Connect with us

News

‘Will Transform the 2024 Campaign’: Biden SOTU Praised as ‘Galvanizing Call to Action’

Published

on

Almost from the moment he entered the chamber, President Joe Biden and his State of the Union address were quickly praised by many on the left, and even by some on the right.

Biden, who personally knows many Senators and Representatives, spent a great deal of time warming up the room, shaking many hands, laughing, smiling, and appearing very happy.

The President didn’t even wait for Speaker of the House Mike Johnson to introduce him, as is customary.

“My word this is a muscular speech,” exclaimed professor of economics and frequent political commentator Justin Wolfers, early into Biden’s remarks. “So far it’s the strongest State of the Union opening I’ve ever seen.”

“As a natural sceptic I’m surprised by how powerful I find Biden’s speech,” offered the Financial Times’ Edward Luce. “He’s clear, punchy, energetic and setting out the stakes plainly. Way above expectations.”

READ MORE: Biden Torches Trump at SOTU for ‘Bowing Down to a Russian Leader’

Professor of politics Larry Sabato, the well-known founder and director of the Center for Politics wrote simply, “Yeah, it’s a homerun.”

Even Fox News chief political analyst Brit Hume, praised Biden early on: “Good for Biden for addressing Ukraine right at the top. Foreign policy is the indispensable province of the Presidency and executive branch.”

He later criticized Biden, writing: “He seems angry.”

Indeed, many on the right criticized Biden for talking too “loud,” “shouting,” or somehow exhibiting too much energy – after the right wing media and Donald Trump repeatedly, and falsely, characterized him as having “dementia,” being too old, and lacking energy.

Media Matters’ Matthew Gertz highlighted the right-wing move to criticize Biden as too energetic by pointing out Bush 43 White House press secretary Ari Fletcher’s remarks:

Former top Obama campaign and White House official Jim Messina also took Republicans to task: “Tonight should put to rest any questions about whether Biden is up for a second term. He absolutely is. We just saw it with our own eyes. Which is why all these Republican bigmouths are backtracking on that Sleepy Joe b.s.– ‘he was too awake’. Get a grip.”

READ MORE: ‘Drill Baby Drill’: Trump Has Just One Answer When Asked How He Will Bring Food Prices Down

Ian Bremmer, the founder of the political risk research and consulting firm Eurasia Group, observed, “biden doesn’t need to win over a single trump supporter this evening—and he won’t. independents on the fence are more comfortable with him right now than they were 30 minutes ago. that’s a win.”

“Everybody knows this was a great speech,” Nicolle Wallace told MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow. Chris Hayes called it “aggressive” and “sharp.”

Politico’s editorial director Kevin Baron said, “I’ve covered a lot of SOTU’s. Biden is owning this chamber.”

Presidential historian Michael Beschloss said, “Biden hit the ball out of the park tonight.”

Charlotte Clymer, a former Human Rights Campaign press secretary, wrote: “I’m pretty sure that’s the best State of the Union address I’ve ever watched. President Biden showed up and delivered in the clutch. That was a galvanizing call to action and a glittering sermon and a glorious reminder of our potential as a country. Four. More. Years.”

On substance, journalist John Harwood observed, “more than any SOTU in memory this one is making crystal clear that one party wants to govern and the other has no interest in it.” He also noted, “those Dems complaining that Biden lacks vigor and fight getting splash of cold water in the face right now.”

The Atlantic’s Jennifer Senior added, “Dang. Sleepy Joe is pretty good at burning down a barn.”

David Rothkopf, the foreign policy, national security and political affairs analyst and commentator, said, “Joe Biden is reminding everyone that the contrast between his extraordinarily effective, productive, values-driven administration and that of his corrupt, incompetent, hateful, traitorous opponent.”

He added: “Could well be the most politically aggressive State of the Union ever-at a moment that needed just that kind of strength because the stakes in the choice we face this fall are so very high. The strength we needed at the moment we needed it in the best possible way to deliver it.”

READ MORE: ‘Slapped Yourself in the Face’: Grassley Schooled Over ‘Biden’s America’ Attack

And: “Biden is running rings around a completely dysfunctional GOP.”

