Nuclearian Loc: I live in a Fascist, Liberal State

The last column I wrote for this space called for a “People’s State of the Union,” a massive Donald Trump rally delivered in front of thousands of supporters, a sublime statement to Nancy Pelosi that said: “If you don’t want me in your room, I’ll find someplace else.”

It was fun to write, and fun to think about: a State of the Union speech transformed into a massive MAGA spectacle; she’d regret the snub for sure. Other creative ideas arose: deliver it at the border; deliver it down the hall in the Senate.

But late Wednesday night, the president decided there would be no alternative address, no high drama as he took to some other stage to hammer Democrats about the standoff that they could solve in an hour. He would in fact defer to Speaker Pelosi’s yanking of her House chamber invitation and schedule the address when the shutdown is over. “There is no venue that can compete with the history, tradition and importance of the House Chamber,” he tweeted, promising “a great State of the Union address in the near future.”

The immediate question was not whether his haters would celebrate this momentary surrender; they promptly did. On the left and among his tormentors who still think they are on the right, the mockery was instant, ridiculing a supposed tough, deal-making Trump for bowing to the superior skills of Nancy Pelosi.

But part of their glee assumed that his base would also see it as a dispiriting capitulation—that Trump supporters would recoil, slump their shoulders and wonder what happened to the fighter they voted for.

Well, he’s still there, and the mutiny is not happening.

The reason is clear: Trump is playing a long game here that extends far beyond a thumb in Pelosi’s eye delivered through some relocated State of the Union. His eye is on the only ball that matters—border security. And no matter how his maneuvers may strike any observer, one thing is certain: he does not do anything that he does not expect to accrue to his benefit.

So what are the benefits of bowing to Pelosi at this moment? As this week blends into the weekend, there will be deep examination of the president’s decision to delay his address. Some valuable takeaways will arise, foremost among them that it is Pelosi who offended tradition by rescinding an invitation issued after the shutdown began, and it is Trump who cleaves to that tradition by agreeing to wait until it can be delivered in its customary place.

Liberty Tree

Most will see it as capitulation on his part. He should have found an alternate place explaining that he has to fulfill his constitutional duty and since Pelosi will not let him use the House chamber he is doing it elsewhere. He then sends a formal invitation to Congress to attend and let the Democrats show what they really are if they boycott it.

woodguru

Fulfilling his constitutional duty can be done in writing, thereby saving us from the editorial on his greatness.

Nuclearian Loc: I live in a Fascist, Liberal State

Him stating the facts in writing will never get the word out. Your FAKE news wont allow it, and it will be shelved. You disliking him is a prime example. If you heard all the things he's done, you would have to like him. Or be considered the idiot that you would be.

His SOTU would be facts spoken to the people, that the Nazicrats dont want to be heard. Either way, he will be heard. And your Nazi party will get smoked in the next elections.

Nuclearian Loc: I live in a Fascist, Liberal State

We know what they are. Cry Baby Nazis that showed themselves in his 1st SOTU. I agree with the alternative part though. The border would have been a good back drop for it. The Rep's would show, but the Nazis wont.

nwtk2007 Loc: Texas

The benefit is in the appearance of decorum; the historical significance of giving the SOTU in the Halls of Congress cannot be overlooked and thrown aside. Especially in light of the fact that her reasoning, not enough security, is a bogus lie. She thought he'd do it somewhere and they could coordinate opposition protests and get the networks not to cover it. She wanted him to essentially do a fund raising rally. He is too smart for that.

They are throwing out decorum and instead, like children, not playing.

Liberty Tree

You continue to post as an editorial on your foolishness.

woodguru

The things he's done through sheer raw stupidity and ignorance cannot be adequately enumerated. He has put agency heads in place who's job it is to destroy the departments they run. Incredible numbers of career professionals that work for either party have quit. For some reason this administration has felt it has the right to destroy decades worth of statistical data accrued at significant expense and effort.

What things can you cite right off the top of your head that anyone would have to like, I'm open to hearing it.

woodguru

She should have just said we don't want to hear it, submit it in writing.

Crayons Loc: St Jo, Texas

She could have shut her pi-hole

pafret Loc: Northeast

What do you think twenty-seven Czars were for?

Appointed two Supreme Court Justices who are Constitutionalists.
Enterered negotiations with Kim Jong to eliminate Korean Nuclear threat.
Sent my Grandson an autographed MAGA hat
Shut down Perlosi's indiscriminate use of government planes and funds for her junkets.

woodguru

Hard right conservatives that have no loyalty to the constitution. Kavanaugh was overturned in 2017 on the 17 year old's abortion case because he took a hard departure of the established law. The supreme court is no place for judges that can't adhere 100% to the constitution and law.

Been keeping up with North Korea there skippy? Kim abandoned all pretenses of dismantling bases by ramping them up, intelligence reported on a newly discovered one a week or so ago. I've just been glad to see Trump otherwise occupied with other things so he doesn't go back to his saber rattling with Kim.

Hopefully your grandson isn't stupid enough to wear that hat

Trump doesn't want dems who care finding out what's going on with NATO, the military, and other foreign policies, lord knows the GOP hasn't given a damn about what the loyal band of idiots is up to. Their important junkets were to Russia, and they didn't want any dems along for that party.

pafret Loc: Northeast

Your statement: "What things can you cite right off the top of your head that anyone would have to like, I'm open to hearing it."

I'm an anyone and I liked them so your condition was fulfilled. Your response is hardly what I or anyone else would call "open".

L8erToots

He didn't go against legal precedence and deny the 17 year old an abortion. He gave the authorities at the detention facility a specific amount of time to release her to a proper caretaker so that she wouldn't have to make a serious decision like that in a detention center. The time frame he gave them was well within the legal time frame for her to have an abortion, and since she was in govt care, they couldn't deny her.
He also requested that this case not set legal precedence (teenagers coming here to get a free abortion with taxpayer funds).
He wasn't overturned, they just gave her an abortion while in the detention center, disregarding his opinion. All he wanted was to make sure she wasn't making her decision under the duress of being in detention so she wouldn't later regret it.
I read the complete official case, you obviously just trusted the msm's fake news.

permafrost Loc: Minnesota

And you must know that Woods comments are held by far more of this nations citizens then the crap for brains on the right, who have never championed anything..

By the way... add my handle to the response wood gave you..

As for the one who cries about the lost of "tradition" by not giving the SOTU in congress, is that like the loss of "tradition" when not submitting his tax return???
Or is it only the turn about that has you so sad??

For the record.... Most past President have submitted the SOTU in writing not as a speech.

The last to do so was President Carter..

trump could have it written so most of the words get spelled right and limit the stench left in the capital by his pile of BS..

Was it cold in your neck of the woods??