Democrat Congress members lost an incredible opportunity to use last night's address as an opportunity for mass peaceful protest. They should have ALL done what Mr. Green did alone, loudly protesting until evicted, with another and then another standing to protest until evicted, until it was over. This is no time for decorum.
YES! I agree, Mimi! It grates on me every time I hear someone say "Democrat" when they should be saying "Democratic", an adjective. How about we start calling the GOP, Republics. This is the only lasting win for Gingrich, so many years ago. STOP using "Democrat". It marks you as having drunk some version of the kool-aid and it's not good enough to ignore the insinuation, whether you mean it or not.
I respectfully disagree. They should have attended, sat in silence and had a big press conference afterwards, pointing out all his lies. The Slotkin response was exactly what the Democrats need to be saying now and every day. We care about everyone. We know how to run a really efficient government that relies on expert advice and real science — not a bunch of crackpots or Russian assets.
WHO CARES! Our country is burning to the ground and you folks are griping about someone using the word Democrat instead of Democratic?! C'mon now. We have to join forces, not nitpick. Thanks.
"The difference between the almost right word and the right word is really a large matter—’tis the difference between the lightning-bug and the lightning." ~ Mark Twain
Megan, I respectfully disagree. Language and words matter. When a group is constantly insulting the other, it makes the insulted seem weak and the bullies of the other group more powerful than they actually are. Most people do pay attention to the words and titles used. We do have massive problems, but calling out the insults as the childish things they are is critical too.
Mimi, Please stop nitpicking. Gayle made a VERY important point about Democrats losing an incredible opportunity for peaceful protest while millions were watching. Democrats should have done what Mr. Green did alone. It’s time for Schumer and other so-called leaders to pass the torch to colleagues who are willing to stand up and protest during a crisis. And it IS a crisis!!
I'm sorry to see this extended debate in the face of so many larger issues that went on last night and continue. No one is trying to prevent you from voicing your opinion.
Words matter. Every time one of us uses their derogatory language, it indicates that they are winning. It is a form of capitulation at the worst.
Here is an even more important point: if one is uses “Democrat Party” or “Democrat colleagues” then it also makes one look stupid because it sounds like one doesn’t know the names of the two parties in the American system.
We have much bigger concerns than policing each others word choices. Even when accurate. The names of the parties are long and have different meanings in lower case than upper. I often short cut them. Dems and Reps usually.
With everything there is to concentrate on right now, you're going to nitpick someone for writing Democrat instead of Democratic? Really? We need to stick together and not criticize each other. Be part of the solution. Please.
It is not nitpicking. Using Democrat party instead of Democratic party is a purposefully derogatory Republican trope. Over time and social space some linguistic usages become charged in ways which we ought to be aware of. This is a political issue and in terms of a political discussion, the critique was appropriate.
Absolutely! As Vance wrote, it was a "campaign rally stump speech" - the campaign being now for the orange maggot as ruler for life. Jeffries calling for "decorum" was quite simply an abdication of leadership. When will the Democrats wake up?
"Orange Maggot". I must use that. As a Canadian living in Canada, I could not watch the SOTU knowing he would talk about crushing Canada, stealing Gaza, ripping Greenland away from Denmark or assuming he owns Panama and starts building a casino. I am grateful that I am at the end of my life when the world goes to shit.
Mary, as an American I couldn't either. I'm so sad for Canada, the homeland of my ancestors (I'm 2nd-generation French Canadian American) and to which I feel a strong affinity. Canada and Canadians do not deserve this treatment from a longstanding loyal ally, nor does Mexico or Europe. Please understand that a majority of Americans are with you.
I do not feel sorry for Canada. They are a sovereign and strong nation. They do not need sympathy - they need cheerleading. And I am hoping to see some strong resistance from Canada. I want Canada to take it to Trump like no other nation has so far. I for one am willing to pay the price whatever it is.
Jay, I feel compassion for anyone who is bullied, be it a country or a person. And i am a cheerleader of Canada, which has responded with tariffs of its own. I live in New England which heavily depends on Canadian imports of petroleum products and electricity (HydroQuebec.) Tariffs are consumer taxes which hurt the buyer as well as the seller; Canadians will pay more for our products and will have less demand for theirs in the US.
I am so with you! I heard Doug Ford, the Ontario Premier prefacing his threats of tariffs on energy provided to US states by how much Canadians love the US and its citizens and blamed the one person responsible. And if those tariffs don't work it's lights out....
If only it were one person. But it is the entire right wing extremist apparatus - plutocrats and populists - personified by Trump. And abetted by a bureaucracy of eager Eichmanns with not a thought to the harm they are doing - the definition of Hannah Arendt's 'banality of evil.'
I have been considering what would be the best way to let Canada and its citizens know how disgusted I am with the manner in which they are being treated. I will not apologize for the Orange Maggot, he is indefensible….and the worst thing that happened to the USA. Period
Absolutely needed to yell back and walk out together. I cannot understand how they could sit there taking the crap he barfed up for the rest of the time. Shame on them. By not immediately reacting is exactly how the Nazis won Germany.
Made more noise yesterday in small protest I went to,we had signs with no kings, wanted leader of free world etc. to have the democratic side sitstone faced holding little signs was pathetic in my opinion. No fire. They need to start having someone else giving advice
No really. How the Nazis won Germany was not so much the failure of the Weimar center to hold. It was the German industrialists and aristocrats (and their American and European business partners and Nazi sympathizers) willing to hedge their bets on fascism to combat communism. And it was Stalin instructing the German communists not to vote for the centrist left. And an anxious and overwhelmed populous willing to violently indulge in their bigotries as prejudice and exclusion were normalized and instituted by the Nazis.
Look - people who rise the the level he has I have to believe are special. Special skills, superhuman in some ways. Or should be. Great leaders got great, usually, by being great and then leveraging it. For good. I see no greatness coming from any of the Democratic leaders. I see greatness in some of the less senior ones - AOC, Goldman, some others. But they are being stymied by Jeffries and Schumer and the likes. How about Elizabeth Warren? Her reaction to being singled out the other night was to applaud? Applaud? What a total lack of imagination. She had a moment to make a real newsworthy impact. But she effectively froze like a deer in the headlights. Just like the entire D side of the aisle after Rep Green from Texas had his display which got him escorted out by the SoA. That was the window in which to act. Instead - deer in the headlights. Where was Jeffries? Respecting decorum. Where was Pelosi? Respecting decorum. Schumer? Same. Sanders? He walked out - quietly. How about loudly? And what about the bingo signs? Who's lame brain idea was that?
When we pressure them with regular calls and letters to demand better - more direct communication with the public about both acknowledging their mistakes and moving on the regularly and collectively call out Trump, Musk, and the parties failures to
You know, that - Dems were feckless- seems to be the general 'take'. But I think Democrats sitting in silence and holding signs - with Al Greene's protest counterpoint - was a good visual. It certainly got under Trump's skin. And Republicans have been howling.
I am not sure what positive effect a Democratic shut down of the speech would have accomplished.
Where Democrats need to stand firm is on blocking legislation.
Gosh, lin, I rarely disagree with you but I do not feel their silence and placards were not useful in any sense! They abandoned Al Green by doing nothing. They should have made noise and let that toad, Johnson, have them all removed. They. Did. NOTHING. I sent a donation to Green but quite frankly, we should not be sending any monies to the DCCC. When congress members ask for money on your texts, type STOP or Stop2End as a response.
Marlene, your first sentence confuses me. The rest of your letter says the placid dem response was not useful and I agree totally with that. They could have gotten up and silently walked out like Bernie did. Trompe lectured them about not standing up and clapping for him plus lying in every sentence and that was just as long as I could stand it. 🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮
You’re right, Gigi, my first sentence is screwy! It should’ve read “but I do feel…” Thanks for bringing that to my attention. Sometimes my fingers have a mind of their own!
