Post by Admin on Feb 6, 2020 18:15:55 GMT
7. Boldness Unmatched by Any Other Republican President
Smack dab in the middle of the speech, President Trump thanked conservative hero Rush Limbaugh for “decades of tireless devotion” to the country. In recognition of his work and the inspiration he has provided millions of Americans, Trump announced the country’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He had Melania Trump immediately present the honor in front of the assembled crowd.
While it is beyond common for liberal heroes and liberal celebrities to receive awards, Republican leaders acted over the course of decades almost as if it was okay for conservatives to be treated as second-class citizens in this regard. President Trump recognizes that the half of the country that is not liberal also likes to honor its celebrities and heroes.
Limbaugh has taught millions of Americans about conservative ideology, emphasizing the Constitution and the country’s founding ideals, and suffered attacks from the left as a result. He is a folk hero who is beloved in part because he defends tens of millions of Americans against attacks.
No other previous Republican president or nominee would have had the courage to bestow this award on such a deserving American. They would instead have worried about a media backlash. The media and Democrats did in fact react negatively to the honor for Limbaugh, who announced this week he has advanced cancer.
8. Putting an Incredibly Cute Face to Victims of Late-Term Abortion
One of the most touching moments of the speech was the introduction of Ellie Schneider, born at 21 weeks, and her mother Robin. The 2-year-old yawned a huge yawn as she was introduced to the nation in the arms of her devoted mother. It was a reminder that children like Ellie are born at a time when it is legal to kill them in utero. “Ellie reminds us that every child is a miracle of life,” President Trump said, and challenged members of all political parties to agree that “every human life is a sacred gift from God.”
This issue is particularly salient as Democrats more openly support late-term abortion, support allowing children who survive abortion attempts to die, and support exiling pro-life voters from their ranks.
9. A Touching Supreme Court Moment
Supreme Court Justices typically attend the State of the Union Address. Chief Justice John Roberts, also presiding over the impeachment trial in the Senate, was there, although Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg did not make it.
At one point, President Trump thanked Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and his colleagues in the Senate for helping him confirm a record number of 187 new federal judges. He noted by name his two Supreme Court Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh. Justice Elena Kagan, seated next to Gorsuch, smiled at him. Gorsuch, seated next to Kavanaugh, smiled at him as well. It was a reminder that as tough as Supreme Court nomination battles are, the justices are a collegial group and that Trump’s appointees have been well accepted by the group.
10. Articulating a Restrained Foreign Policy
One of the reasons President Trump won in 2016 was his opposition to the way we fight wars. At the same time, he is willing to use American force to advance American interests. This confuses the foreign policy groups at either extreme. When discussing his desire to end the war in Afghanistan, he said of America’s warfighters that they are “the best in the world, and they either want to fight to win or not fight at all.”
Trump highlighted the cost to the American warfighters and their families because of the way we have fought wars. He told the stories of people who had lost lives and limbs as a result of serving abroad. He highlighted the life of Kayla Mueller, who was killed by ISIS leader and founder Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi. He highlighted the life of Army Staff Sergeant Christopher Hake, who was killed by a roadside bomb provided by Qasem Soleimani. The families of both victims were in the gallery and when they were introduced, it was heartbreaking.
“War places a heavy burden on our nation’s extraordinary military families,” Trump said, introducing Amy Williams and her two young children. Husband and father Sgt. First Class Townsend Williams was described as serving his fourth tour in Afghanistan.
In a final example of Trump’s effective handling of the televised moment, he announced to Amy and her kids that Williams was surprising them by coming home. He walked down the steps to greet them.
At the same time, it wasn’t all restraint. Explaining his decision to kill Baghdadi and Soleimani, he said, “Our message to the terrorists is clear: You will never escape American justice. If you attack our citizens, you forfeit your life!”
This foreign policy has been confusing to many in the establishment, but it is a return to the foreign policy embraced by Republican presidents Eisenhower through Reagan, a form of peace through strength.
