It has been a while since a president gave the annual State of the Union (SOTU) address at such a troubled time. Thanks to the dictator Vladimir Putin, the world is as close to nuclear war as we have been for more than 50 years. And if reports that Putin is suffering a mental breakdown are true, we are closer to a nuclear war than any of us might appreciate.
With the gravity of the moment in mind, I eagerly watched President Biden’s speech last night. I wanted him to rally America behind Ukraine, explaining what the conflict means to the world and our country. Of course, I also wanted him to tell us how we are doing as a nation and to outline his priorities for the coming year.
Biden did both. I give him a B overall.
Before watching the speech, I prepared an outline of what Biden should accomplish. Our national attention right now should be focused on Ukraine. The president needed to seize the opportunity to signal America’s solidarity with Ukraine and to educate the American people about why stopping Putin’s aggression is in America’s interest. Biden did a great job on the first part, earning several rare bipartisan standing ovations. He did less well on the second part, talking about stopping aggression but downplaying the risk of nuclear war. To his credit, he reminded the American people of his commitment not to directly engage the U.S. military in the war.
I thought Ukraine should consume 15 minutes of a 45-minute speech. I wanted to hear a short, focused speech. Giving a standard State of the Union address, featuring a lengthy laundry list of dozens of administration priorities, would detract from the seriousness of the moment. The speech was about 70 minutes long. The list of proposals was not as long as I had feared, but longer than ideal. Like most other SOTU addresses, it was as much of a campaign speech as it was a report to the nation.
The speech corresponded to a recent analysis of what Democrats need to do to regain their popularity and increase chances of winning in the 2022 and 2024 elections. That analysis suggested that Democrats need to remind voters of Democrats’ accomplishments, rebut misperceptions of their policies, outline an attractive list of legislative priorities, and equate the Democratic party with patriotism, democracy, and freedom. Biden roughly achieved all items on the list.
Biden offered a limited list of accomplishments, leading with the one trillion-dollar infrastructure bill. He touted job growth, especially in manufacturing. A special call-out was offered to Intel, who is building a massive chip manufacturing facility in Ohio. Biden also appropriately mentioned the nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court. Brown is likely to be confirmed by the Senate by May 1.
Consistent with the analysis, Biden also rebutted Republican claims that Democrats support defunding police. Biden called for increased funding for police and the need for cities to be safe, but his recital is unlikely to persuade many voters until an actual decrease in urban crime happens.
Biden also referenced inflation but avoided a promise to aggressively address it. He acknowledged that families were facing rising prices, but specific solutions, at least anything that can be remembered without consulting a transcript of the speech, were lacking.
Traditionally, the most important part of a SOTU address is listing legislative priorities. Biden offered a truncated list that did not include a direct reference to “Build Back Better,” the now-dead massive human infrastructure bill. Instead, Biden called for the enactment of various parts of the bill. Democrats applauded, but with limited enthusiasm. Those Republicans in the chamber for the speech were silent.
It seems clear that Biden no longer expects most of Build Back Better to get enacted. Instead, he is turning to new priorities that he hopes will resonate with voters. A little less than an hour into the speech, Biden addressed his “Cancer Moon Shot” with great enthusiasm. He also referenced a program to address brain cancer in veterans caused by “burn-pits.” Biden told the assembly that he believed his son, Beau, had contracted brain cancer by exposure to the toxins released in the burn-pits.
In the low point of the evening, Representative Lauren Boebert (R-CO) disrupted the president by shouting out “13 of them” when Biden mentioned service members returning home in flag-draped coffins. Boebert was attempting to reference the 13 Americans killed in the Afghanistan exit. Biden briefly paused his speech and then continued. Boebert received boos.
Biden’s finest moments of the night came after his speech ended. Unlike his immediate predecessor, Biden spent more than ten minutes greeting various legislators as he left the chamber. He exhibited his ability to connect with people on an individual basis that is one of his trademarks.
Biden’s closing was a standard reference to democracy, American strength, and support for our troops. It was well-delivered but otherwise unexceptional.
Notable omissions from the speech were a call to action on climate change and a reference to the need to hold January 6 insurrectionists accountable. I was disappointed these two national priorities were not addressed.
