State of the Union

After threats and counter threats, invitations and disinvitations, the State of the Union Address finally occurred. President Trump gave his speech from the House of Representatives Tuesday night. Behind him, Nancy Pelosi sat listening, sometimes engaged and sometimes reading from what appeared to be pages of future spontaneous remarks. Beside her was Vice President Pence, as always emulating the FIGI water girl.

Not many State of the Union speeches are love fests. This could have been more tense than normal, but it wasn’t. In fact, the women in white, dressed to show solidarity, raucously cheered themselves at one point.

Roughly ten minutes after Trump’s speech, Stacey Abrams gave the Democratic rebuttal. It was a slick presentation that could have been given anytime. Former presidential candidate Bernie Sanders live streamed a rebuttal as well.

The President’s speech itself was part conciliation and part aggression. However, based on his normal approach, it was soft, calling for cooperation. In fact, he appeared to be a man who would listen and to whom one could talk.

A main focus was the southern border and a wall. He dwelled upon the crimes perpetrated by undocumented workers and the caravans of people seeking asylum. His points were actually the same as he has been arguing for years. Then, later in the address, he mentioned a permanent barrier at locations only where the border security officials designated the need. It was no longer a wall from sea to shining sea.

In what might have been an ad lib, he called for a world without war and investigations. It was a line that fell notably flat. Most of the speech, however, had to do with the accomplishments of his administration and his plans for the future.

Nearly every acomplishment had a counterpoint which was not mentioned, such as the environmental concerns about fracking when he touted the fact that the country is a net exporter of oil and gas.

He failed as well to avoid some contentious points, such as climate change and the government shutdown.

He actually waxed elegant when talking of the sacrifices many Americans had made and some poignant historical moments.

To close, he called upon every American to work together and seize the opportunities for the betterment of all.

As with any state of the union speech, very often half the room was in wild applause while the other half sat in stone-cold silence. That divide did not soften with the speech, although, if Trump is as conciliatory as he sounded, progress on many issues could be accomplished.

And, if both sides take the contentious issues one by one leaving aside the rancor and rigid partisanship, what could be accomplished is staggering.

Now, it is all down to Trump and Pelosi.