Discussion: Pelosi Will Not Authorize SOTU Until Government Reopens

[tsp]

Nancy’s got this.

Agreed. His options are: Public Grandstanding, or Dysfunctional Government. His choice. Nancy is brilliant!

[bikerdad]

For those pearl-clutching about “petty” fights, there are two reasons for taking a stand.

1. It’s not business as usual and Pelosi won’t enable McConnell and Trump to pretend that it is.
2. Educate Trump about who really has power in Congress.

[zenicetus]

probably a bad tactical move IMHO. It would have been better if she said nothing, and just not pass the necessary House resolution for a joint session…and locked the doors and shut off the lights on Jan 28th.

No, this is better. She is reminding everyone of the reason why the SOTU is being delayed, not cancelled. The government must be opened first.

That’s the sum and total message behind everything the Dems are holding firm on now, and that message has to be repeated over and over.

[steviedee111]

The Media’s inability to understand how the legislative process works, and to recognize that the Democrats want to big victory on a mandate to stop the wall and check Trump is a significant failing on their part.

[26degreesrising]

She is amazing. We haven’t seen a profile in courage like hers in decades.

Nothing else to say.

[randyabraham]

Josh Marshall posted a tweet that Trump is moving on the SOTU like a bitch.

[chelsea530]

Plus he keeps dropping in the polls. The majority of Americans do not support the shutdown, and the longer it continues, the worse he looks.

Pelosi said open the government, and you can give your little speech. Anyone think that his continued refusal to do that and put people back to work is going to get him anywhere?

No way.

[Lacuna-Synecdoche]

I am writing to inform you that the House of Representatives will not consider a concurrent resolution authorizing the President’s State of the Union address in the House Chamber until government has reopened.

Yay, Nancy!

[paul_lukasiak]

another suggestion.

Lights on. Camera on.

And the gavel in Nancy’s hand, recognizing Democrat after Democrat who wants to trash Trump.

Trump can show up. He just doesn’t get to speak, because he’s not recognized.

[geofu54]

Josh summarized nicely.

Josh Marshall (joshtpm)

[mattinpa]

I admit I can be shallow and superficial, but does anyone else think that Speaker Pelosi looks large and in charge in this picture?

Poised, elegant and comfortable with the levers of power. An iron fist in a velvet glove. A designer glove, natch.

The stage presence matters, and yes, she always looks poised and ready. She just is, and it shows outwardly.

[pike_bishop]

[dont]

The House Sergeant at Arms reports to the House - Speaker- not the military.

[chelsea530]

Yes!! Thank you. She’s looking out for Americans, unlike the man-child here.

[dbutch]

Recess the House for that day, lock the doors, turn out the lights, and have this song playing loudly on a loop.

[emiliano4]

But seriously let’s not nail-bite over the optics and whether it’s a good move.

LIKED times 1,000.000,000

We simply cannot get out of the Optics bullshit. It’s as though there is a Bataan Death March on the one hand and people are quibbling about whether a salad fork would be more appropriate for dinner.

Moving forward, this may be what’s in store for any future president who is female:

Everybody is Chris Cilliza.

[euglena4056]

As I understand it, the Constitution says he reports. And that came before there was TV. So, a written State of the Union report is fine. Or he can deliver it from anywhere. There’s sure no future in capitulating to a bully, that’s for sure

[pike_bishop]

[chelsea530]

Trump is not going to win this one. Optics are horrible and are already hurting him.

Nancy Pelosi (TeamPelosi)

[moreyampersand]

“It’s really a shame what’s happening with the Democrats, they’ve become radicalized, they don’t want to see crimes stop which we can very easily do on the southern border.”

We do want to see crimes stop. We’re starting at the logical place – the West Wing.