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Trump's first speech to Congress

Jeremiahcp

Well-Known Jerk
I've found my state of mind has been much more equanimous since avoiding the news altogether, and my life has not been negatively affected in any way being generally unaware of every important crisis (which all seem to come and go and be forgotten). I just don't feel any more informed by the news - at least not in any substantive or useful way. Your mileage may vary.

To me it seems, most news, and most people's interest in the news, amounts to little more than the desire for gossip. I can talk s*** about my friends girlfriend if I want to engage in that.

I use to hold that exact same view, but I got tired of the knowledge gap.
 

Kilgore Trout

Misanthropic Humanist
I use to hold that exact same view, but I got tired of the knowledge gap.

I spend all that time learning useful and productive things, which contributes to my ever-growing knowledge gap with most people. I'm comfortable with that knowledge gap.
 

Jeremiahcp

Well-Known Jerk
I spend all that time learning useful and productive things, which contributes to my ever-growing knowledge gap with most people. I'm comfortable with that knowledge gap.

Oh I understand, you are a special and unique flower, not like those people that read the news.
 

Revoltingest

Pragmatic Libertarian
Premium Member
Oh I understand, you are a special and unique flower, not like those people that read the news.
Most news isn't real knowledge.....it's learning the opinions of various talking heads.
Example...
Suzan B Anchor will opine about what John Q Politician said,
instead of playing the actual recording of what he said.
I'd know how she feels about him....but would I know what he said?
 

Jeremiahcp

Well-Known Jerk
Most news isn't real knowledge.....it's learning the opinions of various talking heads.
Example...
Suzan B Anchor will opine about what John Q Politician said,
instead of playing the actual recording of what he said.
I'd know how she feels about him....but would I know what he said?

I am well aware of that aspect.
 

4consideration

*
Premium Member
What did you all think of Trump's first speech to Congress?

I thought it was a good speech for President Trump. Less bleak (no American carnage) and more constructive.

While I still disagree with most of the things President Trump wants to do (or more specifically, how he wants to do them), there are some things I can get behind: Infastructure spending and bipartisan immigration reform. These things are long overdo, and now that we might have Republicans motivated to actually govern, rather than merely obstruct, we might get some things done.

Here's an article with an overview of his speech and the things he wants to accomplish: Trump's first speech to Congress.
I saw the speech. I didn't read the Iinked article.

Overall, I thought it was a good speech.

I liked hearing him make it clear he sees it as his job to represent the American people -- and that he intends to do that, and doesn't apologize for it. I like that he made it clear he didn't think it his job to speak for the entire world. For a long time now, I've disliked seeing the POTUS described as The Leader of the Free World, because it seemed arrogant and seemed like the President of the US was being presented as though he were King of the World.

Overall, there was more that I liked about the speech than disliked.

There was one place where I found myself pause, instinctually, and I groaned along with the Democrats -- although I recognize there is a problem in that area of crimes committed by immigrants/refugees being downplayed, or covered over -- I think in the US, as well as in Europe -- and I haven't figured out a better solution, myself.

But...when I heard there was to be a new office especially for victim's of crimes involving immigrants, something felt uncomfortable to me about that. I'm just not sure about how I feel about that, or even what to watch for, but I did find myself saying, "What?"
 

suncowiam

Well-Known Member
I heard it was a good speech. It wasn't his usually I'm your boss so I know everything better than you speech or his Bannon strategically scripted speech.

There was a great moment where he gave his condolences to the recent widow and everyone stood up. This was good enough for a CNN leftist panel to suggest he finally became the president.

I'll give him a thumbs up for this. He needs to lead through empathy and inspiration, not suggest how he knows everything like the back of his hand.
 

Mister_T

Forum Relic
Premium Member
there are some things I can get behind: Infastructure spending and bipartisan immigration reform
These are things I can get behind as well. However, him actually following through with what he says or it not being a bait and switch is what I'll be waiting for.

We've heard similar song and dances before, like him wanting to "drain the swamp" at one point and filling it up with snakes instead. I'm hoping it's not just more of that.
 

ShivaFan

Satyameva Jayate
Premium Member
More than 43.4 million watched Pres. Donald Trump‘s first address to Congress last night on the broadcast and cable news networks, according to Nielsen. This does not include the estimated 16 million that watched using data streaming such as Xfinity's internet web services, nor the estimated 6 million who listened via radio on many news talk stations.

The 2017 Academy Awards on Sunday drew 32.9 million U.S. viewers, the smallest audience for the Oscars since 2008, according to Nielsen. This does not include the estimated 4 million who watched via data streaming.

10.5 million more people watched President Trump's address on Tuesday on broadcast and cable than did watch the Oscars on Sunday two days prior.
 

Falvlun

Earthbending Lemur
Premium Member
I saw the speech. I didn't read the Iinked article.

Overall, I thought it was a good speech.

I liked hearing him make it clear he sees it as his job to represent the American people -- and that he intends to do that, and doesn't apologize for it. I like that he made it clear he didn't think it his job to speak for the entire world. For a long time now, I've disliked seeing the POTUS described as The Leader of the Free World, because it seemed arrogant and seemed like the President of the US was being presented as though he were King of the World.
That's a good point I hadn't considered before.

It's a fine line to cross. We can't afford to be the World's Police. But at the same time, I don't think we should withdraw completely from the world's stage.

Overall, there was more that I liked about the speech than disliked.
I was actually pleasantly surprised that it was a much more normal politician speech than is usual for Trump. It's a little reassuring that he can play nice.

There was one place where I found myself pause, instinctually, and I groaned along with the Democrats -- although I recognize there is a problem in that area of crimes committed by immigrants/refugees being downplayed, or covered over -- I think in the US, as well as in Europe -- and I haven't figured out a better solution, myself.

But...when I heard there was to be a new office especially for victim's of crimes involving immigrants, something felt uncomfortable to me about that. I'm just not sure about how I feel about that, or even what to watch for, but I did find myself saying, "What?"

Me too. This was probably the most concerning part of the speech for me. It's such an obvious ploy to paint immigrants as Bad Guys.
 
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