It’s not officially a State of the Union because he’s only been in office three months, but that’s more or less what this is. Note that two women – the Vice President and the Speaker of the House – will be sitting behind him for the first time.
Open Thread!
Update: Looks like the White House isn’t including the pre-game festivities, which I always enjoy, so here’s C Span:
dmsilev
From the Post,
Baud
We all know how much better the State of he Union is now than it was three months ago.
Another Scott
Reuters already has their spin on the highlights.
FWIW.
Cheers,
Scott.
dmsilev
Tim Scott is either delusional or a stone cold liar. Or both. Which is roughly equivalent to saying that he’s a Republican.
debbie
I hope Joe takes the opportunity to condemn trickle down.
Baud
@dmsilev:
It’s true though. We refuse to lose elections, forcing Republicans into division.
David ? ☘The Establishment☘? Koch
Frankensteinbeck
@dmsilev:
If you’re a white supremacist, that all reads as honesty. It’s the Other’s fault for existing, and the best future is a heirarchy where the government stands back and lets everyone hurt everyone less ‘normal’ than themselves as much as they like.
Cheryl Rofer
Looks like even Lauren Boebert is wearing a mask.
dmsilev
@Frankensteinbeck: As many many people have pointed out, it’s classic abuser behavior. “See what you made me do! I had no choice but to hit you.”
dmsilev
@Cheryl Rofer: A Hannibal Lecter special, I hope?
Ken
@Cheryl Rofer: I will imagine that it’s because Pelosi pulled her aside, showed her the staple gun, and said “It’s staying on your face one way or the other.”
dmsilev
@Ken: Little-known fact: Nancy Pelosi can hurl her gavel and, like Mjolnir, it will return to her hand after striking its target.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
I’m a political junkie, and this is the first time I can remember Tim Scott getting any national media attention in the eight years he’s occupied a seat in the Senate
Baud
Jill!
Baud
@Jim, Foolish Literalist:
Yeah, he’s also negotiating with the Dems on the George Floyd bill.
Gravenstone
@Ken: Superglue. That way it only bleeds if she tries to pull it off.
Cheryl Rofer
Jill Biden has a great dress! As usual.
Elizabelle
@Baud: Jill looks beautiful. As always.
I iz excited to watch this. With the masks, only Cabinet member I recognized was Tony Blinken (and was it??)
Eljai
I’m just so damn grateful that I can look at Joe, Nancy and Kamala tonight, instead of, you know.
Baud
God, Pelosi must be so happy to have Kamala up there after two years of Pence.
Ohio Mom
Where is everybody? So many empty seats.
dmsilev
I guess the official WH stream doesn’t start until Joe Biden actually makes his entrance?
Edit: It’s live now.
Baud
@Ohio Mom:
Some people coming in, but it’s definitely emptier than I thought it would be.
Ken
@Baud: “The worst part was the flies….”
dmsilev
@Ohio Mom: COVID limits on audience size. Plus I think some Republicans decided not to attend just because they’re whiny little babies.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@Elizabelle: Blinken and Austin
It was fun watching McCarthy and Liz Cheney walk in together, knowing they hate each other, and they both know she could swallow him whole
(anybody else hear the mikes pick up people gossiping about Elliot Engel? why?
ETA: Was Engel one of those who always camped out early to get a seat where he could shake hands with the POTUS, any POTUS?)
Joe shakes hands with Liz Cheney
Baud
@Ken:
I would have guessed the worst part was Pence.
Baud
Joe!
dmsilev
Have any previous SotUs (or equivalents) had a real-time ASL interpreter? Obviously not something TFG would give a rats ass about, but I don’t remember Obama having a signer for any of his speeches.
Ken
@Ohio Mom: We discussed this in the “Psyops” thread. Consensus (well, the idea I pushed, which is close enough) is that a lot of the Republicans are, ahem, helping the authorities with their investigation of the January insurrection.
dmsilev
“Madame Speaker. Madame Vice President.”
Elizabelle
If a lot of Republicans skipped this one, the air is fresher in that chamber.
Leahey looked chipper. Stay healthy, dude.
mdblanche
“Madame Speaker, Madame Vice President…”
Baud
Second G.
Ken
Simultaneously looks bipartisan and utterly destroys her with the MAGAt faction. Subtle but a masterstroke.
