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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThe State of the Union Revealed a Sad Reality. David Frum
He writes long paragraphs
President Trumps State of the Union address last night was very like the man who delivered it: divisive, abusive, and childish.
The speech turned reality on its head in many ways. The president who has enriched himself and his family by more than a billion dollars in his first year in office called on Congress to clean up its corruption. The president who has collected about $175 billion in illegal tariffs from the American people falsely told them that he had given them a great big tax cut. The president solemnly condemned political violencethe same president who ended his first term by inciting a mob to sack Congress and overturn an election. Maybe most shocking, Trump demanded that members of Congress rise to agree that its the first duty of government to protect American citizenseven as his own government by its brutal police methods has shot American citizens dead on the streets and then tried to deceive the country about how those Americans had been killed and why. Then of course there were the many misstatements of fact about the economy, about crime, and about wars and peacemany of which look like deliberate decisions to deceive the public watching on television.
The most radical fantasy in the speech, though, was its claims of a new golden age of prosperity. That misstatement surely deceived nobody. Prices continue to rise; the job market stagnates. In almost every way that can be measured, Americans are communicating economic anxiety and discontent. Trump insisted that they are all wrong. It is as if the nation were being soaked by a torrential downpour, water rolling over umbrellas and into boats, soaking everyones clothesand the leader whose job it is to lead them through the deluge insists that it is not raining at all, that in fact it is sunny, the sunniest day ever.
But there comes a point when sad realities must be faced. The speech last night was empty and uselessly garrulous. Its length was its first declaration of disrespect for those obliged to sit through it. Trumps name-calling of his predecessor and of the members of Congress in the chamber, his demands that legislators rise at his command, his strategic deployment of systematic untruth in service of those demands to rise and clapput together, he misused the State of the Union ritual in ways so radical as to call the ritual itself into question. Are members of Congress really supposed to sit meekly and quietly while the president uses the rostrum of their chamber to abuse and insult them in the ugliest language? The president is present in Congress as a guest: Thats the reason for the famous language about the high honor and distinct privilege of welcoming him to speak. He has no right to be heard in person; its a courtesy.
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/02/trumps-childish-state-of-the-union/686133/?gift=j8JiJIlliWfcdD_mDVMd94I5LFigbGOIYL8rso4U9_Y
bucolic_frolic
(54,769 posts)It was lies and projection to cover up the crimes and inhumanity.
underpants
(195,873 posts)Last edited Wed Feb 25, 2026, 01:51 PM - Edit history (1)
The Atlantic has done really good pieces. I subscribed and I find it well worth it
wnylib
(25,529 posts)warning in 2020 of how Trump would refuse to acknowledge a Biden win and what he might do about it.
They did not specifically mention an attack on the Capitol, but they did suggest a coup attempt by creating violence and using that as an excuse for martial law. If I remenber right, they suggested that he might call upon his militia supporters.
Escurumbele
(4,071 posts)down because of the ads.
I understand the need for advertising, keeping up DU is not cheap, but I wonder if the jumping up and down can be stopped, due to respect for the readers, or maybe it is my browser? I use "FireFox", have not tried in other browsers.
If anyone knows a way to stop the jumping up and down of the pages, please let me know. It is kind of annoying having to find my place on the paragraph I was reading at the time the jump occurred.
Thank you
dalton99a
(93,325 posts)leftstreet
(39,862 posts)at 3 am
C_U_L8R
(49,225 posts)Last edited Wed Feb 25, 2026, 03:46 PM - Edit history (1)
a friggin snoozefest delivered by a senile angry old fart.
Trump is waning.
lastlib
(27,951 posts)"Tiresome" it was! Projection, hypocrisy, grievances, obnoxious rants, falsehoods by the silo-load, and filled with really dumb, boring tangents, using people for props--every speech teacher I ever had would have given it at best a "D", but more likely an "F".
And what does he promise for the future? Only more of the same tiresome, boring, disgusting, obnoxious bullshit.
thought crime
(1,432 posts)delisen
(7,313 posts)Apparently that is all that is required.
He can send his lies on paper. no reason to waste the time of our representatives or to spread falsehoods around the nation in real time.
underpants
(195,873 posts)Given the intentional abuse of Congresss time and hospitality last night, the next speaker, if there is a different next speaker, should consider very hard whether to extend another such invitation. The case for suffering Trump is that the tradition, if interrupted, may take a long time to return. A future Republican Congress will requite the next Democratic president the same way. But theres also a risk of setting a precedent that anti-institutional Republicans get to smash things, which pro-institutional Democrats must then clean up. Maybe the only way to restore norms is by imposing some meaningful costs for breaking them. Next January, the next speaker could do everyone a favor with a letter that begins: Dear Mr. President, the time has come for your State of the Union message. Please send it in writing in the enclosed envelope. Congress will give it all the attention it deserves. This is the method that was good enough for Rutherford B. Hayes, and, Mr. Trump, it is more than good enough for you.
delisen
(7,313 posts)Now I have, it was well worth it.
BattleRow
(2,201 posts)He's busted up the union of states and created political devisiveness in unprecedented ways.
