# Trump addresses Congress (2-28)- Doper real-time commentary thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [February 28, 2017, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-addresses-congress-2-28-doper-real-time-commentary-thread/781029 "2017-02-28T13:48:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Ace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/6bbea6/32.png) [@Johnny\_Ace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Ace)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2017, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-addresses-congress-2-28-doper-real-time-commentary-thread/781029/101 "2017-03-01T12:39:33Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > Reminds me of a cartoon where one of Bush’s flacks is on a radio show declaring that the Mars proposal reflects “the president’s long-standing interest in science”. After a couple of beat panels, the host responds, “You told him Mars has oil, didn’t you?” Hehehe very Doonesbury… I didn’t watch it…how many times did he say “It’s gonna be great?” ---
**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:** [March 1, 2017, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-addresses-congress-2-28-doper-real-time-commentary-thread/781029/102 "2017-03-01T12:43:17Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > I didn’t agree with everything he said; he’s a bit too “big government” for me and my anarcho-capitalist leanings. But I did stand up and cheer at two things he said, which Obama would NEVER have uttered even if you put his dick in a bunsen burner: > > 1. Radical Islamic Terror > > 2. America First!! 1- A phrase used by morons that pours gasoline on the fires of mistrust between Muslims worldwide and the US. It’s a great recruiting tool for ISIS, nothing more. 2- Code words for “White American heterosexual Christians first and only, fuck everyone else!” > [@Velocity](#): > > My understanding is that the $54 billion increase in defense spending is to replenish a military that’s been depleted by foreign adventurism, not $54 billion to engage in more adventurism. Why is it a given that the military is depleted? The US already spends nearly as much as the rest of the world combined. The only threats that justify more spending are imaginary at best. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2017, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-addresses-congress-2-28-doper-real-time-commentary-thread/781029/103 "2017-03-01T12:46:40Z")
This one was noteworthy mainly for its ordinariness; “boring” is one epithet I’ve never applied to Trump but this address was presidentially boring. Seeing him practicing his “she sells seashells” in the limo beforehand was briefly amusing, though. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2017, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-addresses-congress-2-28-doper-real-time-commentary-thread/781029/104 "2017-03-01T12:59:06Z")
[Rachel Maddow](http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/maddow-trump-disconnected-from-his-own-policies-as-president-887147075574): “He’s not connected to policy in any substantive way.” Yeppers to that. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2017, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-addresses-congress-2-28-doper-real-time-commentary-thread/781029/105 "2017-03-01T13:08:20Z")
His [words on the ACA](http://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/2/28/14772616/trump-speech-congress-obamacare) demonstrate, to me, at least, that progressives are on the cusp of a total philosophical victory on the issue of health care – a Republican President, cheered by a Republican Congress, is essentially admitting that the government should guarantee access to health care for all Americans. That’s a big fucking deal. ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2017, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-addresses-congress-2-28-doper-real-time-commentary-thread/781029/106 "2017-03-01T13:13:01Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > His [words on the ACA](http://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/2/28/14772616/trump-speech-congress-obamacare) demonstrate, to me, at least, that progressives are on the cusp of a total philosophical victory on the issue of health care – a Republican President, cheered by a Republican Congress, is essentially admitting that the government should guarantee access to health care for all Americans. > > That’s a big fucking deal. If they act on what he said, it will be the biggest of fucking deals. I think the odds of this happening are not good. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2017, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-addresses-congress-2-28-doper-real-time-commentary-thread/781029/107 "2017-03-01T13:24:28Z")
> [@Crotalus](#): > > If they act on what he said, it will be the biggest of fucking deals. I think the odds of this happening are not good. The Republicans need to come up with something better than tax-free health savings accounts & tax credits. Lots of people–not just “the poor”–don’t have that much cash at the ready. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2017, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-addresses-congress-2-28-doper-real-time-commentary-thread/781029/108 "2017-03-01T13:44:35Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > His [words on the ACA](http://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/2/28/14772616/trump-speech-congress-obamacare) demonstrate, to me, at least, that progressives are on the cusp of a total philosophical victory on the issue of health care – a Republican President, cheered by a Republican Congress, is essentially admitting that the government should guarantee access to health care for all Americans. > > That’s a big fucking deal. Guaranteeing ACCESS is a far cry from guaranteeing _health care_. I already have “access” to a Rolls Royce and a condo in Aspen if I can pay for them. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2017, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-addresses-congress-2-28-doper-real-time-commentary-thread/781029/109 "2017-03-01T13:52:07Z")
