Tag Archives: State of the Union Speech

The State of the Union Speech

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President Trump’s State of the Union Speech was long, but it was powerful. It was a major salvo in the mid-term election campaign. AP has posted a complete transcript of the speech.

Here are a few highlights of the speech:

The economy is turned around and Americans have more money in their pockets. Inflation is lower and incomes are higher.

The border is secure. 

There have been 0 illegal aliens entering the country for the past 9 months.

The flow of fentanyl across our border is down by a record 56% in one year.

In the last year, the murder rate saw its single largest decline in recorded history.

In four long years, the last administration got less than $1 trillion in new investment in the United States. And when I say less, substantially less. In 12 months, I secured commitments for more than $18 trillion pouring in from all over the globe.

American natural gas production is at an all-time high. Because I kept my promise to drill, baby, drill.

More Americans are working today than at any time in the history of our country. Think about that. Any time in the history of our country. More working today, and 100% of all jobs created under my administration have been in the private sector.

We cut a record number of job-killing regulations, and in one year we have lifted 2.4 million Americans – a record – off of food stamps.

The President said the following about tariffs:

But the good news is that almost all countries and corporations want to keep the deal that they already made — right, Scott? — knowing that the legal power that I, as president, have to make a new deal could be far worse for them, and, therefore, they will continue to work along the same successful path that we had negotiated before the Supreme Court’s unfortunate involvement. So, despite the disappointing ruling, these powerful countries saving, is saving our country the kind of money we’re taking in, peace protecting — many of the wars I’ve settled was because of the threat of tariffs, I wouldn’t have been able to settle them without — will remain in place under fully approved and tested alternative legal statutes. And they have been tested for a long time. They’re a little more complex, but they’re actually probably better — leading to a solution that will be even stronger than before. Congressional action will not be necessary. It’s already time-tested and approved. And as time goes by, I believe the tariffs, paid for by foreign countries, will, like in the past, substantially replace the modern-day system of income tax, taking a great financial burden off the people that I love.

Follow the link for the complete transcript. As I stated, it was long, but I think he hit it out of the park–particularly when the Democrats were asked to stand for the idea that the government was supposed to support Americans. Staying seated was not wise.

It’s Hard To Spin Actual Facts

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February 25th, Fox News posted a full transcript of Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger’s response to President Trump’s State of the Union Speech.

This was her opening salvo against President Trump:

Tonight, as we watched our nation’s lawmakers gather for a joint session of Congress, we did not hear the truth from our President.

So, let’s speak plainly and honestly, and let me ask you three questions:

Is the President working to make life more affordable for you and your family?

Is the President working to keep Americans safe — both at home and abroad?

Is the President working for YOU?

To answer the first question, I am sharing this chart from The New York Post:

I think $6,000 makes life more affordable for most families.

To answer the second question, on February 5th, Fox News reported:

According to the CCJ’s report, nationwide homicide data released later this year could show killings in 2025 falling to roughly 4.0 per 100,000 residents – the lowest rate ever recorded in law enforcement or public health data dating back to 1900 and the largest single-year percentage drop on record.

The report found homicides fell 21% from 2024 to 2025 in the 35 cities that reported data, amounting to 922 fewer killings. Thirty-one of those cities saw declines, with Denver, Washington, D.C., and Omaha, Nebraska, each posting drops of around 40%.

Other major crimes also fell sharply in the cities studied. 

Is the President working for me? Well, let’s see. Billions of dollars of fraudulent government spending is being investigated. Hopefully the people responsible will go to jail regardless of their political connections. Government jobs are decreasing while private sector jobs are increasing. My taxes have gone down. The cost of gasoline has gone down significantly. Our borders are secure. Criminals are being arrested and deported. The censorship on social media has decreased significantly. Parents at school board meetings are no longer viewed as possible terrorists. Confused teenagers are no longer being told they are in the wrong body and they need surgery and drugs. The Christian religion is being acknowledged for the part it played in the founding of America.

Yes, I think the President is working for me! We heard the truth from President Trump. Did we hear the truth from you?

Providing A Campaign Ad For The Republicans In The Mid-Term Elections

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Late Tuesday night, PJ Media posted an article about the Democrats’ response to President Trump at one point in the State of the Union Speech. I am sure that the President’s statement and the Democrat response will be repeated in Republican campaign ads all over the country.

