his right to free speech. You should be ashamed that you plan to change your vote because someone chose not to attend the SOTU.
24
@bored critic Ho hum. Another Trump supporter pretending he/she had an open mind. We have a President who is a psychopath and you claim that you are upset at the reactions to a psychopath. Whom are you trying to fool?
21
You’re not fooling anyone. You’re a Trumpy through and through. Seriously
11
Trump and his supporters should be ashame of themselves.
He continues to foster fear of immigrants (among many other bad things) and his supporters keep cheering him up even though they know 2/3 of what he says are lies.
His obsesion is frankly unhealthy. History will not be kind.
25
@CR If there is a history.
6
It seems she gave the medal of freedom to the wrong person. She should have given in to the Tuskegee gentleman.
40
Did Speaker Pelosi just tear up the President's Speech
and did she fail to say it is a High Honor...because he
did not shake her hand.
Can we please get beyond Junior High Behavior
by both parties ?
17
It’s days like these I’m glad I don’t have cable TV.
10
It was as if two versions of the country collided. I had the sense of watching the last gasp of male white dominated America.
13
Can someone explain to me the “white suits”? EVERY WORD Trump speaks is an affront to human decency. WHY have they chosen to focus so visually obviously on Trump’s misogyny? What about all the other people (ie. all DECENT people) who are violated by this gangster-president? In my view it’s selfish and sends the wrong signal to dress so conspicuously when that dress only represents ONE of Trump’s countless prejudices!
14
@ManhattanWilliam
You mean why did the Democratic Representative women choose to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Women's Suffrage???
@ManhattanWilliam
This is a genuine question: since I'm unaware of another color scheme that signifies a particular group that have been treated badly by this administration, other than rainbows for the LGBT community, what colors *should* they have worn? How much patchwork did you want to see?
Plus, until you brought up *your*version, I was under the impression that, since this year, 2020, is the 100th anniversary of women getting the right to vote, that they were wearing white to commemorate the Suffragists (who wore white) a hundred years ago. Kind of a big deal, historically speaking, and nothing to do with you.
It's not a competition, my friend.
@ManhattanWilliam
The alternative is to blend in and send no message at all. There are so many ways Trump and his cronies are offensive - pick a color and lobby your elected representatives to wear it on behalf of your favorite oppressed people!
Leave it to Nancy Pelosi to "tear" into Trump at the end of his speech without saying a word.
19
If I lived in Washington I'd be staying indoors tonight - clearly lots of zombies are going to be out and about.
10
There are some pretty sick people in the Republican Party. Four more years of Trump and this country will definitely be Wild West third world country. I’m glad I’m old and won’t have to stomach Republicans for much longer.
29
I tried watching but I immediately turned to re-runs od "Shark Tank".
9
@confounded I played online Scrabble so I didn't have to look at his face.
“We will never let socialism destroy American health care.” That’s because he’ll do it instead.
41
Fact checking will be instructive.
If Trump was not such a liar and lout I'd be impressed with some parts of his speech and some of his promises.
That's a big IF. I'm a Democrat.
I forward to the press detailing falsehoods in what was said.
Nancy Pelosi was rude in ripping up the speech while still on camera. Grace is who we are; it's not about someone else.
12
@HotGumption
In retrospect, she must have been waiting for that moment through the whole speech. A petty gesture.
1
@irene
Agreed. Made me cringe.
1
It's Election 2020: Trump is promising everything to everybody. Even Medicare and Social Security are no longer in jeopardy. What a hypocrite -- vote him out!
28
This was typical Trump...all bluster and no substance.
28
@Richard Korte: Trump made his point to Iran about the futility of studying physics.
1
The Presidential Medal of Freedom is for sale.
48
@Paul
This is new?
Obama gave it to Joe Biden and Tom Hanks, for crying out loud.
What a statement it would have made for him to bestow it upon John McCain... but nope.
I’m so glad I didn’t watch this low life speak. It would have made me nauseous. I enjoyed a movie. But judging from the pictures it appears Pence is nothing more than an empty plastic bobble head and the Republicans are automatons, blank and brain washed. Melania looks uncomfortable and defensive.
Nancy Pelosi has used her every single milliliter of composure and restraint. Give that woman a high five and a drink. She’s earned it.
63
Nancy Pelosi is a true hero!
66
Whose jacket is the wife wearing over her white dress? Poor woman.
4
I've never been so frightened.
36
@Livingston American people should be frightened their democracy is now in the hands of a King soon to be a dictator.
14
Rush Limbaugh Dishonors the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
81
Nytimes, you’re live coverage is political, which is ok, but should also be factual.
For example, it is easy to pull up the racist tropes of Rush Limbaugh, including him fathering the birther false narrative against president Obama.
It isn’t enough, imho, to merely state that Nancy Pelosi looks shocked as Melania places the presidential medal of freedom around the neck of this racist.
The president just honored a known racist at the state of the union address.
That is important.
96
@HMJ Sorry he is sick. but no way does he deserved this medal.
19
SOTU has all the earmarks of a reality TV show. Waiting for Trump to say, “you get a car, you get a car, you get a car”.
36
Um, he would have to pay for the car and, in case you haven't noticed, Trump doesn't pay anyone for anything. Thus, he has uncountable numbers of lawsuits from contractors and, his restaurants have never paid large amount of health code fines levied against them. He only cons. He never pays.
Segues from a god fearing nation to the right to bear arms - what the ?
....that's just plain scary,.. illustrates what a pastiche this bumbling rhetoric is.
23
@Rich C. Trump did nothing to achieve that, other than a trillion dollar deficit
2
Makes me sick. Rush receiving the pres medal of honor is an insult to all past recipients of the award. The man spews hate and lies, but bends over backwards and licks the dirt off of trump's shoes, so he's rewarded for it. Proves how short sighted and insecure trump is.
12
So far the Democrats have failed to celebrate record low unemployment, record high African American youth employment, and the death of the terrorist Suleimani.
What wonderful campaign footage it will make for Americans to see how Democrats are unhappy at American success.
36
@Frank stop lying. Unemployment is not low. Job creation under Trump is far below what it was under Obama. The corporate economy is thriving, the people are getting poorer. Your post is lies except for the cowardly murder of the Iranian General. That did happen.
Shame on you for gleefully celebrating lies and the end of the US.
23
Funny how you right wingers always go on about more jobs for black people, and then work hard to keep black people from voting or living In your towns. And what about jobs for the lazy trumpers who still aren’t working because they want the jobs to come to them rather than they go to where the jobs are?
5
@Frank, Pelosi is at a crossroad. The infighting amongst her own party between the old guard and the new voices are ripping them apart and there is nothing she can do. The economy is surging, foreign policy has tamed NK and Iran, defeated ISIS, and put our allies on notice that they must share equally in the cost both in monetary terms and physically of policing. The Democrats know it’s an uphill battle to defeat Trump and their loosing big time. They wave the immigration sword as their sole weapon but the problem is the immigration issues were of their own making and they know it. The chant for 4 more years rips into the heart of the liberal left as they know it’s a true possibility.