Elizabelle
Crisis and Opportunity.
99 days in.
NotMax
@Ohio Mom
Previously announced it was agreed the in-person attendance would be limited to 200.
Mike in NC
What a freaking bullet we dodged in November.
Baud
@Mike in NC: Yep. I just hope that feeling lasts in November 2022 and 2024.
David ? ☘The Establishment☘? Koch
Morning in America
dmsilev
How do we know that the American Rescue Plan was a success? Republicans are already claiming credit for parts of it, despite the inconvenient fact that they all voted against it.
JoyceH
Does anyone else love the thought of Trump sitting in Mar A Lago, watching this – and unable to tweet?
Omnes Omnibus
@Mike in NC: We didn’t dodge a bullet. We worked hard for a result. There is a difference.
dmsilev
“Go get vaccinated, America”. Biden’s subtle plan to decimate the ranks of Republicans continues.
steppy
Thanks, Rafael, for applauding getting vaccinated. You’re still an asshole though.
Baud
I bet he completely ignores the Dr. Suess issue completely.
dmsilev
@JoyceH: Sweet, sweet schadenfreude.
Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)
@Mike in NC:
I’ve often wondered if Joe’s son Beau hadn’t died in 2015 and Joe had decided to run, won the nomination, that he could’ve beaten Trump and spared us the last 4 years
Elizabelle
Every vaccine shot “A dose of hope.”
For sure.
Baud
@Goku (aka Amerikan Baka):
It took a shitload of effort to defeat Hillary. So probably.
Omnes Omnibus
@Goku (aka Amerikan Baka): The Clinton vs Biden fight would have been brutal.
Elizabelle
Logistical achievements. True.
Quinerly
This is so great!!!
Here I go with the freaking tears….. Of joy!!!
Love Joe’s tone. Voice.
steppy
@JoyceH: It’s just wonderful not to have to think of TFG. Sweet, sweet silence.
Elizabelle
@Quinerly: President Biden is balm for the soul.
His gentle and calm voice. The lack of bloviating.
Steeplejack
I am luxuriating in the feeling that I may not have to sit through this whole speech. Joe’s got it going on, and I’m not sitting on the edge of my seat waiting for some “American carnage” stink bomb to drop. I have acknowledged two women of power flanking the president, and I can always catch the details later. Ah, life after the Former Guy. Bliss.
Chief Oshkosh
Why is the signer so angry?
David ? ☘The Establishment☘? Koch
Bold move:
Biden just traded Bernie Sanders to the Raiders for three number one draft picks.
Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)
@Omnes Omnibus:
I hadn’t thought of that angle. You’re probably right
@Baud:
I think he definitely would’ve beaten Trump. The Russian disinformation didn’t seem to work the last time around
Wag
Kevin McCarty’s eyes just said “The GQP is so fucked…”
Quinerly
@Elizabelle: this is a very good speech.
Plus, I have had a bit of a crush on Joe for 20 years. ?
JanieM
@Chief Oshkosh: I can’t tell if you’re joking or not. If not, here’s an article about facial expressions in signing.
Elizabelle
Americans don’t have to watch Joe Biden through their fingers. Unlike … the previous interloper, who shall not be named.
He connects with [sane] Americans listening, I am sure of it. All of the points he has mentioned: they resonate; they are day to day concerns.
Cheryl Rofer
Twitter is surprisingly boring. For one of TFG’s speeches, the tweets just streamed down the page.
Splitting Image
@JoyceH:
Oh, yeah, baby.
Until he moves to Jersey, anyway. And sits wherever one sits in New Jersey, unable to tweet.
Ken
I’m seeing and hearing a lot of ads with that theme, and they’re not all government PSAs. I think a large chunk of corporate America is pushing vaccination, for obvious reasons.
David ? ☘The Establishment☘? Koch
“our grids are vulnerable to storms, and hacks”
he called out Ted Cruz, right to his face
Steeplejack
Madam Speaker, Madam Vice President. Madame is for French ladies, artistes and occultists.
Baud
@Goku (aka Amerikan Baka):
Not a good comparison because we had the experience of 2016.
MagdaInBlack
@Quinerly: ( me too ) ?
laura
Let Us Savor! This is a most excellent address to the American public.