The article reports:

According to reports, more than 70 Democrats chose not to attend the speech, but most did, and several times over the course of the evening, they made a choice. They sat. They scowled. They heckled. While Republicans rose time and again in applause, the left side of the chamber looked like a group of children being punished.

And Trump noticed.

He called them out — repeatedly — for refusing to show even the most basic bipartisan enthusiasm for moments that should have been beyond politics. But nothing cut deeper than one specific challenge he laid down for every lawmaker in that room.

“One of the great things about the State of the Union is how it gives Americans the chance to see clearly what their representatives really believe,” Trump said. “So, tonight, I’m inviting every legislator to join with my administration in reaffirming a fundamental principle. If you agree with this statement, then stand up and show your support. The first duty of the American government is to protect American citizens, not illegal aliens.”

Republicans exploded. They stood, clapped, and whistled for a solid two minutes. It was the kind of raw, spontaneous reaction you can’t manufacture.

Democrats didn’t move.

Not a shuffle. Not a courtesy clap. Nothing.

Trump let their refusal to stand do the work for a moment.

Then he turned the knife.

“Isn’t that a shame? You should be ashamed of yourself, not standing up,” he said.

Oh, but he wasn’t done.

He kept going. “That is why I’m also asking you to end deadly sanctuary cities that protect the criminals and enact serious penalties for public officials who block the removal of criminal aliens, in many cases, drug lords, murderers, all over our country. They’re blocking the removal of these people out of our country! And you should be ashamed of yourself.”

At this point, Representatives Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib were shouting at him from their seats.

It was an interesting night.

Acting Like Petulant Children…

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On Wednesday, NBC News reported that at least a dozen Democratic members of Congress plan to boycott President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address. These Congress members plan to attend a rally on the National Mall. Do you remember that during the Obama administration and the Biden administration that Americans were told they had to respect the office of the President regardless of who was sitting in that office? I don’t see boycotting the State of the Union Speech as respect.

The article reports:

The progressive groups MoveOn and MeidasTouch announced Wednesday that they’re hosting the “People’s State of the Union” rally at 8:30 p.m. ET near the Capitol. The event is billed as “counterprogramming” to “President Trump’s night full of lies and misplaced priorities for the American people.” The groups said, “Democratic lawmakers will be joined on stage by the everyday Americans most impacted by Trump’s dangerous agenda.”

Exactly what is “Trump’s dangerous agenda”? Is it lower taxes? Is it fewer regulations? Is it enforcement of borders? Is it making cities safer? Is it restoring election integrity?

The article notes:

The lawmakers planning to skip the speech and attend the rally, according to the organizers, are Sens. Ed Markey of Massachusetts, Jeff Merkley of Oregon, Chris Murphy of Connecticut, Tina Smith of Minnesota and Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, as well as Reps. Yassamin Ansari of Arizona, Becca Balint of Vermont, Greg Casar of Texas, Veronica Escobar of Texas, Pramila Jayapal of Washington, Delia Ramirez of Illinois, and Bonnie Watson Coleman of New Jersey.

Organized by the Usual Suspects.

Aren’t some of the people who complain about the divisiveness in American politics the same people who are organizing this rally?

The Truth Behind The Shutdown

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The current government shutdown doesn’t make a lot of sense–ICE has already been funded through the year, so the only people hurt are the Transportation Security Administration, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Defense, Department of State, Department of Transportation, Department of Health and Human Service (source here).

On Tuesday, LifeZette posted an article suggesting what the current government shutdown is really about.

The article reports:

Sen. Markwayne Mullin criticized Democrats over the Department of Homeland Security shutdown, arguing during an exchange with Fox News anchor Bill Hemmer that the impasse was designed to coincide with the State of the Union rather than reflect genuine negotiations.

Hemmer asked the Oklahoma Republican whether there was a path forward to reopen the government.

“My question to you is, do you see a way out today as a way to get out of this?” Hemmer said.

Mullin responded by saying meaningful negotiations have not been taking place.