2
My German/Irish relatives in Michigan and my Mexican American relatives in Texas are enjoying the President’s speech and especially enjoying that Ms Pelosi, having wasted her 3 years as Speaker wallowing in sour grapes and bitterness, must sit behind this man she so despises and listen to him remind her of his many wins and her lack of even one win. She has forgotten that what you sow, you reap.
56
She does have to do anything. she controls the house. if she wanted to, she didn't even have to invite him.
124
@ehillesum
your relatives are ill informed as much of what he states is an aphoristic profundity without facts to back up all the hubris
Sad they couldnt educate themselves with some bare facts
before blindly backing a so called winner - winning in lies and overstatement only
110
@ehillesum I would check your math again; Nancy became speaker on January 3rd, 2019, it has been one year and not three. You are right, you reap what you sow and Trump's time is coming.
152
11 years of economic growth. Trump has been president for three. Republicans can do the math, even if the Narcissus can't.
73
@EdH
After the Iowa Caucuses last night, I don't think Democrats should be critiquing anybody's math.
Just saying.
Trump hitting every emotional button tonight. It’s as manufactured as a Hallmark Xmas movie.
46
As a Vietnam vet I resent the president’s use of GIs as props. I also his use of the State-of-the-Union address as a game show.
36
Loved every minute of it.
16
@Liam
Presidents always do that.
1
Great storytelling voice about the military personnel. Great mood understanding in tone.
But the big picture of the segment suggests the gamesmanship maneuvering has deep worries about weakness against a Pete contingency.
5
Buttigieg is superior to Trump in every way that matters.
An outstanding speech. And an acquittal tomorrow!
39
@Adam
Reminded me of a cheesy game show.
17
Sadly...
5
@Adam Full of lies, television flourishes, too bad the Senate doesn't have the guts to actually remove this guy. He is a disgrace to the United States of America, and you know that.
21
Want to know why median household income and average worker wages are up? Because Democratic states (which comprise most of the population and economy) passed $15 minimum wage laws...over Republican objections, of course.
190
@jg If there is no economic growth, there are no jobs. Our unemployment rate is at its lowest in decades. The liberal left cannot lay claim to that achievement.
14
@jg Thank you!
7
@George It's only an achievement if people can pay their bills. They can't. If young people can afford to move out and get their own places. They can't. If my diabetic sister can afford her insulin. She can't.
Yay for 'low unemployment' - in fact let's call it Hyper Employment, where people get to have not just one but two or more jobs to make ends meet!
P.S. Since when did the 'liberal left' become anyone east of the far right wing??
Dems have lost their minds and increasingly only act with their hearts.
Reps are are a group divided between those with either no heart or no mind. Expelled by peers for possessing both.
The heartless reps will prevail until calamity forces a revolution. One can only hope that the outcasts will have the vision and fortitude to calm the tide and inspire hope.
Else wars and series of natural disasters will have to do.
10
I chose to watch Finding Your Roots. At least Henry Louis Gates, Jr., does positive things for other people.
49
I'm forcing myself to watch this travesty so I can bear witness to the destruction of truth, justice, freedom and democracy and be able to describe the horror we felt.
89
I am as well...disgusting.
14
I cannot wait to see the NYT fact check assessment in contrast to the many Trump tails of success, achievement and "can do" attitude.
Please.
All tonight is, in effect, is an early re-election campaign speech and pep rally.
If Trump really wanted to do something about this country's infrastructure, secure healthcare and individuals with pre-condition issues (instead of Obama bashing insults) and keep medicare, medicad, and social security safe from being tampered with by the federal government, he would not have waited until the State of the Union speech tonight to list his plans for "improvements".
The more Trump talked, the more it sounded like a toddler's promise to his parents that he would be very, very, very good as long as he would get everything on his Christmas wish list.
The only redeeming part of this State of the Union speech was seeing the various facial gestures of Speaker Pelosi in the background while Trump yapped and yapped and yapped.
61
How can he continue to put in the spotlight, so many people suffering tragedy and heartbreak, to promote himself? It breaks my heart to see him demonstrate such a lack of empathy and consideration for their feelings.
50
I'm pretty sure the people that were there tonight were extremely pleased to have been asked.
10
I'm pretty sure the people that were there tonight were extremely pleased to have been asked.
5
I had the same thougt, but then again, these people are complicit, not innocent. The only one who didn't seem that grateful for the drama was the army wife, but she might have been persuaded by her husband to accept the invite fornobvious reasons.
6
Hopefully, the right feels like they are winning so that they don’t show up in numbers at the booth. It is interesting to see Pete currently winning the majority of rural America counties in Iowa. The left establishment would be beside themselves if Pete had African American/Latino support.
14
This whole event is a gross spectacle and shows what a joke our country has become. A two-bit liar spouting accomplishments he had nothing to do with. Pence the great white Christian sitting behind him and demonstrating how shallow the religious right is.
A waste of time and money. A sad day for out democracy.
119
Totally agree!
1
@Honora study history with an open mind and you'll understand why Pence's whiteness is relevant.
16
Stop lying. Pelosi did not snub him. He snubbed her. Things like this make me wonder why are you guys so intent on making every excuse for this would be dictator.
172
@MP Between FOX and the gaslighting and lies from Trump, the weak minded are easily deceived and led.
20
Vote your wallet.
At the end of the day, your family will eat or starve, depending if you voted your wallet, or you voted 'for the principle'.
Voting 'the principle' will give you happy butterflies in your tummy as you're tickled pink you did the right thing.
Your family will feel something in their tummies as well, it's called hunger pangs.
Or you can vote your wallet and watch your family have a home and food to eat.
Your choice.
5
@AutumnLeaf I assume by "vote your wallet", you mean vote for the democrat, considering Trump is doing away with support services to pay for tax cuts for the rich. His tax cuts on the middle class are set to expire, leaving higher taxes for everyone else.
53
@Autumn Leaf: I'm a middle class retiree. The Republicans and Trump have made sure that even though my income has been flatlined for the last 8 years, once Trump got into office, my Federal Income taxes have increased 10% every year of the Trump-Republican control of this country. I expect that this year I will pay 40% more federal income tax that I did before Trump became President. OTON the income taxes of the rich have dropped about that same percentage.
27
@David Weintraub I assume the original poster was doing satire.
1
Where does a middle-aged white man buy a white suit? Maybe several. Please advise.
Trump is giving the most divisive, partisan, and vain glorious State of the Union speech I've ever witnessed, and I've been watching closely, since Carter.
50
The economy has been bolstered by a $trillion of government borrowing this year. GDP growth for 2019 was 2.3%, the smallest since 2016 and half of what Trump promised.
54
Trump is such a bore. We're tired of his show. We're moving on. . .
