State of the Union Speech

[SPK145]

Thought I'd save my friends some time:

FOX News / Sean Hannity said it was a great speech, very presidential, he's a great man.

MSNBC / Maxine Waters said it was a terrible speech, plenty of hidden red-meat to the white nationalists, he's a racist, should be impeached.

Me, I'll be re-arranging my sock drawer tonight.

 

[HALL85]

Thought I'd save my friends some time:

FOX News / Sean Hannity said it was a great speech, very presidential, he's a great man.

MSNBC / Maxine Waters said it was a terrible speech, plenty of hidden red-meat to the white nationalists, he's a racist, should be impeached.

Me, I'll be re-arranging my sock drawer tonight.

CNN / Anderson Cooper said he didn't address the Russia probe and we need to know more about how Russia interfered with the election

Mike Pence will look stoic sitting behind Trump; Paul Ryan will have a relaxed look that says "I'm retiring in a few months...not listening to a word".

My wife will have a "Real Housewives" episode on anyway, which might have more substance.

 

[shu09]

You forgot Don Lemon going on a rant about something.

Over on FOX, Tucker Carlson may get a thrill up his leg now that the script has been flipped in DC.

Over/under on 'bigly,' 'winning,' 'fantastic,' 'believe me' and 'that I can tell you?' LOL

 

[SPK145]

You forgot Don Lemon going on a rant about something.

Over on FOX, Tucker Carlson may get a thrill up his leg now that the script has been flipped in DC.

Over/under on 'bigly,' 'winning,' 'fantastic,' 'believe me' and 'that I can tell you?' LOL

What, no YUGE???

 

[HALL85]

I was going to tune in to check out Fredrica Wilson's sequenced cowboy hat and her clown outfit, but since she bailed on it, I'll pass too.

 

[Merge]

Only things that I'm interested in are if dems have a Joe Wilson moment (I hope not, but wouldn't be shocked) and how Joe Kennedy does with his rebuttal. Seems like he has been positioning himself to become a more prominent figure in the party and this is a good opportunity for him to do so.

 

[Pirata]

Go Eagles!

 

[SnakeTom]

Go Eagles!

I finally agree with you on something

GO EAGLES !!!

TK

 

[shu09]

Well I watched the speech. I thought the tone was positive and there were olive branches offered to the Democrats to work with him on certain issues. He looked confident but wasn't the abrasive and arrogant Trump that we have seen too many times. I was disappointed that he did not address entitlement spending. Thought he spent a bit too much time touting his achievements, but that's typical Trump. Just have to deal with it.

Schumer's reactions were interesting and seemed to indicate a willingness to work with the president. By contrast, Pelosi looked disinterested and out of touch. Probably enjoying crumbs or something.

I thought Joe Kennedy III looked scared and was sweating bullets. Sad that a Kennedy has fallen into the current leftist ideology of identity politics. Thought he did a poor job and didn't show any willingness to work with the president. A sign that the Democrats continue to intend to obstruct rather than govern, just as the GOP did under Obama. So sad that politics is such a juvenile game like this.

 

[Bobbie Solo]

Here's a speech that happened tonight from an authentic person who spoke about infinitely more relevant and truthful things than that bozo pig. Sounds like a real person too, unlike Kennedy's tired, needlessly dramatic & breathless politician goop in the official response. Speaks truth to power throughout and talks about whats really happening in the country.



No Dem that thinks they're running in 2020 can be as authentic and inspiring as my man Bernie. So excited to get out there and support my guy one more time.

 

[Section112]

I hope they get a deal on immigration. In 2013 the Dems seemed to be for cleaning up some of the loopholes in immigration and now because Trump is in office they are against the same things. Bush had an immigration deal on the table that would have taken care of the dreamers and more and Senator Obama went to his friends and got it defeated because they did not want it to be a Republican thing. Trump is a total ass but their position is disingenuous at best. There is a path to citizenship which I don't think they expected at all and they should negotiate a few things regarding the wall etc and get it done. They don't want Trump's name behind it but its the right thing to do IMO. I loved his line that said Americans are dreamers too.

The speech was good (same as last year) but he will blow it with some stupid tweets I'm sure. Kennedy's speech was wet lipped and frankly filled with the same propoganda we always hear. And I think it's funny that in Trumps speech he talked about more vocational school training and Kennedy's speech was in a vocational school. I bet the speech writers got wind of that and they added it to Trump's speech. If Obama cut taxes, doubled the standard deduction, doubled the child care credit and the stock market was going crazy the press and the politicians on the Dem side would be going crazy. But orange hair did it so now its bad.

In the end none of it matters unless they get something done. My guess is the Dems use the closure of the government as leverage to try and dumb down the immigration bill and hold everyone hostage but hopefully cooler heads will prevail.

