Comments on the SOTU from award-winning historian Joanne Freeman

[highplainsdem]

If you're not familiar with her credentials: https://www.joannebfreeman.com/about . "Joanne B. Freeman, Professor of History and American Studies at Yale University, specializes in early American politics and political culture. Her interest in political violence and political polarization—dirty, nasty, politics—has made her work particularly relevant in recent years."

She posted several messages about the SOTU on both Twitter and Mastodon - https://twitter.com/jbf1755 and https://masto.ai/@[e-mail] - but there were two I particularly liked:

Link to tweet

His manner was interesting. In some ways he was toying with the audience, even baiting them. Relaxed. Making the occasional joke

And the way in which he got Republicans to yell out they wouldn't cut social security & medicare, then took them up on what they said: masterful
#SOTU

Link to tweet

Some of what we saw during that address was a skilled politician in action. He handled the room. He dealt with hecklers. He successfully baited Republicans. He not only successfully gave the address; he also filled the office.
#SOTU

[SheltieLover]

1. Imo, Joe was born to lead us at this time.

Just as Rachel was born to lead & support us during borris & natasha squatting in our WH.

I am forever grateful.

[highplainsdem]

4. I'm grateful, too.

[SheltieLover]

8. ...

[Historic NY]

2. No Malarkey necessary, they went all in hook, line and sinker. Biden landed the catch.

[highplainsdem]

5. No kidding.

[allegorical oracle]

3. Had a flashback during the SOTU address -- to a great theater showing of the Rocky Horror Picture

Show back in the early 80s. Audience members who showed up in costume got into the show free, hollered, hooted, and tossed food (rice and bread) at certain dialogue points in the film. Last night, Joe handled the GOP cabaret like a pro.

[highplainsdem]

6. Interesting comparison of behavior. But every Rocky Horror fan I ever met

was much smarter, and much more civilized, than those barbaric GOP morons.

And the Rocky Horror fans appreciated talent and wit. Biden's hecklers were being given a master class in political skill and wit, and they had no idea they were just his brain-dead props.

[JudyM]

11. "...they had no idea they were just his brain-dead props."

So much that. He couldn’t have played it any better.
What a night for democracy!

[TygrBright]

13. Also, RHPS Fans KNOW the dialog and their responses! They're not shouting at random. n/t

[Evolve Dammit]

7. High praise from a pro.

[highplainsdem]

14. Yes. And well deserved.

[Hekate]

9. It's a pleasure to see the plaudits roll in this morning

[highplainsdem]

15. Both the plaudits for Joe, and the bashing of the

hecklers. And the heckler-bashing hasn't been just from Democrats.

[republianmushroom]

10. like it

[Cha]

12. TY & Joanne Freeman!