Biden's STFU SOTU (substack from Joyce Vance)

[CousinIT]

https://joycevance.substack.com/p/state-of-the-union-address-legal

. . .

“You can smile, it’s okay.” He followed up by telling Speaker Kevin McCarthy he did not want to ruin his reputation but was looking forward to working with him. Those comments were the precursor to a rollicking speech in which Biden’s energy never ebbed and he constantly one-upped the Republican side of the chamber. It was as though he’d taken all of the “Dark Brandon rising” memes to heart.

Biden turned serious, with a warning for members of Congress who have threatened to overturn the Inflation Reduction Act. (Read the details of the Act here.) “As my coach used to say,” he told them, “ ‘Good luck in your senior year’ … If you pass a bill, I will veto it.” He moved on to make the case for making corporations and the wealthy pay a fair share of taxes—a billionaire tax. Billionaires, Biden said, should not pay less in taxes than firefighters or schoolteachers, approaching the issue with common sense and without rhetoric. “Let’s finish the job. There’s more to do.”

He also touted his $1.7 trillion reduction in national debt. His “predecessor,” he said, racked up increases four years in a row, adding nearly 25% of the total national debt from its inception. “Check it out,” Biden said to clamoring Republicans, calling on them to pass an increase to the debt ceiling without conditions, as they did repeatedly for the former guy. Biden set some context for the battle over increasing the debt ceiling that’s coming. But he did something even more important, refusing to be cowed by the shouts coming from Republicans.

And then, it happened.

Something completely unexpected, as Biden neared the 50-minute mark. Biden, who drew jeers from Republicans for suggesting they opposed continuing Medicare and Social Security, turned it back on them and said he appreciated their support. “We’ve got unanimity,” he quipped. He then summoned an impressive swath of the Congress to its feet to show support for seniors. “Apparently it’s not going to be a problem,” he said. For those who have suggested Biden has lost a step, it was remarkable and reassuring evidence that they are wrong. Biden was nimble, displaying a political acumen born of decades in the Senate and, now, a decade in the White House. He didn’t miss a beat. It was the kind of spontaneous moment most politicians can only dream of having. For Biden, it came during the State of the Union address. . .

[Cha]

1. Wow.. that was so interesting to

read.. TY & Joyce Vance!

[cilla4progress]

2. I'm still basking

in the afterglow!

What many don't realize about old age is that while it can and often is a time of decline for some and in some ways for most, it is also a time of wisdom, of seeing and understanding what's up, how this thing works, of being in the groove, of discernment.

I experience this in many ways, as I age. I know what someone is going to say before they say it - on both personal and larger canvases. I see bullshit for what it is. I feel in the flow of larger truths.

It's no mistake, lucky stroke, or coincidence that Biden pulled off this amazing act. It came from WHAT HE KNOWS and WHO HE IS, borne of those years of experience and yes, his nimble and fully-formed intellect. He seems to be a good and genuine listener - watching him leave the chamber after the speech.

Couldn't happen to a better human. I'm over the moon for him. Would love to be a fly on the wall in whatever communication, congrats, between Obama and Joe last night

Biden/ Harris 2024!

[wnylib]

11. This is why, for several millennia until recent times,

societies have valued and honored their elderly members. Life experience and accumulated wisdom in older people helps to guide and fine tune younger ones as they move forward.

[cilla4progress]

21. Without a doubt!

I experience this in my own life. I keep telling my 95 year old MIL how much we value her for this (I even write down her witticisms and quips and keep them with my other fond memories!). She scoffs.

[wnylib]

23. When I'm with younger people, I feel like a walking history book.

Last edited Thu Feb 9, 2023, 10:35 AM - Edit history (1)

Before I retired, I overheard a younger woman at work talking about the Kennedy inauguration. She said that it was marred by a heavy snowstorm. I said that it was a bitterly cold day in DC, but I did not remember any snowstorm. Another coworker asked what was my source on that. I said that I watched it on TV and their mouths dropped open.

During Obama's reelection campaign, I did phone banking with a bunch of other volunteers. A conversation got started in the group about people's ignorance of civics. I said that real life sometimes is a supplemental lesson, like when I was taking 9th grade civics and we had just discussed succession in the executive branch when Kennedy was killed. More dropped mouths.

For people who did not live through that time, it was something from history books in some vague past. They could not conceive of somebody alive in the present who could remember an event from their history books. I thought, "WTH? Don't these people ever talk to their parents or grandparents?"

The Great Depression and WWII happened before I was born, but I used to hear my parents, aunts and uncles, and grandfather talk about them. One day in our attic, I found newspapers that my parents had saved with headlines like, JAPAP ATTACKS PEARL HARBOR. Another one dated 4 years later said, JAPAN SURRENDERS.