MagdaInBlack
@David ? ☘The Establishment☘? Koch: I heard that. ” ..Like Texas and other places.” Ted prob didn’t clap for that.
dmsilev
@Cheryl Rofer: “Make Government Boring Again” was one hell of a compelling slogan for Biden and his team.
gwangung
@Baud: Actually, I’m thinking the Russian campaign was to energize the Trump only voters. They may have succeeded in that.
Baud
WHY WON’T BIDEN THINK OF THE RATINGS???!!!
David ? ☘The Establishment☘? Koch
Somewhat disappointing:
His infrastructure plan doesn’t address how to improve the ratings of the Oscars’ broadcast
Bluegirlfromwyo
For the first time in four years, I can be confident in a (quasi) SOTU that can’t be torn up nor will give advice to shine a light bulb up my ass. Thank you President Biden!
gwangung
@dmsilev: Being competent and effective is far from boring for me.
Baud
“Unions built the middle class.”
NotMax
Are Fox and its ilk screaming that Pelosi and Harris aren’t six feet apart?
Ken
Also brothel managers and dominatrices, unless they are subcategories of artistes. And do not forget Waylon Jenning’s puppet.
steppy
He’s preaching to this member of the choir, but I love this speech.
David ? ☘The Establishment☘? Koch
Captain America
Baud
Lots of China references. That’ll get noticed.
NotMax
@Steeplejack
And a certain sammich.
Steeplejack
@Ken:
Point taken.
David ? ☘The Establishment☘? Koch
@Baud:
I didn’t expect him to bring up marriage, tonight.
steppy
@Ken: Have to correct there, it’s Wayland Flowers and Madame.
?BillinGlendaleCA
@David ? ☘The Establishment☘? Koch: There’s only so much that even the President can do.
Brachiator
@David ? ☘The Establishment☘? Koch:
Impossible. Bernie ain’t worth three number one picks.
But the Raiders could be that dumb.
Baud
The GOP is now officially pro-cancer.
Frankensteinbeck
@Steeplejack:
All of which are good, but not Pelosi or Harris.
EDIT – @Ken:
Again, also good, but still not Pelosi or Harris.
Joe Falco
Biden is showing the way that the US government can and will work for the betterment of all Americans despite the years the Right has spent painting the government as a boogeyman.
Omnes Omnibus
@?BillinGlendaleCA:
BULLY PULPIT!!!!!!!
Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)
@Baud:
Beijing Biden!!!1! /s
dmsilev
Memo to Susan Collins et al: “We’ve seen the game you play.”
Omnes Omnibus
Has anyone noticed how normal-sized Biden’s hand are?
David ? ☘The Establishment☘? Koch
Biden being very poetic
rikyrah
90% of the jobs don’t require a college degree
75% of the jobs don’t require an Associates degree
Cheryl Rofer
@Baud: No, ending cancer was the one thing they’ve applauded so far
Elizabelle
Love Jill’s matching mask.
And yea to community colleges!!
rikyrah
Backing unions
Baud
@Cheryl Rofer: Give it a day.
David ? ☘The Establishment☘? Koch
Jill looking fabulous in a sheer, floral top
Doc Sardonic
@Ken: Waylon Jennings’ puppet was a Fender Telecaster. Wayland Flowers had Madame
Ken
@steppy: Oops. Should have googled instead of relying on my memory of a (googles, hears the rumble of time’s winged chariot) 45-year-old novelty act.
Quinerly
@MagdaInBlack: he reminds me quite a bit (looks dept, mannerisms) of one of my favorite boyfriends from 20 years ago. I know it sounds silly…. But… It makes me smile when I see him. Was thrilled when Obama picked him for his running mate.
This is a very good speech…..
Another Scott
@rikyrah: +1
It’s great that he’s explicitly spelled that out.
I also like him emphasizing the importance of research. A DARPA for health at NIH is a great idea.
I especially like that he hasn’t apologized for how much this will cost. For too long the “cost-benefit analysis” has only been about costs. He’s stressing the benefits and the needs. It’s smart.
Cheers,
Scott.
Steeplejack
Seems like less traffic than usual even here on Balloon Juice for a presidential speech. Ah, normalcy (at least for a while).
bbleh
@JoyceH: @dmsilev: @steppy: Having seen recent pictures, I seriously wonder whether he’d be capable of much.