The publisher of The Bulwark, Sarah Longwell, wrote: “Republicans are going to be so mad about this speech. Not only is Biden beating back the dementia narrative, but, worse, he looks like he’s enjoying himself.”

MSNBC columnist and Daily Beast author Michael A. Cohen (not the former President’s ex-attorney) wrote: “I’m sure this is an overreaction, and I’m caught up in the moment — but this feels like a speech that will transform the 2024 campaign.”

There's a reason 10,000 people subscribe to NCRM. You can get the news before it breaks just by subscribing, plus you can learn something new every day.
Continue Reading
Click to comment
 
 

Enjoy this piece?

… then let us make a small request. The New Civil Rights Movement depends on readers like you to meet our ongoing expenses and continue producing quality progressive journalism. Three Silicon Valley giants consume 70 percent of all online advertising dollars, so we need your help to continue doing what we do.

NCRM is independent. You won’t find mainstream media bias here. From unflinching coverage of religious extremism, to spotlighting efforts to roll back our rights, NCRM continues to speak truth to power. America needs independent voices like NCRM to be sure no one is forgotten.

Every reader contribution, whatever the amount, makes a tremendous difference. Help ensure NCRM remains independent long into the future. Support progressive journalism with a one-time contribution to NCRM, or click here to become a subscriber. Thank you. Click here to donate by check.

News

‘Needs an Intervention’: Newsom Scorches ‘Unhinged’ Trump Over San Francisco Threat

Published

on

California Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom blasted President Donald Trump over his seemingly arbitrary threat to deploy the U.S. military to San Francisco. The president pointed to what he called out-of-control crime and described the city as a “mess,” but state and local leaders — vowing to “resist” his efforts — say his allegations are baseless.

The Guardian on Thursday characterized the president’s claims as “hyperbolic,” and reported that San Francisco “is on track to have the lowest number of homicides in more than 70 years, according to a recent San Francisco Chronicle analysis.”

“The president,” Newsom said to reporters at a press conference announcing state-sponsored $11 insulin, “his latest assertion that he was going to come to San Francisco — on what basis? He didn’t even claim — there’s no pretext anymore. Let’s disabuse ourselves that there has to be a pretext with Donald Trump, that there’s anything that would justify that.”

“There’s no existing protest in a federal building,” the governor explained. “There’s no operation that’s being impeded. I guess it’s just a ‘training ground’ for the President of the United States,” he said, invoking Trump’s earlier words suggesting how the military should look at American cities.

California Democratic State Senator Scott Wiener on Wednesday said, “Contrary to Trump’s lie, no ‘government officials’ here have requested federal occupation. We don’t need Trump’s authoritarian crackdown in our city. Bottom line: stay the h– out of San Francisco.”

Newsom called Trump’s threat to militarize San Francisco “grossly illegal” and “immoral.”

State Attorney General Rob Bonta threatened to take the Trump administration to court if the President sends the National Guard to San Francisco.

“It’s rather delusional,” Newsom said of Trump’s threat.

“And increasingly, this president appears unhinged, unmoored by reality and facts, seems listless,” he charged. “He seems, dare I say, in decline — cognitively — and, dare I say, forgive me? Perhaps unfair, physically.”

“These are just rantings of someone that needs an intervention,” Newsom added. “Needs some help. Needs to be stabilized, dare I say?”

 

Image via Reuters

Continue Reading

News

‘Deliberate Incitement’: Outrage as White House Claims Dems Cater to ‘Hamas Terrorists’

Published

on

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt is under fire after alleging that Democrats are catering to “Hamas terrorists, illegal aliens, and violent criminals.”

“The Democrat Party’s main constituency are made up of Hamas terrorists, illegal aliens, and violent criminals,” Leavitt said on Fox News on Thursday afternoon.

“That is who the Democrat Party is catering to — not the Trump administration, and not the White House, and not the Republican Party, who is standing up for law abiding Americans, not just across the country, but around the world.”

Leavitt did not explain why the Democratic Party should be catering to the Republican Party or to the Trump administration.

