During his one hour and four-minute State of the Union (SOTU) address, President Donald Trump spoke about how the American landscape has been transformed his under his tutelage. He showed Americans how vibrant the economy is, the results from the winning battle against ISIS, the tales of everyday American heroes, and announced his plans to invest $1.5 trillion in domestic infrastructure. Although the public realized the state of the union is “strong” according to Trump and that America is “back in business,” people throughout the country were also witnesses to the ugly elephant, or in this case donkey, in the room – the bitter and unpleasant nature of the Democrats.
With the U.S. economy, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is nearing three percent, a much bigger growth progression than the 1.5 percent under Obama in his last year in office. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (Dow) is well past 26,000 points, up nearly 8,000 since Trump took office. Technology companies, manufacturers, and many more industry-leading businesses are investing in the U.S. This has caused an economic boom that is almost unprecedented, causing average, everyday Americans to realize things are getting better in the homeland.
According to the financial research association, The Conference Board, the Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) has reached a 17-year high in January at a rate of 125.4. As well, the Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index (MCSI), the second consumer confidence indicator, is nearly the highest it has been (101 in October 2017) since the Dot-com boom of the late 1990’s and early 2000’s, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
Higher consumer confidence has been bolstered by the hundreds of American companies which have announced higher minimum wages as well as bonuses for employees. During the Christmas holiday season, Wells Fargo and AT&T announced $1,000 bonuses to their employees. Weeks ago, Wal-Mart stated it would raise its starting wages from $9 to $11 dollars and hundreds of millions of dollars invested to give bonuses to store employees. Starbucks has granted store employees $500 worth of company stock and $2,000 worth of stock grants to store managers. Disney CEO Bob Iger announced $125 million in bonuses to its 125,000 U.S.-based employees. All of these companies, and many more have all cited Trump’s tax overhaul, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, as the main instigator of of increased domestic investment.
Even Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein, an avid anti-Trumper during the 2016 presidential election cycle, said at the World Economic Forum in Davos that he “really liked” what the president has done with the economy. Those who opposed the president during his first year in office are now witnessing explosive American growth. While the boom continues, it will become harder to dispute clear results.
Numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) claim that in December 2017, U.S. unemployment had fallen to 4.1%. Moreover, the unemployment rate among African-Americans is at 6.8 percent – its lowest on record since the BLS began recording data. However, the Congressional Black Caucus and the Democratic delegation did not seem to show even a ounce of excitement for this during the SOTU on Tuesday night. They remained silent, sitting on their hands, steaming with anger.
The loathing on part of the Democrats is not surprising. It has long been said that the Democrats own compassion, they are the ones that care, they are the party of the “little guy.” However, when the black parents of two school children were recognized by President Trump as victims of senseless violence on part of the Latin gang MS-13, there was not a dry eye inside the Capitol Building. Except, though, for the Congressional Black Caucus and the rest of the left aisle of Congress.
Liberals claim the average American family is a victim of something – a victim and in need of something. However, in the case of congressional Democrats, they are a victim of their own power-hungry nature to that has metastasized into self-immolation all for their agenda of opposing the president. They could not even stand up for their own flag, the greatest symbol of freedom the world has ever seen. That is what new liberalism is about – organizing against the principles of free people.
Of course, President Trump seeks to work for all Americans. As he peered beyond the dais and into the crowd of Democrats, he was met with sneering faces and cold eyes, even though he was charging both parties in Congress to create legislation that benefits all walks of life.
During the SOTU, President Trump mentioned his plans for immigration reform. To the dismay of a few rather conservative Republicans, he announced that 1.8 million illegal immigrants would be granted a path of citizenship, after “10 to 12 years,” per the president;s remarks. Not even a facial expression was registered by Democratic House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (CA-12) or Democratic House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (MD-5). Both sat motionless, clearly showing their opposition to President Trump and the olive branch he extended to them and their delegation. The number of immigrants being put into the citizenship plan is nearly three times more than the Democrats originally asked for. President Trump is trying to bridge the gap between the two sides of Congress, but is presented with a cold shoulder, not a welcoming hand.
This shows the Democrats did not shut down the government over immigration and do not care about a fix for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Act. The 69-hour “Schumer Shutdown” ensued because of the vehement opposition the Democrats have towards the Trump Administration and congressional Republicans.
Towards the end of the SOTU speech, the chambers of Congress were filled with patriotic chants of, “USA, USA, USA, USA,” which emotionally triggered Democrat Luis Gutierrez (D-4), causing him to raise his metaphorical banner of liberal rebellion as he marched out in protest. He is just one of the many members of the liberal delegation who has let their anti-Trump feelings get in the way of functioning in real life.
The Democrat Party is fractured, but even more than most thought. They are out-of-touch with normal Americans, but that did not begin last night. They are beginning to have a track record with this.
During the 2016 presidential campaign, Hillary Clinton wanted to secure the millennial vote, she wanted someone who best knows what is at the hearts of younger voters. So, what did she do? She tapped Al Gore for millennial outreach. Yes, Al Gore, a 69-year-old environmentalist that frightens the few supporters he has by claiming the North Pole will melt at any minute. Clinton and the Democrats thought an extremely wealthy, Ivy League-educated, white male way the best way to touch the hearts of of liberal voters.
Back to the SOTU, outraged by President Trump’s success in office and spurred on by the social movements of Black Lives Matter and the “#metoo” campaign, the Democrats sought a representative of the people, a clear marker of progressive, hard-working America to give the rebuttal. So, they got Congressman Joe Kennedy III (MA-4) to speak on behalf of the less-affluent and socially oppressed. Joe Kennedy, seriously? Yes, the Democrats tapped one of the richest members of Congress, a white male, Harvard-educated member of one of the most powerful families in American political history. Clearly, he is a man of the people.
Even CNN claims Kennedy was not a good pick. According to them, “the duty fell to Joe Kennedy III. He wasn’t the perfect pick. But that’s because a perfect pick almost certainly didn’t exist.” A perfect pick does not exist because Democrats are too busy destroying their own party and members thereof to speak on behalf of their voters.
A CBS poll revealed that 75 percent of Americans approved of the president’s SOTU address. Trump showed a great deal of presidential compassion and he also showed how much he cares about this country and its well-being. Along with “yuge” economic growth and increased security, he spoke with fondness towards war heroes, families, young mothers, and even a North Korean defector that traversed the southeastern portion of Asia to gain his freedom. This was indicative that a larger portion of the public is warming towards an American under Trump.
The Democrats are fighting a losing battle against themselves and proven results. Their outright disdain for the president and their own country during the SOTU address should be eye-opening to Americans. Pelosi has often said, “we are the party of opposition.” She is absolutely right. They oppose everything – that is the Democratic agenda.