Chief Oshkosh
@JanieM: I was wondering why it was that in several instances Biden’s message was upbeat, but the signer was making harsh faces. I hadn’t seen that before. Thanks for the link.
?BillinGlendaleCA
@Omnes Omnibus: They look huge.
steppy
@Ken: Time’s winged chariot has run me over a few times also. I had to consult Wikipedia to get the spelling correct.
NotMax
Please, Ms Harris, straighten your necklace.
Baud
@Steeplejack:
Less to mock.
bbleh
@rikyrah: yeah that was noticeable. Good on him
randy khan
@Jim, Foolish Literalist:
Last year there was a brief flurry of attention when the Republicans put him “in charge” of their police “reform” bill. When the Dems filibustered it, he gave a passionate speech about how terrible it was that they wouldn’t allow debate on a bill that did nothing useful.
This looks like more of the same – he’s basically allowing himself to be used to give more credibility to standard Republican talking points.
?BillinGlendaleCA
Sure, Mr. President, what about non-prescription drugs?
dmsilev
From the Post’s commentary:
(Alexandra Petri, in case it wasn’t obvious)
Quinerly
@?BillinGlendaleCA: I tend to agree. ?
David ? ☘The Establishment☘? Koch
CBS’s camera captures Senator Sadler and Congressman Waldorf looking stunned (photo)
Baud
@randy khan:
Dems on TV seem optimistic about negotiating with Scott. We’ll see.
dmsilev
@?BillinGlendaleCA: Don Jr. definitely needs price support for his cocaine habit.
TS (the original)
@Steeplejack:
I am reminded of the power behind the throne
Mike in NC
Camera caught Ted Cruz for a second. I hope the US Marshals are standing by to grab him.
Elizabelle
Glad Joe brings up how to pay for his plans. You know it’s what the cable mediots were about to hit all of his surrogates with.
I am glad Joe is going after corporate America’s tax-avoiding habits and practices.
Brachiator
@Steeplejack:
I’m finishing up work and about to have dinner.
The crazy thing is I’ve seen some outline of what Biden wants to do, and support it, so I feel that I can just relax and know that things are under control.
So I am not hanging onto every word, and certainly don’t have any of the unease that might attend some of the Former Guy’s crap.
I will, as usual, avoid pundits, because they really are useless.
David ? ☘The Establishment☘? Koch
Is it fair that people in America pay more for meth than people overseas – I think not
Baud
Someone forgot to turn off their ringer.
Mike in NC
Biden really is pitching a New Deal 2.0 and it’s great.
dmsilev
I like how he frames “low capital gains tax rate” as a loophole that needs to be closed.
Steeplejack
@Baud:
Less ?, more ?.
Ken
@David ? ☘The Establishment☘? Koch: Especially since it is the primary industry in many rural counties dotted across our fair nation.
dmsilev
Stick a stake in the corpse of Reagan. Find Laffer and stick a stake in him as well.
Baud
Debbie will be happy. Slam of trickle down.
Joe Falco
Biden is taking back the phrase “fiscal responsibility” from the Right and putting “trickle down economics” in the grave where it needs to stay.
Elizabelle
Another nail in Saint Reagan’s coffin.
Trickle down has never worked. You build out from the middle class. True.
David ? ☘The Establishment☘? Koch
He just kicked trickle-down in the groin
Cheryl Rofer
Someone on this site was asking earlier today for Joe to take down “trickle down.” He just did that, rather thoroughly.
Baud
In other words, don’t elect Republicans, America.
rikyrah
Doing nothing is NOT AN OPTION???
Another Scott
“America is back, we’re back to stay, and we’re not going to be alone.”
Good, good.
Cheers,
Scott.
dmsilev
So that’s Biden’s plan to overcome vaccine resistance: Tell the GOPpers that he’s going to send all of the excess to dirty stinking furriners.
(autocorrect wanted ‘furriers’. For all I know, that might also work)
David ? ☘The Establishment☘? Koch
Masterpiece Theater has a current serial on FDR’s tender love affair with Princess Martha
Kyle MacLachlan, who portrays Roosevelt, would make a perfect Biden in future films (photo)
NotMax
Propose a Red White and Blue Plate program – a subsidy targeted for diners located between the Appalachians and the Rockies.
