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Edited by Mrph1 on Nov 30th 2023 at 11:03:59 AM

TheRoguePenguin Since: Jul, 2009
#270126: Feb 5th 2019 at 7:38:56 PM

Whelp, speech is done. Among other notables, Trump whined about being investigated and suggested not doing so would be tied to bipartisanship.

nightwyrm_zero Since: Apr, 2010
#270127: Feb 5th 2019 at 7:42:53 PM

So I skipped the SOTU coz I just can't stand hearing the Donald speak. Any particular highlights?

kkhohoho (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#270128: Feb 5th 2019 at 7:43:56 PM

[up]

Here in the United States, we are alarmed by the new calls to adopt socialism in our country. (Booing.)

America was founded on liberty and independence and not government coercion, domination, and control. We are born free, and we will stay free. (U-S-A chants.)

Tonight we renew our resolve that America will never be a socialist country. (Applause.)

In other words, SOCIALISM BAD!

nightwyrm_zero Since: Apr, 2010
#270129: Feb 5th 2019 at 7:49:47 PM

[up]So the usual then, I guess? No emergencies, no shutdowns, no declaring himself god-emperor. Just another run-of-the-mill Turmp speech, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.

AlleyOop Since: Oct, 2010
#270130: Feb 5th 2019 at 7:50:04 PM

Feh. I'd much rather we be socialist than communist.

DeMarquis (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#270131: Feb 5th 2019 at 7:50:23 PM

No, I really think the Sanders-hate is simply rising to silly and ridiculous levels. Your gripe is that he wants to make his own twitter feed about himself, and not be a mouthpiece for the Democratic Party and it's representatives? He spent the first half of the tweet congradulating her, and the second half promoting himself, and that isnt good enough for you? You have to go out of your way to criticise him for bad form?

He isnt a racist or a sexist, closet or otherwise. Suggesting otherwise is simple ignorance, or worse. He has proposed and supported human rights legislation longer than most progressives have been alive. He was the only one, in either party, with the courage to stand up for things like desegregation, gay rights, prisoners' rights, and workers in developing countries. He has stood against Republican dogwhistling, so-called "Welfare Reform", and the death penalty. You can read about it here. His voting record speaks for itself.

Once, the media treated self-admitted "liberals" as traitors and freaks, and the American people couldnt tell the difference between a progressive and communist. To the extent that isnt true anymore, it's due in part to Sander's consistent public stands. His positions on progressive issues go back fifty years. He's been like a one-man Irish monastary, preserving civilization all through the dark ages of the Reagan Revolution. I dont care how many gaffes people think he's made, or how tone deaf he is, or how or why he doesnt conform to the party line, or that his attitude might not be pure enough to satisfy everyone. I dont care if he's a "real" democrat, or an independent, or a martian. I understand that he has a problem attracting the support of minority voters, and that he might not be the best choice (or second, or third) for a presidential candidate anymore. But at some point, actions speak a lot louder than words. In my opinion, he's earned our respect.

I'm done trying to sound smart. "Clear" is the new smart.
CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#270132: Feb 5th 2019 at 7:51:56 PM

Yep, Bernie has his in for defeating Trump.

He will crow all about socialism and ride that to the Fight House.

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
TechPriest90 Servant of the Omnissiah from Collegia Titanica, Mars, Sol System Since: Sep, 2015 Relationship Status: Above such petty unnecessities
Servant of the Omnissiah
#270133: Feb 5th 2019 at 7:52:02 PM

That socialism bit amuses me. I wager he has no idea what socialism is, and got that from the usual Faux News information desk, like he always does.

Since for the voodoo economists, anything remotely left of them is socialist. Isn't that right, Friedman's Cult?

I hold the secrets of the machine.
Soban Since: Aug, 2009 Relationship Status: 700 wives and 300 concubines
#270134: Feb 5th 2019 at 7:53:17 PM

I might not agree with Stacey Abrams, but I feel the potential for a second Obama with her. She has the charisma and experience that I don't think some of the other major Democrats have. Much better speech then Trump's.

Edited by Soban on Feb 5th 2019 at 10:53:59 AM

CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#270135: Feb 5th 2019 at 7:53:18 PM

I have no doubt that Trump knows what socialism is. It's giving money to the poors, especially non-white poors, so they don't die.

And yes, he thinks that's evil.

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#270136: Feb 5th 2019 at 7:57:12 PM

is Stacy Abrams on a green screen of an audience?

That's...not good.

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
Soban Since: Aug, 2009 Relationship Status: 700 wives and 300 concubines
#270137: Feb 5th 2019 at 8:00:34 PM

I don't think so, I think it's the lighting. It seems like it would be a weird thing to fake.

M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#270138: Feb 5th 2019 at 8:10:34 PM

[up]x7

Obligatory reminder that quite a few of the people here who are most critical of Sanders used to be supporters of Sanders.

Not the case with me though. Which is probably why I'm both less willing to give Sanders benefit of the doubt and less emotionally charged in my criticism of him. I don't outright hate Sanders or anything but I would strongly prefer if he didn't run in the primaries. I would also like him to stop saying stuff that makes him look like a racially tone-deaf guy at best.

Disgusted, but not surprised
Larkmarn Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Hello, I love you
#270139: Feb 5th 2019 at 8:12:39 PM

So, based on Cnn's reaction... I think I really like Van Jones? Is there some horrible backstory to him to make me regret that?

