Live coverage: President Biden delivers the State of the Union, #2

This was a speech that was heavy on bipartisanship and unity, which could work to make Republicans look even worse once they don’t do it. His opening on Ukraine was extraordinarily robust. His closing was robust—the center was just about laundry listing. However, in the long run, what she says: 

Okay, acquired behind within the change to the brand new thread. He’s going via the well being care and household help in his plan that was BBB and we don’t know what to name now. Guarantees no center class household will “pay a single penny,” and will get grumbles when he says that everybody in that room would agree that the tax payments will not be truthful. “You must pay a fair proportion!” Goes after all of the Fortune 500 companies who haven’t paid any taxes. Talks about worldwide settlement on world minimal tax fee. “We are going to develop the economic system, decrease the prices to households—so what are we ready for? Let’s get this completed. […] And whilst you’re at it, verify my nominees to the Federal Reserve.” Inside jab at fucking Republicans who’re blockading them.

So for this reason all of the bipartisan stuff simply lands so flat. 

Annoucement time: “Justice Division will identify a chief prosecutor for pandemic fraud.”

Requires elevating the minimal wage to $15, prolong baby tax credit once more, and enhance Pell Grants. Go the PRO Act to assist staff manage.

“I do know you’re drained, exhausted, pissed off.” Talks in regards to the dying toll of the pandemic. “At the moment I can say we’re transferring ahead safely towards a return to regular.” Talks about new masks pointers from CDC. Says COVID-19 “want not management our lives.” Says we received’t stay with it, we’ll “keep on guard” and proceed to combat it. Right here’s a superb Pfizer will present 1 million anti-viral capsules, and there might be a brand new program for folks to get exams at their pharmacy and in the event that they take a look at optimistic, get the anti-viral there after which, with out having to pay.

“We are going to proceed vaccinating the world.”

“Let’s use this second to reset. Cease utilizing COVID as a partisan combat.” That’s getting a superb response from Dems, and some Rs stood, too.

(Wow, it’s much more nice to do one in every of these with an actual president doing the talking.)

Turning to the crime half—says we don’t have to decide on between security and social justice. 

“We should always all agree: The reply is to not defund the police.” The Republicans (and Joe Manchin who’s sitting with them) likes that. If that may make the R’s cease yelling about terrorist Dems and Defund the police, nice. It received’t.

Talks about gun reforms and sane laws. Republicans sneer.

Not a single goddamned Republican even clapped for the thought of voting rights. He made an impassioned name to cross the Freedom to Vote act, however everyone knows the issue there. Then he thanks Justice Stephen Breyer for his service, and talks about his nominee, Ketanji Brown Jackson.

Now immigration. Says “border disaster” to get Rs to face up and a handful of Rs begin yelling “construct the wall.” In fact. Rattling off an entire bunch of immigration stuff—he’s actually speeding via now. However does promise a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers, and many others. 

“Let’s lastly get the bipartisan Equality Act to my desk,” for protections for LGBTQ folks which will get good response from Ds. Which segues him once more into speaking bipartisanship. Says he’s signed 87 payments and is providing a “unity agenda.”

The unity agenda: 1) finish the opioid disaster; 2) strengthen psychological well being help; 3) help our veterans, requires expanded advantages for victims of burn pit smoke and different navy poisonous publicity; 4) finish most cancers as we all know it.

Laborious to consider Boebert and Greene truly acquired examined with a view to be there. I assume screaming shit at him when he is speaking about his useless son, Beau, was simply too compelling

“The state of the union is powerful as a result of the state of you the folks is powerful. We’re stronger than we had been a 12 months in the past, we might be stronger in a 12 months.”

“As exhausting as these occasions have been, I am extra optimistic about America at the moment than I have been my entire life.”

“Effectively I do know this nation.
We are going to meet the take a look at.
To guard freedom and liberty, to increase equity and alternative.
We are going to save democracy.”