READ MORE: Trump Focused on Bailout for Farmers Loyal to Him ‘For a Really Long Time’ Says Official

Critics blasted the Press Secretary.

Former Obama senior advisor Dan Pfeiffer wrote: “This s– is so f– dangerous and everyone on the Republican side just nods along.”

Human Rights Campaign National Press Secretary Brandon Wolf asked, “Remember when they pretended to want to ‘turn down the temperature’?”

Veteran journalist John Harwood called Leavitt’s remarks “disgusting b–.”

Dylan Williams, Vice President for Government Affairs for the Center for International Policy warned: “How is this anything other than deliberate incitement that risks leading to deadly violence?”

“This is INCREDIBLY dangerous framing,” declared author Carey Lohrenz, the first female F-14 Tomcat pilot, “and should make the hair on the back of your next stand, whether you’re a Republican, Democrat, or Independent. And it’s also patently false.”

READ MORE: ‘I Don’t Like Being Mad Mike’: Johnson ‘Upset’ Over Dems’ Health Care Demands

Attorney Aaron Reichlin-Melnick noted that Hillary Clinton’s “‘Deplorables’ was a scandal for years and she wasn’t even in the government yet. This is the White House Press Secretary, whose salary is paid by the American public.”

Journalist Ahmed Baba wrote: “In a sane reality, this insane comment would’ve ended the career of any other press secretary. In this reality, it’s a just another Thursday. But when the Trump fever breaks, and it will break, these people will have to reckon with the digital footprints of their own depravity.”

READ MORE: Johnson Wavers After Agreeing to Debate Jeffries ‘Anywhere Anytime’

 

Image via Reuters

Continue Reading

News

Trump Focused on Bailout for Farmers Loyal to Him ‘For a Really Long Time’ Says Official

Published

on

President Donald Trump has for weeks been talking about providing a bailout for America’s farmers harmed by his tariff policies, especially soybean farmers whose top buyer, China, hasn’t bought any U.S. soybeans since at least May.

Multiple figures have been tossed around for the bailout, possibly between $10 billion and $14 billion, but no firm plans reportedly have been set.

Wondering who and which farming sectors would benefit from the bailout, Fox Business host Stuart Varney asked Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins on Thursday, “Will every farmer get some money in this bailout? All of them? Or is it targeted to one group of farmers?”

Her answer reflected politics more than policy.

READ MORE: ‘I Don’t Like Being Mad Mike’: Johnson ‘Upset’ Over Dems’ Health Care Demands

“Obviously,” Secretary Rollins replied, “the president remains very focused on, as he has said, all along — he calls them ‘his farmers,’ but those who have been with him for a really long time, from the very beginning.”

Rollins went on to say that “we’ve been very clear all along, while we’re working on what that package looks like, we’re not even entirely sure what the damage is yet, so it’s hard to craft the confirmed solution as every day goes on, and we’re working to sell more of our soybeans and sorghum and wheat across the world.”

Asked about the $20 billion to $40 billion bailout President Trump has reportedly decided to give to Argentina, a direct competitor of America’s soybean farmers, Secretary Rollins said: “The president’s focus remains 100% on America first.”

CNN on Wednesday called it “$20 billion to save the political career of a foreign ally of President Donald Trump. The US is putting up $20 billion for a currency swap to prop up the Argentinian peso ahead of elections there this month, with the aim of bolstering Argentine President Javier Milei, a Trump ally.”

READ MORE: Johnson Wavers After Agreeing to Debate Jeffries ‘Anywhere Anytime’

U.S. Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN) on Wednesday blasted the Argentina bailout.

“While family farmers in Minnesota and Maine are losing business to Argentina, the Trump Admin is organizing a $40 billion bailout to Argentina — because who needs to reopen the government when you could just spend all your time and energy finding taxpayer dollars to give to our top agricultural competitors?”

READ MORE: ‘I Don’t Accept Pinky Promises’: AOC Sets Hard Line on Ending the Shutdown

 

Image via Reuters

 

 

Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2020 AlterNet Media.