WASHINGTON (Reuters) – State of the Union addresses tend to have a ritualistic rhythm.
President Joe Biden ticked those and other boxes when he delivered a speech at a joint session of Congress Tuesday night, in part, as he laid the groundwork for his second term. seemed to be building “We were sent here to finish the job,” he said.
Biden’s speech almost defiantly ignored the bitter divide between Republicans and Democrats and his own low public standing. This shows that even if Democrats and Republicans have wildly different ideas about how to get there, they can at least agree on a common goal.
During his midterm campaign, Biden warned of Republican extremism. On Tuesday night, he profiled her as her government partner during her first two years in the presidency.
But then came Biden’s comments that elicited boos and howls from Republicans:
Biden said some Republicans are keen to cut Social Security and Medicare.
It caused a violent back-and-forth that seemed more in line with the reality of the actual relationship between the parties. For Republican lawmakers who increasingly claim to represent workers, this has been a challenge.
But Biden’s tax plan may be more aimed at scoring political points. He failed to overtake Senator Joe Manchin, D-W.Va, in the Senate last year. that’s all.
Biden was on a winning streak against China, America’s up-and-coming military and economic competitor. Beijing then had the audacity to fly a reconnaissance balloon over the United States. It was an embarrassing episode for Biden, culminating last weekend when he ordered the Pentagon to shoot down a reconnaissance balloon from over the Atlantic.
The case has dominated the headlines, with some Republicans claiming it shows that Biden is rocking in Beijing.
Mr. Biden made a brief and direct reference to the incident.
He said, “As we made clear last week, if China threatens our sovereignty, we will act to defend our country.
Last year’s State of the Union address was dramatically marked by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which began days before the speech.
At that moment, it seemed highly unlikely that Ukraine would stay in the fight against the stronger Russian forces. Almost a year later, Ukraine is fighting solidly.
Biden paid tribute to Ukraine and addressed one of his guests, Ambassador Oksana Markarova, as representing “the courage of not only Ukraine, but the people.”
He also praised Congress for giving Ukrainians what they needed to withstand Russia’s brutal aggression. The United States has already pledged about $30 billion in security assistance since the war began.
Officials informally made it clear to Ukrainian officials that parliament’s patience with the costs of the war has limits. But in a speech on Tuesday, Biden expressed bullishness about the prospects for long-term American aid.
Among Biden’s guests were his Nichols parents, Tyre, his 29-year-old black man who was beaten to death in Memphis, Tennessee. Efforts to reduce police overreach have been greatly curtailed by congressional opposition, and there is little hope of federal action.
Biden uttered the phrase “quit my job” at least a dozen times during his speech. It sounded like the kind of slogan he could use in his re-election campaign.
However, he has implemented many of the things he was referring to, including a ban on assault weapons, universal preschool for his 3-year-old and his 4-year-old, and corporate signatures to end share buybacks.
