I have long thought that the State of the Union (like several of Woodrow Wilson's other innovations) should be abolished. My assumptions till now are that Trump would not say anything that would change my mind about this tradition, or about Trump himself for that matter, but after watching his address, here are some of my thoughts.
So, my first impression is that this was the best speech he's ever given. The tone was correct, the substance was tight, and he delivered it commandingly. I was surprised and glad that he spent so much time on school choice and on cornering the dems on their reckless immigration policies.
I am repulsed by all the phony pandering, populism and big government spending, but it seems to work for him. I wish he'd try to win over the swing vote with better messaging but he's getting results and that is better than just talking the talk. Tonight's talk was surprisingly presidential, but he's always risen to this occasion. I think this is his best.
He didn't mention the deficit, our massive debt, or our out-of-control entitlements except to say that he's going to protect them. He's apparently abandoned his promise to repeal Obamacare. He's a profligate.
There is so much that is great going on in America right now. I may not like the man, his personality, his tactics, or his temperament, but he has done what he said he'd do: He's made America great again. With results like this, he ought to be more popular than Reagan, but alas, he's Trump. Will his results clean the sour taste he's put in the mouths of so many swing voters? I think and hope so. I think America has gotten used to (numbed to) his abrasive style and so as this election season kicks in, it will be one long victory lap and he'll cruise to a landslide.
And when Pelosi tore up the speech, I thought OMG, WHAT A MONSTROUS BITCH! But I am so glad she did it! It will backfire on her terribly.