I also found a primer in English and German that my grandmother and her sisters had used for learning English when their parents brought them here as young children. There was a German Bible that had belonged to my great grandmother with the names and birthdates of her 10 children listed. At the bottom of the page she had written a note about the two youngest children: Karl und Minnie sind in Amerika geboren. (Karl and Minnie were born in America.)

How much people lose in one generation if the generations don't communicate.

[The Jungle 1]

25. I shoot pool and one of the reasons is to be around young people.

One evening a discussion about guns came up. I mentioned that we could just get rid of the 2nd Amendment. I was informed that the constitution can't be changed. We had a talk about what Constitutional Amendments is.

[wnylib]

26. OMG. Even in grade school we knew that much about the constitution.

I can remember that in 2nd grade we got a watered down story, suitable for our age, about what the UN is and how and why it got started. It included that Woodrow Wilson tried but that it took another war before the UN was established with the US as a member. I still remember that the Secretary General then was Dag Hammarskjold.

I also remember being taught about presidential elections in 1956, after Eisenhower won his 2nd term. I can clearly remember our first grade teacher explaining that, in America, the loser is always a "good sport" who congratulates the winner because we are a democracy. The loser can always try again in the next election, but we follow the rules about who won and everybody accepts the winner because the president is president of every one and not just his own party. She said that we are lucky to be in a country like that because in some countries, people don't accept the winner and fight over it.

Those words have come back to me many times since J6. The attack on the Capitol brought back to me the teacher's face and voice from a time of innocence. What do teachers tell students today, if they even still talk about how our system is supposed to work?

[AncientOfDays]

33. I Like Ike

I remember that from high school.

How the Repubs have strayed from those years.

[Ligyron]

29. That's hilarious.

There's even a hint with the word "Amendment"

[Kali]

31. entropy exists for knowledge and information

just like it does for everything else. it takes energy inputs to keep things together.

[chia]

30. Your words are wise indeed. Great post! Crossing into my 60s, I've needed encouragement like this.

[c-rational]

32. +1 Well said.

[calimary]

34. Make that two flies on the wall.

I was SOOOOOO proud of him, and impressed, and frankly, feeling more than a little vindicated.

I’ve been a Biden fan for awhile. Always amazed at how he uses his personality, kind nature, and sense of humor. Charming and disarming.

Proud to have voted for him, all over again.

[Hekate]

3. I can't stop smiling this morning

[crickets]

4. It was an amazing speech, and this recap is a joy to read. Way to go, Joe! 💙

[ChazInAz]

5. I needed a cigarette.

[rubbersole]

6. Let me give you a light...

[ChazInAz]

7. And I quit nearly thirty years ago!

[rubbersole]

8. Sex or cigarettes?

[ChazInAz]

9. Feels like both...

...but cigarettes!

[rubbersole]

18. ✌️

[calimary]

35. .

[2naSalit]

10. I knew it was going to be good...

When he made that response to hecklers with the "good luck in your senior year" came out. It was beautiful and I was expecting more after that.

He had the magats squirming the whole time.

[wnylib]

12. He started off well in his opening remarks when

he acknowledged various people who were present. When he got to McCarthy, he called him "the House's newly elected Speaker" which brought up memories of that election mess. Then he said, "At the risk of ruining your reputation, I am looking forward to working with you."

I thought, oh boy, Biden is on his game and ready to roll. This should be good. Good? It was beyond superb. Absolutely fantastic.

[2naSalit]

20. I have to agree.

It's a good feeling to know he's miles ahead of them and not slowing down.

[IbogaProject]

13. I was never a fan before his nomination

But I've been very impressed with just about everything he has said and done. We are so fortunate to have our first truly middle class person serving in office.

[Trailrider1951]

14. That was the best SOTU and Biden speech I've ever heard

He kept getting better throughout the whole time, and I cannot wait to hear his campaign speeches for 2024! Bring. It. On!

[LymphocyteLover]

19. Yeah baby!! Let's go!

[malaise]

15. She nailed it

He was masterful last night.

[onecaliberal]

16. It was the best in my lifetime for sure.

He kicked repuke ass.

[Joinfortmill]

17. Yup, Joe's the man.

[CaptainTruth]

22. It reminds me of one of my posts here, during the primary...

...where I made the case that Biden could fill the "elder statesman" role in a way that no other candidate could, & he wouldn't be viewed as a "radical leftist," which would help disarm Republican criticism.

In retrospect I think I was spot on in my assessment.

[lark]

24. My husband and I were certainly WOWED when this happened.

We were like did you see that, fist pumping, woohooing, dog barking - the whole schmear. We were so happy and surprised that Biden was able to do that, so amazing!

[CousinIT]

27. I hope that's the tone of his campaign...

...if he runs for re- election. It would shut down some of the 'too old' crap

[lark]

28. 100%

He is running, this was the start of his campaign I feel sure.