# The Union's in a state **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 24, 2026, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unions-in-a-state/1027923 "2026-02-24T04:33:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 16
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2026, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unions-in-a-state/1027923/301 "2026-02-25T22:14:43Z")
YOU get a medal! And YOU get a medal! Look under your seat, there’s a bonus medal hidden somewhere! ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2026, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unions-in-a-state/1027923/302 "2026-02-25T22:29:21Z")
Wasn’t he tryna sell us stuff? Trump rx, Trump accts, I half expected him to whip out a Trump Bible or a Trump watch. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2026, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unions-in-a-state/1027923/303 "2026-02-25T23:02:20Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > His hair was pink for crissakes. > > How can anyone look at an orange clown, with turkey neck and pink hair and believe any word he says? The top is velvet, The crown is ermine, The nape is blue, And the sideburns are a lovely shade of green. ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2026, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unions-in-a-state/1027923/304 "2026-02-25T23:05:30Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > They think there is a wall on Mexico’s southern border Maybe I’m wooshed but why would MAGA care about there being any wall on Mexico’s southern border? Or is the challenge of geographical irrational exuberance becoming more widespread? ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2026, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unions-in-a-state/1027923/305 "2026-02-25T23:08:23Z")
> [@JohnGalt](#): > > Also on TCM’s schedule today is _Julius Caesar_. On the West coast feed it’s on at almost the same time as the SOTU. (A coincidence for sure, I had to help the granddaughter make a poster for school about JC last night. The similarities are striking: _Veni, Vidi, Vici_ indeed.) I didn’t notice the _Julius Caesar_ showing—bravo, they really are, er, sticking it to him! (And the beauty part is that it’s way too subtle for him to get.) I need to catch up with reading the rest of this thread, but: I didn’t watch, but did flip over a couple of times to see how many empty seats there were on the Democratic side (not many; I heard “35” as the number who didn’t show) and whether Donald would start actually foaming at the mouth. If he did, my brief views weren’t enough to catch it. Word is that Donald won’t have won over any new fans. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2026, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unions-in-a-state/1027923/306 "2026-02-25T23:30:59Z")
> [@penultima\_thule](#): > > Maybe I’m wooshed but why would MAGA care about there being any wall on Mexico’s southern border? Immigrants from South and Central America usually pass through Mexico to get here. A lot of conservatives think America’s immigration issues would be substantially improved if Mexico closed its southern border to these immigrants, instead of letting them pass through Mexico to get to the US. “Mexico has a wall on its southern border, but they refuse to use it,” is just further scapegoating of Mexico. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2026, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unions-in-a-state/1027923/307 "2026-02-25T23:34:12Z")
> [@penultima\_thule](#): > > Maybe I’m wooshed but why would MAGA care about there being any wall on Mexico’s southern border? Not whooshed. During trump’s first regime, people would defend trump building the Best Wall by arguing that Mexico has one on _their_ southern border, so there’s nothing wrong with us making one. It was such a common argument that they all had to be getting it from somewhere (probably Russia, but who can say). eta: It was also a inherently stupid argument, because, if Mexico DID have a wall on their southern border, it obviously wasn’t very effective, what with the caravans of millions of people coming up. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2026, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unions-in-a-state/1027923/308 "2026-02-25T23:54:39Z")
