Jeb Bladine: Humiliating insults a staple of Trump presidency
This week’s State of the Union address by President Donald Trump was one for the ages.
At 108 minutes, it was the longest in recent history. The speech featured typical Trump showmanship; promoted limited legislative agendas without specifics — drug prices, insider trading and voter proof of citizenship; and touted “the greatest economy we’ve had in the history of our country” and the “Golden Age of America” by citing economic markers that aren’t delivering financial stability to an estimated 200 million Americans.
The president, did, however, produce an inspired ploy for made-for-midterm-political-ads. He challenged all members of Congress to stand if they agreed with the fundamental principle that “the first duty of the American government is to protect American citizens, not illegal aliens.”
Congressional Democrats, committed to rejecting stand-and-cheer responses to Trump, remained seated for two minutes while Republicans cheered and the president jeered. “You should be ashamed of yourselves,” he said as the cameras rolled, and we’ll likely be watching that scene ad infinitum in 2026 congressional campaigns.
The Democrats apparently lacked inside intelligence on the speech. Otherwise, one might immediately have stood up and screamed, “Democrats, stand up if you believe that the American government should protect American citizens and also protect the constitutional rights of all people in the United States.”
Democrats could have stood and cheered right along with the Republicans, leaving the president flummoxed at producing a quick-witted retort and a new “gotcha” question for the campaign trail.
Meanwhile, President Trump’s stunning verbal assault on U.S. Supreme Court justices this week continued the president’s bewildering array of highly offensive personal attacks on people who have had the audacity to disagree with him.
Trump called two of his Supreme Court appointees an “embarrassment to their families” for siding with the majority opinion about presidential authority to establish tariffs. He said three other justices who voted against him are a “disgrace to our nation” and “fools and lapdogs for the RINOs and the radical-left Democrats.”
The president said all justices in the majority were “very unpatriotic and disloyal to our Constitution,” and accused the court of being “swayed by foreign interests.”
It reminded us of past debasing insults delivered by our Commander in Chief:
“You gotta see this guy,” accompanied by humiliating physical mockery targeting Journalist Serge Kovaleski, who suffers from a disease affecting the joints and causing muscle atrophy.
“He’s a war hero because he was captured. I like people who weren’t captured,” Trump said about the late Sen. John McCain.
“Maybe, he’s looking up,” after recounting that Debbie Dingell, widow or long-serving congressman and WWII veteran John Dingell, said her late husband, was “looking down.”
“An absolute conflict” because he is “of Mexican heritage,” characterizing U.S. District Judge Gonzalo Curiel, who was presiding over one of many lawsuits against Trump business activities.
Pointing at Democratic members of Congress this week, Trump roared, “These people are crazy. I’m telling them they’re crazy.” That’s relatively tame but, unfortunately, the president extends that thought to all who disagree with him.
Jeb Bladine can be reached at jbladine@newsregister.com or 503-687-1223.
Comments
Bigfootlives
...The Democrats apparently lacked inside intelligence on the speech. Otherwise, one might immediately have stood up...
...Democrats could have stood and cheered right along with the Republicans, leaving the president flummoxed at producing a quick-witted retort and a new “gotcha” question for the campaign trail...
On the other hand, Jeb. The democrats could actually believe that it is their duty to protect American citizens, not illegal aliens (they did take an oath, after all), and not have to answer in the affirmative to dodge a perceived gotcha question. Yep, the D's looked stupid, crazy, and depraved. Wear it well.
You guys will NEVER understand Trump.
tagup
Well I agree with your last sentence…. I will never understand someone guilty of sexual assault, and his motive for covering up the truth of a sex trafficker’s misconduct.
Ron
There’s tag up. Judge jury and executioner. Were you there? American citizens first Not illegal aliens!
And that’s what they’re called without all the sugar coated names.
B
It really is hard to understand why any citizen of this country would support illegal aliens. Whether you support Trump or not.
tagup
B-I’m not sure many people support illegal immigration. I think the heavy handed tactics of ICE enforcement is the issue people dislike. Ignoring the constitution during apprehension of these people is unnecessary & unacceptable. They are still human beings and deserve respect.
For multiple decades US businesses have encouraged and utilized undocumented workers and profited off the low wages and abundant supply of labor. The vast majority of the undocumented workers have a strong work ethic that has made them a valuable resource that the country has come to depend on. Additionally, most pay federal & state taxes along social security contributions that they will never collect. They are a valuable economic asset to their communities. Describing them all as murderers, rapists & drug dealers is inaccurate and only bigots and fools truly believe that.
My opinion is that congress is responsible for much of this problem by refusing to create a viable guest worker/ visa program, and turning away from the issue after Ronald Regan’s amnesty program in 1987.