Thought I’d look at the transcript. And in the very first paragraph: [QUOTE=Cheetolini] Recent threats targeting Jewish Community Centers and vandalism of Jewish cemeteries, as well as last week’s shooting in Kansas City, remind us that while we may be a Nation divided on policies, we are a country that stands united in condemning hate and evil in all its forms. [/QUOTE] Would be nice. Trump had to be dragged into condemning the wave of anti-Semitic threats, and earlier yesterday, he repeatedly suggested that the threats were a false-flag operation by Jews. (Maybe under the [Nicaraguan flag](http://nymag.com/selectall/2017/02/mike-pence-tweeted-nicaraguan-flag-emoji-instead-of-israel.html)? ;)) And if he’d previously said anything at all about the Kansas shooting, I missed it. [QUOTE=Dolt 45] I am here tonight to deliver a message of unity and strength [/QUOTE] Yeah, by spreading lies that America is in some sort of disaster mode. [QUOTE=The Donald] What we are witnessing today is the Renewal of the American Spirit. [/QUOTE] Hey, that one’s _true!_ Of course, the renewal in question started on [January 21](https://www.womensmarch.com/). 😃 [QUOTE=Mango Mussolini] For too long, we’ve watched our middle class shrink as we’ve exported our jobs and wealth to foreign countries. [/QUOTE] Dunno about the jobs, but as far as the wealth goes, I suppose that’s true in a way: the richest 0.01% might as well be a foreign country, and that’s where the wealth has been exported to. [QUOTE=The Abomination of Desolation] We’ve financed and built one global project after another, but ignored the fates of our children in the inner cities of Chicago, Baltimore, Detroit – and so many other places throughout our land. \ And we’ve spent trillions of dollars overseas, while our infrastructure at home has so badly crumbled. [/QUOTE] OK then, why are you a Republican? It was the Bush/Cheney Administration’s brilliant idea to waste trillions in Iraq (which you supported, before changing your mind), and the Democrats are ready to spend big money on infrastructure and our inner cities anytime you like. The Republicans have been the obstacle. [QUOTE=The Shitgibbon] We’ve defended the borders of other nations, while leaving our own borders wide open, for anyone to cross – and for drugs to pour in at a now unprecedented rate. [/QUOTE] That’s a plain old lie. No two ways about it. [QUOTE=The Short-Fingered Vulgarian] Dying industries will come roaring back to life. Heroic veterans will get the care they so desperately need. Our military will be given the resources its brave warriors so richly deserve. Crumbling infrastructure will be replaced with new roads, bridges, tunnels, airports and railways gleaming across our beautiful land. Our terrible drug epidemic will slow down and ultimately, stop. And our neglected inner cities will see a rebirth of hope, safety, and opportunity. [/QUOTE] I will wave my (tiny) magic wand and… …and, oh yeah, our inner cities are safer than they’ve been in 50 years. He’s still stuck in _Escape From New York_. [QUOTE=Dear Leader] Since my election, Ford, Fiat-Chrysler, General Motors, Sprint, Softbank, Lockheed, Intel, Walmart, and many others, have announced that they will invest billions of dollars in the United States and will create tens of thousands of new American jobs. [/QUOTE] Of course, many of these investments were already underway or well into the planning stages. And in an economy that [employs 145 _million_ people](https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/empsit.pdf)\*, ‘tens of thousands’ of new jobs is a drop in the bucket. Not to mention that in a mediocre month, our economy creates an additional 150,000 new jobs, net. [QUOTE=Cheeto Jesus] We have begun to drain the swamp of government corruption [/QUOTE] _Buahahahaha!!!_ [QUOTE=Our Nutcase-In-Chief] imposing a new rule which mandates that for every 1 new regulation, 2 old regulations must be eliminated [/QUOTE] A serious comment: it should be interesting to see how they define ‘one regulation’ for purposes of this rule. ([The EO](https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2017/01/30/presidential-executive-order-reducing-regulation-and-controlling) says the OMB Director will provide “standards for determining what qualifies as new and offsetting regulations.” But the concept of ‘a regulation’ is pretty amorphous; trying to come up with a standard will be like nailing Jell-O to a wall. That’s enough for now - gotta do some work - and besides, I need time to refresh my recollection of some of the more creative names that people have come up with for The Donald; I don’t want to get redundant, after all. \*Establishment survey. The Current Population Survey of households puts it somewhat higher, at 152M. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2017, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-addresses-congress-2-28-doper-real-time-commentary-thread/781029/110 "2017-03-01T13:59:45Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Guaranteeing ACCESS is a far cry from guaranteeing _health care_. I already have “access” to a Rolls Royce and a condo in Aspen if I can pay for them. Yes, though they are all essentially agreeing that companies will be barred from dropping or preventing customers due to pre-existing conditions. That’s one of the most important parts of the ACA, and it’s a big progressive victory that the Republicans are agreeing with it. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2017, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-addresses-congress-2-28-doper-real-time-commentary-thread/781029/111 "2017-03-01T14:03:48Z")
