Luis Gutierrez on Democrats' Priorities

Representative Luis Gutierrez (D-IL 4th) allegedly was so incensed that Democrat Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA 12th) is willing to de-link DACA from budget negotiations that he has threatened to walk out of the Democrat Caucus.  Mainstream media pundits presume that Republicans will have trouble retaining control of Congress because of disgruntled members exposing fractures in party unity.   Gutierrez's threat indicates that trouble in getting out the vote and maintaining party unity also is applicable for Democrats. 

Wags wonder if this threat is as believable as Gutierrez excuse for walking out of President Trump's State of the Union to be positioned for post SOTU standups rather than reacting to the chamber resounding in chants of "USA". 

Sen. Elizabeth Warren on Persisting in Pink Pussy Hats

A year after the enormous post Inaugural Women Who Hate Trump March, Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) tried to rally the troops by insisting that women politically persist in pink pussy hats.




This exhortation reveals Senator Warren's long-term political strategy and intimates one direction the Democrat party is being pushed.  In 2017, "the Resistance" seemed organized to appeal to agitating identity groups.  There were attempts to have various constituency groups demonstrating against the Trump Administration and highlighting their priorities.  There was even a Scientists March on Washington.  But this impetus seems to have fizzled out and American politics was not transformed into  a balkanized European Democratic socialist schema.

Between the Beltways, it has long been understood that Senator Elizabeth Warren hopes to make a run for the White House.  This "Persist in Pussy Hats" speech gives indication that she is hitching her wagon on women power with elements of  "the Resistance" but not harping on Trump hate.  But this plan depends upon Warren being re-elected to the Senate in 2018 and that is not a sure thing.

The meta-strategy of rallying identity groups for victory is facile.  Women showed up for a one day big rally, but did not remain organized throughout the year. And besides, Democrats seem more keen on catering to illegal immigrants for DACA than using feminist politics as a harbinger for change. The question is how identity politics will further reshape the Democrat party. Joe Kennedy III's State of the Union rebuttal leaned south, by championing transgendered rights and assisting "undocumented citizens".

Sheriff David Clarke on the Congressional Black Caucus

Hugh Hewitt on Lame Duck Judicial Appointments

Sheila Jackson Lee on Government

As is her wont, it is likely that Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX 18th) will camp out on the House floor for hours at the State of the Union to get an aisle seat to get her photo opportunity with the President.  This time, Jackson-Lee can whisper sweat nothings about CBC support for Obama executive orders. 

Lincoln Chafee's Revanchist Run for the White House

During an appearance  on CNN's State of the Nation, former Senator and Governor Lincoln Chafee (R, I, D-RI) launched himself into the fight for the Democrat nomination to deny former First Lady/ Senator/ Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (D-AR, NY) a simple coronation. It seems that former Governor Charlie Crist (R, I, D-FL) was unwilling to play the part of a foil.  It should be noted that
 Chafee somewhat walked back his announcement during the show, noting that he only opened an exploratory committee, but that is merely  a pro forma legal nicety.

Cynical political animals wonder what propels a backbench politico into a Sissiphian contest with a prominent and well funded candidate.  Unlike former Senator Jim Webb (R, D-VA), Chafee is not hawking a current book to bolster his contender image.  Nor is Chafee likely to secure a spot as a Hillary 2016 Drug Czar.   Chafee's quixotic campaign seems to be driven by revanchism over Iraq.



While Senator Webb gained some notoriety during his time on Capitol Hill for sponsoring a bill to cut off funding for the War in Iraq, then Senator Lincoln Chafee voted against it as a Republican in 2002; whereas Senator Hillary Clinton voted for the war.

 Progressives may pine for Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) to throw her headdress into the ring, the Bay State junior Senator has declined to do so.  That leaves Senator Bernie Sanders (D-VT) potentially holding the progressive standard. But the 73 year old socialist Senator is not seen as a serious contender to quash the coronation.

So Lincoln Chafe's revaunchist run may have him serve as the  anti-war challenger to force Hillary to run to the left before she pivots to the center for the general election. It is questionable an anti-war animus will be a uniting force among Democrat voters, particularly if President Obama feels compelled to send combat troops to a trouble zone before the July 2016 Philadelphia convention.

Despite the slim chances that Chafee has of securing the nomination, at least his inchoate campaign is more substantive that the Hillary 2016 listening tour road trip to Iowa in the "Scooby" Mystery Machine. 

Snapshots from the State of the Union

President Barack Obama gave his fifth State of the Union (SOTU) address to Congress.  The 6923 words spoken over 69 minutes formed an instructive word cloud.

2014 State of the Union Word Cloud (graphics: USA Today)

President Obam  wanted to emphasis work, newness and make Congress.  Note that the word cloud excluded common English words like "I".  But to be fair, Mr. Obama seems to have done a better job at being self referential  as unofficial Twitter total count: 50 "I"s, 11 "mys" and 8 "me"s.

When Vice President Joe Biden was not resting his eyes, he often had a demonic grin which would scare trick or treaters at Halloween. 

The President made plenty of acknowledgments during his State of the Union speech,  including prefunctory welcomes to the grandees gathered in the House Chamber, as well as eleven guests which the White House brought to focus on  Mr. Obama's stated priorities.  It is ironic that the Obama Administration made a big deal about having former pro basketball player Jayson Collins in the Presidential box, presumably because of his very public declaration of his sexual preferences last Spring.  

Jayson Collins sitting near Michelle Obama at 2014 State of the Union Address

Yet Collins did not even merit a shout out by name, only to be a prop for the Obama Administration's concern about homosexual rights as America participates in the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russian Federation.