50
@staylor53
He will be re-elected... No question.
Unless Bloomberg is the candidate.
1
Attending and being forced to listen to this farce must have been extremely difficult for the speaker, but I think Ms Pelosi believes the institution she represents is bigger than the people within its offices'.
The least the President could have done is acknowledged this by shaking her hand.
Crass and boorish. to the end.
No surprises.
75
@Rosiepi the least Pelosi could of done was clap and cheer for things everyone should be happy about cures for aids deaths of terrorist leaders ect but no they hate him so much they cant even be happy for things that lead to the betterment of the nation as a whole regardless of partisanship
9
This is the state of Trump’s union: divided, angry, broken, racist, misogynist, xenophobic, and autocratic, slouching toward fascism. This administration has stolen children from their parents, gutted and demoralized government, ridiculed allies, groveled before dictators, used the presidency to investigate political rivals, mocked the citizenry and our laws, denied the climate threat, created chaos and discord for almost four years and then lied and lied and then lied some more and then lied on top of those lies to cover the lies that were previously lied about.
It must also be said that the GOP dotes on Trump, much of the nation not only tolerates his behavior but even enjoys it as a form of entertainment, while still others seem to actually adore him. The state of the union? A nightmare TV reality show that seems headed for a second season. It may be our last.
225
@S Jones Across the world we share you disdain...however that does NOT axiomatically beget "a second season".
Why? Because u have your own person 'remote control' ...USE IT! Vote Trump out of this institution!
That however WILL, axiomatically, result in him being inaugurated into another of America's fine (penal) institutions...
12
Your comment should be the Democratic response to the SOTU. Very well said!
1
A most peaceful night - the TV is off and is staying off.
161
@MIMA yet your here to comment on the address?
9
@Eli
Lots of us are doing the same thing. It is called staying up to date without directly listening to the lies.
Also, it’s “you’re.”
27
1) It seems that most of what Mr Trump is saying this evening is false or misleading.
2) I have always wondered why the tv cameras in the SOTU cover the Republicans 90% of the time and keep the Democrats smaller in the background.Does anyone know the explanation?
35
For the same reason the TV cameras focus on the Democrats when the President is one of theirs.
4
You Progressives had better be SURE that THIS America will vote in your guy Sanders should he be the nominee. You better be sure he wins the general election in these battlegrounds. Your scorched earth program is going to alienate moderates. So all these young people better turn up at the polls when it counts.
We stood back and thought Clinton and Trump were the same and look at us now. Circling the drain.
Trump just gave this propagandist the Medal of Freedom.
You better be right. If you are wrong, we will have lost Democracy forever. Trump and the GOP have lasted out exactly what kind of country this will be with his re-election.
25
@Practical Thoughts No need to be menacing. Please have a modicum of faith in the goodness and fairness of most individuals in our country. After all Hilary won the popular vote by nearly three million. What needs to counter Trump and his minions is our own sense of decency, our actions of kindness, our compassion, our fair-mindedness,,,,,and the elimination of the electoral college for starters!
8
@Practical Thoughts Many Dems were sure that Hillary would have a cakewalk over Mr. Trump. She didn't bother with the battleground rustbelt states, apparently presuming that she didn't need them? I'm not sure about any Dem as candidate, because it's become that crazy. You would think that any breathing adult could beat Trump, but no that's an assumption that can't be made. I don't know what it will take to return to some semblance of sanity. I do know that a rerun of a Republican-lite Dem will probably produce the same outcome as in 2016.
3
@Practical Thoughts
And if you are right and Sanders becomes president, we also will have lost democracy for ever. We will become a.socilist state in the road to Bernie's beloved communism. And how well has that worked throughout history. Tear America down?
9
I will not be watching or listening. He lies all the time. And awarding the Medal of Freedom to Rush Limbaugh! Our country has hit a new low.
270
Vanity is such a sad sin. And Trump, both personally and in his capacity as President, takes it to another level all together. It brings me memories of Esop's "The Eagle and the Sow" story.
21
Infrastructure weakness is obvious. It was spoken about briefly towards the ending laundry list.
The first Trump core brand, property development, has long lost out to “I can play a President on TV.”
18
I did not vote for Trump,
I wanted Bernie.
So many negative comments about Trump.
How the Democrats cannot stand up for forcing
anyone who is wanted on a Federal Warrant to be
turned over to the Proper Authorities is beyond me.
If the Democrats lose in November they will have no
one but themselves to blame.
27
@John Brown
John there is a small matter of a Republican majority in the Senate, that governs the impeachment trial.
6
And millions of Americans will get punished by retrograde policies and roll-backs of civil rights.
4
@Iced Tea-party
The Democrats not standing up when Trump
speaks for the American Military, whether he
should or not, or the desire to see America
remain a great country, only hurts them.
Think of the advertisements that will make the
Democrats look so bad to the average American.
8
I am mystified that Trump, who loves autocrats as a rule, has it in for Maduro and would invite the leader of the Venezuelan opposition to his State of the Union speech. Surely Maduro's ability to retain his hold on his followers, despite the fact that he has reduced what was once South America's most prosperous nation to penury, is worthy of professional admiration equal to that bestowed on the head of North Korea.
12
Do we really need a rebuttal in Spanish?
23
It is the second most common language in the country.
42
@M, I'm white, European descent with a bit of Native American (Cherokee) and Black Dutch (black). I'm sitting in a state that we "won" from Mexicans. I really don't care what language you speak in this country. Europeans exterminated the natives of various languages, who today would be saying, "Do we really need a rebuttal in English?"
65
Since the United States is a multi-lingual society with Spanish being the predominant second language in the nation, the answer is YES, we do need a rebuttal in Spanish. Hopefully there will be an interpreter... for you.
66
What is Nancy chewing continuously? She seems unable to keep her mouth still.
27
Her dentures have been bothering her for a few months if you google it.
21
She’s keeping her anger in check. And rightly so.
20
@M As I did google it and nothing came up about her dentures other than trumps insult to her!
4
Bravo Mr. President!!
36
@pfm
For what?
78
@pfm Fas Bryan is saying: "For What?"
7
@pfm In answer to 'for what,' we note without surprise the echoing silence
1
Dems had 3yrs to put forth a viable candidate they have No one...
NO one will beat Donald J Trump
The dems are completely tone deaf and too fractured within their own party.
The party should be ashamed of themselves and stop complaining because you haven’t figured out how to win a very winnable game.
50
Yeah, Democrats didn’t put anybody forward in the last 3 years. Except for all the candidates they put forward I’m in 2017, 2018 and 2019 that took back Congress, governships, state legislatures and gave the GOP their biggest congressional whooping in decades.
33
@James Saunders
James, Democrats have been unable to decide which among the candidates is prime, so we can get behind that person and work for him/her.
2
@Paul Any of the twenty-four Democratic candidates who began the race would be a far better president that DT. Now that the field has narrowed, we still have excellent choices. There is absolutely no shame here.
