Trump’s First State of the Union- to View or Not to View

Trump’s First State of the Union- to View or Not to View

On the eve of President Donald Trump’s very first State of the Union speech before a joint session of congress, it is worth recognizing the very real state of disunion that exits within, and outside, that same congress. This disunion is the inevitable biproduct of the intentional divisiveness which has been put forth by all, Democrats and Republicans, alike, who were opposed to his candidacy and are opposed to his presidency. The forces united in their resistance to his presidency are the very audience to whom his speech will be delivered, much akin to Daniel going into the den of lions who are licking their chops at the thought of feasting upon their human visitor.

Many of the same Democrat House and Senate members who boycotted his inauguration a year ago, have already indicated that this boycott will be continued tomorrow night. Had Republicans so boycotted an inauguration or a State of the Union speech by Barack Obama, screams of racism would have surely saturated the airwaves, but it’s perfectly tolerable for Democrats to do so against Trump. Look no further than this for the obvious hypocrisy that is undeniable, for when it comes to what the media feeds all of us, what’s good for the goose isn’t always good for the gander.

The wide gulf which now exists within the nation itself- that being the direct result of the divisiveness promoted by his immediate predecessor, Barack Obama- is the same nation now beset with division to whom Donald Trump is tasked with communicating his vision for the coming year, and beyond. As surely as Trump’s supporters will be tuned in to listen to his remarks, so it is equally certain that voters opposed to his presidency will not be tuning in to listen to the speech. Nevertheless, these same “non-viewers” will have plenty to say about the speech, beginning Wednesday morning, ranting and raving about the president’s speech being racist, sexist, misogynist, non-inclusive, blah, blah, blah. This will all be based solely on the rantings and ravings of Joe Scarborough, Mika Brzezinski, Rachel Maddow and Steven Colbert, who themselves have already pre-ordained their narrative, completely devoid of anything actually contained in the president’s speech.

So how does anyone, much less a President of the United States, work with or speak to anyone so invested in their hatred of Trump, that they won’t even listen to that same president as he addresses the nation?

Better yet, how can any congressman or senator who shows his opposition to this president by not showing up to hear him speak, expect any cooperation from this same president, on substantive issues requiring their attention by the voters who elected them in the first place?

Donald Trump is just smart enough to ignore his naysayers and opponents, and will instead pursue his agenda with reckless abandon, as he has since taking office. That is the real secret behind his successful first year in office, but don’t expect the media to talk about this fact. Just as with his tweets which they disdain so much, the President bypasses the media’s coverage of his presidency as though it were an irrelevant irritant, much like a camper swatting away gnats who buzz in front of his eyes.

If Donald Trump is as bad as his opponents have made him out to be, one would think that these “no-shows” would want to be even be more attentive to what the president has to say about his agenda if, for no other reason, to seek out a strategy to oppose that agenda.

Then again, since their opposition to Trump is fomented and affirmed by a biased media set on destroying his presidency, why bother with something like honest and informed debate, when all you have to do is chant, “Impeach 45…Impeach 45…?”

…and we are paying these people to represent us?

-Drew Nickell, 29 January 2018

© 2018 by Drew Nickell, all rights reserved.
author of “Bending Your Ear- a Collection of Essays on the Issues of Our Times”
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