11. What Conservatives Might Not Like
While not as bad as his previous addresses to Congress or some other presidential addresses to Congress, the State of the Union is always a laundry list of unrestrained spending. This speech was no exception. And while conservatives may strongly support Space Force, Trump’s terminology of “America’s manifest destiny in the stars” could be troubling.
As per usual, there was no mention of attempts to rein in entitlement spending or other government growth. In fact, he said he would “protect” Social Security, which, while a crowd pleaser, is not conservative orthodoxy. Neither did he announce any plans on the debt or provide an update on his southern border wall.
12. A Hopeful National Identity
Apart from the dramatic vignettes of Americans in the galley, the strongest part of the speech was the ending, where President Trump spoke with pride about America’s frontier spirit and work ethic. “This is our glorious and magnificent inheritance,” he said. “We are Americans. We are the pioneers. We are the pathfinders. We settled the new world, we build 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 ending was both a tribute to American history and optimistic look forward into the future. “Our spirit is still young; the sun is still rising; God’s grace is still shining; and my fellow Americans, the best is yet to come.”
13. Bad Timing for Democrats
President Trump went into the State of the Union emboldened by his highest voter approval numbers of his presidency. Impeachment led Democratic favorability to decline while Republicans enjoyed majority support for the first time in recent memory. He is about to be acquitted, probably in a bipartisan fashion.
All of those numbers are bad for Pelosi and the Democratic Party she leads. In addition, they had a humiliating debacle of a caucus night in Iowa. The party botched its operation, meaning that the result is still uncertain. But what is known is that the establishment’s favorite candidate, past Vice President Joe Biden, suffered a humiliating finish.
The decision to be hostile throughout the speech caused Democrats to look small and petty, particularly as President Trump spoke of big successes and big goals for the future. Pelosi appeared distracted during the speech, rifling through papers and chomping on her gums. Her ripping stunt at the end of the speech was extremely well received by the media and other partisans on Twitter, but was less likely to play well among average voters.
Smack dab in the middle of the speech, President Trump thanked conservative hero Rush Limbaugh for “decades of tireless devotion” to the country. In recognition of his work and the inspiration he has provided millions of Americans, Trump announced the country’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He had Melania Trump immediately present the honor in front of the assembled crowd.
While it is beyond common for liberal heroes and liberal celebrities to receive awards, Republican leaders acted over the course of decades almost as if it was okay for conservatives to be treated as second-class citizens in this regard. President Trump recognizes that the half of the country that is not liberal also likes to honor its celebrities and heroes.
Limbaugh has taught millions of Americans about conservative ideology, emphasizing the Constitution and the country’s founding ideals, and suffered attacks from the left as a result. He is a folk hero who is beloved in part because he defends tens of millions of Americans against attacks.
No other previous Republican president or nominee would have had the courage to bestow this award on such a deserving American. They would instead have worried about a media backlash. The media and Democrats did in fact react negatively to the honor for Limbaugh, who announced this week he has advanced cancer.
8. Putting an Incredibly Cute Face to Victims of Late-Term Abortion
One of the most touching moments of the speech was the introduction of Ellie Schneider, born at 21 weeks, and her mother Robin. The 2-year-old yawned a huge yawn as she was introduced to the nation in the arms of her devoted mother. It was a reminder that children like Ellie are born at a time when it is legal to kill them in utero. “Ellie reminds us that every child is a miracle of life,” President Trump said, and challenged members of all political parties to agree that “every human life is a sacred gift from God.”
This issue is particularly salient as Democrats more openly support late-term abortion, support allowing children who survive abortion attempts to die, and support exiling pro-life voters from their ranks.
9. A Touching Supreme Court Moment
Supreme Court Justices typically attend the State of the Union Address. Chief Justice John Roberts, also presiding over the impeachment trial in the Senate, was there, although Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg did not make it.