 

[Section112]

Here's a speech that happened tonight from an authentic person who spoke about infinitely more relevant and truthful things than that bozo pig. Sounds like a real person too, unlike Kennedy's tired, needlessly dramatic & breathless politician goop in the official response. Speaks truth to power throughout and talks about whats really happening in the country.

View embedded media

No Dem that thinks they're running in 2020 can be as authentic and inspiring as my man Bernie. So excited to get out there and support my guy one more time.

Bernie is the most authentic guy that was in the last campaign. I don't agree with him on lots of things but the Dems tied themselves to Hillary and did all they could to hurt Bernie and help Hillary. That is 1000% clear. What they did was wrong in not letting the election play out and Bernie got screwed big time.

 

[shu09]

If Obama cut taxes, doubled the standard deduction, doubled the child care credit and the stock market was going crazy the press and the politicians on the Dem side would be going crazy. But orange hair did it so now its bad.

Great point. Absolutely right and illustrates the bias in media.

 

[HALL85]

Bernie is the most authentic guy that was in the last campaign. I don't agree with him on lots of things but the Dems tied themselves to Hillary and did all they could to hurt Bernie and help Hillary. That is 1000% clear. What they did was wrong in not letting the election play out and Bernie got screwed big time.

As someone told me recently, Bernie is the voice that resonates most with Democrats, yet he's not a registered Democrat.

And Trump IS now the voice of Republicans, yet he is really not one. Sad thing is that most of the 550 or so in the room last night get that...

 

[Merge]

Great point. Absolutely right and illustrates the bias in media.

Obama signed a tax credit and lowered payroll taxes for middle class Americans in 2009 and the market almost tripped under his administration. I wouldn't say the media went crazy for his economic successes.

Obama was killed for the additional debt which helped us get out of the slump.

Yes, Trump also gave cuts but the cuts are primarily supply side. We're taking on more debt in a steady economy for a supply side tax cut than we did to get out of a recession. Doesn't really make sense to me, but we'll see where it gets us. It will take a few years before we really know the impact.

 

[Merge]

As someone told me recently, Bernie is the voice that resonates most with Democrats, yet he's not a registered Democrat.

And Trump IS now the voice of Republicans, yet he is really not one. Sad thing is that most of the 550 or so in the room last night get that...

Absolutely correct!

 

[Merge]

btw - Haven't watched Trump yet but doesn't sound like I need to from what I am reading so far. Kennedy did not do well though. Not a good speech and his delivery wasn't great either.

 

[SPK145]

Obama signed a tax credit and lowered payroll taxes for middle class Americans in 2009 and the market almost tripped under his administration. I wouldn't say the media went crazy for his economic successes.

Per Pelosi in 2017, those were crumbs. And then they expired, resulting in a tax increase.

 

[HALL85]

Per Pelosi in 2017, those were crumbs. And then they expired, resulting in a tax increase.

Speaking of which, is there anyone in politics who is had a worse couple of months then Pelosi?

 

[knowknow456]

Great point. Absolutely right and illustrates the bias in media.

Aren't there media options for people who want to see praise for orange haired people?

 

[Merge]

Per Pelosi in 2017, those were crumbs. And then they expired, resulting in a tax increase.

It is crumbs unless you have kids or you are wealthy. Need to add some context.

Lets look at a married couple with no kids making 80k per year living in an apartment.

2017 standard deduction 12.7k. Personal exemptions 8100
Taxable income = 59,200
Tax due = 6,330

2018 standard deduction - 24k
Taxable income = 56,000
Tax due = $6,339

Lower their income and they will have a bigger tax increase. Increase their income and they will have a reduction.

In my situation., my deductions were about 24k last year (RE taxes of 11k) so my taxable income is going up by the exemptions I am losing. For a couple that has been itemizing close to what I have, with no kids - That will mean a tax increase. Since I have two kids I will get a cut.

So for middle class Americans with no kids. Obama's 2% payroll tax cut was more significant than Trump's tax cut (which could actually be an increase)
For Americans with kids, Trump's tax cut will be more significant than Obama's payroll tax cut.

For Wealthy Americans - They didn't get a cut under Obama, and under Trump they will have significant cuts.

 

[SPK145]

It is crumbs unless you have kids or you are wealthy. Need to add some context.

Lets look at a married couple with no kids making 80k per year living in an apartment.

2017 standard deduction 12.7k. Personal exemptions 8100
Taxable income = 59,200
Tax due = 6,330

2018 standard deduction - 24k
Taxable income = 56,000
Tax due = $6,339

Your calculations are wrong, these are the correct calculations:

2017 standard deduction $12,700, Personal exemptions $8,100
Taxable income = $59,200
Tax due = $7,948

2018 standard deduction - $24,000
Taxable income = $56,000
Tax due = $6,723

Nice try though.

