President Joe Biden gave his first State of the Union address Tuesday night in front of an unmasked (but COVID-19-tested) Congress and invited guests.
The State of the Union, in the words of a Tuesday afternoon campaign email from Seventh District Rep. Michelle Fischbach, “is typically an opportunity for the President to brag about successes of the last year and highlight things they want to accomplish in the coming year.”
This has always been true — of Democratic and Republican presidents alike. And Biden’s address was no different.
The president spent the first portion of his speech talking about the Russian invasion of Ukraine. He commended the U.S. on its quick response and ability to maintain a strong partnership with the European Union.
“Throughout our history we’ve learned this lesson – when dictators do not pay a price for their aggression, they cause more chaos,” Biden said. “They keep moving. And the costs and threats to America and the world keep rising.”
The president said that he would not put American troops on the ground in Ukraine, but if Russia invaded any European Union country, it would be a different story.
Some awkward moments arose when members of the GOP shouted at Biden during his speech. When he was referencing burn pits that had caused a multitude of health issues for U.S. military veterans, Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert yelled, “you put them there, 13 of them,” referencing U.S. troops killed during the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Biden also addressed the rising inflation in the U.S., giving a rather watered-down policy statement.
“I think I have a better way to fight inflation: Lower your costs, not your wages,” Biden said. Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R) apparently wasn’t fond of that line.
Biden at times seemed to embrace progressive ideals, calling for fighting climate change, increasing the minimum wage to $15 per hour and lowering the cost of child care. But in parts of his speech, to some on the left, Biden spoke almost as if he were part of the GOP.
“We should all agree,” he said. “The answer is not to defund the police, but to fund the police. Fund them. Fund them with resources and training — resources and training they need to protect their communities.”
Minnesota Second District Rep. Angie Craig (D) — who is up for re-election this year in a swing district — expressed support for Biden’s middle-of-the-road approach.
“It’s long past time for us to take off our red and blue jerseys and work together,” Craig said. “I was grateful to hear President Biden express his commitment to unity and cooperation – which will be crucial in the coming days, weeks and years both here and abroad.” Craig sat next to Fourth District Rep. Betty McCollum (D) during the speech.
The rest of Minnesota’s delegation responded fairly predictably to Biden’s address, with Republicans slamming him for what they called failing on the world stage and presiding over a faltering economy at home and Democrats commending him for strong leadership amid global crisis of war and COVID.
Tom Emmer, Minnesota’s Sixth District Representative and chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, said that Biden, “reaffirmed that not only are his policies responsible for the numerous crises our nation is facing, but he has no real plans to fix them.” He blamed Biden for the nation’s highest inflation rate in 40 years.
Eighth District Rep. Pete Stauber (R) agreed, saying that Biden should, “find common sense solutions to providing relief from these high prices for Americans.” Stauber did not suggest what any of those common-sense solutions might look like. He also called on Biden to “restore American energy independence” and secure the Southern border with Mexico.
Craig, on the other hand, said that she was happy with Biden’s “intense focus on lowering costs for working families, strengthening our supply chains and continuing to grow our economy.”
Third District Rep. Dean Phillips (D) did not release a full official statement post-State of the Union, but tweeted that the speech was “a refreshing return to dignity, competency, and unity this evening.”
Fifth District Rep. Ilhan Omar (D) did not tweet a response nor did she issue a statement on the president’s speech.
Republicans might talk about support for Ukraine but their leadership and rhetoric are still completely in camp Putin. They wouldn’t pause a second to blame Biden for any subsequent increase in gas prices and push to maintain oil as the dominant source of energy despite what this does to empower Putin and other oil-rich autocrats. All in the name of “freedom”.
Republican leadership (which is Trump and only Trump) and their most popular mouthpieces are also happy to parrot Putin talking points at any opportunity. A big part of this is that the policies Republicans care most about align perfectly with Putin. They have always championed an activist militaristic foreign policy, unquestioned police authority at home, and policies that demonize/criminalize minorities, foreigners, LGBTQIA, and women. All under the guise of Christianity and Patriotism. As attributed to Sinclair Lewis, “When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying the cross.”
All I can say is that, when Putin’s propaganda machine aligns with one of our political parties, we are in serious do-do and it clearly does not seem Biden is aligned with that political party. It really makes me wonder where their patriotism really lies. Facts is facts.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/russia-s-un-ambassador-echoes-trump-s-big-lie-as-putin-faces-global-condemnation-for-invading-ukraine/ar-AAUwovW?li=BBorjTa
How can anyone take Biden seriously when he mentions Southern border security, gas prices, crime, fixing supply chain and helping Ukraine. It doesn’t matter what you say, it is what you do that matters. Words mean so little compared to your actions!
The border issue is largely inflated by and for the Replacement Theory crowd’s agenda. Crime is largely a local issue where Republicans refuse to do anything that isn’t the exact same things that got us to where we are now. Gas prices are what they are due to conservatives fighting any attempt to move toward renewables and, more recently, Trump’s pressure to have OPEC reduce output in order to increase profits for petroleum companies and his like-minded autocratic buddies Putin and Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. Supply chain issues are a global issue and aren’t something a president can do a lot about unless the party of faux-freedom thinks any national policy equates to communism decides to completely change their rhetoric.
Getting tough on fascist Russia with increased sanctions will result in higher petroleum (and other commodities) prices. Republicans will be happy to use these increases to push forward their own anti-American, AFPAC driven agenda. Republicans are more interested in their own power than accepting any inconvenience that would make the country better. They can’t even stand the idea that kids might learn actual history in school. They would rather live in Trump/Putin’s Christian nationalis world.
Yeah, those Central American tanks and troops are just pouring across the southern border.
Biden sure brings back memories of the old days. He reminds me of the failing Jimmy Carter.
To paraphrase Zelensky “I need ammunition, not (mispoken) platitudes.” And he needed it prior to, not after, the invasion. Biden cared much more about appeasing the environmental wackos and election year gas prices than doing something meaningful. He might as well have said “peace for our time” at some point.
That is a strange way to remember recent events. Especially since Trump wanted to make providing weapons to Ukraine dependent on them digging up dirt on his political opponents while encouraging OPEC to reduce production in order to protect profits of oil companies which greatly benefited Russia. The conservative insistence of undercutting renewable energy at every opportunity for political points and complaining about gas prices might as well come straight from the Kremlin. Which would make sense given the pro-Putin chants at AFPAC.