13
So, If you're one of those "if my democratic nominee isn't the democratic nominee in November, then I'm not voting" I have one question for you. Did you watch the State of the Union address tonight? If you weren't terrified before, then you should be absolutely mortified by now. Watch some old Benito Mussolini rallies and you'll be utterly terrified. Please, for the sake of the world, vote Blue in 2020.
486
Amen
79
@Kevin Well said.
26
@Kevin
I have watched on YouTube Mussolini’s speech habits and when he struts his chest out and rocks back his head, Trump does the same thing!!!
13
President Access Hollywood now has turned the feckless Republicans into the MAGA Party.
60
What percentage of voters in this country support free health care for illegals?
26
@Tampa Hank
So-called ‘progressives’ are roughly 20% of the population so that’s probably the low end.
9
What percentage of voters support kicking 7 million American citizens off their health insurance?
27
@Tampa Hank Oh yeah, sure.
Why not let illegal aliens have some of that phenomenal Republican healthcare . . . oh wait, there isn't any.
10
How was Trump's refusing to shake Pelosi's hand a snub from her? Why write a headline that smears her for his rude behavior? He didn't even look at the Democratic side of the chamber for the first 15 minutes.
127
I want to remind everyone of when Rush Limbaugh made fun of Michael J. Fox. I wonder if that’s one of the reasons he just received the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
269
I'm going to be sick.
19
@DR Limbaugh was relentless in his disparaging rants about President Obama and his family. I'm sure that is why he received the medal (according to tRump's twisted logic).
30
@DR
Medal of Freedom recipient Rush Limbaugh also called Bill Clinton’s 12-year-old daughter Chelsea “the White House dog.”
23
Per the headline, how did Pelosi snub him? She extended her hand to shake his and he looked away.
122
@Jim I would not have extended a hand to him. He is without honor.
17
@Ronn
People of grace behave in graceful ways whatever obstacle or impediment is before them.
10
Apparently
Trump has intentions of selling Medals of Honour in the WH Gift Shop and all Trump outlets
"Pen , Mug , Big red Tie , and 2 Medals of Honour that will be be $75 dollars ...TYVM
"Have a Nice Day .."!
49
Rush Limbaugh was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom - am shaking my head in dismay though I should not be surprised nor do I weep for his terrible illness.
How fitting that Trump, a gangster, a farce, an empty person would cheapen the above award.
299
@N.Eichler the thing is. The next president can take it back! The Precedents set by Trump won't even make it seem strange or leave any room to complain about it.
4
@N.Eichler
Didn't he also give it to Tiger Woods? It's nice that he was (is?) a good golfer, but being a recovering prescription drug and sex addict aren't usually what it's given for. Is Woods even a philanthropist? Trump doesn't care or understand that it's given for honorable service to the country. He thinks it's an award for supporting him.
21
America is really in trouble, when the President announces paid parent leave and the Republicans get excited. This is common currency in "Socialist" Europe and other parts of the world.
37
Other parts of the “civilized world”! The U.S. is so far behind in so many common sense ways.
5
@UB Do not woes. He will never stand by his word.
3
I do see his deliverables which come across as altruistic when indeed selfish. The obvious problem is this sleight of hand is made for soundbites too good to not ingest. His base is the entire Republican party. With Rush Limbaugh receiving the Presidential medal of freedom you can see the fantasy world we have entered. Unfortunately, the American President is just the man to sell us coal and call it gold. This is going to be a nail biter of an election. God save the Union.
64
Why save it? Might honestly be better for it to end.
Sometimes countries get too big for themselves and need to dissolve into smaller entities.
2
@M.A. We Californians, which have the 5th largest economy in the world might just go for that. But then who will pay for the welfare in Trump's Red States?
10
@Jeff
WA and OR will gladly join you. We already have paper mail-in ballots! And give a rip about minimum wage, and the environment! BC might want to get on board, too. The new nation of Pacifica will be great!
1
Spellbound. This guy’s gonna get reelected, folks.
37
There is a difference between spellbound and brainwashed, which anyone who likes Trump is.
48
@Peter well he didn’t win the first time. So really no one should expect anything else. He won’t win. But he’ll end up in the White House anyway. Heck if he doesn’t need to win why should he ever leave?
1
That four more years chanting stuff just adds to the creepy cesspool of greed, hate and gullibility that is the modern day GOP. The “cherry on top of the cult sundae”, if you will.
86
Oh goodie. Now we'll spare no effort to save the lives of babies without faces.
11
Like others hear I find it impossible to watch Donald Trump or listen to his grand standing for a minute much less two hours. All I see is the trail wreckage he has left behind him, not only as president, but his treatment of women, students at Trump University, all the people who he has stiffed despite their good faith and racist tactics he used against tenants. This has been said so many times, but should never be forgotten. I feel sorry for all those people who must listen to him tonight. It is not the best of jobs.
133
@Rose Mariani I would like to remind you that your family came to this country from somewhere else! Would the rebuttal please you if it was given in Italian perhaps. This country was built on the backs of all our immigrant ancestors. We are ALL AMERICANS! No matter what languages our parents or grandparents speak/Spoke!
46
@LoriMukai And all those immigrants learned English. They didn't expect special services.
13
Oh, dear Lord. The Presidential Medal Of Freedom. Well, it’s meaningless now. Something else desecrated.
432
@Kathryn well said!
1
So, does Sean Hannity get the Presidential Medal of Freedom next year?
77
Trump wants to run against Sanders not because he is the “smartest” but because he can beat him.
16
Trump will turn on Rush Limbaugh within a week or two: “I hardly know him, folks. He was at a State of the Union address or two, but really, I am not that familiar with him. Folks. Next question... “
31
Supposedly they have been friends for twenty years. Not too hard to do ten seconds of research.
4
@H. Clark Rush Limbaugh whatever you think of him has cancer, something i would not wish on anyone, but I am sure that will make him a loser to Donald
Trump.
Don't want to hear his robotic voice reading off the teleprompter, don't want to hear his lies, don't want to see his smirking mug. I'll read about it later, maybe watch some clips if he extemporizes to ill effect. There might be a chuckle in that, but none of this is funny. Guess I'll have to miss the historic sight of the Republican side standing for a rousing sieg heil.
123
I love how childishly he blurted out, "Space Force!"
28
You mean, Space Farce? Cause that's what it is.
8
@Tim McCracken He might as yell "Police Academy".
4
Not even bothering to watch.
The economy is the biggest lie. The unemployment rate mirrors that in many other industrialized countries , no economic miracle the inevitable demographic trend , we are getting older.
We have not arrested the decline of America, our manufacturing segment is in decline , so is the retail sector . Record agricultural bankruptcies, our mediocre growth is due to us consuming more foreign goods Ergo our trade deficit is growing .