 

[shu09]

I was going to say...there is no possible way a married couple making $80K would owe more tax in the scenario presented. Higher standard deduction + lower taxable income + lower marginal rates = less tax due.

 

[Merge]

Nice try though.

Yep. You are correct.
I went too quickly and made a mistake. My bad.

 

[Merge]

I was going to say...there is no possible way a married couple making $80K would owe more tax in the scenario presented. Higher standard deduction + lower taxable income + lower marginal rates = less tax due.

It can happen in high tax states like NJ if they have deductions.
Assuming 24k of deductions in 2017 - a married couple with no kids and 80k of income will pay just about the same in 2018 as the will in 2017.
Put them at 75k and they are paying a couple hundred more in 2018.

@SPK145 - Can check my numbers on that as well.

 

[HALL85]

I think everyone will forget the speech very quickly. The FBI letter and IG investigation is taking center stage and then February 8th shutdown is looming with the immigration bill determination. Only thing anyone will remember is the money line...."Americans are dreamers too".

 

[Merge]

Only thing anyone will remember is the money line...."Americans are dreamers too".

Unfortunately democrats are on the losing side of this argument. Not the wrong side, as I think the overwhelming majority of Americans want to take care of the dreamers... but the political optics where republicans get to say democrats want to help non-citizens over citizens is very damaging.
No reason we can't take care of both.... but optics are bad.

 

[Section112]

Unfortunately democrats are on the losing side of this argument. Not the wrong side, as I think the overwhelming majority of Americans want to take care of the dreamers... but the political optics where republicans get to say democrats want to help non-citizens over citizens is very damaging.
No reason we can't take care of both.... but optics are bad.

We have to take care of both really. It shouldn't be this hard. I hope the knuckleheads on both sides figure out a reasonable compromise and get it done.

 

[HALL85]

We have to take care of both really. It shouldn't be this hard. I hope the knuckleheads on both sides figure out a reasonable compromise and get it done.

Virtually everyone believes there should be a path for dreamers. Yeah, Trump's message was "the wall" but no one takes that campaign promise to that extreme. I think most people also would like to see a more secure border (combination of barriers, technology and patrols) to stop illegal crossings and drugs. The other two pillars also make sense. I also hope Congress does the right thing rather than argue about who gets credit for being right.

 

[SPK145]

Here's a speech that happened tonight from an authentic person who spoke about infinitely more relevant and truthful things than that bozo pig.

He's authentic alright, an authentic kook. Socialism has failed miserably everywhere it's been tried so he puts the word democratic in front of it to make you think it's something else when all he's doing is putting lipstick on a pig.

Who the hell is he to think he knows what's better for you than you?

 

[Merge]

He's authentic alright, an authentic kook. Socialism has failed miserably everywhere it's been tried so he puts the word democratic in front of it to make you think it's something else when all he's doing is putting lipstick on a pig.

Who the hell is he to think he knows what's better for you than you?

He has the guy who has been watching the system fail the middle class over the course of his lifetime.

If you have to pick a complete structure of capitalism vs socialism you go with capitalism every time... BUT... we don't have to pick between the 2.
You can see what is working for the American public and what isn't and campaign to make changes.

If greed hadn't taken over, Bernie wouldn't have a platform.... but it did, so he does.

 

[Pirata]

I found it interesting that the Republicans all headed out to The Greenbrier resort for their retreat.

I had the opportunity to spend a weekend there a couple years ago and toured the bunker. Fascinating part of our history and the Cold War.

Jim Justice was making the rounds in the dining room and it was a pleasure to get to meet him.

He is a childhood friend of one of my work colleagues.

For those of you who have never been to the Greenbrier you should put it on your bucket list. A ton of History dating back to the Civil War.

 

[SPK145]

He has the guy who has been watching the system fail the middle class over the course of his lifetime.

If you have to pick a complete structure of capitalism vs socialism you go with capitalism every time... BUT... we don't have to pick between the 2.
You can see what is working for the American public and what isn't and campaign to make changes.

If greed hadn't taken over, Bernie wouldn't have a platform.... but it did, so he does.

Twice as many people have left the middle class to move upwards than have gone downwards. It's just populist rhetoric, the kind that got you know who elected.

 

[Merge]

Twice as many people have left the middle class to move upwards than have gone downwards. It's just populist rhetoric, the kind that got you know who elected.

Right and the wealth generated is still going towards the very top. Executive to average worker compensation is still 3 to 4 times where it was in the 90's.

There is data that can support both sides of the economic debate... but none will necessarily mean that a healthcare system that is more socialistic would be worse for Americans than our current system.