ITS NEVER a time for decorum with Democrats. When you are a sanctimous narcissist
no rules apply to you.
This is just what middle America wants to see. Another leftist fighting about an issue that NO ONE CARES ABOUT.
This is exactly why you LOST.
Instead of coming together on DOGE. You fight it. Instead of coming together on the BORDER you pretend like it never happened. Instead of coming together on GIRLS SPORTS you defend the perverts. Instead of coming together on CRAPPY TRADE DEALS you sit on your hands wave stupid signs.
Democrats are great a screaming and protesting. They are terrible at new ideas and GOVERNANCE.
Democrats historically have had to spend their administrations fixing the mess created by Republican ones. Dems are great at governance. And for new ideas, if the GOP had had even a modicum of working with the Dems, we'd have seen a lot of innovation. Amnesia, anyone? How 'bout Mitch saying on day 1 of the Obama admin, "we're going to make sure he's unsuccessful". It's incredible that Obama and Biden accomplished what they did. Come on, people!
Yes I agree. That doesn't change the fact that most seem asleep at the wheel as we speed toward the cliff! Their leaders do not seem aware that this is not normal.
I’m also not naive. Politics is hardball. That said, the Democrats are shooting themselves in the foot, when they oppose border policy, trade policy, girls sports, and DOGE.
I beg to differ. We lost because we constantly bring a fucking a kid’s plastic knife to the fight! We have feckless leadership in our Party. We need a new one that gathers the newly upset Repubs, libertarians, Independents, and Dems together. Believe me, there’s plenty of them pissed off!
When the Democrats can’t bother to stand or applaud at the State of Union address for the mother of murdered 12 yr old victim, or young boy that has overcome cancer they’ve lost their way. Its a never ending tantrum.
The only thing binding the Democrats together is for their hatred of Trump.
There are no policies. There are no new ideas. Its just TRUMP TRUMP TRUMP.
Zelenskyy suspended elections and jailed political opponents.
Who did TRUMP jail? What elections have been postponed?
TRUMP has a 51% approval the Democrats have a 21% approval rating.
Apparently America feels that the Democrats don’t align with their values.
And BTW since the Republicans control the White House, Senate, Congress, Supreme Court, and the Majority of State Houses, its clear the Republicans represent America.
MAGA opposed the Border bill in May 2024, what else do you have?
Senate Republicans block border security bill as they campaign on border chaos
Nearly every GOP senator, along with six Democrats, voted to filibuster a bipartisan bill designed to crack down on migration and reduce border crossings.
203 House MAGA voted no.
MAGA is deconstructing the government, with disastrous results.
MAGA is about to vote to strip away Medicaid, SS and Medicare for tax cuts for the top 1% and drive up the debt by 23 TRILLION.
Aren't the tariffs wonderful??
How about abandoning allies and siding with an advisory?
The GOP did not just fix the border or our immigration policy. Under Biden and Schumer the Senate had a bipartisan immigration bill and Trump told Johnson to sink it.
I wish people knew that the orange menace , who at the time, had no position in the government, called up Mike Johnson, who therefore killed the border bill, so it would be an issue during the election. Also, I am beyond sick of this myth of drug dealers and rapists and criminals charging over our borders. It is a bald face lie. WE are the ones that provide weapons, guns, to the drug cartels. WE provide the demand for fentanyl. Why aren't we treating these people with addictions? Oh I forgot, Trump hurts the sick, weak, babies, women, infirm, oh that's right, he is a sadistic narcissist. Cheater. I forgot for a minute. Come on, get with it and stop the deception .
Whose Crappy trade bill are you bitching about? The one the Orange Mussolini brokered in his first term or the one he instituted by fiat with his trade killing tariffs this week?
1) THE BORDER. Biden had every excuse for the illegal invasion. TRUMP fixed the problem in 4 weeks. 95% less border crossings. Even the most ardent leftist can’t LIE about that.
2) ECONOMIC OPPORTINITY - Trump has secured almost 2 TRILLION in infrastructure spending from APPLE, Taiwan Semiconductor, META, and a slew of companies. This didn’t happen under Biden. The Biden administration penalized corporation growth and spending.
3) RELEASE OF ISRAELI hostages
4) END TO UKRAINE WAR - Trump is on the verge of ending a pointless war.
5) GOLD CARD - Selling Green Cards to the best and brightest immigrants in America. We want highly educated immigrants to fuel our economy, not criminal aliens.
Get the fuck outta here, you troll. If you truly believe the shit you just wrote, you have no place in this community because you are obviously just spewing more lies. Watch Fox much? You sound like a mouthpiece.
He will simply give Ukraine to Putin. Biden made the arrangements to release the Israeli hostages, Trump is trying to wreck it. You MAGAts belive anything thet Mago Musolinni tells you
I disagree with every one of your shallow points AND your description of yourself as an intellectual. No more time need be wasted on you or your opinions. What you are presenting are not "receipts" they are regurgitated oversimplified propaganda slogans.
You are one effed up, delusional asshole. Verge of ending a war started by your fascist buddy? You are effing delusional. And how did you get here shithead? Run along before they turn over your rock. Always good for a laugh.
Apple announced those investments before Trump...hostages were released during Biden's term...ah forget it. The delusion runs deep with MAGA. He could sh*t on his supporters and they'd thank him for a refreshing mud bath.
You are correct, February but Apple's been investing billions to diversify their reliance on China since COVID. They've been investing in the US, India, etc.
For the Trump cult, all positive things are because of Trump almighty. All negative things are because of someone else.
I wasn't running so I didn't lose anything. A bunch of misfits, lead by the head misfit, are running the country. The country lost.
Did you watch the debacle asshole? Did you hear one provable lie after the other? Of course not asshole. The shit you're filled with is still affecting your senses. Governance? Laughable as always
Trump lies: "Doge found hundreds of Billions of fraud, 21 million people poured into the US in the past four years, the paris climate accord was costing the US trillions of dollars, the US spent 350 billion in aid to ukraine, we inherited an economic catastrophe", etc etc etc. There are plenty of other falsehoods to post and just as many misleading comments, all you have to do is look anywhere but fox.. There's a reason why there's no right wing fact checking sites. In true trump fashion every other comment out of his mouth is either false or greatly exaggerated.
I haven't seen a mention of DOGE yet so I'm glad you did. Isn't anyone else thrilled at the fact that Kel McClanahan filed a “Notice of New Evidence” to expose DOGE's illegality?? All because trump overtly spilled the beans. The idiocy is incomprehensible....
“Illegal border crossings last month were by far the lowest ever recorded .”
Customs and Border Protection recorded about 8,300 border encounters in February, the most recent month for which data is available. That suggests a yearly average of about 100,000. But in the early 1900s, before World War II and even in the 1960s, annual border encounters were below 30,000 — sometimes as low as 10,000 or 11,000.
“I withdrew from the unfair Paris Climate accord, which was costing us trillions of dollars.”
Each country set its own commitments under the Paris accord, so Trump’s comment makes little sense. He could have unilaterally changed the commitments offered by President Barack Obama, which is technically allowed under the accord. Indeed, the agreement is nonbinding, so there was nothing in the agreement that stops the United States from building, say, coal plants, or gives permission to China or India to build coal plants. Trump’s estimates of the costs came from industry-funded studies that did not consider possible benefits from reducing climate change.
“We inherited from the last administration an economic catastrophe and an inflation nightmare.”
Trump inherited an economy with relatively low unemployment, falling inflation and strong growth. The month before the November election, the Economist newspaper published a cover story declaring that the U.S. economy was “the envy of the world.”
“We suffered the worst inflation in 48 years. But perhaps even in the history of our country, they're not sure.”
The inflation peak in 2022 was the highest in 40 years. But amusingly, Trump seems to be arguing with his speechwriter here. In his rally speeches, Trump often falsely claims Biden had the worst inflation in U.S. history, so the second sentence seems to be an ad-lib.