Our budget deficit is at record highs and growing as our health care needs explode. The job participation rate is lower than at its peak , most jobs are being created in the health care sector. .
Of course there is no money to renew the infrastructure , the seas are rising , no money to deal with climate change. Corporate pension , state pension funds not fully funded, see Fords results today , not to mention Macy’s closing stores rendering Malls obsolete.
Trump lies all the time , par for his course, but we must stop lying to ourselves
157
@Carsafrica All so true and well thought out comment.
9
Sounds like one big political and legal rebuttal instead of a dominant star leaderboard performance.
Trump speechwriting team didn’t seem to know or understand that DJT is at a Par 5 tee box. The tone and substance sounds like he’s in a sand trap.
21
Couldn't Trump bother to button his suit jacket or get a hair cut before the State of the Union Address? He looks as un-Presidential as he did when he was pretending to conduct an orchestra and fidgeting and pointing during the National Anthem during the his Superbowl party.
69
@Linda
Agree with with that and more. While the words (lies/exaggerations) are what's to watch out for, couldn't he have at least tried to dress up for the occasion? Look or act or speak presidential. Don't think he knows how. And, while he honors someone killed in California during a robbery... why doesn't he support gun control? He's going after my home state... I guess because we oppose him so very much.
20
Hand out or hand up. America First where you keep your money or America First where you don’t. Democrats think Republicans who voted for Trump support him. We don’t. However we work hard for our money. Why do rich democrats never want anyone else to become rich? Why would I vote for a party whose future is socialism and wealth redistribution? You get what you hate. You are going to get 4 more years of Trump.
19
There are democrats who are more rich and wealthy than Trump.
It’s something like this - A loud clanging and polluting car is not necessarily the fastest nor the most comfortable, but everyone will know its there
9
@C
"Democrats think Republicans who voted for Trump support him. We don’t."
Yes, you do, unless you vote for a Democrat.
Wouldn't you love to have a few more Republicans running for President? So that you have a choice? The reason you don't is that the Republican party isn't allowing it in several key states. That's the party you support now, whether you like it or not.
26
All Democrats are not socialists. I am a liberal Democrat and your taking only one candidates' political position and need to look at our all of candidates who are pretty mainstream. And our platform... we believe in protecting the environment, women's rights and freedom to choose, supporting children and working families, health care (ObamaCare is quite popular), and creating jobs. Both Clinton and Obama reduced the deficit... Trump added $2 trillion to it. His tax breaks were for the very wealthy, not the middle class. I just retired from my business that included a very good income. We hardly dislike people making a good salary. There are plenty of rich folks in our party. We are not for wealth distribution, as you say, but look at what trump did in redistributing the tax breaks to the wealthy, we think there needs to be an adjustment. We don't hate. And, you're predicting way too early that we'll get 4 more years of Trump.
22
And now the Presidential Medal of Freedom has been diminished along with the presidency itself.
515
Seriously? Where is your heart?
6
A medal of honor for a conspiracy artist? Might as well give the creationist the key to the city.
54
@turkeyneck I so agree. What a mockery of the Presidential Medal of Freedom to award it to a blowhard like Rush Limbaugh. I am astonished and saddened.
40
I’m so thoroughly disgusted. I’m watching manipulative theater, not serious governance or policy. It’s a 21st century take on a fascist rally.
188
@PK
Fascism, the Unholy alliance between Government, Business and the Church. "Nuff said.
24
I won’t watch an illegitimate fraud brag about things he hasn’t done to a Congress that won’t do its duty. I love this country, but have lost faith in this government. When one of the two parties responsible for creating and administering the laws by which we live has completely abandoned its obligation to truth and decency, we aren’t living in a democracy.
We are a failed state. Rich, flourishing in many ways, but America is an idea more than it is an economy, and the idea is dead.
89
@Christopher I agree. Vote blue and encourage every single person you know or don't, to vote blue. Our very lives and our earth depend upon it. I too have lost faith in our government but I have not lost hope in people with strong hearts, we must persevere.
15
@Christopher
Rich in many ways. But public infrastructure continues to decay and Republicans work hard to hasten the crumbling ... looking for the glorious day when we can all pay to use privately owned roads and schools and water supplies, etc.
2
@Christopher I feel the same way - and stay awake at night thinking the country has lost it's soul.
6
The poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti, now 100 years old, expressing his views on the State of Our Union:
“Pity the nation whose people are sheep,
and whose shepherds mislead them.
Pity the nation whose leaders are liars, whose sages are silenced,
and whose bigots haunt the airwaves.
Pity the nation that raises not its voice,
except to praise conquerors and acclaim the bully as hero
and aims to rule the world with force and by torture.
Pity the nation that knows no other language but its own
and no other culture but its own.
Pity the nation whose breath is money
and sleeps the sleep of the too well fed.
Pity the nation — oh, pity the people who allow their rights to erode
and their freedoms to be washed away.
My country, tears of thee, sweet land of liberty.”
296
@A. Stanton Going to have to pity every country in the world I guess.
2
@A. Stanton We've become absolutely pathetic as a nation.
5
@DC Nonsense — read the NYT piece comparing Finland to the US!
2
This State of the Union Address has the hallmarks of being the worst canned performance since the tenure of Benito Mussolini.
96
A brutal dictator. An absolute monarch. He is in the People's House. Speaker Pelosi, as the only legitimate, nationally elected government official must arrest trump and use her Constitutional power to arrest him and pence and assume all governmental power until Senator Sanders can assume full control of the US Government. Bernie or Bust!
23
I'm not a Bernie supporter, but I support what you say! Go Dems, may the best candidate win! Remember... we've got a ways to go.
3
@Fred Just wow! Who is the real dictator? The one who was elected by our country's rules of election or the person who does not like the outcome and wants to throw that election into the toilet because they did not get their way?
6
@Fred so you want Bernie to be the dictator, right?
3
"The United States of America should be a sanctuary for law-abiding Americans,” So when is he leaving?
144
@adrianne
Perfect.
8
@adrianne
I didn't think I could laugh tonight, but you proved me wrong!
Thanks! ;-)
(I laughed, but then I started crying again... Oh well...)
1
HaHa you all said you wouldn’t watch. Great speech! Four more years!
18
@Matt
Watching is one thing. Believing is another.
16
@Matt sorry, but he will be in jail before that. Right where he belongs.
5
@Matt Arkansas
Millions of Americans watch and listen to Donald Trump as we would maintain vigilant observation of a rabid dog or a person waving a knife while experiencing a psychotic break.
This poor excuse for a fully formed human being is a danger to all we hold dear, an example of everything we fear our country might become
Tonight's speech was a pastiche of lies, braggadocio, hypocritical posturing to the religious in the crowd, and for those old enough to remember, or versed in history, creepily reminiscent of the posturing of Benito Mussolini and Adolph Hitler
Like almost everything Trump days and does, this speech degraded his office and the ceremonial traditions of the government
8
I am watching “Elizabeth I” on Netflix. Less gnashing of my teeth.
