None wants to the be the network that took a pass on an event that will draw viewers and therefore advertisers. It’s not like one central planner decided that they all need to do this.
The Votemaster thinks there is a real chance he will declare a state of emergency and order the military to start building a wall. See: ElectoralVote.
I predict sniffing.
Please make this a reality. Can’t Watson (the computer) determine lies and provide factual answers relatively quickly?
Is this going to be the live-follow-along thread? Because I’m curious, but not enough to actually watch it.
That’ll be fun. I haven’t done one of those since … election night 2016.
WaPo offers follow-along fact-checking sheet.
“Your fact-checking cheat sheet for Trump’s immigration address”
When inevitably called out on his impromptu Lies Of The Union address by all sane agencies, he’ll scream Fake News. It’s a feature, not a bug, since it lets him continue his Harassed President narrative and keeps his name & face in a few more news cycles (until the next thing). Solving the nation’s problems? ‘This nation’s biggest problem is that not enough people are saying how great I’m doing. Believe me.’
Or loudspeakers in every home, like they have in parts of North Korea.
I have a relative on Facebook whose 15-year-old daughter is autistic and has some degree of intellectual disability. Mom asked Daughter if she wanted to watch the speech tonight, and Daughter replied, “No. I hate him.”
“That’s not a nice word. How about ‘dislike’?”
“OK, I dislike (x10) him.”
She raised this kid right. 
I can’t find it now, but I read earlier this morning that the networks carrying the speech have agreed to carry the Democrats’ rebuttal.
This is Trump’s only request to address the nation in two years.
At least he’s not abusing this Presidential perk.
Right now the biggest concern is getting this government shutdown ended. People need their paychecks.
A bullshit speech filled with lies with no purpose but politics certainly counts as “abusing” this. I suppose there’s a chance this speech won’t be this, but if it is, it’s an abuse, morally speaking, for sure.
I think it’s a terrible idea for NBC, ABC, CBS, and FOX (I assume CW has no fucks to give). It’s fine for CNN, FOX news, MSNBC. Radio’s fine too. While there are many people who do not have cable/satellite and don’t go online, there are options for people to do so if they really wanted to watch him. Again: radio.
By giving in to this bullshit, they’re feeding the ego. He’ll pull this shit again now that he’s done it once. I don’t want my tv interrupted because he got in a fight with Melania and his phone battery died and he needs to be validated for half an hour.
If they didn’t do it for Obama, they shouldn’t do it now.
And you never give in to bullies.
I think there are 3 points that Democrats and progressives should hammer home every chance they get:
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If Dems give in on this wall funding demand, he’ll pull this same shit every single time he wants something.
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If the border wall is of such pressing need, why didn’t Republicans make it a priority and approve the funding for it when they controlled both houses of Congress and the presidency over the past 2 years?
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If people are genuinely concerned about national security, they should work hard to remove the Russian asset currently occupying the Oval Office.
Trump found a pretty good speech writer.
He seemed to stick to the script and read the teleprompter.
I’d view the Democrats position more favorably if Schumer and Pelosi weren’t on record supporting a physical barrier in 2006. That bill passed the Senate with impressive numbers.
This is partisan politics at it’s ugliest and worst. Neither political party gives a shit about the families that aren’t getting paid and will soon be in serious financial trouble.
It’s time to end this shutdown. Come together, compromise and find middle ground. Imho the DACA bill that included funding for improving the border fence is a good place to start. The Democrats get something (DACA) they want and Trump gets a scaled down version of his wall/fence.
Trump already had a chance to agree to that deal, and passed.
If only that could have happened before today. Oh, wait. (WaPo, December 19, 2018)
Your desire for appeasement truly knows no shame, does it?
People’s lives are being ruined by this extended shutdown. Making Trump look bad isn’t worth hurting innocent people.
Politics has always been grounded in compromise. That’s the only way a two party system can function.
I’m not suggesting that Trump gets everything he wants. Both sides have to compromise.
No.
This isn’t in any way, shape, or form about making thump look bad. That is a short-sighted and naive assessment of the situation.
Normal politics is about compromise, give and take, and negotiation. This is not normal politics. At best, this is tantrum-throwing on thump’s part, and at worst, it is hostage-taking and blackmail. Thump has never negotiated in good faith in his entire career, up to and including the presidency. You do not negotiate or compromise with him; you “give in” and “lose.” His own party should bring him around with pressure from their side.
His threats cannot be allowed to succeed, or like a toddler or a teenager, he will pull this shit every time he wants something.
Again, no.