At one point, President Trump thanked Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and his colleagues in the Senate for helping him confirm a record number of 187 new federal judges. He noted by name his two Supreme Court Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh. Justice Elena Kagan, seated next to Gorsuch, smiled at him. Gorsuch, seated next to Kavanaugh, smiled at him as well. It was a reminder that as tough as Supreme Court nomination battles are, the justices are a collegial group and that Trump’s appointees have been well accepted by the group.
10. Articulating a Restrained Foreign Policy
One of the reasons President Trump won in 2016 was his opposition to the way we fight wars. At the same time, he is willing to use American force to advance American interests. This confuses the foreign policy groups at either extreme. When discussing his desire to end the war in Afghanistan, he said of America’s warfighters that they are “the best in the world, and they either want to fight to win or not fight at all.”
Trump highlighted the cost to the American warfighters and their families because of the way we have fought wars. He told the stories of people who had lost lives and limbs as a result of serving abroad. He highlighted the life of Kayla Mueller, who was killed by ISIS leader and founder Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi. He highlighted the life of Army Staff Sergeant Christopher Hake, who was killed by a roadside bomb provided by Qasem Soleimani. The families of both victims were in the gallery and when they were introduced, it was heartbreaking.
“War places a heavy burden on our nation’s extraordinary military families,” Trump said, introducing Amy Williams and her two young children. Husband and father Sgt. First Class Townsend Williams was described as serving his fourth tour in Afghanistan.
In a final example of Trump’s effective handling of the televised moment, he announced to Amy and her kids that Williams was surprising them by coming home. He walked down the steps to greet them.
At the same time, it wasn’t all restraint. Explaining his decision to kill Baghdadi and Soleimani, he said, “Our message to the terrorists is clear: You will never escape American justice. If you attack our citizens, you forfeit your life!”
This foreign policy has been confusing to many in the establishment, but it is a return to the foreign policy embraced by Republican presidents Eisenhower through Reagan, a form of peace through strength.
11. What Conservatives Might Not Like
While not as bad as his previous addresses to Congress or some other presidential addresses to Congress, the State of the Union is always a laundry list of unrestrained spending. This speech was no exception. And while conservatives may strongly support Space Force, Trump’s terminology of “America’s manifest destiny in the stars” could be troubling.
As per usual, there was no mention of attempts to rein in entitlement spending or other government growth. In fact, he said he would “protect” Social Security, which, while a crowd pleaser, is not conservative orthodoxy. Neither did he announce any plans on the debt or provide an update on his southern border wall.
12. A Hopeful National Identity
Apart from the dramatic vignettes of Americans in the galley, the strongest part of the speech was the ending, where President Trump spoke with pride about America’s frontier spirit and work ethic. “This is our glorious and magnificent inheritance,” he said. “We are Americans. We are the pioneers. We are the pathfinders. We settled the new world, we build 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 ending was both a tribute to American history and optimistic look forward into the future. “Our spirit is still young; the sun is still rising; God’s grace is still shining; and my fellow Americans, the best is yet to come.”
13. Bad Timing for Democrats
President Trump went into the State of the Union emboldened by his highest voter approval numbers of his presidency. Impeachment led Democratic favorability to decline while Republicans enjoyed majority support for the first time in recent memory. He is about to be acquitted, probably in a bipartisan fashion.
All of those numbers are bad for Pelosi and the Democratic Party she leads. In addition, they had a humiliating debacle of a caucus night in Iowa. The party botched its operation, meaning that the result is still uncertain. But what is known is that the establishment’s favorite candidate, past Vice President Joe Biden, suffered a humiliating finish.
The decision to be hostile throughout the speech caused Democrats to look small and petty, particularly as President Trump spoke of big successes and big goals for the future. Pelosi appeared distracted during the speech, rifling through papers and chomping on her gums. Her ripping stunt at the end of the speech was extremely well received by the media and other partisans on Twitter, but was less likely to play well among average voters.