# State of the Union thread? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [March 2, 2022, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-of-the-union-thread/960322 "2022-03-02T03:09:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2022, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-of-the-union-thread/960322/81 "2022-03-02T21:48:36Z")
> [@SuntanLotion](#): > > Toddlers throwing tantrums? Toddlers usually grow out of that. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2022, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-of-the-union-thread/960322/82 "2022-03-02T22:13:08Z")
Nobody can prevent a word changing connotations. Nobody can reverse a word after it has changed. If conservatives wanted to prevent the meaning of the word from changing, they had decades in which to do so. They didn’t fail: they never tried. “Conservative” is now primarily and properly the worst sort of pejorative. Hooray, say I. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2022, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-of-the-union-thread/960322/83 "2022-03-02T22:34:28Z")
Moderating: > [@Senegoid](#): > > What’s sexist about calling them pigs? > > Now if I had called them sows, you’d have a point there. > > And we’ve discussed elsewhere that “bitch” may or may not be mysoginist depending on the context. Is this a particularly gender-specific context? You appear to have missed – or are deliberately ignoring – my earlier mod note. Please drop this hijack. No further mod notes will be given. If you persist, expect a Warning. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2022, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-of-the-union-thread/960322/84 "2022-03-02T23:47:54Z")
I would just call them assholes. That’s not gender specific. And there are a LOT of them out there. Some are more obvious then others though. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2022, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-of-the-union-thread/960322/85 "2022-03-02T23:59:41Z")
Those, however, provide a valuable service and are only full of shit for brief intervals. I call upon you, sir, to apologise to anuses worldwide for this slight. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-of-the-union-thread/960322/86 "2022-03-03T00:19:47Z")
How about them being the dingleberries of the anus that is the current GOP … the anus is an anus and would still be improved if the annoying dingleberries were removed. Seriously GOP leadership allowing this behavior is an issue as well. Anyway glad to hear that more people thought more of Biden’s speech than I had! ---
**Author:** ![DeadTreasSecretaries](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deadtreassecretaries/32/4817_2.png) [@DeadTreasSecretaries](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadTreasSecretaries)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-of-the-union-thread/960322/87 "2022-03-03T00:55:05Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > This is the part that drives me nuts. So many people support the things Democrats want to do, right up until it comes to actually voting Democrats into offices that will let them do those things… These tweets are from polling on the VA governor’s race, but damn if they don’t sum up American electoral politics perfectly. [![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FDsg8D7UUAU4LgX?format=jpg&name=medium) ](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FDsg8D7UUAU4LgX?format=jpg&name=medium) [![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FDsg85XaMAAQ25Q?format=jpg&name=medium) ](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FDsg85XaMAAQ25Q?format=jpg&name=medium) ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-of-the-union-thread/960322/88 "2022-03-03T01:00:03Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > Those, however, provide a valuable service and are only full of shit for brief intervals. I call upon you, sir, to apologise to anuses worldwide for this slight. How about anal fissures? They make a necessary and unavoidable process stupidly painful, and keep hurting long after the process is complete. They serve no useful purpose, and if left untreated, can cause infection to spread. And you can’t just ignore them, as much as you would like to. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-of-the-union-thread/960322/89 "2022-03-03T15:10:04Z")
Thanks, Jimmy! [![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FM28FSlVIAITw9D?format=jpg&name=small) ](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FM28FSlVIAITw9D?format=jpg&name=small) BTW, that is Cathy McMorris Rogers in the bottom of the pic. She has a bit more decorum than the howler monkeys behind her, but she’s still a Trump sycophant. ---
**Author:** ![Ziberian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/919ad9/32.png) [@Ziberian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ziberian)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-of-the-union-thread/960322/90 "2022-03-03T17:04:10Z")
Your definition is certainly the original, but clearly, ‘Conservative’ now has multiple definitions, or perhaps the one you refer to has simply been replaced. Here’s one closer to my usage. > **[7 Core Principles of Conservatism | U.S. Congressman Mike Johnson](https://mikejohnson.house.gov/7-core-principles-of-conservatism/)** > > 1. Individual Freedom The birth of our great nation was inspired by the bold declaration that our individual,God-given liberties should be preserved against government intrusion. That same conviction informs our conserv... **7 Core Principles of Conservatism** Individual Freedom. The birth of our great nation was inspired by the bold declaration that our individual,God-given liberties should be preserved against government intrusion. Limited Government. … The Rule of Law. … Peace through Strength. … Fiscal Responsibility. … Free Markets. … Human Dignity. ‘Republican’ won’t work, because many of these people are Independents, Libertarians, even a handful of in-name-only Democrats. And the Republicans in this group consider the old-school Republicans who fit your definition too far left. ‘Regressivists’ won’t work because it’s hard to say it without spraying spittle and no one knows what it means. Most people know exactly who/what I’m referring to with ‘Conservative’, including the right-wing assholes who fit the definition, so I’m gonna stay with that. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-of-the-union-thread/960322/91 "2022-03-03T17:51:51Z")