Inflation peaked at 9 percent in June 2022, while annual inflation was 7 percent in 2021, 6.5 percent in 2022 and 3.4 percent in 2023. This was not the highest in U.S. history. In Trump’s adulthood, inflation was 9 percent in 1978, 13.3 percent in 1979, 12.5 percent in 1980 and 8.9 percent in 1981 — and also 8.7 percent in 1973 and 12.3 percent in 1974. Inflation was 18.1 percent in 1946, the year Trump was born. Other periods in U.S. history had even higher inflation rates.
Higher prices for goods and services would have happened no matter who was elected president in 2020. Inflation initially spiked because of pandemic-related shocks — increased consumer demand as the pandemic eased, and an inability to meet this demand because of supply-chain issues, as companies had reduced production when consumers hunkered down during the pandemic. Indeed, inflation rose around the world — with many peer countries doing worse than the United States — because of pandemic-related shocks that rippled across the globe.
Choke on those asshole. Probably should check before spewing talking points. But then again you get paid to be stupid. Think you're dealing with your fellow MAGAts asshole? Fool.
8 million dollars for making mice transgender. It was Transgenic. Transgenic mice are useful in all kinds of medical research.
Sorry, I was wrong. The 8 million dollars was indeed for creating a transgender mouse model for testing the effects of hormone treatments and puberty blockers before approving use in humans. A NIH study.
Your points are laughable, James -- including about the "CRAPPY TRADE DEALS" that *trump* signed and is now saying were horrible.
"I'd read them at night and say, who would ever sign a thing like this?"
The trade deal he's referrring to is the US Mexico Canada Agreement, *which he signed in 2020*:
"Trump praised the USMCA in 2020 as the “best agreement we’ve ever made” and lauded it for replacing the “nightmare” North American Free Trade Agreement ratified under former President Bill Clinton, calling it the “worst trade deal ever made.” "
What needs to end is our bullying of allies — among them Canada, Mexico and Europe — through consumer taxes (tariffs), threats, manipulation and extortion, as well as our cozying up to dictators. Goodbye, James.
Trade does not have to be “balanced.” I buy haircuts from my hairdresser. She doesn’t buy anything from me. Is that unfair? Am I being used? No, I get haircuts for my money.
"Democrats are great a screaming and protesting. They are terrible at new ideas and GOVERNANCE."
You mean like the New Deal, The Great Society, passing legislation to protect us from predatory lending passing legislation to protect and extend civil rights, protecting the environment, pulling us out of the pandemic in better economic shape than almost any other nation.
"defend the perverts", if you only knew who stupid that sounds given the king of the GOP was convicted of sexual assault with numerous credible assault allegations.
And the parts about "decorum" and "narcissist". Trump supporters are truly delusional.
Oh boy, here we go with the George Soros crap. Same old lunatic right-wing talking points. Trump forcefully penetrated her in a dressing room and she was a younger, attractive woman that resembled his wife at the time. A jury of her peers, convicted him. That's how it works in this country, for now.
I'll give Trump one thing, he's tapped into the intellectually challenged in our society. Who knew there were so many of them.
The point of the comments here is that democrats were exhibiting too much decorum—proper behavior that shows respect and good manners.
You wrote, “When you are a sanctimonious
narcissist no rules apply to you.” To whom are you referring as a sanctimonious narcissist ?
You wrote, “This is just what middle America wants to see. Another leftist fighting about an issue that NO ONE CARES ABOUT.” What issue? There are potentially several reasons why Dems lost, but since you didn’t state what issue you were referring to,
we must guess.
I can’t imagine why you think we “should come together on DOGE.” Doge is recklessly & illegally firing people like the people who make sure our nuclear weapons are safe. DOGE is also illegally freezing funds that Congress voted to spend.
We did come together on border issues a few
months ago and drafted a bipartisan plan that
both Dems and republicans agreed to, but Trump
told Rs to not vote to pass it because he wanted to run for President on the border issues. So all of that bipartisan negotiating was for nothing, but you
self-righteously blame Democrats.
Trans people are not perverts. They are human beings just like you. Why would democrats agree
to a “crappy” trade deal that will result in higher prices on everything? Tariffs are a bad idea.
Gayle S. Marks, you are exactly on the mark. In my opinion, the democrats are doing
Nothing constructive on stopping Trumps overthrow of our government. Words won’t do it, we need action. Every single democrats should have called out his lies and walked out. Holding up those signs was useless.
Heckling would have been a mistake because it would have put the Democratic members of Congress on the same disgraceful level with Marjorie Taylor Green.
Gayle - I could not agree with you more. I would love to have heard what Democratic leadership said in preparation for the address. Was there a concerted effort to behave, instead of "good trouble". If so why? What was the thinking? They are just out of touch, IMHO.
Gayle, I was livid that they all abandoned Rep. Green! I called my senators, Schiff and Padilla, plus my congressman and asked them if they were glued to their seats! They are not our party. Their rhetoric does nothing for any of us. Al Green spoke for all of us and I sent him some money because of his making good trouble.
You are suggesting one protesting Congress member being ejected at a time—like Al Green? Much better! He wasn’t all that noisy either. Maybe resist and need to be carried out?
@Gayle... Amen to that!! My friends and I have observed over and over that Democratic leadership needs to stop bringing Nerf bats to a knife fight. There's no point in preserving decorum when the other side doesn't give a damn about that. Sometimes getting one's hands dirty is absolutely necessary. Taking the high road for its own sake in such situations is priggish and pointless.
Well, gentlemen (and women) always defer to thugs, don't they. Another example of a missed opportunity delivered by the strategy of too little and too late. There is still no effective opposition to the current duly elected administration. YMMV.
Democratic majority in the House may be possible? Forget the Senate! The reach is too far. Live with it as long as voters refuse to bother to register and vote their party!
I’ve felt the potential for this happening the moment he took office in 2016. What would Drumpf do now if Greenland was invaded by Russia? We all know that answer. How about Alaska then Canada? Donny boy would not only praise it, but voice support, maybe even ‘send in the troops’ to help Putskin.
IMO the brave patriotic Ukrainians (with Allied assistance) has beat the crap out of Russia and weakened its ability to fight battles on any other fronts. Inflation in Russia is rising, its soldiers are being shoved through the wood chipper and its citizens are getting restless. Holding Allies from the Death Blow is Russia’s nuclear stockpiles.
Maybe those too are as illusory as its vaunted war machine.
Trump IS the successful Russian invasion of our USA, having been a Russian operative with his own Russian code name since Putin bailed him out of debt in the 80"s. His code name is "Krasnov."
Knowing that Trump is ALLOWING Russia to do this is terrifying. Now we KNOW who has those “Top Secret Classified Documents” that Trump stole and refused to return - Putin!
And the corrupt Robert’s Supreme Court allowed him to get off with the ridiculous delays and the absurd immunity ruling.
Last night's speech marked a first in American history (at least, I hope so: Never before has an agent of a foreign power addressed a joint session of Congress as our chief executive. I expect to discuss this further on my Substack later today.
Perhaps John Roberts will move to reclaim some mantle of integrity, but he has a long, long way to go before he loses the title of Worst Chief Justice, ahead, even, of Roger B. Taney.
If there ever was an epitome of "poor optics", it was tRump signaling to "his" Justices that he "appreciated" their work on his behalf, and let them know on-camera that more is expected as good team members. If CJ Roberts even had one iota of institutional regard for his Court as an independent Third Branch, he would have swatted away tRump's hand, and told him in no uncertain terms that the Court does NOT "work" for tRump, full stop. That episode, as Joyce Vance mentioned, is a vintage mob-boss nod to corrupt judges who "fix" court cases on behalf of their patron.
Jon Give me long odds and I’ll bet that Roberts and Barrett, on occasion, will be the swing SC votes that block some of Trump’s most egregious injustices.
