State of the Union is an address by the U.S. President, usually once a year, giving the administration’s view of the state of the nation and future plans.
President Biden gave his State of the Union today to the joint session of Congress.
He is not an electrifying speaker like President John F. Kennedy.
He is not a great orator like President Ronald Reagan.
Biden’s speech was mundane.
He began his speech with a strong support for Ukraine and calling Putin as an aggressor. He announced US will close their air space to Russian aircrafts.
Biden said the U.S. plans to release 30 million barrels of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve as part of a global effort to protect consumers and businesses from rising fuel prices as the U.S. and allies target Russia's economy. (Credit: Teaganne Finn of NBC News)
He asked both parties to work together and contain the pandemic virus and reopen businesses and schools.
He talked about southern border and immigration problem.
Biden asked the Senate to pass the voting rights bill.
He plans to focus heavily on the economy and inflation.
Biden never said anything about the confusing withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Iowa’s Republican Governor Kim Reynolds will give the Republican rebuttal to Biden’s speech.
I wanted to write this long long time ago. Now is the opportunity. Whenever the US President address the nation equal opportunity is given to the opposition party to reply (rebut) him/her. All TV and radio broadcasting stations must carry that live by law.
Why don’t other countries follow that? For example, when an Indian Prime Minister address the nation, why not give an equal opportunity to any of the opposition leader to speak or rebut.
Good idea....they should.....but I guess they have done too much criminal activities to get on top that they don't want to invite any thing that could even slightly shake it...
ReplyDeleteI meant Indian politics
DeleteThanks for your comments Dee. I understand.
DeleteWhy don't other countries follow that?
ReplyDeleteWell, the MPs from the region I stay now (coal belt) have strived very hard to have decorum, purpose, healthy houses of parliament of India.
But they have failed.
Thanks for your comments Kirtivasan. I understand
DeleteBTW, I have got my passport renewed here in Ranchi. As I already have US visa USA can be reached by just buying the ticket.
DeleteYes sir interested in meeting you. And get some gyan from you as you have met so many important guys !!
I think most of the opposition leaders has the ability to give counter on the spot, except a very few leaders, since most of their speeches are prepared by a team of experts. In India they have an opinion that the present president of USA not bold enough to take stern action against Russia. Is it correct from your point of view
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments Gowri. I want to tell you an incident from world history. During world War 2, USA was only a spectator. Did not participate in the war. Then the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, in the American state of Hawaii. The person in the Japanese military who masterminded the Pearl Harbor attack, Admiral Yamamoto said "we have awaken the sleeping giant".
DeleteNow Putin awaken the sleeping giant again.
ReplyDeleteInteresting. I pray to God the history shouldn't repeat (nuclear attack on Hiroshima and Nagasaki). I remember the pilot who dropped one of the atom bombs met you once
ReplyDeleteYou have good memory Gowri.
DeleteThanks. Please read, in my first comment, as "most of the opposition leaders don't have the ability".
ReplyDeleteThanks. Shashi Tharoor comes to my mind
DeleteHa ha that's great
ReplyDeleteThey should, but do we really care? We have started ridiculing everyone we dont like. Also the parliament sessions are telecasted live but no one bothers to watch
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments Pooja.
DeleteWhat people say is seldom what they think or do.
ReplyDeleteDestination Infinity
Thanks for your comments Rajesh. Onnum puriyala. Please explain. Thanks.
DeleteThey don't even say why they did all the "liberation", while what others do is "invasion" & "aggression" etc?
ReplyDeleteBy any other name/term also, war is war.
Hope all is well soon.
Thanks for your comments Anita. I hope so too.
DeleteAn interesting suggestion.
ReplyDeleteActually, all opposition parties do react to any major statement made by the PM, more so if it's an address to the nation. And TV channels and newspapers carry the reactions.
The problem with have a live address is that unlike the US, here we have so many opposition parties. Who should be given that privilege of reacting live to the PM's address will be a major issue. Even if a solution is found, all aren't going to agree to it.
Thanks for your comments Pradeep. You are correct.
Delete