A full video of the speech and the official transcript of the address are online.
J.E. Dean is a retired attorney and public affairs consultant writing on politics, government, birds, and other subjects.
L Baker says
Mr Dean, if you liked Biden’s speech, you would have loved President Trump’s CPAC speech. Joe pretty much stated the same topics and ideas that Trump spoke on Saturday. Though I have to say Trump was more entertaining and believable. However, Joe never spoke of the inflation, food shortages, or oil prices (since he shut down the pipeline that was working so well for the US). He never spoke of the Truckers convoy and the vaccine mandates. He never said how he was going to fix any of this. He said “Iranians” for the Ukraine people (instead of Ukrainians) Can you imagine if Trump had done that slip up? His taking credit for any companies coming back to the US and setting up shop in any of the states began with Trump, not him. Biden loves China and he and his son Hunter had many dealings with China. Do not forget that! Also, I’m assuming you never watched a Trump SOTU as he also stayed a while after and chatted and shook hands with the members and guests. This war begin by Russia would never have happened if Trump was in office. I wouldn’t be surprised if things become worse. I feel we are without a strong leader and last nights SOTU pretty much proved that.
John Dean says
Thank you for reading the piece despite your disagreement with it.
I did watch a “highlights” tape of Trump’s CPAC speech. You will disagree with me but as I watched it I thought of how lucky America is that Trump lost the 2020 election. Despite whatever shortcomings you might find in Biden, he did not try to overthrow the government.
Deirdre LaMotte says
I saw Biden’s speech and understood why he beat Trump by over 7 million votes. He touted unity and clearly cares
about democracy and the lives of every American. I love having a President who does not whine about how no one appreciates
his “greatness”. Biden deals graciously with his stutter he has had his entire life. Unfortunately we have the Right
accusing this intelligent man of being “senile”. They are repugnant.
Inflation is caused by the pandemic boom after the shutdown. You know what is inflationary? passing a $1.3 trillion tax cut for corporations and the rich and putting it on a credit card.
Oil prices? the gas prices are a combination of a drop in domestic oil production starting in 2020, and a drop in production from OPEC. Biden’s administration has issued more new oil leases than Trump and he is working with OPEC.
Personally, I’d love to see Americans give up their monster cars but we are like a bunch of crying infants,
demanding instant gratification instead of understanding complex problems. It’s all about “what’s in it for me”
And finally, Biden and his alliance that he so carefully forged is remarkable. I feel safe with him at the helm.
How curious so many ignore crimes of treason and ineptitude. Ha, I remember a Trump aid saying he needed his security briefings delivered in cartoon form.
L Baker says
I can’t even respond to your post, it is so over the top. You will soon find out who has REALLY committed treason, and it’s many! You will also hear about the 2020 election. Biden can’t even get a 100 people at his rally’s while Trump was and continues to have them show up in the thousands? I hate to say this, but I believe you’ve been wearing your mask as a blindfold. It’s time to remove it.
Pray for the children. Pray for our country.
God Bless America.
Deirdre LaMotte says
Well if you want to “God Bless America” you, may want to check on your acolytes.
It is sad so many fundamentalists are totalitarian, not democratic. They listen to their far right rich “preachers” lecturing them on things the real Jesus would laugh at. All false to the core.
Anyhoo, the closed door meeting that Trump had with Putin, where the translator’s notes were hidden and she was silenced raised an alarm with any normal person. Helsinki were T came out of a meeting with T looking like a whipped animal with a smiling Putin. And T gave Putin secrets to the Russians in the Oval.
You know, there is no way anyone who wants to hear facts will hear facts. That is to your detriment.
This person and other GOPhers want a Russian style, oligarch- controlled fascist government for America. Period. They will burn our nation to the ground to achieve this.
darrell parsons says
“This war begin(sic) by Russia would never have happened if Trump was in office” Probably right. Russia would simply have run over Ukraine cheered on by Trump and his acolytes. Because the only thing of interest to Trump is to himself. He and Putin both appear to be wounded men who think that their actions prove their manhood. It’s sad in both cases – and dangerous to all.
John Dean says
Thanks for reading the piece and for your comment.
As you might guess, I share your assessment of Donald Trump.