Even the seediest of Rs will be struck dumb.
//
dmsilev
Little bit of the stutter leaked through there.
rikyrah
@David ? ☘The Establishment☘? Koch:
Still think Captain America is perfect to play 46
Quinerly
@Mike in NC: this is a FABULOUS speech.
O. Felix Culpa
Calling out Putin and election interference.
raven
@David ? ☘The Establishment☘? Koch: We just finished it. It’s ok, not great, just ok.
Baud
Russia “concerns some of you.” Hmmm.
O. Felix Culpa
Ending the “forever war” in Afghanistan.
Ken
@Baud: Playing on multiple meanings of “concerns”? Or the ambiguity of whether “Russia” means the country, or the ongoing investigation?
Elizabelle
@O. Felix Culpa: And it gets a partial and quick standing ovation. By a few Democrats. Including Nancy Smash.
O. Felix Culpa
White supremacy is terrorism. We’re not going to ignore that either.
dmsilev
“White supremacy is terrorism”.
Yes.
Joe Falco
@NotMax:
“A Grand Slam on every table! With a bottle of US-made maple syrup on the side!”
Elizabelle
White supremacy.
Drink.
Gianna Floyd. Sweet little girl we know of through tragedy.
Baud
White supremacy is terrorism.
Cheryl Rofer
@Elizabelle: He’s not letting the applause go on for long. Getting the job done without fanfare.
steppy
Excellent segue between the two bitter flavors of terrorism.
NotMax
@Cheryl Rofer
“Trickle down has had barely 50 years to work its magic. Biden wants to strangle it prematurely.”
//
TS (the original)
@Cheryl Rofer:
Folks are listening to the speech rather than rage tweeting
Baud
94-1. Fuck you, Hawley.
debbie
@Baud:
Damn. I was washing dishes. Hope there’s a clip on the news.
Baud
Transgender call out.
rikyrah
@David ? ☘The Establishment☘? Koch:
I forgot the title.of.the Bill Murray as FDR movie, but what stunned me about it was that FDR was a HO. It was way beyond Lucy Mercer. The man had a woman for everyday of the week, and THEY ALL KNEW ABOUT EACH OTHER?
Joe Falco
When Biden said the 94 – 1 vote on the Asian-American anti-hate bill, the camera should have panned to the one “No” vote, Hawley. Did anyone see if Hawley is there?
bbleh
Lauren Boebert stands for 250 people being killed
Elizabelle
Deer wearing Kevlar vests?
Omnes Omnibus
Christ, this is good. Tone, substance, total package.
Quinerly
George Takei
@GeorgeTakei
“The Republicans don’t look happy about lowering prescription drug prices, cutting child poverty in half, or raising taxes on big corporations.
Jill Biden ought to go up to some of them and tell them they should smile more.”
Another Scott
Popehat’s* screaming – I can hear him from here.
Cheers,
Scott.
* – “can’t yell fire in a crowded theater”…
Omnes Omnibus
Is Ted Cruz starting to morph into an evil Mr. Toad?
bbleh
@Joe Falco: can’t imagine Hawley is there. A lot of them decided not to try to go because freedom, or maybe childish petulance…
debbie
I love Joe’s tone of voice. It’s Dad, sitting the country down and explaining how the world ought to work.
Ken
@bbleh: Did she do a fist-pump?
Suzanne
Let’s make Ted CRUZ falling asleep go viral.
Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)
@Suzanne:
Sleepy Ted Cruz!
david
I’m damn glad I didn’t choose to take a shot every time Uncle Joe said, “Look”.
dmsilev
“Can our democracy overcome the existence of the modern Republican Party?”
Mary G
I just woke up from a much-needed nap and missed the whole thing. Sounds great and I will watch it later.
bbleh
1/6 insurrectionists support hostile foreign autocrats
Elizabelle
The autocrats of the world. An honorary jackal.
Aaron Sorkin is staring at this. A West Wing speech, in real life.
Wondering what the progressive Dem giving the response will say.
?BillinGlendaleCA
@Omnes Omnibus: Starting?
Baud
Really happy he’s talking about the insurrection. Too easy for you many to forget.
NotMax
E Pleb Nista!
;)
Omnes Omnibus
@?BillinGlendaleCA:
Good point.