I recall, many years ago, dining with Owen Roberts, Jr. and discussing his dad’s role on the Supreme Court during Roosevelt’s New Deal. While FDR castigated the court, in a number of instances the Court appropriately ruled that some hasty New Deal legislation was poorly crafted.
Currently the Trump administration is playing loosely with constitutional checks and balances and the law. There is ample opportunity for a SC majority to rule against Trump’s illegal grabs without doing judicial summersaults.
What odds will you give me? At 3 to 1 you have a bet.
Barrett is already moved well off-piste, and in fact she may be nudging Roberts in her direction. Perhaps the good times for uber-reactionary decisions has passed - or at least been somewhat checked.
I caught that bit when Trump patted John Roberts in a condescending,
Tony Sopranoesque way, too, and was 'shocked, frankly shocked.' What with Trump's other unintentional reveal, admitting that Musk is indeed the head of Doge, we have at least those two things to keep an eye on. Not only will this affect the cases currently before the court, but it might (one hopes) encourage Justice Roberts to act like who he is supposed to be, a defender of our Constitution and due process, rather than Trump's stooge.
“There is little of substance here” is the best, short and succinct, description of this administration. I can only hope Chief Justice Roberts, captured on video for the world to see and hear, has many sleepless nights ahead. And I remain grateful to have this community here as we move forward down a vey uncertain path.
I find it amazing and a bit depressing that Joyce wrote a terrific summary of Trump's speech without mentioning all the lies he told. Apparently, that's just a given now.
It's a truly horrifying observation. I started capturing them during the speech. They went on for pages. Maddow did a great job of hitting the high points last night, but she too noted there was so much that covering them would have taken forever. But to your point, it may be a given but it doesn't mean we should accept it. And I hope the Judge in the case I discuss won't. When the government lies in court, it should be held in contempt!
Me neither, I knew there would be plenty of comments and observations after and again today. The press would have done us a favor by not broadcasting live, They could have just listened and interrupted and reported if there was actually any news……In the meantime we could have been treated to ………there were lots of possibilities…….scenes from our National Parks,good music, readings of important information, you get the idea……
Impressive to see that McClanahan was able to catch one of Trump's lies and put it to use in the case against DOGE -- I'll take this good news. Regarding the stream of lies, Politifact tried to capture the main ones in real-time, too. They did a pretty good job, but it is clear they couldn't quite keep up with all of them: https://www.politifact.com/article/2025/mar/05/Trump-address-congress-fact-check-speech/#
Joyce, the other thing Trump said in the SOTU address was "I have created the brand new Department of Government Efficiency, DOGE. Perhaps you’ve heard of it. Perhaps. Which is headed by Elon Musk, who is in the gallery tonight," Trump said during his speech.
Which is an admission that DOGE is an illegal entity; only Congress can create a Federal Department. People need to stop giving Trump's administration a pass on this. It needs to be shouted from the rooftops: "DOGE is illegal and Musk's actions are illegal!"
Make it incumbent on Trump's corrupt DOJ to prove the legality of DOGE and Musk in court.
All of the news outlets and talking heads need to stop sane-washing DOGE as if it is a legitimate Department.
And the substance that was present was evil: betrayal of friends and allies, submission to deadly enemies, wholesale destruction of our common government that has existed for nearly 250 years as the guardian and protector of the liberties of the citizen, resignation from the role of leadership of all peoples who believe in democracy and the rule of law and alliance with the dictators and thugs of the world. Our descendants and the descendants of all free peoples of the world will never forgive and never forget what we have made ourselves into now.
Couldn’t watch it except in short segments … but I was struck again at how unconvincing Trump was … and how ill he looked. Doesn’t anyone notice that he’s become an automaton?
I think it was Andy Borowitz who posted a cartoon yesterday, showing trump as a marionette operated by putin - and the puppet had a Pinocchio nose. Perfect description, IMO.
He only makes what could remotely be considered sense when he avoids going off teleprompter. He got all his maga points out but didn’t loose associate. I’m surprised he can still read.
Democrat Congress members lost an incredible opportunity to use last night's address as an opportunity for mass peaceful protest. They should have ALL done what Mr. Green did alone, loudly protesting until evicted, with another and then another standing to protest until evicted, until it was over. This is no time for decorum.
The word is DEMOCRATIC. Stop using Maga language.
YES! I agree, Mimi! It grates on me every time I hear someone say "Democrat" when they should be saying "Democratic", an adjective. How about we start calling the GOP, Republics. This is the only lasting win for Gingrich, so many years ago. STOP using "Democrat". It marks you as having drunk some version of the kool-aid and it's not good enough to ignore the insinuation, whether you mean it or not.
I respectfully disagree. They should have attended, sat in silence and had a big press conference afterwards, pointing out all his lies. The Slotkin response was exactly what the Democrats need to be saying now and every day. We care about everyone. We know how to run a really efficient government that relies on expert advice and real science — not a bunch of crackpots or Russian assets.
WHO CARES! Our country is burning to the ground and you folks are griping about someone using the word Democrat instead of Democratic?! C'mon now. We have to join forces, not nitpick. Thanks.
Would you like to compare who's doing what? I stand by the statement that spreading Maga wordage is counter productive. Period.
"The difference between the almost right word and the right word is really a large matter—’tis the difference between the lightning-bug and the lightning." ~ Mark Twain
Megan, I respectfully disagree. Language and words matter. When a group is constantly insulting the other, it makes the insulted seem weak and the bullies of the other group more powerful than they actually are. Most people do pay attention to the words and titles used. We do have massive problems, but calling out the insults as the childish things they are is critical too.
Mimi, Please stop nitpicking. Gayle made a VERY important point about Democrats losing an incredible opportunity for peaceful protest while millions were watching. Democrats should have done what Mr. Green did alone. It’s time for Schumer and other so-called leaders to pass the torch to colleagues who are willing to stand up and protest during a crisis. And it IS a crisis!!
You're asking me to give up my voice. No.
I'm sorry to see this extended debate in the face of so many larger issues that went on last night and continue. No one is trying to prevent you from voicing your opinion.
Words matter. Every time one of us uses their derogatory language, it indicates that they are winning. It is a form of capitulation at the worst.
Here is an even more important point: if one is uses “Democrat Party” or “Democrat colleagues” then it also makes one look stupid because it sounds like one doesn’t know the names of the two parties in the American system.
For someone who’s just learning the language of political communication
it’s good to get it right!
🤨🤔
We have much bigger concerns than policing each others word choices. Even when accurate. The names of the parties are long and have different meanings in lower case than upper. I often short cut them. Dems and Reps usually.
having "bigger concerns" doesn't mean we let "some" fall off the table. Words do, indeed matter.
They do indeed.
Are we going to have a test on all this vocabulary nonsense !!
Sorry, but words DO matter.
Came to say just this.
With everything there is to concentrate on right now, you're going to nitpick someone for writing Democrat instead of Democratic? Really? We need to stick together and not criticize each other. Be part of the solution. Please.
It is not nitpicking. Using Democrat party instead of Democratic party is a purposefully derogatory Republican trope. Over time and social space some linguistic usages become charged in ways which we ought to be aware of. This is a political issue and in terms of a political discussion, the critique was appropriate.
Absolutely! As Vance wrote, it was a "campaign rally stump speech" - the campaign being now for the orange maggot as ruler for life. Jeffries calling for "decorum" was quite simply an abdication of leadership. When will the Democrats wake up?
"Orange Maggot". I must use that. As a Canadian living in Canada, I could not watch the SOTU knowing he would talk about crushing Canada, stealing Gaza, ripping Greenland away from Denmark or assuming he owns Panama and starts building a casino. I am grateful that I am at the end of my life when the world goes to shit.
Mary, as an American I couldn't either. I'm so sad for Canada, the homeland of my ancestors (I'm 2nd-generation French Canadian American) and to which I feel a strong affinity. Canada and Canadians do not deserve this treatment from a longstanding loyal ally, nor does Mexico or Europe. Please understand that a majority of Americans are with you.
