Bill Maher’s latest “Real Time” clip argues that we should get rid of the State of the Union Address (coming up Tuesday), at least under Trump. That’s because to Maher it’s ludicrous that Trump keeps appropriating the powers of Congress for himself, violating our Constitutional separation of powers. The speech has become, says Maher, not a summary of how we’re doing, but a series of future Diktats. Congress seems to have become superfluous: a “supporting actor.” In fact, Jefferson didn’t even favor the President speaking to Congress in this way.
Look at these guests: U.S. Representative Lauren Boebert (R-CO) and Texas State Representative James Talarico (D-TX). Boebert looks like she’s been spending some time in a tanning bed.
As Maher says, the real state of the Union is “hopelessly divided.”
In my experience, every President pushes the limits of his authority in some way, and Congress has a habit of delegating its authority to the Executive. Honestly, if you don’t like it, blame the voters.
Because the voters fail to make wise choices between Tweedledum and Tweedledumber?
It’s a complex systems problem, as well as a collective action problem and more. Blame is easy; effective action is not.
The American Experiment has been amazingly successful and resilient. But past performance does not guarantee future results.
I just read that at least a dozen Dems say they will boycott the SOTU. Wow, that’ll show them!
The SOTU address is (in my opinion) pretty harmless. It should not be changed. The power of the President to grant pardons is a much bigger deal. It has been used (and abused) for more than 100 years. How many people, remember the parson Bill Clinton gave to Marc Rich (debatably “earned” by his ex-wife)? In my opinion, Presidential pardons, should be subject to a vote in Congress.