Yeah, sure. Just wait until the insurance companies implement their cutting edge “Preexisting Condition Policies, (with a modest 10,000% mark-up over our regular policies).” ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2017, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-addresses-congress-2-28-doper-real-time-commentary-thread/781029/112 "2017-03-01T14:12:55Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > Yeah, sure. Just wait until the insurance companies implement their cutting edge “Preexisting Condition Policies, (with a modest 10,000% mark-up over our regular policies).” By “victory”, I mean a political victory. This will make it oh-so-much easier for the next progressive President and Congress to continue to move towards single payer, or at least a government option, along with other improvements to the health care system, since Republicans have already given up so much rhetorical ground. I don’t expect Republicans to make it better, but they will have a much harder time making it worse, considering how much their rhetoric has changed already. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2017, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-addresses-congress-2-28-doper-real-time-commentary-thread/781029/113 "2017-03-01T14:29:11Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > Don’t know why the snark. The opening statements were condemning bigotry and antisemitism in light of the recent threats and attacks. As I listened to those lofty words, I found myself waxing nostalgic – why, it seems like only yesterday that Trump was saying that the attacks were faked by the Jews themselves to make him look bad! Oh. Right. [It _ **was** _ only yesterday](http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/trump-suggests-jewish-community-spreading-anti-semitic-threats-article-1.2984866). ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2017, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-addresses-congress-2-28-doper-real-time-commentary-thread/781029/114 "2017-03-01T14:37:15Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > Oh. Right. [It _ **was** _ only yesterday](http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/trump-suggests-jewish-community-spreading-anti-semitic-threats-article-1.2984866). We’ve always been the least anti-Semetic. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2017, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-addresses-congress-2-28-doper-real-time-commentary-thread/781029/115 "2017-03-01T14:48:30Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Yes, though they are all essentially agreeing that companies will be barred from dropping or preventing customers due to pre-existing conditions. That’s one of the most important parts of the ACA, and it’s a big progressive victory that the Republicans are agreeing with it. I agree that even getting the Republicans to address health care at all is a victory, of sorts. But the word they keep leaving out is **affordable**. People can have all the access in the world, but if they can’t afford the coverage, it’s the same as having \*\*no \*\*access. Now where have I heard that word…? Hmmm… _\_ Oh yeah: \*\*Affordable \*\*Care Act. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2017, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-addresses-congress-2-28-doper-real-time-commentary-thread/781029/116 "2017-03-01T14:50:52Z")
Trump (mostly) avoided stepping on his own dick for possibly the first time since he entered politics. Given the very low bar, I suppose he ought to be given credit for having accomplished that much. That said, I’m not optimistic that he can keep this up, nor do I think he is capable of successfully transforming political platitudes into effective policy, foreign or domestic. I do not hold out hope that he will be able to fix very much while in office. I do hold out hope that he will be prevented from breaking very much. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2017, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-addresses-congress-2-28-doper-real-time-commentary-thread/781029/117 "2017-03-01T14:51:13Z")
My main point is that this rhetorical shift (unless it totally reverses) shows that the ACA really was a game-changer, and an enormous progressive success. Even if it’s repealed, some of its most important elements will probably stick around for good, at least based on Republican rhetoric. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2017, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-addresses-congress-2-28-doper-real-time-commentary-thread/781029/118 "2017-03-01T15:11:03Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > Hey, that one’s _true!_ Of course, the renewal in question started on [January 21](https://www.womensmarch.com/). 😃 Dammit, I forgot all about the automatic American spirit renewal. Guess I’ll just dispute the charge. ---
**Author:** ![Okrahoma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90db22/32.png) [@Okrahoma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Okrahoma)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2017, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-addresses-congress-2-28-doper-real-time-commentary-thread/781029/119 "2017-03-01T15:15:45Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > As I listened to those lofty words, I found myself waxing nostalgic – why, it seems like only yesterday that Trump was saying that the attacks were faked by the Jews themselves to make him look bad! Once again, just like numerous times before - Trump says something, his haters interpret it to mean something else, and attack the strawman. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2017, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-addresses-congress-2-28-doper-real-time-commentary-thread/781029/120 "2017-03-01T15:19:36Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > I didn’t watch. Did Trump propose a tax cut for the wealthy? We all know it’s coming. Absolutely. Big tax cuts for corporations to supposedly stimulate job growth. It will be minimal, as the extra money will just go into bank accounts. He also promised tax cuts for the middle class, which means that he can’t pay for the tax cuts for the wealthy. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-addresses-congress-2-28-doper-real-time-commentary-thread/781029.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-addresses-congress-2-28-doper-real-time-commentary-thread/781029.md?page=7)