Individual Freedom. _For me, but not for you. Or women. Or minorities. Or the gays. Or…_ Limited Government. _Except when the government is oppressing groups I don’t like._ The Rule of Law. _As long as the laws maintain my dominance in Society._ Peace through Strength. _Heavily-armed cops killing black people is a feature, not a bug._ Fiscal Responsibility. _Tax breaks for the rich!_ Free Markets. _Keep those farm subsidies coming!_ Human Dignity. _Ha, ha, ha, ha!_ ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-of-the-union-thread/960322/92 "2022-03-03T18:19:37Z")
> [@Ziberian](#): > > ‘Republican’ won’t work, because many of these people are Independents, Libertarians, even a handful of in-name-only Democrats. And the Republicans in this group consider the old-school Republicans who fit your definition too far left. As a Republican who fits this definition of conservative, the mere fact that I think the Constitution and not the Bible should be the Law of this country puts me in the far-left wing. And yes I grew up in the 70’s Why do you ask? ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-of-the-union-thread/960322/93 "2022-03-03T18:26:45Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Human Dignity. _Ha, ha, ha, ha!_ In the text under that heading, he says, > [@](#): > > … _In America, everyone who plays by the rules should get a fair shot._ … which mans that the disbursement of dignity is contingent upon “_playing by the rules_” – and _WE shall decide by which rules may you earn the right to have human dignity_. (e.g., if you are female, there are more, stricter, rules) ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-of-the-union-thread/960322/94 "2022-03-03T18:38:09Z")
> [@Ziberian](#): > > Limited Government. … > **[Biden accuses Texas Gov. Abbott of ‘government overreach at its worst’ for...](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/03/03/biden-abbott-children-transgender/)** > > Biden said Abbott's actions “callously threaten to harm children and their families just to score political points.” Abbott, BTW, just got two-thirds of the vote in the Republican primary this week. Conservatives, all. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-of-the-union-thread/960322/95 "2022-03-03T23:02:01Z")
Back on the speech itself. A CNN poll found a 71% positive response. Nothing terrific historically, but a good sign. And Joe Manchin seems to have noticed. Biden was very careful not to use the term Build Back Better (one of the worst slogans ever) but focused on individual pieces that sound good to a wide swath of Americans. And maybe even conservative-lite Joe Manchin. > **[Please God I Hope Joe Manchin Is Actually Serious About Letting Democrats Pass...](https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2022/03/joe-manchin.html)** > > The West Virginia senator says he'll trade deficit reduction for climate spending. But the details are a little murky. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2022, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-of-the-union-thread/960322/96 "2022-03-04T16:23:32Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > Back on the speech itself. A CNN poll found a 71% positive response. Among people who watched the speech, which is a fairly small share of the public to start with, and always heavily skewed toward supporters of the president’s party (people who don’t like the incumbent president usually don’t voluntarily listen to his voice for an hour or more, unless they’re politics obsessives who aren’t going to be moved by the speech). If the speech has any impact, it’s generally through clips on the news the next day, but I suspect that there are other current events that took a higher priority this week. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2022, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-of-the-union-thread/960322/97 "2022-03-04T18:33:31Z")
No State of the Union speech is likely to magically switch conservative opinion. What Biden needed to do in the speech, and made great effort to accomplish, was win back the part of his coalition who have lost faith over the last year. That effort seems to have succeeded, according to that [CNN poll](https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/01/politics/poll-joe-biden-state-of-the-union-reaction/index.html). > Post-speech, 62% of speech watchers say that Biden’s proposed economic policies would move the country in the right direction, up from half who said that pre-speech. About three-quarters, 73%, said Biden’s proposals on the coronavirus pandemic would move the US in the right direction, up from 64% prior to the address. Whether that will last is of course unknowable. He is getting a bump from Ukraine, so a favorable reaction to the speech will resonate with that. The change in his overall polling is a lessening of the net disapproval by three points, too small to be meaningful and from a tiny number of post-speech interviews but at least in the right direction. And if it gooses Joe Manchin, that’s worth everything. ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2022, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-of-the-union-thread/960322/98 "2022-03-05T00:24:01Z")
Sow, for sure. But pig? Nope. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-of-the-union-thread/960322.md?page=4)