"When Joe Biden came out fiercely in answering back against the howling monkeys and blatant lying of the fascists assembled under the banner of the GOP, it was like that always satisfying moment in the movies when a meek-and-mild underdog reveals his martial arts chops after being taunted for too long and turning the other cheek too often".- Jaime O'Neill, 'Joe Cool Earns His Shades', smirkingchimp.com
President Joe Biden, in a rousing State of the Union speech, spelled out in detail for somnolent Americans why they have no good reason for believing the country is “on the wrong track” – as several recent slanted polls have suggested. Biden reminded comatose or bamboozled FOXites of the legislative accomplishments from his first two years in office. These included a sweeping health and climate package, an infrastructure law and major new investments in the domestic semiconductor industry. He also pointed to signs of a brightening economic outlook, easing inflation and the country’s unemployment rate, which hit a 53-year low of 3.4% last month.
But as we watched the speech and even found ourselves clapping as Biden concluded, we agreed it was a perfect ‘audition’ for a 2nd term. Still, Janice warned:
“Do you really believe that speech will make a difference to a third of the country who are born knuckleheads and who watch Tucker Carlson and Hannity?”
I had to be
honest and aver, probably not. Though I did point out that Biden, just over
halfway through, performed one of the coolest ‘rope-a-dopes’ since Muhammad
Ali did it to Sonny Liston. This, after accusing a “small
group” of Reeps of wanting to cut Social Security and Medicare he was greeted
by screams of “Liar!” from the clueless harpy Marjorie Taylor-Greene. Taking that as a ‘No’ for the GOP House in
general, Biden then teased that he was happy to have Republican assurances that those
programs would be protected. Adding:
“We got unanimity, there’s something we can all agree on then.”
Bringing lawmakers of both parties to their feet in applause. In a masterful stroke of speech strategy he had backed the GOOPs into a corner which, as MSNBC's Lawrence O’Donnell commented after, “They won’t be able to escape for the rest of their terms.”
But that wasn’t all. Biden called on Republicans for legislative cooperation to see if they are serious or more invested in a clown show of bogus investigations. He appealed to their better (as opposed to rat) natures to help him to “finish the job” of rebuilding the economy and restoring faith in American democracy. In doing so he made an unfettered call to action on police reform, gun control and the climate crisis. Addressing a divided Congress for the first time, Joe Biden made the case that the nation was stronger and more stable than when he assumed office two years ago.
Which was not merely optimism talking but
fact. 517,000 new jobs added in last
week’s report, unemployment at 3.4%, the lowest since 1969 the year of the
first Moon landing. Inflation going down. Why aren’t
Americans, at least many more, processing this? My take is they're either too distracted by immersion in social media like Tik Tok, e.g.
Auburn U. Was Right To Ban Tik Tok
Or they're too far down the FOX News rabbit hole, mesmerized by the "anger-tainment" of Tucker Carlson & Co.
Biden was also spot on in crediting his policies with helping to wrench the country from the depths of the coronavirus pandemic, and usher in record job growth – as well as strengthening a democracy threatened by anti-democratic forces at home and abroad. Seriously believe Trump – if he’d been elected – could claim all that? No way in hell. Well, ok, he could but we know he lies like he breathes.
To continue making progress, Biden argued, he would need support from the very Republican House majority eager to unravel his agenda and undermine his political prospects as he prepares to seek a second term. Noticeable to us, was how few times the Reepos in the peanut gallery stood to applaud. Mainly we he cited the troops, i.e. in the context of removing burn pits and their ill effects.
Even as he appealed for bipartisanship the depraved, classless rogues of the new GOP House were on display. They were headed by the low IQ bimbo Marjorie Taylor-Greene. Not satisfied with her earlier outburst on Social Security cuts, she also belched out “It’s your fault!” after Biden cited a victim of the fentanyl crisis. Taylor-Green’s heckling came as Mr. Biden honored Courtney Griffin of New Hampshire, who died in 2014 of a fentanyl overdose at the age of 20, and whose father Doug Griffin was in attendance at the speech
Embarrassed by his newly re-instated (to committee) bimbo, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy was forced to shush her and other hecklers in his party as they interrupted President Joe Biden’s tribute to Griffin. McCarthy could be seen pursing his lips to quiet his GOP colleagues.
But let’s face it, McCarthy brought this clown show on himself, sacrificing whatever shred of dignity and power he had to get the Speakership. As Janice put it: “For the
classless there is never any redemption, and this is what we’ve got for at
least the next two years.”
Sarah Huckabee Sanders delivered
the GOOPs official response to Biden’s sterling address and
to say it was unimpressive is being generous. What it revealed was a Trumpie harridan cracker as detached from reality as when she was his WH lying mouthpiece. Now barking about Americans facing a “a choice between normal
and crazy.”
Distinguishing Republicans ('normal') from Democrats ('crazy'). But let me point out for her, the crazies are on her side of the aisle, and all the aimless, misplaced references to the "woke" won't change that. Anyone with more than air between the ears could see which side the heckling came from.
Apart from Huckabee Sanders' pathetic performance, the choice of this delirious kook for the GOP response showed clearly it's still in Trump's back pocket. Hence, the D-choice of Biden to run again is a veritable 'no brainer', given he's the only one who's shown he can beat Trump. This despite all the naysayers and the nattering negative nabobs who want us to believe he's "too old". He proved last night he has a helluva lot more in the tank than the clueless, classless Repukes.
As for the low polling, I suspect NY Times columnist Charles Blow offered one of the best takes:
"Biden as a calm, thoughtful antidote to the endless madness of Donald Trump has now become his greatest obstacle. This as a public addicted to flash and theater draws back from his deliberativeness."
See Also:
— from Robert Reich's Substack
Excerpt:
In his first State of the Union address since Democrats lost control of the House, President Biden tonight celebrated recent economic gains — especially declining inflation and soaring job growth — while taking a bow for legislative victories that will curb prescription drug prices, expand health benefits for veterans, slow climate change, and rebuild the nation’s infrastructure.
I thought Biden’s speech was solid and his delivery strong.
I also liked that Biden called on Congress to slap a minimum tax on billionaires and quadruple the tax on corporate stock buybacks, and challenged the new House Republican majority to extend more social aid to those in need and rule out cuts to Social Security and Medicare — even though none of this will happen because the House is controlled by the most rabid right-wing Republican Party in history.
No comments:
Post a Comment