W.J. Astore
Trust me, I’m ex-CIA!
I confess I didn’t watch President Trump’s address last night nor the response from the Democrats. I’ve heard enough of Trump bloviating and I’ve had my fill of Democrats and their “resistance.”
Checking my news feed this AM, I see that the Democratic response was given by a “moderate,” Senator Elissa Slotkin of Michigan. She’s an ex-CIA agent, so I guess that means we can trust her? And she served alongside troops in the disastrous Iraq War, so I guess she’s patriotic and smart?
Here’s the link to her address.
Senator Slotkin tackled Trump not by citing progressive ideas and Democratic worthies like FDR and George McGovern but by applauding a Republican President, Ronald Reagan. President George W. Bush also got a positive mention.
Her main complaint was the “chaos” unleashed by Trump/Musk. She made a big deal about protecting the “homeland” along with immigration reform. She dropped a lot of buzzwords. She stressed that Trump apparently doesn’t think that America is theexceptional nation. And that he’s too cozy with Russia and Putin. The usual charges.
What was missing was vision, especially moral commitments to peace and justice. I heard nothing concrete about enlarging unions, boosting wages, affordable health care for all, serious student loan debt relief, or putting a stop to genocide in Gaza.
Slotkin’s speech was a perfect product of the corporate Democrats, or, more accurately, the uniparty and the national security state. She’s for “responsible” change. She’s for the middle class. Even apple pie got a mention!
Apparently, the Democratic plan to win back the presidency in 2028 is to reanimate the body of Ronald Reagan with apple pie as his running mate. How’s that for “resistance,” America?
Bonus Lesson: Slotkin said America’s “superpower” is that we’re a nation of “strivers” and “risk-takers” who are “never satisfied.” I guess other nations and peoples don’t have innovators with ambition, or maybe they’re too easily satisfied, unlike Americans?
Bracing Views 
And let’s not forget that Chuck Schumer has deemed her “a rising star of our party.”
LikeLiked by 2 people
The Republican idea is that the 1% are the only hard working people in America and deserve all of their wealth. The 99% are slackers who live off of government support in one way or another.
This is fantasy and we will watch as Trump/Musk wielding the meat axe blindly set up their own downfall. As more and more are thrown out of work, not because they are not doing their jobs, but because the government workforce must be reduced as a goal in itself. The crazy basis of this is the idea that all workers are interchangeable and it doesn’t matter who is bounced. Fantasy
I understand that Mike Johnson has told party members that they should not attend public meetings as (this is too goofy) Democratic party plants will be waiting to ambush them. Fantasy.
The clock is ticking after only a few weeks in office for Trump. The natives are increasingly restless with no relief for them in sight. The third rail of Social Security and Medicare await the meat axe at which point an explosion of resistance will come to life.
A decent living has kept Americans quiet. Gasoline price is low since global warming is ignored, but now the pocketbook is being hit. This will bring the notably apathetic American citizen into action. A savvy politician would see this, Trump and Musk are blind to it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope you’re right about the American people waking up — and acting up!
LikeLiked by 1 person