Found a Youtube Channel with political stances you want to share? Hop on over to this page and add them.
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#270140: Feb 5th 2019 at 8:13:38 PM

[up] Here's his wikipedia page

Doesn't seem like anything particularly horrible stands out.

Disgusted, but not surprised
Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#270141: Feb 5th 2019 at 8:21:38 PM

I see that Trump blatantly fearmongered among undocumented immigrants again; so as far to claim that "countless" Americans had been murdered by them. Despite that fact that immigrants, documented and otherwise, consistently commit fewer crimes than citizens.

Won't be remotely surprised if there's some sort of racially motivated attack where the perp cites this speech in the nearish future.

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#270142: Feb 5th 2019 at 8:23:21 PM

[up]I'd add my thoughts on this, but I'm pretty sure you can guess how I feel about Trump's speech.

Disgusted, but not surprised
RainehDaze Nero Fangirl (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
Nero Fangirl
#270143: Feb 5th 2019 at 8:32:12 PM

Also, if countless Americans had been murdered by anyone, then something has gone very wrong with death statistics.

sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#270144: Feb 5th 2019 at 8:33:19 PM

[up][up] That your signature has, yet again, earned its keep?

M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#270145: Feb 5th 2019 at 8:37:07 PM

[up][up]It tells me that the USA government can't protect its own citizens. Which is the exact opposite of a strong country.

Disgusted, but not surprised
RainehDaze Nero Fangirl (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
Nero Fangirl
#270146: Feb 5th 2019 at 8:47:55 PM

I take issue with the "countless". tongue

Protagonist506 from Oregon Since: Dec, 2013 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
#270147: Feb 5th 2019 at 9:08:44 PM

The thing to keep in mind with politicians is that they often use words that don't actually mean anything specific. "American Dream" is a good one-it's a completely vague, meaningless concept. When people argue whether the American Dream is 'alive', 'dead', or 'never existed'-they are actually arguing over nothing because the concept means different things to different people.

In the case of Donald Trump, "countless" is also a good example of this tactic-'countless' is not a number. It just means he can't do math.

Leviticus 19:34
wisewillow She/her Since: May, 2011
She/her
#270148: Feb 5th 2019 at 9:32:03 PM

Stacey Abrams’ speech was fantastic.

Now, we only had one car, so sometimes my dad had to hitchhike and walk long stretches during the 30 mile trip home from the shipyards. One rainy night, Mom got worried. We piled in the car and went out looking for him - and eventually found Dad making his way along the road, soaked and shivering in his shirtsleeves. When he got in the car, Mom asked if he’d left his coat at work. He explained he’d given it to a homeless man he’d met on the highway. When we asked why he’d given away his only jacket, Dad turned to us and said, “I knew when I left that man, he’d still be alone. But I could give him my coat, because I knew you were coming for me.”

Our power and strength as Americans lives in our hard work and our belief in more. My family understood firsthand that while success is not guaranteed, we live in a nation where opportunity is possible. But we do not succeed alone – in these United States, when times are tough, we can persevere because our friends and neighbors will come for us. Our first responders will come for us.

It is this mantra – this uncommon grace of community – that has driven me to become an attorney, a small business owner, a writer, and most recently, the Democratic nominee for Governor of Georgia. My reason for running for governor was simple: I love our country and its promise of opportunity for all, and I stand here tonight because I hold fast to my father’s credo – together, we are coming for America, for a better America.

...

My father has battled prostate cancer for years. To help cover the costs, I found myself sinking deeper into debt – because while you can defer some payments, you can’t defer cancer treatment. In this great nation, Americans are skipping blood pressure pills, forced to choose between buying medicine or paying rent. Maternal mortality rates show that mothers, especially black mothers, risk death to give birth. And in 14 states, including my home state where a majority want it, our leaders refuse to expand Medicaid, which could save rural hospitals, economies, and lives.

We can do so much more: take action on climate change. Defend individual liberties with fair-minded judges. But none of these ambitions are possible without the bedrock guarantee of our right to vote. Let’s be clear: voter suppression is real. From making it harder to register and stay on the rolls to moving and closing polling places to rejecting lawful ballots, we can no longer ignore these threats to democracy.

...

In this time of division and crisis, we must come together and stand for, and with, one another. America has stumbled time and again on its quest towards justice and equality; but with each generation, we have revisited our fundamental truths, and where we falter, we make amends.

We fought Jim Crow with the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act, yet we continue to confront racism from our past and in our present – which is why we must hold everyone from the very highest offices to our own families accountable for racist words and deeds – and call racism what it is. Wrong.

...

So even as I am very disappointed by the president’s approach to our problems – I still don’t want him to fail. But we need him to tell the truth, and to respect his duties and the extraordinary diversity that defines America.

Our progress has always found refuge in the basic instinct of the American experiment – to do right by our people. And with a renewed commitment to social and economic justice, we will create a stronger America, together. Because America wins by fighting for our shared values against all enemies: foreign and domestic. That is who we are – and when we do so, never wavering - the state of our union will always be strong.

Thank you, and may God bless the United States of America.

Here’s a link to the full transcript.

Parable Since: Aug, 2009
#270149: Feb 5th 2019 at 9:38:04 PM

That was excellent. I really hope she does run for senator.

wisewillow She/her Since: May, 2011
She/her
#270150: Feb 5th 2019 at 9:39:44 PM

Honestly if she ran for POTUS she’d have my immediate support; I’m apathetic at best to everyone who’s announced already or is rumored to announce soon.


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