History, Law, Media Criticism, Political Commentary

The State Of The Union

15 Comments

…is off.

Good. Just send a letter. I’ll be happy if there’s never another speech; there is nothing requiring it in the Constitution. If he wants to address the nation, he can do it from the Oval Office again.

[Friday-morning update]

Take this SOTU and shove it.

One way you can tell that SOTUs as they’ve been done for the last century are a terrible idea is that Woodrow Wilson started this execrable circus. Unfortunately, Trump will almost certainly not take the advice. It would be behavior (and an expression of beliefs) far too Reaganesque.

[Bumped]

[Update a few minutes later]

26 of 45 presidents didn’t give a SOTU speech.

15 thoughts on “The State Of The Union”

  1. A great idea, one I’ve supported since Clinton. Another “tradition” that needs to go. Even better, doing it this way and doing it now shows the House Dems as what they are– petty, mean, and vindictive.

    (And whenever I see O’Casio-Cortez say something stupid, which seems to have become a become a daily occurrence, I think of the description of Diane Chambers in Cheers — “pseudo-intellectual barmaid”.)

  2. I’d also love to see the ‘send a letter’ reversion. But Rush Limbaugh had an even better suggestion this morning: send and letter and then hold a televised rally to deliver the SOTU address. That’d cause some heads to explode.

  3. Nothing requiring a speech no, IF he sends a letter. But yes it is a requirement that the President provide such information as stated in Article 2 Section 3. “He shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient;” also this, it’s not just up to Pelosi: “he may, on extraordinary Occasions, convene both Houses, or either of them, and in Case of Disagreement between them, with Respect to Time of Adjournment, he may adjourn them to such Time as he shall think proper; …” rest is about receiving ambassadors & ministers of foreign powers, faithfully enforcing the laws and commissioning of officers of the United States.

    1. He may, however, send the information in any mode he wants. and there’s no requirement that it be yearly, or comprehensive.

      Saying “Hey, Congress, the union’s great, thanks” once a term on TV would suffice for the letter of the Constitutional requirement (and frankly, these days, the rest of it is useless puffery anyway).

        1. Beat me to it!

          They would need to place nets below the ceilings at CNN and MSNBC to keep them from being soiled.

  4. President Trump should DEMAND that Congress return (he has that authority under Article II, section 3 (the same section that requires a state of the union report, from time to time).

    Make them show up, and listen.

    If they choose to not fund security, that is on Congress: They can easily end this, by passing a budget the President will sign. That they haven’t done that in the past decade plus is on them.

  6. Why on earth have we been following a president created by Woodrow Wilson of all people. It is nothing more than a political kabuki dance with now real information given to the government or the populace. I am fascinated by the prospect of the RIF process.

  7. First, they got rid of SOTU. Now, they got rid of Congressional junkets. Next, I’d love for Pelosi to cut the AF1 budget. It wouldn’t hurt Trump, he can just fly his own plane, and bonus, leave the Press to find their own way to catch up with him. No more 2 special mission aircraft, plus a fleet of transports carrying the motorcade. Just fly to a location like normal people, rent a limo if you must, and maybe get a police escort (paid out of your or your campaign’s pocket) to help through traffic. Come on Nancy, don’t let him get away with it! Fight back!

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