I do not feel sorry for Canada. They are a sovereign and strong nation. They do not need sympathy - they need cheerleading. And I am hoping to see some strong resistance from Canada. I want Canada to take it to Trump like no other nation has so far. I for one am willing to pay the price whatever it is.
We are and we will continue to fight back. Elbows up
Jay, I feel compassion for anyone who is bullied, be it a country or a person. And i am a cheerleader of Canada, which has responded with tariffs of its own. I live in New England which heavily depends on Canadian imports of petroleum products and electricity (HydroQuebec.) Tariffs are consumer taxes which hurt the buyer as well as the seller; Canadians will pay more for our products and will have less demand for theirs in the US.
I am so with you! I heard Doug Ford, the Ontario Premier prefacing his threats of tariffs on energy provided to US states by how much Canadians love the US and its citizens and blamed the one person responsible. And if those tariffs don't work it's lights out....
"...and blamed the one person responsible..."
If only it were one person. But it is the entire right wing extremist apparatus - plutocrats and populists - personified by Trump. And abetted by a bureaucracy of eager Eichmanns with not a thought to the harm they are doing - the definition of Hannah Arendt's 'banality of evil.'
Yea, go Canada!
The worse is that the Orange Fart Shit is a divider not a uniter — which should be the main characteristic of a president.
Check out Prime Minister Trudeaus remarks to Trump yesterday.
It clarifies the issues.
MAGAism know no boundaries. I have a bro-in-law a second gen French Canadian who bleeds orange and thinks Biden is a Socialist. Sad but true.
You're absolutely right, Reality Seeker. It knows no bounds.
I have been considering what would be the best way to let Canada and its citizens know how disgusted I am with the manner in which they are being treated. I will not apologize for the Orange Maggot, he is indefensible….and the worst thing that happened to the USA. Period
And I am so sad for my children and grandchildren.
Orange maggot nice. Since the "king" picture i.have referred to him as His Royal Hindazz"
I am there with you!
Absolutely needed to yell back and walk out together. I cannot understand how they could sit there taking the crap he barfed up for the rest of the time. Shame on them. By not immediately reacting is exactly how the Nazis won Germany.
Made more noise yesterday in small protest I went to,we had signs with no kings, wanted leader of free world etc. to have the democratic side sitstone faced holding little signs was pathetic in my opinion. No fire. They need to start having someone else giving advice
Thank You for your service, Christine.
No really. How the Nazis won Germany was not so much the failure of the Weimar center to hold. It was the German industrialists and aristocrats (and their American and European business partners and Nazi sympathizers) willing to hedge their bets on fascism to combat communism. And it was Stalin instructing the German communists not to vote for the centrist left. And an anxious and overwhelmed populous willing to violently indulge in their bigotries as prejudice and exclusion were normalized and instituted by the Nazis.
I am losing my respect for Jeffries rapidly. He does not appear to be taking this seriously.
Jeffries seems to be back on his heels?
Look - people who rise the the level he has I have to believe are special. Special skills, superhuman in some ways. Or should be. Great leaders got great, usually, by being great and then leveraging it. For good. I see no greatness coming from any of the Democratic leaders. I see greatness in some of the less senior ones - AOC, Goldman, some others. But they are being stymied by Jeffries and Schumer and the likes. How about Elizabeth Warren? Her reaction to being singled out the other night was to applaud? Applaud? What a total lack of imagination. She had a moment to make a real newsworthy impact. But she effectively froze like a deer in the headlights. Just like the entire D side of the aisle after Rep Green from Texas had his display which got him escorted out by the SoA. That was the window in which to act. Instead - deer in the headlights. Where was Jeffries? Respecting decorum. Where was Pelosi? Respecting decorum. Schumer? Same. Sanders? He walked out - quietly. How about loudly? And what about the bingo signs? Who's lame brain idea was that?
True! There was no there, there.
When we pressure them with regular calls and letters to demand better - more direct communication with the public about both acknowledging their mistakes and moving on the regularly and collectively call out Trump, Musk, and the parties failures to
Govern or serve the people of the United States.
You know, that - Dems were feckless- seems to be the general 'take'. But I think Democrats sitting in silence and holding signs - with Al Greene's protest counterpoint - was a good visual. It certainly got under Trump's skin. And Republicans have been howling.
I am not sure what positive effect a Democratic shut down of the speech would have accomplished.
Where Democrats need to stand firm is on blocking legislation.
Gosh, lin, I rarely disagree with you but I do not feel their silence and placards were not useful in any sense! They abandoned Al Green by doing nothing. They should have made noise and let that toad, Johnson, have them all removed. They. Did. NOTHING. I sent a donation to Green but quite frankly, we should not be sending any monies to the DCCC. When congress members ask for money on your texts, type STOP or Stop2End as a response.
That’s what I’ve been doing is typing in STOP. When they come forward and actually say and do something , I will support them monetarily.
Marlene, your first sentence confuses me. The rest of your letter says the placid dem response was not useful and I agree totally with that. They could have gotten up and silently walked out like Bernie did. Trompe lectured them about not standing up and clapping for him plus lying in every sentence and that was just as long as I could stand it. 🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮
You’re right, Gigi, my first sentence is screwy! It should’ve read “but I do feel…” Thanks for bringing that to my attention. Sometimes my fingers have a mind of their own!
Two minds are better than one! Keep it up Marlene! 🤨😎🥳🤩
I think the news agencies should just not cover these diatribes, they could be listening/ watching and break in if anything newsworthy happens
ITS NEVER a time for decorum with Democrats. When you are a sanctimous narcissist
no rules apply to you.
This is just what middle America wants to see. Another leftist fighting about an issue that NO ONE CARES ABOUT.
This is exactly why you LOST.
Instead of coming together on DOGE. You fight it. Instead of coming together on the BORDER you pretend like it never happened. Instead of coming together on GIRLS SPORTS you defend the perverts. Instead of coming together on CRAPPY TRADE DEALS you sit on your hands wave stupid signs.
Democrats are great a screaming and protesting. They are terrible at new ideas and GOVERNANCE.
Democrats historically have had to spend their administrations fixing the mess created by Republican ones. Dems are great at governance. And for new ideas, if the GOP had had even a modicum of working with the Dems, we'd have seen a lot of innovation. Amnesia, anyone? How 'bout Mitch saying on day 1 of the Obama admin, "we're going to make sure he's unsuccessful". It's incredible that Obama and Biden accomplished what they did. Come on, people!
Yes I agree. That doesn't change the fact that most seem asleep at the wheel as we speed toward the cliff! Their leaders do not seem aware that this is not normal.
Please google the Progressive Caucus.
BTW I”m no fan of Mitch McConnell.
I’m also not naive. Politics is hardball. That said, the Democrats are shooting themselves in the foot, when they oppose border policy, trade policy, girls sports, and DOGE.
Feel free to resist. Its why YOU LOST
I beg to differ. We lost because we constantly bring a fucking a kid’s plastic knife to the fight! We have feckless leadership in our Party. We need a new one that gathers the newly upset Repubs, libertarians, Independents, and Dems together. Believe me, there’s plenty of them pissed off!
When the Democrats can’t bother to stand or applaud at the State of Union address for the mother of murdered 12 yr old victim, or young boy that has overcome cancer they’ve lost their way. Its a never ending tantrum.
The only thing binding the Democrats together is for their hatred of Trump.
There are no policies. There are no new ideas. Its just TRUMP TRUMP TRUMP.
One thing is consistently true. The Democratic Party can always be relied on to shoot itself in the foot!
Not bad, kid. Not bad at all.
Dictator?
Zelenskyy suspended elections and jailed political opponents.
Who did TRUMP jail? What elections have been postponed?
TRUMP has a 51% approval the Democrats have a 21% approval rating.