“Well, if we were actually negotiating on actual terms, to reopen, yes, but that’s not the state of play here. The state of play is to be shut down during the State of the Union for DHS, and that’s what it’s always been. If it was actual conversation about reforms. It wouldn’t have taken them 10 days to come back with a proposal after they shut us down almost three weeks ago.”

Mullin said that when a proposal was eventually delivered, the White House responded quickly, but talks did not continue.

On January 7th, USA Today reminded us when the State of the Union address would occur:

On Jan. 7, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) formally invited President Donald Trump to deliver his State of the Union address on Feb. 24.

Johnson posted a copy of the invitation sent to the president on X. In it, the Speaker praised Trump for his “bold action” and leadership and said the United States “stands stronger, freer, and more prosperous.”

“Since his return to office, @POTUS has not stopped working for the American people and delivering on his promises. The best is yet to come,” Johnson said on X.

The speech on Feb. 24 will mark Trump’s first State of the Union of his second term. 

Even without a majority, the Democrat party is intent on throwing any wrench it can into the governance of America. It is truly time to go back to a talking filibuster and make the Democrats stand up for what they supposedly believe.

The Misinformation In The State Of The Union Speech

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On Friday, The Federalist posted a list of the thirty lies President Biden told during the State of the Union Speech. For further details, follow the link to the original article, but here are some of the topics of the lies:

1. Sending Money To Ukraine

2. Trump’s NATO Remarks

3. World Security And Ukraine

4. Jan. 6 Demonstrations

5. Alabama IVF Issue

6. Kate Cox

7. Covid Shots And Cancer

8. 15 Million New Jobs

9. U.S. Inflation Rate

10. Consumer Confidence

11. Drug Prices

12. Biden Beat Big Pharma

13. Student Loans

14. Decreasing The Federal Deficit

15. Corporations Aren’t Paying Their Fair Share

You get the picture. Follow the link to find the other lies.

About That Speech

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On Thursday, The Federalist weighed in on President Biden’s State of the Union Speech.

Here are a few comments from the article:

Like Nero bragging about rebuilding Circus Maximus after burning it down, Joe Biden took to the podium tonight to take credit for solving a slew of problems he helped create.

At the top of his State of the Union address, the president boasted that he had “created more jobs in two years than any president created in four years.” No president — not Joe Biden nor Donald Trump — creates jobs. But Biden’s contention was exceptionally misleading, considering he inherited an economy that had been unplugged by an artificial, state-induced shutdown. If the government compels businesses to shutter, it doesn’t “create” jobs when allowing them to open.

Presidents don’t create jobs, but their policies create an atmosphere that either encourages or discourages economic growth. President Biden’s economic policies have not encouraged economic growth.

The article also notes:

Three years ago, the unemployment rate was at 3.5 percent. Today, Biden reminded us that it was at a historic low of 3.4 percent. More than 30 million people lost their jobs to Covid lockdowns. Biden claims to have “created” 12 million jobs during the past two years. The one big difference is that the labor participation rate still hasn’t recovered to pre-Covid numbers. It’s great that people are working again. But millions fewer are in the market for jobs.

The article concludes:

Biden went into his well-worn platitudes and myths about how the rich don’t pay taxes — “[n]o billionaire should be paying a lower tax rate than a school teacher or a firefighter!” — and proposed higher rates on the wealthy and corporations. He also promised to micromanage the economy with a slew of new regulations that would interfere in voluntary contracts struck between employees and employers and consumers and businesses.

Biden implored Congress to pass the PRO Act, a bill that would empower the government to impose unions on businesses and workers who want no part of them. Biden hawked an entire menu of crude economic populism — including price controls and protectionist trade policies that would undermine growth, competition, job creation, and innovation while driving up the cost of virtually every construction project in the country.

There were numerous lies, half-truths, and deceptions. There was a slew of antiquated economic ideas and sloganeering. But, surely, the president’s biggest lie of the night was to claim, “I’m a capitalist.”

We have a President who needs to take an Economics Course. He does not understand (or chooses to ignore) basic economic facts.

A Few Notes On The State Of The Union Speech

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The Punching Bag Post posted an article late last night detailing twenty-seven lies President Biden told during the State of the Union speech.

Here are only a few of them:

“Greatest speaker in the history of the house, Nancy Pelosi.”