Too bad something like this didn’t happen. > **[The Price is Right - Yolanda's Wardrobe Malfunction](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fM4xSIdVDNA%2F)** > > To quote Bob Barker, "She came on down, and they came on out!" ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2026, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unions-in-a-state/1027923/309 "2026-02-25T23:56:41Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > But the Congressional Medal of Honor is special. Its prior recipients were honored for some truly hair-raising heroics. It’s apparently a pretty involved process, here is a page explaining it. [https://www.cmohs.org/news-events/blog/how-is-the-medal-of-honor-awarded/](https://www.cmohs.org/news-events/blog/how-is-the-medal-of-honor-awarded/) And here is a chart showing the process. [![](https://www.cmohs.org/news-events/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/MOH-Process_Single-Slide_Apr-2021.jpg) ](https://www.cmohs.org/news-events/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/MOH-Process_Single-Slide_Apr-2021.jpg) It isn’t something like the Presidential Medal of Freedom he can award to anyone he wants as a prop. On the other hand, I’m sure as POTUS he can send pressure down all the way to the bottom through the chain of command to ensure the military follows along, and if Congress does whatever he asks they won’t object either. So it can be political theater, it’s just a really bureaucratic thing. And I understand your objections, as stated on that page: > The Medal is authorized for any military service member who “distinguishes himself conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty: > > - While engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States; > - While engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or > - While serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party.” The US was 100% a belligerent party, Venezuela is not an enemy of the US, and the force was only opposing the US because they were invading them unlawfully. By the criteria set for this award, this man didn’t earn it, regardless of the personal effort and sacrifice he made. It was definitely an unusual choice given the history of the medal and (in my opinion) cheapens it. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2026, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unions-in-a-state/1027923/310 "2026-02-26T00:44:58Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > > [@Beckdawrek](#): > > > > His hair was pink for crissakes. > > > > How can anyone look at an orange clown, with turkey neck and pink hair and believe any word he says? > > The top is velvet, > The crown is ermine, > The nape is blue, > And the sideburns are a lovely shade of green. He’s a one-man rainbow coalition! ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2026, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unions-in-a-state/1027923/311 "2026-02-26T01:29:06Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > Venezuela may be a reluctant partner, but he has not made a friend of them. They’re just as much a partner of the US occupation as the Irish were of the British or the Philippiines of the Americans. (Oops! Did I bring up another one of America’s disastrous colonial attempts?) > [@Sylvanz](#): > > crazy eyes patel I understand “crazy eyes”, but what is “patel”? > [@RickJay](#): > > Well it sounds like this chopper pilot was pretty heroic, I dunno. It’s not his fault the operation itself was bullshit. I’m finding the felon’s whole narration about the event bullshit. As I mentioned when he uttered it, that’s a gross violation of OPSEC (Operations Security). Instead of a medal, he should be prosecuted. > [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > People say this (they come up to me with tears in their eyes, even!) and everyone seems to buy it, but is it even remotely true? And if so, _how?_ If I recall correctly, most of the foreign nationals in the United States without a visa actually had one, entered via airplane, and overstayed their visa. The “caravans” of people crossing over the southern border constitute a much smaller number. > [@Horatius](#): > > It’s like his claims to have virtually eliminated drugs coming in by sea. Has anyone noticed any effects from that? Of course not. He hasn’t been blowing up boats which could possibly be smuggling those drugs into the country. This is simply murder porn to get the magaflatearthers into yet another orgiastic thrall in support of him. > [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Never thought we’d have a Kabuki first lady. Why not? We have a marionette president. > [@Horatius](#): > > > [@Dinsdale](#): > > > > The fucking moron thinks he is running a game show! > > Someone said it wasn’t so much a State of the Union speech as an episode of “This is your life!” [Someone **Monty**.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unions-in-a-state/1027923/214) > [@](#): > > And what the fuck is this? He’s turned the SOTU into [_This is Your Life_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/This_Is_Your_Life_(American_TV_series)) [& again.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unions-in-a-state/1027923/224) > [@](#): > > And another _This is Your Life_ stunt. As always, of course, that bullshit is not original with him. I’ve long been disgusted with the hijacking of graduations, class time, and even weddings by military members returning from deployments. First off, just do your duty. Second, why are you pulling attention away from the people who are supposed to be he stars of those events? > [@BobLibDem](#): > > YOU get a medal! And YOU get a medal! Look under your seat, there’s a bonus medal hidden somewhere! He’s copying Oprah. How _woke_! 