Apparently America feels that the Democrats don’t align with their values.
And BTW since the Republicans control the White House, Senate, Congress, Supreme Court, and the Majority of State Houses, its clear the Republicans represent America.
YOU ARE DELUSIONAL. Its exactly why you LOST.
NAME ONE EXAMPLE.
I’m bringing receipts. The REPUBLICANS JUST FIXED THE BORDER.
What are the Democrats fixing?
MAGA opposed the Border bill in May 2024, what else do you have?
Senate Republicans block border security bill as they campaign on border chaos
Nearly every GOP senator, along with six Democrats, voted to filibuster a bipartisan bill designed to crack down on migration and reduce border crossings.
203 House MAGA voted no.
MAGA is deconstructing the government, with disastrous results.
MAGA is about to vote to strip away Medicaid, SS and Medicare for tax cuts for the top 1% and drive up the debt by 23 TRILLION.
Aren't the tariffs wonderful??
How about abandoning allies and siding with an advisory?
The GOP did not just fix the border or our immigration policy. Under Biden and Schumer the Senate had a bipartisan immigration bill and Trump told Johnson to sink it.
I wish people knew that the orange menace , who at the time, had no position in the government, called up Mike Johnson, who therefore killed the border bill, so it would be an issue during the election. Also, I am beyond sick of this myth of drug dealers and rapists and criminals charging over our borders. It is a bald face lie. WE are the ones that provide weapons, guns, to the drug cartels. WE provide the demand for fentanyl. Why aren't we treating these people with addictions? Oh I forgot, Trump hurts the sick, weak, babies, women, infirm, oh that's right, he is a sadistic narcissist. Cheater. I forgot for a minute. Come on, get with it and stop the deception .
Whose Crappy trade bill are you bitching about? The one the Orange Mussolini brokered in his first term or the one he instituted by fiat with his trade killing tariffs this week?
If you believe we are experiencing good governance with this present despicable administration you are truly delusional.
YES WE ARE. I’m bringing receipts
1) THE BORDER. Biden had every excuse for the illegal invasion. TRUMP fixed the problem in 4 weeks. 95% less border crossings. Even the most ardent leftist can’t LIE about that.
2) ECONOMIC OPPORTINITY - Trump has secured almost 2 TRILLION in infrastructure spending from APPLE, Taiwan Semiconductor, META, and a slew of companies. This didn’t happen under Biden. The Biden administration penalized corporation growth and spending.
3) RELEASE OF ISRAELI hostages
4) END TO UKRAINE WAR - Trump is on the verge of ending a pointless war.
5) GOLD CARD - Selling Green Cards to the best and brightest immigrants in America. We want highly educated immigrants to fuel our economy, not criminal aliens.
NOT BAD for 6 weeks in office
Get the fuck outta here, you troll. If you truly believe the shit you just wrote, you have no place in this community because you are obviously just spewing more lies. Watch Fox much? You sound like a mouthpiece.
He will simply give Ukraine to Putin. Biden made the arrangements to release the Israeli hostages, Trump is trying to wreck it. You MAGAts belive anything thet Mago Musolinni tells you
YOU ARE A POORLY EDUCATED MAGA TROLL.
I disagree with every one of your shallow points AND your description of yourself as an intellectual. No more time need be wasted on you or your opinions. What you are presenting are not "receipts" they are regurgitated oversimplified propaganda slogans.
You are one effed up, delusional asshole. Verge of ending a war started by your fascist buddy? You are effing delusional. And how did you get here shithead? Run along before they turn over your rock. Always good for a laugh.
"NOT BAD for 6 weeks in office"
Not true at all.
WHAT”S NOT TRUE?
Apple announced those investments before Trump...hostages were released during Biden's term...ah forget it. The delusion runs deep with MAGA. He could sh*t on his supporters and they'd thank him for a refreshing mud bath.
This person is probably a Russian puppet, or he sounds like one. Spewing lies.
NO NO NO. Apple announced in February. As well as the long conga line I listed.
YOU ARE DELUSIONAL. You lost the election.
You are correct, February but Apple's been investing billions to diversify their reliance on China since COVID. They've been investing in the US, India, etc.
For the Trump cult, all positive things are because of Trump almighty. All negative things are because of someone else.
I wasn't running so I didn't lose anything. A bunch of misfits, lead by the head misfit, are running the country. The country lost.
Did you watch the debacle asshole? Did you hear one provable lie after the other? Of course not asshole. The shit you're filled with is still affecting your senses. Governance? Laughable as always
NAME ONE LIE?
Trump lies: "Doge found hundreds of Billions of fraud, 21 million people poured into the US in the past four years, the paris climate accord was costing the US trillions of dollars, the US spent 350 billion in aid to ukraine, we inherited an economic catastrophe", etc etc etc. There are plenty of other falsehoods to post and just as many misleading comments, all you have to do is look anywhere but fox.. There's a reason why there's no right wing fact checking sites. In true trump fashion every other comment out of his mouth is either false or greatly exaggerated.
I haven't seen a mention of DOGE yet so I'm glad you did. Isn't anyone else thrilled at the fact that Kel McClanahan filed a “Notice of New Evidence” to expose DOGE's illegality?? All because trump overtly spilled the beans. The idiocy is incomprehensible....
“Illegal border crossings last month were by far the lowest ever recorded .”
Customs and Border Protection recorded about 8,300 border encounters in February, the most recent month for which data is available. That suggests a yearly average of about 100,000. But in the early 1900s, before World War II and even in the 1960s, annual border encounters were below 30,000 — sometimes as low as 10,000 or 11,000.
“I withdrew from the unfair Paris Climate accord, which was costing us trillions of dollars.”
Each country set its own commitments under the Paris accord, so Trump’s comment makes little sense. He could have unilaterally changed the commitments offered by President Barack Obama, which is technically allowed under the accord. Indeed, the agreement is nonbinding, so there was nothing in the agreement that stops the United States from building, say, coal plants, or gives permission to China or India to build coal plants. Trump’s estimates of the costs came from industry-funded studies that did not consider possible benefits from reducing climate change.
“We inherited from the last administration an economic catastrophe and an inflation nightmare.”
Trump inherited an economy with relatively low unemployment, falling inflation and strong growth. The month before the November election, the Economist newspaper published a cover story declaring that the U.S. economy was “the envy of the world.”
“We suffered the worst inflation in 48 years. But perhaps even in the history of our country, they're not sure.”
The inflation peak in 2022 was the highest in 40 years. But amusingly, Trump seems to be arguing with his speechwriter here. In his rally speeches, Trump often falsely claims Biden had the worst inflation in U.S. history, so the second sentence seems to be an ad-lib.
Inflation peaked at 9 percent in June 2022, while annual inflation was 7 percent in 2021, 6.5 percent in 2022 and 3.4 percent in 2023. This was not the highest in U.S. history. In Trump’s adulthood, inflation was 9 percent in 1978, 13.3 percent in 1979, 12.5 percent in 1980 and 8.9 percent in 1981 — and also 8.7 percent in 1973 and 12.3 percent in 1974. Inflation was 18.1 percent in 1946, the year Trump was born. Other periods in U.S. history had even higher inflation rates.
Higher prices for goods and services would have happened no matter who was elected president in 2020. Inflation initially spiked because of pandemic-related shocks — increased consumer demand as the pandemic eased, and an inability to meet this demand because of supply-chain issues, as companies had reduced production when consumers hunkered down during the pandemic. Indeed, inflation rose around the world — with many peer countries doing worse than the United States — because of pandemic-related shocks that rippled across the globe.
Choke on those asshole. Probably should check before spewing talking points. But then again you get paid to be stupid. Think you're dealing with your fellow MAGAts asshole? Fool.
Well said!
The so-called list of findings by DOGE are PURE LIES, and the MAGA STUPID believe them.
everything "it" said was a lie
8 million dollars for making mice transgender. It was Transgenic. Transgenic mice are useful in all kinds of medical research.