19
This is a prelude to the unbridled lies that Trump will be spreading as part of his campaign.
25
The elephant has a thick skin, a head full of ivory, and as everyone who has seen a circus parade knows, proceeds best by grasping the tail of its predecessor.
Adlai E Stevenson
22
Used in 1960 by JFK
3
Wow! Has Trump transformed himself? Pelosi has had the Pelosi effect. Thatnk you Nancy!!! Thank you Adama!!!!! You have done it!!!!
9
He’s kidding about health care, right? He’s flat out lying.
133
Pink Floyd finished their Wall quicker, just sayin’
44
Anyone else, besides me, in a state of silent scream?
327
@Andrea I am saving my money and am going to dump it all on the democratic contender, whoever that turns out to be. If we all do the same, we can defeat this evil regime. Vote, yes, but vote with your dollars, also.
17
@Andrea
All day, every day since November 8, 2016.
12
For a minute, yes, I did. And then I got on my computer and made another campaign donation to the Democrats.
2
Watching Mad Max on SyFy network.
24
@Steve haha, i'm watching Goodfellas
15
@Steve I agree, watch anything but the SOTU. I cannot stand to see him or hear him speak, how did we get here? My God it horrendous. Watching The Stranger, so much better!
3
@Steve Watching my cat watching a video!
3
Let him gloat and make a major fool of himself, it cant get any worse. Only 7 months to go, I have faith in the people of America. Just go out there and vote him out!
112
Gee, so many comments from Dems and ‘progressives’ who earlier vowed not to watch or listen. Impressive!
23
As impressive as Republicans who say they’ll never read the NYT.
89
@EGD yes we're counting the lies
35
@EGD Because someone says they will not watch does not bind all rational thinkers. I mean the right say they hate debt and look at what they do, every time!
25
And this is the way the Republic ends, not with a bang but with the babbling of a demagogue...
382
@Newfie,
Little dramatic?
We will be fine, thanks!
8
@Paul
Paul, talk to us in four years and tell me how your republic is doing after 8 years of Trump's chaos.
17
@Paul Yes, that is always the refrain as we descend incrementally "We will be fine, thanks!"
12
Another evening of Trump's many false promises and hollow hope.
87
Excellent health care system. Well, that says it all.
50
@UB We pay twice, per capita, what they pay in Italy and the UK for healthcare. Their population's average life expectancy is 2.5 to 4 years longer. We're patting ourselves on the back?
21
I have a name for any Trump State of the Union night.
Tuesday.
32
I sure don't buy the "America is great again" speel. One in five children in America goes hungry, our schools fail the next generation, young adults are swimming in debt, our infrastructure is corroding, our heathcare system bankrupts families. The stock market is doing well but it's a marketplace that is built on nothing more than human percepton of bull or bear.
194
@V The bull market is thanks to the Federal Reserve. I wonder what will happen when they decide to "take away the punch bowl". It probably won't end well.
1
Trump claims our country is secure. We know that can't be true - he's still here.
457
@Jay Orchard Unemployment at all time low,stock market all time highs ,military fully funded. Yup that sounds bad to me too ! Really wake up!
8
And record deficits, which should never happen during a time of economic expansion. Which is proof that it’s smoke and mirrors.
17
@LifeIsFaire You haven't heard a peep about the deficit since Trump took office, have you? And who got the 'real' tax cuts? The corporations and the rich, if you didn't know that. And who cut environmental regulations so that corps and farms can pollute the environment in which you and I live? Yeah, wake up and smell the stench!
Why did I even reply to you?
26
Quiz him tomorrow on what he said and he won’t recall it. If it’s on TelePrompTer he recalls zero.
67
A choice between watching DreamGirls or Trump. DREAMGIRLS.
43
@BE THE ONE I am watching the impractical jokers. Ill take anyone else now for some low key laughs and entertainment.
5
@BE THE ONE
I was watching reruns of "Bosch" which is way more entertaining and hot to look at (sorry husband dear) but he is.
9
@BE THE ONE We watched the new Taylor Swift documentary on Netflix. Very good. We might watch it again. Let us know when he's done.
10
Can't wait to see what happens when he gives the medal to
Limbaugh. Kinda like Saint Ronnie giving it to Whittaker Chambers. (Wave of nausea coming on)
23
I hope Limbaugh’s treatment is as successful as Lee Atwater’s. Both are deserving.
22
@Jim
Thank you, someone had to say it.
3
I hope Nancy passes her exam, she's been cramming hard while the President is giving his speech.
14
I think she’s reading his speech to see when he makes changes and where he’s going.
12
What an incredible triumph for our beloved country. Thank you, Mr. President.
20
What country are you in Rose?
17
What triumph?
The praise is always so vague.
Very telling.
Even you don't believe it.
8
@Rose Mariani
Rose, it's surprising that you're typing comments here. Your adulation for our President is so extreme that I'm amazed you want to be even slightly distracted from his image on the screen. Idolization can be dangerous, Rose.
7
I sat down on the couch to watch and the next thing I knew I woke up and he was thirty minutes into lying! My unconscious mind was protecting me, I guess. Wow! Never did THAT before. I don’t remember falling asleep.
79
I had no idea what a great country we have become under the leadership of our "very stable genius". But then again, I get most of my news from reading the "failing" New York Times and listening to CNN. I look forward to the day when we hold our coronation ceremony for His Majesty Donald J. Trump.
25
@Barrett Thiele Call him what he is - a dictator. King is too nice.
41
@Louise Geez Louise, It's Trump's vision I am suggesting! But now the Democrats have to reveal the truth in the 2020 election. Do we want another 4 years of "alternate reality" presented with P.T Barnum theatrics, or would 41% of the public abandon their trust in a fraud?
1
Trump claims the economy is great, by which he means the stock market. I wonder if his angry MAGA supporters also believe the economy is great? Income at the lower brackets has not improved. At some point it seems they will wonder when the trickle down will reach them. Going to be a long wait...
69
Well, it hadn't reached in the last 40 years, like "Saint" Reagan promised.
Maybe they should wonder why they're still so angry after 40 years of trickle.
The term was insulting and condescending then and it still is,
10
@Coseo
"Believe" in Trump is as irrational and unproven as belief in an Almighty.
1
Even when addressing the nation and the country on television as well as the internet, the president of the United States could not bring himself to being the least bit "professional" much less a man by shaking the extended hand of the Speaker of the House.
And yet, while this rogue of a president is hailed by so many as being so great, he lacks the essence of basic dignity and manners by snubbing Nancy Pelosi.
Such rude and disrespectful behavior, especially from someone who is the president of this country.
What is is that people see and cheer in him other than being a rude, disrespectful bully?
362
@Marge Keller
They like seeing a rude, disrespectful bully. He makes them feel better about themselves.
153
@CJ
I don't disagree although that logic and reasoning does escape me.