😃 > [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > The top is velvet, > The crown is ermine, > The nape is blue, > And the sideburns are a lovely shade of green. In other words: _a peacock strutting around as if to say "look at me!_\* > [@penultima\_thule](#): > > Maybe I’m wooshed but why would MAGA care about there being any wall on Mexico’s southern border? They don’t particulary care about it other than to use it as an excuse for America to “do the same thing”. > [@Miller](#): > > “Mexico has a wall on its southern border, but they refuse to use it,” My logic meter just ran away. I think it’s going to hit lightspeed in the time between the felon’s xits. You cannot _not_ use a wall. A door, on the other hand, is a different matter. > [@BobLibDem](#): > > > [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > > > The top is velvet, > > The crown is ermine, > > The nape is blue, > > And the sideburns are a lovely shade of green. > > He’s a one-man rainbow coalition! He’s so _woke_. But why, then, does he keep falling asleep in public? ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2026, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unions-in-a-state/1027923/312 "2026-02-26T01:41:13Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > I understand “crazy eyes”, but what is “patel”? The last name of the guy with crazy eyes. The guy who runs the FBI as Trump’s personal thugs. [![](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMzI5MDUxZjMtZWQwMS00MjA5LWE0OWYtNzRmMGMxZTUxYWRmXkEyXkFqcGc@._V1_.jpg) ](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMzI5MDUxZjMtZWQwMS00MjA5LWE0OWYtNzRmMGMxZTUxYWRmXkEyXkFqcGc@._V1_.jpg) Before that, he was a lawyer, an aide to Devin Nunes (yes, the cow guy who runs Truth Social), and he ran an organization to raise money for the defense of Jan 6 insurrectionists. He’s done a lot of bad shit. And he was partying with the US Men’s Hockey Team, which is super appropriate for the FBI Director. [![](https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSBZSGW9KdmZ8yY9HVgd1v7sWTywsH5iV_4Xr54f8QkC51-kSsDbMhlY-KT&s=10) ](https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSBZSGW9KdmZ8yY9HVgd1v7sWTywsH5iV_4Xr54f8QkC51-kSsDbMhlY-KT&s=10) ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2026, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unions-in-a-state/1027923/313 "2026-02-26T01:45:38Z")
Oh, _that_ Patel. The lack of capitalization threw me off. That’s more crazy eyed than the character Susan Warrenn in _Orange is the New Black_. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2026, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unions-in-a-state/1027923/314 "2026-02-26T01:48:01Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > I understand “crazy eyes”, but what is “patel”? Kash Patel. He of the crazy eyes. ---
**Author:** ![Sylvanz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Sylvanz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sylvanz)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2026, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unions-in-a-state/1027923/315 "2026-02-26T01:51:20Z")
Weelllll, I gerally don’t cap the names of the regime. People here have complained about “cutesy” nick names so it’s my way of not according them respect. However, the unqualified top official of our country has sort of ruined that strategy me. Now I have to rethink it. 😒 ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2026, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unions-in-a-state/1027923/316 "2026-02-26T01:54:38Z")
'Saright. I tried to get my “meatspace” friends to stop calling the powerful cards in card games “trump” and go with [“mighty”](https://www.pagat.com/picture/mighty.html) instead. Sadly, it got no traction. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2026, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unions-in-a-state/1027923/317 "2026-02-26T02:10:06Z")
Patel constantly looks like he’s just been shown the unredacted Epstein files for the very first time. ---
**Author:** ![Sylvanz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Sylvanz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sylvanz)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2026, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unions-in-a-state/1027923/318 "2026-02-26T02:15:40Z")
Or someone barfed just before the camera snapped. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2026, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unions-in-a-state/1027923/319 "2026-02-26T02:35:50Z")
It’s been done. [![](https://frinkiac.com/img/S05E11/890272.jpg) ](https://frinkiac.com/img/S05E11/890272.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2026, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unions-in-a-state/1027923/320 "2026-02-26T02:55:59Z")
He **wishes** that he had Homer Simpson’s professionalism and integrity. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unions-in-a-state/1027923.md?page=15) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unions-in-a-state/1027923.md?page=17)