“Created 12 million new jobs in two years.”

“Created 800,000 manufacturing jobs”

“Inflation is a global problem, blame Putin.”

“Inflation is coming down.”

“Gasoline price down $1.50.”

‘Chip factory salaries average $130,000 per year some of them requiring no college degree.”

“Reduce the deficit by $114 Billion by catching tax cheats”

Follow the link to see the entire list. I think the lie that bothered me the most was, “Let’s stop Fentanyl from coming across the border.”  Securing the border would solve that problem, yet that is one thing the President is not interested in doing.

The Conservative Review posted an article this morning titled, “9 Most Ridiculous Claims Biden Made During State of the Union Address.” Their list is generally different from the list above. It includes that claim that Paul Pelosi was attacked because of election deniers. Anyone who actually reads the news knows that is not true.

Scott Johnson at Power Line Blog posted an article today about the speech that included the following:

I thought the flight of the Chinese spy balloon across the United States was a national embarrassment, but it was nothing compared to President Biden’s State of the Union performance last night. I thought he hit the high point with his congratulation of Kevin McCarthy for ascending to the Speakership in the first few seconds of his speech. The speed of the descent varied, but it was downhill all the way from there. That means it was a long, long way downhill.

The Washington Post has a useful set of corrections on subjects other than those I mention below (the link is to the accessible version published by Jewish World Review). David Harsanyi adds a stylish touch in his Federalist column “Don’t Fall For Joe Biden’s Economic Fairy Tale.”

Biden wants to “finish the job” he has started. The phrase appears in the text of his speech 12 times. I think that has an ominous ring. Finishing the job will finish us off.

I wonder if even the President believed what he was saying.

Inconvenient Facts

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President Biden will make his State of the Union speech tonight. He will tell us that his economic plan is working–he is not responsible for inflation, high gas prices, or the lack of security at the southern border. If you believe what he says, I have a bridge I would like to sell you in Brooklyn.

On Tuesday, The Daily Wire posted some actual numbers related to the Biden economy.

The article reports:

Let’s start with inflation, which a few months ago hit a 40-year high. In December 2020, the last full month in office for President Donald Trump, the rate of inflation was 1.4%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The average for the entire year of 2020 was 1.2%, data show.

But after Biden killed the Keystone XL pipeline, froze student debt collection, rejoined the Paris climate accords, made a pathway for illegals to gain citizenship, and halted construction on the border wall — all actions he took on Day 1 — inflation started to climb.

In his first six months in office, inflation went from 1.4% to 5.4%. It was worse in 2022, rising to 9.1% by June. But Biden is a highly skilled liar: Inflation has fallen for six straight months — all the way down to 6.5%. The average for 2022 was 8%, soaring from 1.2% in 2020.

Now, some people argue that the president shouldn’t take credit for a good economy and certainly doesn’t deserve the blame for a bad one. But in Biden’s case, he definitely deserves the blame.

“Economists say Biden’s pandemic relief policies including the American Rescue Plan exacerbated matters, by giving Americans too much money to spend when goods and services supplies were too low, which drove prices higher,” PolitiFact wrote on Monday.

The article mentions gasoline prices:

Then there are gas prices. When Biden took office, a gallon of regular averaged $2.38. Today it’s $3.46, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA).

That’s nearly 50% higher (46% to be exact) than it was when Biden took office. And remember, by February 2022, the eve of Russia’s war in Ukraine, the price had already risen above $3.50 — which negates Biden’s endless claims of “Putin’s price hike” at the pumps.

The article mentions food prices:

Let’s just talk about the State of the Union since the last time Biden delivered the State of the Union address. “In 2022, food prices increased by 9.9 percent,” the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reports. “Food-at-home prices increased by 11.4 percent, while food-away-from-home prices increased by 7.7 percent.”

There’s more. Egg prices increased 11.1% in December, pushing the price since December 2021 59.9% higher. And we haven’t hit the ceiling yet, not even close. “Egg prices are predicted to increase 27.3 percent in 2023,” the USDA reported.

Please follow the link to read the entire article. The article goes into wages and also reports on America’s mood. The speech will make a lot of claims, but those of us who live under the Biden economy probably won’t believe those claims.