16
@Marge Keller
It's unbearably rude, and betrays what he actually thinks of the rest of us. It is snubbing the entire House, and all the voters who elected the house majority.
As always, insulting, and exploiting the most divisive issues. Anything for the show. Any promises for the base, knowing that no one will hold his feet to the fire.
Excruciating to watch.
46
Fact checking the President's speech with words in a newspaper or news television network isn't going to unconvince anyone. Only way to prove the facts is by showing with real life examples that conditions aren't as promising as the president portrays them to be.
24
@Jeovanny People know it - the opiod deaths, etc. To the extent things are better is due to the D wave in 2018 and 2019. At least D politicians pretend to care a bit about the people. Trump is a con artist.
16
In this generation, I think it is commonly believed that the youth is ignorant and disrespectful from the influence of social media and mass amount of information available to us. However, it is extremely discouraging as a 17 year old to try to prove that stereotype wrong when the president himself acts in this inappropriate behavior while he is supposed to be a model and leader to millions that look up to him, and this article is a perfect example.
54
and the gaslighting of america continues with the biggest collection of fiction, fantasy, fairy tales and lies ever assembled in one place. never before has one fool worked so hard to validate his own existence.
332
Bravo!
25
Hi wouldn't shake Pelosi's hand?
Grow up, Mr. President!
98
I can’t stomach listening to the lies and watching the corrupt republicans look adoringly at their cult leader who is financing their re-election campaigns.
541
@a There is good and bad in both the Democratic party and in the Republican party (as of say 20 years ago). But equating the "usual" behavior of politicians with the amoral, hateful and un-American behavior of the person living in the White House and the Republican party of recent years is an insult. Shame on you.
46
@SanPride as if domocrate politicians are any different
10
@a They absolutely are. As are all actual human beings rather than the corrupt cult members of the current Republican party.
14
Kill me now! This man has just taken many years of both republican and democratic accomplishments and construed the facts to meet his sick warped ego.
167
"We will never let socialism destroy American health care! I want to do that myself."
88
@David Weintraub Will someone please ask him what Healthcare he is talking about !!! .... Anybody who cheers his or the Republican party's attach an healthcare and who believes his verbal attacks on how Democrats supposedly destroy the healthcare that he is trying to save, must be smoking something really bad. I think we are living in a bad dream and the wake-up call will be when America as a great country is destroyed.
20
Not sure the 'old' republicans in the chamber will be able to keep up with all this standing and clapping.
PS. Can't wait for the fact checking.
36
I could watch with the sound off for about 5 minutes before I had to quit watching. I wonder if that’s a robot that’s a spitting image of Mike Pence right down to the adoring eyes.
45
The first 30 minutes, reminds me of Ceausescu speeches, the republican reactions also reminds me of that; Donald emulate one sentence (not necessary the true, some pure fantasy), crowds stands, clasps and chants. Good luck, land of the free!
29
Pray for us!
6
It looked like Trump did not want to shake Nancy's hand.
6
Sorry, folks. More power to you but I just can’t listen to this lying narcissist any more. Rather, I’m fixing a nice, vegetarian meal and opening a bottle of wine. If any Democrat has the wherewithal to shout out “You lie,” I’ll read about it later. But they won’t.
467
Watching the first 48 for about the 5th time!
1
@dhc I'm with you!
4
@dhc would you please point to one lie Trump said during the SOTU?
You can’t? I thought so.
Best speech ever. Get ready for four more years. The Dems looked very anti-American. They can’t even celebrate the success of America.
4
Why do they have the rebuttal speech in Spanish but not in Chinese?
6
Because there's only one rebuttal speech given and Spanish is the predominant second language of the country.
1
Trump has told numerous lie already and only about 15 minutes have passed since he began speaking.
Also, I am sure the whistler in the audience is an outside hire after auditioning for the best and loudest whistler.
Oh, he just told another lie.
35
@N.Eichler
Mexico was going to pay for the wall, and infrastructure was hyped in last year's speech - neither happened.
He's just told 5 more lies.
27
Nancy looks like she wants to cry Trump is telling lies one after the next. What a complete spectacle. Don't worry Nancy, we are here crying for you and the rest of the world.
226
@llkkaan I dont know how she does it, I cant listen to him for 5 minutes, and she has sit through it all in the chambers.
36
@Darrie
It is Pelosi and Schiff who will ultimately deserve the Medal of Freedom.
3
I keep wondering in this blue collar boom where my money is. I haven't seen a raise in four years. Oh, yeah, right. I forgot. I work in education--a field where people can't expect to be fairly compensated for the work they put in.
295
@Denise You aren't a "Blue Collar" worker so you don't count in the Republican world. Everyone know that professional people with a decent education are traitors to the USA, just ask any Republican.
40
In 20 minutes I haven't heard any statistic and numbers that evidence his " all time lows". Horrible lie saying that it is an inclusive community. I can't stand listening to him anymore.
45
Trump has been so disrespectful to the Democrats, including Barack Obama whose record on the economy was exemplary, that the Democrats should walk out.
167
They should walk out of the country. They have been awful.
10
@Gregory Where are you living? Under a Rock?
22
@Joe I was asking myself the same thing ...
7
Republicans.
When a despot is unleashed, he immediately goes after those best placed to remove him.
That's not Democrats.
It's you.
37
2020 State of the Union:
Stranger than Fiction Edition
100
I am a life long lefty Democrat.
While listening to Trump's SOU address, if I didn't know he was spewing a mix of lies and falsities, I'd vote for the guy.
Isn't that the definition of propaganda?
45
Would love to know where Trump is getting his stats.
I am so sick and tired of listening to Trump take credit for the economy. Yet another, in a long litany of lies that this President continues to propagate. Let's not even begin to talk about the rollback of regulations governing the safety of food, drinking water, harbors and land. Will he speak of student loans, and how citizens are being kicked off of welfare, access to healthcare and food stamps. Seriously!
71
@SE Benton, to be fair, Trump *did* mention that many families were removed from "food stamps" [aka, SNAP], and "welfare" [aka, aid for families with dependent children]. He doesn't actually know the names of those programs, of course.
He also lied by saying that he doesn't want to decrease funding for Medicare and Social Security, nor remove health care coverage for people with pre-existing conditions.
1
I think the scariest part of this, is that there is a segment of the population that completely buys into this narrative. Extremely difficult to watch.
475
@Constantine
If it’s of any consolation, this could happen in any country. It is part of the human condition and human nature that there will always be those who are susceptible to being conned, who look for a so called ‘strong-man’, who love being nasty to others to make themselves feel better.
Every so often an aberration comes along like Pol Pot, the Kims, Mussolini, Hitler, Putin, Gaddafi, Sadam Hussein, Mugabe.
They enrich themselves at the cost of the destruction of their country and the cost of their people’s welfare, health, and freedom.
