I know all the commentators and pundits are already out there regarding last night's State of the Union address by President Biden. I haven't paid much attention to their comments. Their language and style, whether it's putting an edge on their words, or their choice of vocabulary, tends to frustrate me, so I will put this in my own words and be happy about it, hoping my readers also feel the same way.
Why I Thought This Was One of the Best
The President didn't hold anything back. In spite of lagging job approval ratings that are most certainly affected by the infiltration of data purposefully designed to lower his numbers, his party had a better mid-term election than any of his recent predecessors. The Republicans have a majority in the House that is already resembling a Jenga stack leaning over and about to fall with half the pieces pulled out of the bottom. So he took full advantage of it last night, and rolled right over them.
He fired a cannon shot directly at them when he called out, correctly, Senator Rick Scott's proposal to put a five-year sunset clause on Medicare and Social Security. It was such a quick shot, his facial expression conveyed the delight he was experiencing by calling them out, nailing them to the wall with the facts and then almost reveling in their discomfort. I think, at that moment, he knew he'd won, and won big. They couldn't hid from this reality any more, they had to do something or run the risk of experiencing the wrath of millions of senior adults in the coming election. He reveled in knowing that he had done such a great job of getting under their skin.
And he won the negotiation right there on the floor of the House. Biden's handling of the facts, with raised eyebrows and a half-smile, forced Republicans to demonstrate agreement with his "hands off of social security and medicare" stance with a standing ovation.
He also called them out on raising the debt ceiling by pointing out that his predecessor, whom he never actually named, was responsible for 25% of the current federal debt. That did not go over well at all with the GOP, but in spite of their vocal reaction, they can't deny the facts and their moaning just drew attention to the issue. He will get what he wants without any tradeoffs or negotiations, and yes, I would put money down on that bet.
A Sharp Focus, Control of the Narrative, and on the Offensive All Night
If Republicans want anyone to believe that President Biden's age is a factor in his cognitive ability, sharpness of mind or physical stamina, they shouldn't point to this address as an example. This was a far better display of the grasp of how politics works, of the facts, of organizing a speech that did exactly what Democrats wanted him to do, and that was underline and emphasize what has been a remarkable two years of achievements and accomplishments by this President.
The list of accomplishments which he masterfully worked into this speech would make a series of campaign commercials. He pointed out that gas prices had dropped over a dollar a gallon in the last six months, that inflation is under control, still too high, but being handled by his administration's economic policy. He masterfully tied the crime rate to gun control and a push for control of assault weapons. And he brilliantly linked support for the Ukrainian government in its war against Russia to the foundational principles of American democracy, and got Republicans on the record for their continued support, dragging out applause and even some who decided it was better to stand up than look un-American and anti-patriotic.
In contrast to his predecessor, this speech clearly laid out specific achievements with references to the facts that supported everything he had to say. There was no wandering aimlessly off script, cannonading at gnats and making it difficult to distinguish fact from fantasy. This was the speech of a man who has the experience, knowledge and character to manage the Presidency in a way that few people are capable of doing. He earned, and got my vote the first time, and he has already earned and will get it again, if he decides to run. He is exactly what this country needs at this moment in its history, for the preservation of our democracy.
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