The State of the Biden Address

There’s been an abundance of analysis of President Biden’s State of the Union Address last Thursday.  Almost all positive, unless perhaps one watches Fox, in which case it still got some positive comment, but complained a bit how aggressive he was – a very positive complaint for someone who had previously been described as sleepy and feeble.

Rather than get into any specifics, particularly at this point, I think it’s most worth noting that what stood out to me most (other than watching Mike Johnson in angst sitting behind the President) was the larger view – that this was President Biden throwing down the gauntlet and saying, “Okay, this is what the presidential campaign is going to be about, and it starts right now.”

Right after the speech, a friend called me.  He loved it, but had one big complaint.  The economy, he said, is always the most important thing to people.  And it’s always talked about first.  And Joe Biden talked about Ukraine first, and that was a big mistake.

I told him that I thought he was very wrong.  It was clear from everything Biden said during the speech that the election was going to be about democracy at risk.  Just like that was the driving issue for the 2022 Mid-Terms – and Democrats did extremely well then, and staved off the expected huge “Red Wave.”  And if democracy is going to be your theme, then you put it first.  And make it loud, aggressive and pointed.  And the thing about Ukraine is that, other than Trump and the most-extreme right, polls show that most Americans support helping Ukraine.  And understand that it’s about defending a democratic ally that is fighting against our enemy Russia.

He wasn’t convinced – but as a few days passed, he called me up and said he’s changed his mind.  That it was good that was hope the President began.

But the “larger view” is not just that President Biden made clear that democracy would be the issue of the election, but in being as loud and aggressive about it all…and telling off the Supreme Court directly for overturning a 50-year right for women…and standing on his feet for an hour and 10 minutes – after taking what seemed like forever walking in and shaking hands… and then taking another half hour after the speech staying around shaking hands, taking selfies and talking with members, despite the entire room almost emptying, going home and to sleep, he put an emphasis on his stamina and determination.

By the way, what didn’t get reported much was that at the end, Joe Biden stayed around to take selfies with Congressional staffers.  But not just any staffers, but staff who worked for Speaker of the House Mike Johnson.

The end result of it all is that not only has the campaign begun, but the whole complexion of it changed.  That’s not to say that everyone’s opinion of President Biden has risen – or even most people’s opinion.  But the sense of what the race will be changed.  This was not Sleepy Joe or Uncle Joe or Befuddled Joe.  This was a decent leader who was outspoken about the issues helping people that were important to him and that over all those issues, protecting democracy against fascism colored everything – and that he would be aggressive in his efforts, most especially against who he made very clear that he knew (and wanted everyone to know) who it was putting it all at risk.

Clearly, not everyone agreed with him, or liked what he said.  But then, those are the very people putting democracy at risk or enabling it.

For the rest, I think most everyone understand that the campaign was on.  And as blunt and pointed as President Biden was in the State of the Union Address, that was the polite version since (as political as it was) it was not a political speech and there was much he couldn’t say.

The campaign is now one.  And he can say it all.  And he let people know that he will.

With a shout-out thanks to Sen. Katie Britt (R-AL) for contrasting President Biden so profoundly that she showed the advance of age and experience over youthful incompetence.