SOTU

As the partisan divide deepens and members of Congress bloviate and hyperventilate to an even greater height, the State of the Union speech becomes a bit more interesting to see what fireworks or drama will take place.  Well...there was plenty of that tonight.  First Trump declined to shake Pelosi's hand at the beginning.  Some say he didn't see it and he didn't shake Pence's hand, but I think it was a snub.  And then in the most petty of all petty gestures, Pelosi ripped up Trump's speech at the end with all the cameras and eyes on her.  It was really pretty astounding.  She's gotta be monumentally pissed.  Pissed that her fellow Dems led her down the impeachment road.  Pissed that Trump will be acquitted.  Pissed that she continually loses every confrontation with Trump.  I sorta wonder if she's losing it.

But to focus on the speech, it was arguably the best speech of his Presidency.  He clearly was trying to tone it down.  He was trying a broad appeal in several sound bites.  He was pointedly reaching out to minorities.  And the guests in the gallery that he introduced were perfectly positioned to tug at the heartstrings and inspire.  Of course, I would think that since I'm of like mind with Trump.  But beyond that, for me, the closing of the speech was magnificent.  I don't know who his speech writers are, but they hit a grand slam home run in the closing.  In case you missed it or didn't pick up on the specifics, here it is.

"As the world bears witness tonight, America is a land of heroes. This is the place where greatness is born, where destinies are forged, and where legends come to life. This is the home of Thomas Edison and Teddy Roosevelt, of many great Generals, including Washington, Pershing, Patton, and MacArthur. This is the home of Abraham Lincoln, Frederick Douglass, Amelia Earhart, Harriet Tubman, the Wright Brothers, Neil Armstrong, and so many more. This is the country where children learn names like Wyatt Earp, Davy Crockett, and Annie Oakley. This is the place where the pilgrims landed at Plymouth and where Texas patriots made their last stand at the Alamo.

The American Nation was carved out of the vast frontier by the toughest, strongest, fiercest, and most determined men and women ever to walk the face of the Earth. Our ancestors braved the unknown; tamed the wilderness; settled the Wild West; lifted millions from poverty, disease, and hunger; vanquished tyranny and fascism; ushered the world to new heights of science and medicine; laid down the railroads, dug out canals, raised up the skyscrapers — and, ladies and gentlemen, our ancestors built the most exceptional Republic ever to exist in all of human history. And we are making it greater than ever before!

This is our glorious and magnificent inheritance.

We are Americans. We are the pioneers. We are the pathfinders. We settled the new world, we built the modern world, and we changed history forever by embracing the eternal truth that everyone is made equal by the hand of Almighty God.

America is the place where anything can happen! America is the place where anyone can rise. And here, on this land, on this soil, on this continent, the most incredible dreams come true!

This Nation is our canvas, and this country is our masterpiece. We look at tomorrow and see unlimited frontiers just waiting to be explored. Our brightest discoveries are not yet known. Our most thrilling stories are not yet told. Our grandest journeys are not yet made. The American Age, the American Epic, the American Adventure, has only just begun!

Our spirit is still young; the sun is still rising; God’s grace is still shining; and my fellow Americans, the best is yet to come!

Thank you. God Bless You. God Bless America."