Elizabelle
Stared into the abyss of insurrection and autocracy, of pandemic and pain …
Baud
Woo hoo!
Gin & Tonic
I’m glad we elected this guy.
Mary G
debbie
This is Jimmy Stewart, convincing the townsfolk not to fall for Potter’s bullshit.
Ken
@Suzanne: Photoshop a little bubble over sleepy Cruz, dreaming of Cancun Cruz on a beach in his travel outfit.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@rikyrah: Hyde Park on Hudson?
pat on the back from Bernie Sanders and a double fist bump with Maxine Waters
ETA: Bernie just following him around
Another Scott
Great speech.
Cheers,
Scott.
Jeffro
@NotMax: pure NYTimesPitchbot a la DougJ there ;)
M31
love these elbow bumps
Joe Falco
“It’s not a good bet to bet against America!” That’s a hell of a line to end his speech on!
Baud
How’s mom?
PJ
That was a really good speech. It’s not going to change the mind of any Republican in Congress, but I hope it reaches some non-Democratic voters out there that have not been consumed by the Fox hate machine.
Tazj
Lindsay Graham looks thrilled and you can tell he’s supportive of the president’s speech.
Fairly short and sweet compared to many of these speeches.
I wish the press would go after Republicans for their reluctance to vote for an assault weapons ban as much as they go after Biden for not uniting the country. Or ask Republicans why they aren’t enthused for the cut in child poverty.
jackmac
Awesome speech. It’s wonderful to have a real president again.
NotMax
Chief Justice Roberts (grudgingly?) gave a golf clap to the concept of America.
cain
I got the last 10 minutes or so. Good stuff.
Elizabelle
Love C-Span. You can hear the politicians talking.
President Joe to someone a few rows up: “How’s Mom? Give her my love.”
Jeffro
@Mary G: yeah if America was an idea, it would quickly lapse into something like…like THREE ideas…like ‘life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness’ or something! Rich is spot-on!! Also, today is opposite day.
Cheryl Rofer
Bernie looks genuinely affectionate toward Joe.
CaseyL
An excellent speech. Big time liberalism is back, baby! If we work very hard and are very lucky, we might be able to claw back some of the enormous ground lost since 1980.
And he was very diplomatic to and about the GQP. Keeping his promise to never publicly humiliate them.
David ? ☘The Establishment☘? Koch
mrmoshpotato
@Goku (aka Amerikan Baka): Sleepy Shithead Ted!
Quinerly
@Cheryl Rofer: I caught that too.
schrodingers_cat
What did I miss? I only caught the last 5 minutes.
debbie
@PJ:
I’m listening to that machine. What jackasses.
Jeffro
I see no indications that the Republicans are ready to surrender, or even quit getting rolled like the rubes that they are.
Sounds good to me! Keep opposing things like health care, jobs, equality under the law, and so forth, GQP. This country has been stuck at 50-50 for far too long and it looks like you’re helping us get off that divide. Might be the only thing we have to thank you for, actually…
Kristine
Watching MSNBC. Rachel said that the speech was half written/half ad lib.
debbie
@Joe Falco:
And not a single moment of self-fluffing!
Joe Falco
Chris Christie, showing his usual amount of class, compared Biden’s speech to that of a 15-year-old’s. Good lord, what a sack of crap.
PJ
@Mary G:
Lowry is what passes for a Republican “intellectual” these days, and his denial that America, to Americans, is an idea, and is rooted in ideals, is an indicator of how far Republicans have fallen from belief in this country in 40 years. Reagan (who I have zero fondness for and little good to say about) would have denounced him. But the Republican party is straight up white nationalism these days, and Lowry is flying the flag.
?BillinGlendaleCA
@schrodingers_cat: He announced that all the Republicans are being arrested as they leave the chamber. /
On a serious note, in my late reading of an earlier thread, I read that your husband’s aunt passed, my condolences.
?BillinGlendaleCA
@Joe Falco: Yes, but a very large sack of crap.
sdhays
@David ? ☘The Establishment☘? Koch: Wasn’t it Senator Daines of Montana that was recently bitching about how Montanans are now importing meth from Mexico instead of buying wholesome American-made meth?
Damn NAFTA.
Omnes Omnibus
I think that this speech could well end up in history books as a truly monumental occasion.