To make his point about how there can be upward mobility in America from humble origins, President Obama stopped using composite parables and credited House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH 8th) with rising from being son of a bar keep.

Speaker Boehner's silent thumbs up seemed like a response which seemed reminiscent of his late night television appearances.  It is unclear if Mr. Boehner blushed due to his deep tan.

The State of the Union audience was less contrarian than when Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC 2nd) shouted "You lie" at Mr. Obama September, 2009 speech before a Joint Session of Congress.  Supreme Court Associate Justices Alito, Scalia and Thomas chose not to attend, but this is understandable considering how Mr. Obama attacked the High Court in 2010 during that State of the Union Speech. 

But this did not mean that there was an abundance of decorum for the State of the Union.   Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CN 2nd) stood up and pumped her fists in the air during prized passages of the speech. 

[C] Rep. Rosa DeLauro,  [front L] Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee [back C] Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz hardily cheering President Obama's 2014 State of the Union speech

But at least Rep. DeLauro's animated atta boys drew attention to some hideous coifs and outfits in the Chamber. 

President Obama used a more restrained tone in delivering his State of the Union speech, often opting for the emphatic horse whisper to underline his points.  However, Frank Luntz's focus panel thought that Mr. Obama's delivery lacked passion and credulity.  In fact, the Luntz group noted that Mr. Obama kept mispronouncing the proposed My-IRA program and then expected the audience to intuit the parameters of the policy.

There was a torrent of passion displayed at the end of President Obama's State of the Union address as he pointed to the Presidential box, where First Lady Michelle Obama was sitting besides 30 year old Army Sgt. 1st Class Cory Remsberg, a Ranger who served ten tours in Afghanistan who was severely injured by an IED in 2009. 

[Front row 2nd L] Army Ranger Cory Remsberg at the 2014 State of the Union address

Assuredly the alluvia of applause from the attendees was not for the First Lady's dress.

There were two other noteworthy events attached to this year's State of the Union speech.  One of the attendees of the speech was Will Robinson, invited by Rep. Vance McAllister (R-LA 5th).  Robinson was attired in what he would typically wear on Duck Dynasty, as seen shaking hands with Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI 1st).

Another noteworthy moment needs to be seen to be believed.   As part of the post State of the Union spin, Rep. Michael Grimm (R-NY 11th) gave an interview to NY 1.  When the reporter went off script and asked about the Congressman's fundraising controversy, Grimm reacted harshly.  

At first, Rep. Grimm walked off the interview, then he reproached the reporter with threats which sounded like it was from the Sopranos.

Anticipatory Chuckles for the State of the Union

Clark S. Judge should know about State of the Union addresses.  Before Judge founded the White House Writers Group in 1993, he was a Special Assistant and Speech Writer for former President Ronald Reagan.  It is dubious that Vice President Joe Biden, our National Treasure, had any input on this year's SOTU. 

Here is hoping that this year, Mr. Obama can make it through all of the introductions before concluding his remarks.

In all seriousness, if one can stomach actually watching the long laundry list of rehashed reiteration of bumper sticker federal initiatives will will amount to nothing, consider a couple of suggestions to make the time memorable.

1. Find the ugliest tie in the Chambers.  Extra credit if you can name the fashion challenged politican
2. Count the number of times that our Dear Leader utters the word "I".  
3. Play a Between-the-Beltways version of "High Bob".  This year's "magic word" is "fairness".  (N.B.  in the interests of sobriety, the word "I" has been excluded from this year's "magic word").
4. Guess how long Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX 18th) waited in the House chamber in order to secure her row seat for her annual photo op with whoever is President. 

Or if you are really ambitious and want to pay attention, play State of the Union BS Bingo.

Don't feel obliged to wait for the Spin Rooms to form your opinion.  Take part in the instant punditry on Twitter #SOTU.  Look for the handle @CalamityDC

h/t:  Marshall Ramsey

SOTU Reactions--Stay Thirsty My Friends

During Senator Marco Rubio's (R-FL) Republican response to the 2013 State of the Union speech, he experienced some cotton mouth and took a swig of water which was stored slightly out of frame. 

Perhaps he should have wet the whistle between giving his Spanish State of the Union rebuttal  and the English edition. 

Admittedly, the optics of this "Water-gate" were awkward.  Even the cameraman in the Speaker's ante-chamber blurted out "Uh oh". In follow up media appearances, Rubio used self-deprecating humor to minimize the muffed moment.  But it is sad to think that this slight media misstep dominates the coverage of the evening.  

Over the hour when President Obama gave his 6500 word State of the Union speech (the second shortest SOTU during his presidency), there were many incredible utterances which should make political watchers squirm.  Mr. Obama claimed to have reduced the deficit by $2 Trillion during his time in office.  The White House must have employed some creative accountants to conjure up that false factoid, as the deficit had grown by $6 trillion over four years.  Then there was the audacity of hope which Obama exclaimed that his 29 new programs won't cost taxpayers any more money.  If that is true, it must mean that there will be unfunded federal madates to the states to cover universal pre-school.  Another Federal mandate which gets dumped on cash strapped states. 

But instead of exploring the impact of the laundry list of new Obama initiatives, it was "smarter government" for the Obama stenographers posing as the elite Liberal Media to promote the "Zero Dark Thirsty" meme.   So instead of thirsting for the truth,  the Lamestream Media sates itself by spreading the snark which is an ad hominem attack on Obama's opponent. 

For those who care about the country, it is wise to stay thirsty for the truth, even if it is lampooned by the Liberal Media.