Sorry, I was wrong. The 8 million dollars was indeed for creating a transgender mouse model for testing the effects of hormone treatments and puberty blockers before approving use in humans. A NIH study.
21,000 illegal immigrants since 2021.
Your points are laughable, James -- including about the "CRAPPY TRADE DEALS" that *trump* signed and is now saying were horrible.
"I'd read them at night and say, who would ever sign a thing like this?"
The trade deal he's referrring to is the US Mexico Canada Agreement, *which he signed in 2020*:
"Trump praised the USMCA in 2020 as the “best agreement we’ve ever made” and lauded it for replacing the “nightmare” North American Free Trade Agreement ratified under former President Bill Clinton, calling it the “worst trade deal ever made.” "
What are you talking about?
I’m talking about TARIFFS. We are paying a premium to other countries for trade. That needs to end.
Your words, James, not mine.
What needs to end is our bullying of allies — among them Canada, Mexico and Europe — through consumer taxes (tariffs), threats, manipulation and extortion, as well as our cozying up to dictators. Goodbye, James.
Are you really this STUPID???
The tariffs are a tax on US CONSUMERS.
Trade does not have to be “balanced.” I buy haircuts from my hairdresser. She doesn’t buy anything from me. Is that unfair? Am I being used? No, I get haircuts for my money.
Full of paid shit as usual asshole.
"Democrats are great a screaming and protesting. They are terrible at new ideas and GOVERNANCE."
You mean like the New Deal, The Great Society, passing legislation to protect us from predatory lending passing legislation to protect and extend civil rights, protecting the environment, pulling us out of the pandemic in better economic shape than almost any other nation.
"defend the perverts", if you only knew who stupid that sounds given the king of the GOP was convicted of sexual assault with numerous credible assault allegations.
And the parts about "decorum" and "narcissist". Trump supporters are truly delusional.
I’m talking about boys showering with girls.
As for Trump the lawsuit was a joke. They had to rewrite the law to litigate.
The legal fees were paid for by George Soros. It was tried in city that voted 91% for Biden and Harris.
BTW - Why would Trump allegedly assault an unattractive middle age women inside a department store dressing room? He could date almost any model
or actress he wanted to.
Its too stupid to believe.
But if you believe Joe Biden was fit to be president you will believe anything.
Oh boy, here we go with the George Soros crap. Same old lunatic right-wing talking points. Trump forcefully penetrated her in a dressing room and she was a younger, attractive woman that resembled his wife at the time. A jury of her peers, convicted him. That's how it works in this country, for now.
I'll give Trump one thing, he's tapped into the intellectually challenged in our society. Who knew there were so many of them.
James, your comment makes no sense. You wrote,
“It’s never a time for decorum with democrats.”
The point of the comments here is that democrats were exhibiting too much decorum—proper behavior that shows respect and good manners.
You wrote, “When you are a sanctimonious
narcissist no rules apply to you.” To whom are you referring as a sanctimonious narcissist ?
You wrote, “This is just what middle America wants to see. Another leftist fighting about an issue that NO ONE CARES ABOUT.” What issue? There are potentially several reasons why Dems lost, but since you didn’t state what issue you were referring to,
we must guess.
I can’t imagine why you think we “should come together on DOGE.” Doge is recklessly & illegally firing people like the people who make sure our nuclear weapons are safe. DOGE is also illegally freezing funds that Congress voted to spend.
We did come together on border issues a few
months ago and drafted a bipartisan plan that
both Dems and republicans agreed to, but Trump
told Rs to not vote to pass it because he wanted to run for President on the border issues. So all of that bipartisan negotiating was for nothing, but you
self-righteously blame Democrats.
Trans people are not perverts. They are human beings just like you. Why would democrats agree
to a “crappy” trade deal that will result in higher prices on everything? Tariffs are a bad idea.
People waved “stupid signs” because they
were maintaining decorum.
James, how very magat of you.
That’s the best you can do? STUPID cliches?
Democrats have no policies? They don’t stand for anything except the hatred of TRUMP.
When the Democrats can’t stand with REpublicans and applaud a young boy who has overcome cancer, they’ve lost their way.
FEELINGS
TRUMP - Border shut down
Israeli Hostage returned
End of Israeli Hamas conflict
Captured mastermind of Afghanistan bombing
Bringing an end to Ukraine war
Protecting girls sports
ALL in 6 weeks. THAT’s GOVERNANCE.
Gayle S. Marks, you are exactly on the mark. In my opinion, the democrats are doing
Nothing constructive on stopping Trumps overthrow of our government. Words won’t do it, we need action. Every single democrats should have called out his lies and walked out. Holding up those signs was useless.
Heckling would have been a mistake because it would have put the Democratic members of Congress on the same disgraceful level with Marjorie Taylor Green.
IMHO Joyce, if you (and your colleagues) would concentrate on Feathers of Hope, we could get rid of the mumser and the band of thieves. https://jerryweiss.substack.com/p/to-stop-the-coup-impeach-the-traitor
Gayle - I could not agree with you more. I would love to have heard what Democratic leadership said in preparation for the address. Was there a concerted effort to behave, instead of "good trouble". If so why? What was the thinking? They are just out of touch, IMHO.
Gayle, I was livid that they all abandoned Rep. Green! I called my senators, Schiff and Padilla, plus my congressman and asked them if they were glued to their seats! They are not our party. Their rhetoric does nothing for any of us. Al Green spoke for all of us and I sent him some money because of his making good trouble.
Yes that would have been an appropriate protest to register. One at a tim taking up maybe 40 minutes.
You are suggesting one protesting Congress member being ejected at a time—like Al Green? Much better! He wasn’t all that noisy either. Maybe resist and need to be carried out?
@Gayle... Amen to that!! My friends and I have observed over and over that Democratic leadership needs to stop bringing Nerf bats to a knife fight. There's no point in preserving decorum when the other side doesn't give a damn about that. Sometimes getting one's hands dirty is absolutely necessary. Taking the high road for its own sake in such situations is priggish and pointless.
I disagree. That would have been very embarrassing.
Totally agree with you, Gayle!
Well, gentlemen (and women) always defer to thugs, don't they. Another example of a missed opportunity delivered by the strategy of too little and too late. There is still no effective opposition to the current duly elected administration. YMMV.
The victory is in the midterms.
Democratic majority in the House may be possible? Forget the Senate! The reach is too far. Live with it as long as voters refuse to bother to register and vote their party!
Thanks for this. It reminds me of what someone said during Trump‘s first term:
“organized crime masquerading as a government.“
I am worried about worse - a Russian invasion of our country!
Read/listen to Thom Hartmann’s excellent but SHOCKING Substack article:
“Could Russia Win A War Against America Without Firing A Shot?”
https://hartmannreport.com/p/could-russia-win-a-war-against-america-608
I’ve felt the potential for this happening the moment he took office in 2016. What would Drumpf do now if Greenland was invaded by Russia? We all know that answer. How about Alaska then Canada? Donny boy would not only praise it, but voice support, maybe even ‘send in the troops’ to help Putskin.
IMO the brave patriotic Ukrainians (with Allied assistance) has beat the crap out of Russia and weakened its ability to fight battles on any other fronts. Inflation in Russia is rising, its soldiers are being shoved through the wood chipper and its citizens are getting restless. Holding Allies from the Death Blow is Russia’s nuclear stockpiles.
Maybe those too are as illusory as its vaunted war machine.
Trump IS the successful Russian invasion of our USA, having been a Russian operative with his own Russian code name since Putin bailed him out of debt in the 80"s. His code name is "Krasnov."
I think they're winning at this moment.
Rachel Maddow is advising everyone to go to their Social Security account and print out all their earnings. Do it NOW! Before they take down the site.
They are coming for our Social Security!
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-rachel-maddow-show/id294055449
America has woken up.
Thanks for the link Marlo!