He is more interested in serving self than serving the American people..he's an employee of the populace.
Oh,to hear,"You're fired!",Mr.Trump.
wnylib
(25,529 posts)and thinking that the applause given to the recipients is meant for him.
B.See
(8,178 posts)BIZARRO WORLD of deviants, dictators, and psychopaths, lies are 'truth' and truth, lies.
And last night (apparently), Trump brought 'truth' social to primetime.
hoosierspud
(231 posts)Is the Russian word for truth. He could have been more creative.
B.See
(8,178 posts)told him to call it the English translation of Pravda, and 'social' was the creative part.
thought crime
(1,432 posts)Cherrycheeks
(314 posts)He helped it to get to this point.😡
Seeking Serenity
(3,306 posts)I don't listen to neo-con, pro-war Bushites, TYVM
Initech
(108,337 posts)That is out for absolute dominate power in the United States. They are bloodthirsty, ruthless, and want to do unspeakable things to eliminate any opposition. And yes this is about Donald Trump and his ass kissing goons.
Exp
(874 posts)lastlib
(27,951 posts)would require him to construct sentences with cogent thoughts---that's above his pay grade. (there was a reason he was nicknamed "Dimson."
pnwmom
(110,236 posts)AI has been training us to think a paragraph should consist of three 5-word sentences.
Skittles
(170,635 posts)pnwmom
(110,236 posts)Skittles
(170,635 posts)and that a big reason is because they are so used to getting all their news and entertainment in snippets
it's pretty fucking disturbing, really
thought crime
(1,432 posts)Kablooie
(19,087 posts)When he talks about the great economy its only about how much he and his cronies have grabbed for themselves. It has nothing to do with the economy of anyone else.
I dont know why that isnt focused on. It should be the primary takeaway when thinking of the Trump economy. It was mentioned in the rebuttal but it should be drilled into everyones head daily.
Its not about economy for you, only about the economy for himself
Grokenstein
(6,323 posts)(skip to 4:20 for the most relevant part)
Joinfortmill
(20,806 posts)underpants
(195,873 posts)and nodded at their fealty as they cheer.
Straight up Mussolini stuff.
BlueWaveNeverEnd
(13,733 posts)underpants
(195,873 posts)That is telling.
BlueWaveNeverEnd
(13,733 posts)Jarqui
(10,885 posts)but I don't mind David Frum
He's certainly no fan of Trump
cab67
(3,677 posts)Jarqui
(10,885 posts)I have communicated with him directly - not about politics.
Both he and his sister were conservatives - probably still are.
His mother was an outstanding journalist but I wouldn't have described her as conservative - she never made me think of that about her she was so down the middle.
That he worked for GW Bush as a speechwriter really set me back - I couldn't imagine his mother doing that.
With Trump, he's obviously limited in how far right he would go.
He reminds me of the Republicans when I was growing up. They were conservative.
BUT for many of those I respected, the country definitely came first.
It was those type of Republicans that told Nixon he had to resign.
Unfortunately, there are not many of them around today. They're probably rolling in their graves over Trump.
A reasoned conservative voice is good for the country. It helps the pendulum from swinging too far to the left.
A good conservative voice makes us think about progressive efforts and helps to develop a better solution - getting us closer to what is best for the country and a palatable compromise that can be legislated.
One can't be accurate with generalizing but to me, that is what I think he does. I do not think it is a bad thing.
The other striking thing about him is how well informed he is.
He seems like a sponge for knowledge that is always at his fingertips when he talks.
Recently, when Trump snatched Maduro, Frum was interviewed within a few hours.
I don't have time to be on top of all the countries and their history, etc.
I think the interview with Frum was about 45 minutes.
I then spot checked some of the things he said. It was right on and has been since.
I came away from it feeling like I'd read three text books on Venezuela.
All the stuff he knew about its history, the oil business and where they fit, etc summarized & blew me away.
No way he could have put that together in a couple of hours. He knew what was going on.
To me, he blows away a bunch in what remains of the news media.
cab67
(3,677 posts)But I'm not sure he was always putting country first during the Bush years. Like many others around Bush, he too often put party first.
Jarqui
(10,885 posts)However, I didn't have any contact with him back then so I can't say I'm positive.
And, full disclosure, I worked for Bush 1 in a think tank.
I refused to accept any money or expenses.
I've always been progressive and they knew it.
I had some expertise they wanted input from.
Conditional: if left vs right crap came up, I was out the door.
I participated to do my best to help the country - not a party.
It seemed constructive because I feel I won some of the debates on policy.
That is all I did.
I doubt Frum had a complete gestalt. Some of how he ticks is in his core/soul.
thought crime
(1,432 posts)He is certainly an articulate and effective communicator, and in the current dilemma we need every voice we can get. I enjoy reading his articles because I always learn something from them, even if there are some aspects I dont completely agree with. Ive especially appreciated his crystal clear explanations of Fascism, which provide better insight into the purpose and methods of the Trump administration.
Dear_Prudence
(1,145 posts)Paragraph 2 above could have been summarized, "As to the economy, Mr. President, don't pee on my leg, then tell me it's raining." 🌧