Elizabelle
@schrodingers_cat: You will love watching this one at your leisure on C-Span. Or just listening.
debbie
Who’s the woman wearing the red jacket who gave Joe her card?
bbleh
@Ken: Didn’t have to. He talks about gun loopholes and 250 people being killed aaaaand … CNN cuts to Boebert.
Rhetorically this was a VERY clever speech …
dww44
@Tazj: Re Lindsay. You may be right in the moment but color me a non- believer. Lindsay s stripes constantly change. I do not trust him.
O. Felix Culpa
From Trevor Noah, Daniel Dale during Biden’s speech.
David ? ☘The Establishment☘? Koch
@Joe Falco:
Typical Christie, burning and closing bridges
NotMax
@David The Establishment Koch
Numerically obsessed Williams saving the “Biden’s joint address clocked in at [X] minutes, the [Y} longest of any president. Our panel of experts will discuss what this means on the other side of this break” for his own show.
schrodingers_cat
@?BillinGlendaleCA: Thanks it hasn’t really sunk in. It was rather quick.
David ? ☘The Establishment☘? Koch
@debbie:
Kelly LeBrock
Sister Golden Bear
Walking the talk.
Much needed after West Virginia (by god)’s governor signed into law a bill that bans trans girl/women athletes from playing on women’s sports teams in public middle schools, high schools and universities.
Yeah, it’s a small thing, but believe me it makes a big difference. Now why it so dusting in here, and who’s been chopping onions?
mrmoshpotato
@bbleh:
C-SPAN too.
Elizabelle
Fireside chat style. — description of Biden’s speech; not your usual SOTU-y oratory.
Tim Scott up in a few on C-Span. I forgot he was first appointed Senator (by Nikki Haley) to replace Jim DeMint (remember him??)
Tazj
@dww44: I was trying to be funny.He looked to me like most Republicans tonight, angry and unwilling to applaud for anything.
Mary G
Love Kamala and NANCY SMASH in the seats of power. They kind of look like they’re doing a safe gender reveal. Kamala’s gold blouse is major and this picture of Moscow Mitch having to walk behind her gives me so MUCH joy:
Quinerly
@Omnes Omnibus: one of the best speeches I have heard. Apparently, large portions were ad libbed.
Baud
@Mary G:
No such thing.
Elizabelle
Tim Scott.
“Our president seems like a good man.”
Emphasis on the seems.
Anyway, TScott is still the saner of the two Senators from the Palmetto Asylum.
Scott is lecturing us on “common ground.”
NotMax
And now, South Carolina’s other bachelor senator.
;)
Elizabelle
Scott lecturing that our schools should have opened months ago. “Other countries’ schools are open.”
Um, Tim …
NotMax
@Elizabelle
Many steps up from four years of Liarside Chats.
zhena gogolia
@schrodingers_cat:
You should watch the whole thing. It’s very inspiring.
Elizabelle
@NotMax: Laughing. Forgot about that.
Geeno
@Omnes Omnibus: It would have sucked all the oxygen from the R side – I bet Trump has trouble getting media in that scenario. It would have been Joe vs Hillary DEMS in DISARRAY 24/7. Weirdly that could well have worked to our advantage.
zhena gogolia
@O. Felix Culpa:
lol
zhena gogolia
@schrodingers_cat:
I’m really sorry.
David ? ☘The Establishment☘? Koch
@NotMax: party of family values sure have trouble joining a family
Elizabelle
“Liberal Wish List of wasteful spending… job-killing tax hikes.”
“From the cradle to college.”
Tim Scott thinks that should be up to families. Um, Tim …
Funding abortions. Packing the Supreme Court! And now, addressing the problem of race … progressives are calling him the N word and something else. Really??
debbie
@David ? ☘The Establishment☘? Koch:
Who let her in? //
Elizabelle
new thread
debbie
@schrodingers_cat:
So sorry to read of your and your husband’s loss.
PJ
@dww44:
If you’ve seen clips of Graham speaking about Biden before 45’s reign of error, he genuinely likes him and respects him. But Trump and the Russians have got him by the short and curlies now, and, if anything, Graham will denounce this speech tomorrow.
dww44
@Tazj: oh, dense me. I should have known his stripes aren’t that chameleon like.