Unnecessary Disrespect

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The New York Post posted an article about Speaker Pelosi ripping up the President’s State of the Union Speech. The article includes a video showing her making small rips in the speech while the President was speaking. I don’t know if her gesture of ripping up the speech was planned before the speech, but it was definitely planned during the speech.

Jonathan Turley posted an article at The Hill today stating his thoughts on Speaker Pelosi’s actions.

The article reports:

The House has its share of infamies, great and small, real and symbolic, and has been the scene of personal infamies from brawls to canings. But the conduct of Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) at the State of the Union address this week will go down as a day of infamy for the chamber as an institution. It has long been a tradition for House Speakers to remain stoic and neutral in listening to the address. However, Pelosi seemed to be intent on mocking President Trump from behind his back with sophomoric facial grimaces and head shaking, culminating in her ripping up a copy of his address.

Her drop the mic moment will have a lasting impact on the House. While many will celebrate her trolling of the president, she tore up something far more important than a speech. Pelosi has shredded decades of tradition, decorum and civility that the nation could use now more than ever. The House Speaker is more than a political partisan, particularly when carrying out functions such as the State of the Union address. A president appears in the House as a guest of both chambers of Congress. The House Speaker represents not her party or herself but the entirety of the chamber. At that moment, she must transcend her own political ambitions and loyalties.

The article concludes:

Pelosi has demolished decades of tradition with this poorly considered moment. Of course, many will celebrate her conduct and be thrilled by the insult to Trump. However, even those of us who disagree with his policies should consider what Pelosi destroyed in her moment of rage. She shredded the pretense of governing with civility and dignity in the House. Notably, she did not wait to rip up her copy of the speech until after she left the House floor. Pelosi wanted to do it at the end of the speech, in front of the camera, with the president still in the chamber.

That act was more important to Pelosi than preserving the tradition of her office. In doing so, she forfeited the right to occupy that office. If Pelosi cannot maintain the dignity and neutrality of her office at the State of the Union, she should resign as the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

I don’t see her resigning, but the next time the Democrats claim that President Trump is dividing the country, we need to remind them that they need to look in the mirror.

Loving The List

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The Daily Caller posted a list of the guests President Trump is bringing to the State of the Union speech tonight. I love this list.

This is the list:

Stephanie Davis and her mother Janiyah

Stephanie is a 4th grade student from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Though Janiyah applied for a tax credit scholarship, Stephanie is one of 50,000 students still on a scholarship waitlist after Democratic Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf vetoed school choice legislation.

Gage Hake and his mother Kelli

The Hakes are a gold star family from Stillwater, Oklahoma. Kelli’s late husband, Army Staff Sergeant Christopher Hake, was killed during his second tour of duty in Iraq by an EFP supplied by Qasem Soleimani.

Jody Jones

Jody’s brother, Rocky Jones, was murdered by an illegal immigrant in Tulare County, California in December of 2018. Jody, along with his four other brothers, is helping care for Rocky’s young daughter.

Paul Morrow

An United States Army veteran living in Montgomery Alabama, Paul and his contracting business are helping build a new concrete plant that will support F-35 fighter jets stationed in the region.

Deputy Chief Raul Ortiz

Deputy Chief Ortiz has served as a member of U.S. Border Patrol since 1991 and previously as a member of the U.S. Army. He has been awarded the Superior Civilian Service Medal and oversees all border patrol operations in 41 of Texas’ border counties.

Tony Rankins

Rankins, a U.S. Army veteran, suffers from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and battled addiction after leaving the Army. He currently has worked with the company “R Investments” in Cincinnati, Ohio to overcome his addiction, reunite with his family, and develop a new career in artisan construction.

Ellie Schneider and her mother Robin

Born at just 21 weeks and six days, Ellie was one of the youngest babies ever delivered in the United States. Now two years old, she and her mother Robin currently live in Kansas City, Missouri.

Ivan Simonovis

Simonovis, a former Chief of Police in Venezuela, was wrongfully imprisoned by the Chavez and Maduro regimes for 15 years before escaping Venezuela in 2019.

All of these people are heroes in their own right. I am thrilled that they are invited to attend the State of the Union speech.