The Russians Are Coming. The Russians Are Coming.
They already are.
Reading Thom Hartman was terrifying.
Knowing that Trump is ALLOWING Russia to do this is terrifying. Now we KNOW who has those “Top Secret Classified Documents” that Trump stole and refused to return - Putin!
And the corrupt Robert’s Supreme Court allowed him to get off with the ridiculous delays and the absurd immunity ruling.
I deny everything.
Robert in Vermont
Sarah Kendzior called the Trump administration a “transnational crime ring masquerading as a government.”
Sarah Kendzior
So Donal,d Trump thinks there’s nothing he could say or do to get the Democrats to cheer?
Resign, Mr. President. Resign, and you’ll hear a thunderous ovation.
Especially if he takes JD vance, mike johnson, and his favorite SCOTUS justices with him.
We need more Al Greens in the congress. We need them in their home districts and in those Republican districts that no longer hold Town Halls.
Al Green is the hero.......He is the spirit of the White Rose resistance ,1942-45 Nazi Germany
Quit the trite references to the White Rose.
BitchBitchy somewhere else ........nothing was overused or manipulated. No explanation required!!!!
I do agree with our needing charisma....AND Audaciousness. But I'd like to win both houses in 2026 and then give them hell and fix the mess.
Last night's speech marked a first in American history (at least, I hope so: Never before has an agent of a foreign power addressed a joint session of Congress as our chief executive. I expect to discuss this further on my Substack later today.
Perhaps John Roberts will move to reclaim some mantle of integrity, but he has a long, long way to go before he loses the title of Worst Chief Justice, ahead, even, of Roger B. Taney.
If there ever was an epitome of "poor optics", it was tRump signaling to "his" Justices that he "appreciated" their work on his behalf, and let them know on-camera that more is expected as good team members. If CJ Roberts even had one iota of institutional regard for his Court as an independent Third Branch, he would have swatted away tRump's hand, and told him in no uncertain terms that the Court does NOT "work" for tRump, full stop. That episode, as Joyce Vance mentioned, is a vintage mob-boss nod to corrupt judges who "fix" court cases on behalf of their patron.
Roberts was bought and paid for a long time ago.
tRump also sent over to Roberts' house a case of tRump-branded whiskey, as further thanks for his work...Xmas came early!
Shameful.
My comment was in jest, as that's the typical cinematic mob-boss thank-you...but, who knows?
Jon Give me long odds and I’ll bet that Roberts and Barrett, on occasion, will be the swing SC votes that block some of Trump’s most egregious injustices.
I recall, many years ago, dining with Owen Roberts, Jr. and discussing his dad’s role on the Supreme Court during Roosevelt’s New Deal. While FDR castigated the court, in a number of instances the Court appropriately ruled that some hasty New Deal legislation was poorly crafted.
Currently the Trump administration is playing loosely with constitutional checks and balances and the law. There is ample opportunity for a SC majority to rule against Trump’s illegal grabs without doing judicial summersaults.
What odds will you give me? At 3 to 1 you have a bet.
Barrett is already moved well off-piste, and in fact she may be nudging Roberts in her direction. Perhaps the good times for uber-reactionary decisions has passed - or at least been somewhat checked.
Sorry, I don't bet. I don't have anything against gambling, but you could lose...
Jon And I even might have won.
Check out Feathers of Hope.
I caught that bit when Trump patted John Roberts in a condescending,
Tony Sopranoesque way, too, and was 'shocked, frankly shocked.' What with Trump's other unintentional reveal, admitting that Musk is indeed the head of Doge, we have at least those two things to keep an eye on. Not only will this affect the cases currently before the court, but it might (one hopes) encourage Justice Roberts to act like who he is supposed to be, a defender of our Constitution and due process, rather than Trump's stooge.
So the truth about the Supreme Court being viewed as partisan hacks was given last night by our President. Oh joy.
“There is little of substance here” is the best, short and succinct, description of this administration. I can only hope Chief Justice Roberts, captured on video for the world to see and hear, has many sleepless nights ahead. And I remain grateful to have this community here as we move forward down a vey uncertain path.
I find it amazing and a bit depressing that Joyce wrote a terrific summary of Trump's speech without mentioning all the lies he told. Apparently, that's just a given now.
It's a truly horrifying observation. I started capturing them during the speech. They went on for pages. Maddow did a great job of hitting the high points last night, but she too noted there was so much that covering them would have taken forever. But to your point, it may be a given but it doesn't mean we should accept it. And I hope the Judge in the case I discuss won't. When the government lies in court, it should be held in contempt!
I did not watch. Trump and cronies all sound like blah blah blah blah now. Nothing new.
Me neither, I knew there would be plenty of comments and observations after and again today. The press would have done us a favor by not broadcasting live, They could have just listened and interrupted and reported if there was actually any news……In the meantime we could have been treated to ………there were lots of possibilities…….scenes from our National Parks,good music, readings of important information, you get the idea……
Impressive to see that McClanahan was able to catch one of Trump's lies and put it to use in the case against DOGE -- I'll take this good news. Regarding the stream of lies, Politifact tried to capture the main ones in real-time, too. They did a pretty good job, but it is clear they couldn't quite keep up with all of them: https://www.politifact.com/article/2025/mar/05/Trump-address-congress-fact-check-speech/#
As another commenter (sorry, don't remember who or on what post) said, I don't want to live in interesting times.
Wonder who cursed us with these “times”….must hate us.
Must have been that old Chinese curse: "May you live in interesting times." Note that the curse didn't come with a time limit.
Nothing new, nothing true.
Perfect! Rob. 💙 it was the real donthecon. How could the Dems just sit there???
Joyce, the other thing Trump said in the SOTU address was "I have created the brand new Department of Government Efficiency, DOGE. Perhaps you’ve heard of it. Perhaps. Which is headed by Elon Musk, who is in the gallery tonight," Trump said during his speech.
Which is an admission that DOGE is an illegal entity; only Congress can create a Federal Department. People need to stop giving Trump's administration a pass on this. It needs to be shouted from the rooftops: "DOGE is illegal and Musk's actions are illegal!"
Make it incumbent on Trump's corrupt DOJ to prove the legality of DOGE and Musk in court.
All of the news outlets and talking heads need to stop sane-washing DOGE as if it is a legitimate Department.
Trump has to go. I don't care how. Just now.
Yes that is my feeling as well.
And his little doge too
Lolol
Then we have JD who is just/more evil but smarter so he could/would do more harm….or we could have Johnson who might be incompetent
I don't think we should hold back with 47.
And the substance that was present was evil: betrayal of friends and allies, submission to deadly enemies, wholesale destruction of our common government that has existed for nearly 250 years as the guardian and protector of the liberties of the citizen, resignation from the role of leadership of all peoples who believe in democracy and the rule of law and alliance with the dictators and thugs of the world. Our descendants and the descendants of all free peoples of the world will never forgive and never forget what we have made ourselves into now.
Beautiful summary of the waste of a democracy!
Exactly, worth printing, framing and memorizing
Couldn’t watch it except in short segments … but I was struck again at how unconvincing Trump was … and how ill he looked. Doesn’t anyone notice that he’s become an automaton?
"Puppet" is the word you were looking for, David. Made so poorly that there is no attempt to hide the strings.
But bravely spoken in fractured English instead of brutish Russian.
I think it was Andy Borowitz who posted a cartoon yesterday, showing trump as a marionette operated by putin - and the puppet had a Pinocchio nose. Perfect description, IMO.
He only makes what could remotely be considered sense when he avoids going off teleprompter. He got all his maga points out but didn’t loose associate. I’m surprised he can still read.
Stumbling through his telepromptered speech shows he can read … but I doubt he understands the text except for his MAGA catchphrases.
My question too. Trump is essentially illiterate but manages to read the teleprompter. Is it large print? is his vision bad?
His vision is worse than bad … it’s antediluvian.