They only care about themselves, their greed, their lust and their lust for power.
They are amoral and abnormal.
They have a congruence of multiple Personality Disorders and mental aberrations.
Trump joins them.
He is one of them.
He will go down in history as the worst person to ever appear in US history.
He is already in the record books as the world’s worst serial liar.
Fact:
He is already being studied by psychiatrists and psychologists the world over as an example of the most damaged a person can be by multiple mental health aberrations.
7
@Constantine No, the really scariest part is it is 49% of the people who are solidly behind him and they don't waver. Have of the remaining 51% are gullible. He has won 2020 ..... unless people see through his lies.
I'm watching replays of Mussolini speeches. Same scowl and lies.
72
How do you know about Mussolini? He is my hero.
3
@I have had it, me too! For some time now I’ve thought that Trump looks almost exactly like Mussolini: Same facial expressions, same arrogant attitude. Well, at least Mussolini made the trains run on time.
8
Well if he is your hero I rest my case.
6
Can’t watch it. I tried. I would wind up with a hypertensive crisis. I won’t give him that satisfaction.
54
This country is so divided. It's depressing.
25
@Jeovanny You're right. It's not one country indivisible anymore. And the sad thing is that our own president wants it this way.
33
When America sees and learns more about the absolute lightweight governor of Michigan, they are going to realize that the Democrat bench is even weaker than the starters. She won because of the very weak GOP candidate who ran against her as well as the record of the previous barely Republican Governor.
5
@ehillesum It's funny that every time a Republican loses, they are always written out of the party.
14
Economy has weakened slightly since Trump took over. He gets credit for nothing. His tax giveaway to the rich has left a massive trillion dollar hole in the budget that future generations will have to pay off. They don’t get to declare bankruptcy like he periodically does.
12 years ago, Bush handed Obama an economy in free fall. American voters must have a very short memory of they are prepared to entrust Republicans with the keys to the car.
121
The right never gave Obama credit for improving the economy after Bush tables Clinton's balanced budget.
Right before the election, trump said it was probably as high as 43 percent, plus don't believe government stats.
Then, boom, he's elected and it's and all time low.
So I don't believe the government stats. He said so.
7
“So this is how liberty dies...with thunderous applause.”
Who knew that Padme’s words would apply so aptly to real life and not just Star Wars?
50
If he claims he made the trains run on time, the Mussolini comparison will be complete!
43
I can't watch it. I tried but Trump just makes me feel like I'm watching a creepy scary movie, maybe a Hitchcock movie, and all of his henchmen clapping for him. I'll read the analysis but can't watch it, sorry...
311
@Missy I had to stop, too. It just made me angry when he said that blue collar workers' salaries were rising faster than the 1%'s income. Sickening.
102
@Denise Trump needs to stop lying about how strong the economy is. The low unemployment numbers are highly misleading and don't tell the whole story. Millions of people are working in the gig economy, working 2-3 jobs to make ends meet, as independent contractors, and without healthcare benefits or any kind of benefits or safety net. More importantly, wages have been stagnant for years while the cost of living keeps increasing. Also, what has he done for the working class, who make up a big part of his base?
35
@Denise I am not watching it at all. Your statement just proves I made the right choice. The very people he is lying about should realize he is lying. But, something tells me they have no idea of the facts and can't even figure out the percentages. We seem to be doomed.
22
"Our borders are secure"? I guess Trump finally realizes we don't need that stupid wall after all.
57
You mean the one that blew over into Mexico?
41
Yes, but only the part Mexico paid for...
9
@Jay Orchard
Spoke too soon. He's still pushing for the wall.
5
All journalists including the New York Times should refuse to report demonstrable lies uttered by the president. Think of the space that would free up for real news.
131
Nancy is reading The Times or The Washington Post; she’s clearly got more important things to do,
54
@H. Clark hilarious! Best pick up of the night. (And probably the most useful information).
14
@H. Clark
My serendipity of the night was when King Don Jon introduced the two new Supreme Court Justices, "deplorable, deserving strong condemnation" popped up on my dictionary screen saver.
3
@H. Clark, I presumed that Pelosi was reading a script of Trump's speech, just in case he began to ramble.
Trump, gracious as ever, refuses to shake Nancy Pelosi's hand. Lucky Nancy.
498
What a small, small man! This is the best America has to offer? Shame on all of us!
57
@Jill We've become so pathetic - I'm so depressed.
13
@Jill No, shame on Trump. I spent 4 hours volunteering at the Democratic caucus last night, which I’m not ashamed of in the least.
1
Ever hear the old saying..."The rooster taking credit for the sunrise?" That's Trump and our economy.
697
@Barry Cheshire Ct
Don't you love farce?
My fault, I fear
I thought that you'd want what I want
Sorry, my dear!
17
@Barry Cheshire Ct
There's 2020 Economy forecast on Canadian TV with economists, Wall Street Journalreporter, and a analyst from a bank.
They all agree the change to NAFTA to NAFTA2 (Canada doesn't call it USMCA!) is marginal.
US-China trade deal won't bring jobs back to the US. They will go to Mexico or other Asian countries.
(How can America produce the products at the same price level with higher wages and better labour conditions?)
Current economy surge has been from 2014, Obama era not by Trump's genius.
Stock buyback by big corporations, taking advantage of low bank interest, has been hiking the stock price.
Not reflecting the actual strength of the corporations.
US economy is not so strong as Trump boasts and his followers believe.
I say Trump is the best snake oil salesman in the history.
27
@Barry Cheshire Ct
@Barry Cheshire Ct
There's 2020 Economy forecast on Canadian TV with economists, Wall Street Journalreporter, and a analyst from a bank.
They all agree the change to NAFTA to NAFTA2 (Canada doesn't call it USMCA!) is marginal.
US-China trade deal won't bring jobs back to the US. They will go to Mexico or other Asian countries.
(How can America produce the products at the same price level with higher wages and better labour conditions?)
Current economy surge has been from 2014, Obama era not by Trump's genius.
Stock buyback by big corporations, taking advantage of low bank interest, has been hiking the stock price.
Not reflecting the actual strength of the corporations.
US economy is not so strong as Trump boasts and his followers believe.
I say Trump is the best snake oil salesman in the history.
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He’s begging for many “you lie” moments and with him they would be well deserved.
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This person has made it clear he is not acting as President on behalf of our entire country, but only for the minority of voters who support him. He has therefore forfeited the respect and attention of the rest of us.
Simply put, Donald Trump has ruined the State of the Union address, just as he has ruined just about everything he has touched these past three years.
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Let’s get back to reality now.
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@David for the record, his track record of destruction runs far longer than a mere three years.
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@David The Dems should have just walked out. I don't know how they stand it. This isn't the state of the union. This is a pack of lies, like always.
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It would be helpful if Trump stopped talking every 5 minutes so someone could fact check his speech.
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@steve
Don't worry - the incredible folks at the NYT are on it.
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