Chief Oshkosh
@Jeffro: Excellent points expressed well. Thanks.
dww44
@PJ: I agree. He’s long publicly owned up to Biden’s genuine niceness. I’m hoping that niceness will ultimately break the back of the current GOP.
Steeplejack
@Quinerly:
Too bad Biden is senile and a verbal stumblebum.
Kay
@Joe Falco:
Chris Christie managed to go from being a popular governor to the least popular governor in the country by the time he cleared out. The more time people spent around him the less they liked him.
14%. One state. Yet they have him on these shows like he’s some incredible national success. It’s nonsense. It’s based on absolutely nothing.
The embattled Andrew Cuomo will most likely leave office 3X more popular than Chris Christie.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@Kay: Morbidly obese and asthmatic, he decided to tempt fate by attending maskless meetings and parties with trump and their fellow morons. He quite literally damn near died from stupidity and fealty to trump.
PJ
@Kay:
The media loves the image of a wise Daddy Republican leading the country to prosperity through tax cuts – currently they are trying to turn De Santis into one – and, because Christie is not insane and not entirely stupid (unlike De Santis), they still imagine him in that role, even though pretty no much no Republican outside of the media ever considers the Outlaw Jersey Whale for any kind of national role in the future.
Kay
@Jim, Foolish Literalist:
They could randomly pick just about any current or former governor and they’d have one who is more popular than Chris Christie. So they hired him to critique more successful pols? It’s mystifying. He’s nearly uniquely unqualified to offer advice to Joe Biden, or anyone, really.
Ken
There are any number of fake Sun Tzu and Machiavelli quotes along the lines of “when your enemy is making a mistake, don’t interfere”.
Ken
Sounds like he would have been happier as a baseball announcer.
NotMax
@Ken
Can’t say whether he’d have been happier. However, we would have been.
;)
rikyrah
@debbie:
?????
Kay
@PJ:
I can’t believe they’re giving him a giant free platform to run for President. I know he needs the assist! But why are they giving it to him?
Honestly, this person had a shot. He completely and all by himself blew it, solely thru his own actions.
rikyrah
@schrodingers_cat:
Oh SC,
I am so sorry for your loss??
Misterpuff
@PJ: Yeah, I guess the Shining City On A Hill is now a ghetto in the American Carnage Zone.
Quinerly
@Steeplejack: and what’s this I am reading on the RW sites about Jill screwing around on him? And he is clueless with AOC and Kamala controlling him.
PJ
@Kay:
I think it’s probably both the dearth of sane Republicans who can make empty horseshit seem like serious responsibility to network commentators and Christie’s long proximity to New York’s network offices and media attention that gives him the nod for these kinds of TV gigs. Despite his frequent humiliation by *****, and his servile deference to *****, in the eyes of Chuck Tood, or whomever, Christie will always be a Serious Daddy who can be counted on to point out the weakness and fecklessness of Democrats.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@PJ: also, as desperately as Christie wanted to be trump’s Chief of Staff, under the theory that he would be the power behind the throne, once he got iced out by the Kushner Christie saw that trump didn’t allow for eminences grises, and like Nikki Haley, he took and kept his distance with an eye on his own future. Now here they both are, on the sidelines with all the goons like Hawley and Cruz who thought they’d become trump 2.0, all of them waiting to see what TFG will do.
Kayla Rudbek
@Ken: Mr. Rudbek told me that Walgreens was running those type of ads…
Steeplejack
@Quinerly:
Inorite. ?
Ithink
@Goku (aka Amerikan Baka):
I’ve often wondered this myself! But considering how close the Electoral College margins were (again!) despite us getting SIXTEEN MILLION F’ING more popular votes in total (the largest sum in the republic’s history thus far) and Jim Clyburn’s Kiss of Life to a then thoroughly Zombified campaign, the conditions had to be heavenly divined in order for a candidate like Biden to breakthrough and finally win. Not to shade his longevity, experience or personal temperament but an unusual set of circumstances brought a fascist goon like Trump to the U.S. Presidency as another equally abnormal set kicked his sorry ass out (the hopefully once in a lifetime pandemic and thoroughly cratered economy assisted Democrats this time GREATLY)!
Ithink
@Joe Falco:
This is PROFOUNDLY disrespectful to sacks of crap that can be utilized as fertilizer for unbloomes crops! Will anybody think of our depleted food supplies?…