Constitution provides that from time-to-time the President of the United States is to provide Congress with his views as to the state of the union. The report is also to inform Congress on any legislative actions he would like them to consider. The Constitution does not say how that is to be accomplished.
George Washington believed it should be in the form of a formal address to the Congress. That tradition was short-lived when America’s third President, Thomas Jefferson, decided that heading up to Capitol Hill was a waste of time. He provided his perspective on the state of the Union in written form. That was how it was done until 1913, when Woodrow Wilson decided to address the Congress. This required that Congress – specifically the Speaker of the House – tender an invitation to the President. That has been the practice since.
It has been one of the high points of the presidential year – becoming more important with the advent of television. The entire American public – indeed the rest of the world – could tune into the speech and hear what the American President thought of the critical issues. It became a direct link between the President and we the people.
Virtually all presidents got high marks for their speeches. Of sure, there were those in opposition who viewed with alarm the very same things the President pointed to with pride. In more recent years, the opposition party was provided an opportunity to rebut. Anyone who believes in transparency and an informed public had to see the speech and the rebuttal as a good thing.
Apparently not House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. In the act of political petulance, Pelosi announced that she would withdraw the invitation for the President to address the nation from the floor of the people’s chamber. She said that she was concerned about security, but that was a false and flimsy excuse.
Pelosi seemed to have two motives – to deny the President the ability to speak to the people and to vent her anger at Trump for not giving in on the funding for the border protection – the wall. It is not easy to know what Pelosi hoped to achieve, but her pettiness may have reminded many Americans why she has been such an unpopular figure in the Washington establishment.
In the game of political one-upmanship, Pelosi may have given Trump another opportunity to turn the tables. Rather than try to override her childish petulance — not unlike that prepubescent angry refrain “I’m not going to invite you to my birthday party” — Trump should accept Pelosi’s decision (or was it just a threat?) and move forward with plans to address the nation from another location.
The steps or portico of the Capitol Building would be a good location – conjuring up the false image of Martin Luther posting his reforms at the door of the Whittenberg Castle Church. It would be an invitation-only event to which Trump would invite the entire Congress. Sticking with tradition, Trump would also invite the Supreme Court, the military chiefs-of-staff, the Cabinet and special guests.
Pelosi would also be on the invitation list. If she attended, she would be seated in the front row, but not behind Trump, as is the traditional position of honor. Her presence would be a public embarrassment as Trump led off his speech with an explanation for the unusual venue – how the lady of the House had ended a more than 100-year tradition for no good reason. If she did not attend, she would be conspicuous by her absence. In fact, the more Democrat legislators who boycotted the event, the more petulant they would look.
This is just the sort of event that only a Donald Trump could execute with maximum effect – and would very likely bring very high ratings. It would rival Hollywood’s Oscar night in building anticipation of who would be seen, how the event would proceed and how the audience would react. It would sure beat that tired old imagery of the President orating for more than one hour as the Vice President and the Speaker of the House served as stage props – looking like a pair of Toby mugs. Hell, it may even kick off a new tradition.
– Larry Horist
That is well planned and should certainly work as you describe. It is baffling that any one elected can’t see we need our border secured and the proposed wall is a significant deterrent. Drones can also monitor the wall but to try to use primarily drones would be much more labor intensive. Build the Wall.
Give the state of the Union were American’s became American’s first! In Richmond Virginia?
Mr. President I feel you should do the “State of the Union” just as Larry Horist has described. If Nancy Pelosi wants to continue acting like a 3 yr old, let her.
I am so proud of the way you have handled this almost impossible situation. it is hard to negotiate with people that are so 2 faced they don’t have any idea of how it works. Nancy has let her position go to her head.
I am so proud you are My President .
I think Trump should hold it in the Oval Office, surrounded by only a packed in crowd of republicans. The conduct of the demon rats can only be compared to spoiled brats.
Petulant Pelosi needs MRI to determine the amount of brain matter that has deteriorated.
GO TRUMP -SHE IS ACTING LIKJE A PISSY LITTLE GIRL INSTEAD OF WORKING FOR THE GOOD OF THE
COUNTRY.WHAT IF SHE MADE IT TO AFGANISTAN WITH A GROUP OF DEMOCEATS AND WERE BLOWN
UP THERE. NEW ELECTIONS – MAYBE REPUBLICANS WIN. SHE SHOULD NOT BE SPENDING
MILITARY MONEY. STAY IN DC – TALK – SETTLE – PEOPLE WANT WALL. SHE SHOULD PAY FOR TRIPS
LIKE THAT. DOES SHE STILL TAKE FAMILY AND FRIENDS ON GOVT PLANES FOR VACATIONS – ALL GO FOR FREE. TIRED OF POLITICIANS NOT LIVING BY THR LAWS THEY PASS FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. ILLEGALS
SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO VOTE OR TO RECEIVE WELFARE OR FREE MEDICAL I LIVE ON $800/MONTH. THEY GET $42,000/MONTH PLUS MEDICAL/ GAS FOR CAR/ CAN’T READ OR SPEAK ENGLISH – HOW CAN THE DRIVE IF THEY CANT READ SIGNS. THEN I HAAVE TO CARRY UNINSURED DRIVER INSURANCE. IT JUST GOES ON AND ON. HIRE MORE TEACHERS THAT CAN SPEAK SPANISH – ON & ON.
HOW DO WE GET RID OF PELOSI LEGALLY WITH A DEMOCRATIC HOUSE. WHO PAID FOR ALL HER FACE LIFTS.
SINCE ALL HER MEDICAL IS PAID BY GOV.
I am positive how ever the President decides to orchestrate the affair it will be watched by a phenomenal number of Americans!
GOD BLESS AMERICA and GOD BLESS PRESIDENT TRUMP! ??????
Pelosi needs to get over herself❣️ Just do her job and quit acting like a spoiled brat❣️ Why do we have to pay a person for BS, and a job soooo poorly carried ought, she needs to grow up and stop trying to make problems where there aren’t any ‼️
I suggest President Trump give the State of the Union address from an enclosed NFL stadium, preferably in a warmer locale; i.e., Phoenix, Houston, etc. Provide free admission to thousands of people who wish to see and hear President Trump, while providing seating on the field for Congress, Supreme Court Justices, military Chiefs of Staff, the Cabinet officials, Vice President Pence, and all invited guests. This way, the roar of the applause from 75,000+ supporters of the President, will surely overcome the boos from the opposition. This will make a very strong statement to Nancy Pelosi, et, al., that the Republicans, as well as millions of citizens nationwide, are not at all intimidated by the Democratic pettiness.
Thank you for allowing me to state this.
That’s not really a bad ideal, make her look as stupid as she is !!
To think a president would put value of a wall over people is beyond me. He says the wall will protect the American people but what about the men and women who he’s using as pawns in getting what he wants! That is disgraceful. He is not protecting them. He doesn’t care that people of loosing their homes and apartments or not being able to put food on the table. My husband is one of the government workers working for free! We have not had a paycheck in over a month and he can’t get unemployment because he’s still working! It’s shameful that the president is hurting people both democrats and republicans just to get his own way
A better deal would be for the LEADERS of the Senate to allow Trump to use that bodies chamber. Then invite the House. Nutsy will not show no matter where it is held and since Trump slapped her down for trying to run off instead of staying and doing her job she will NEVER ask him back to the House so long as she is Speaker. The Senate allowing him to speak while inviting the House would make it clear to Democraps there are ways around that Senile old bat and Trump has more than one at his disposal when needed.
Love it! GO TRUMP
Wonderful,,,President Donald Trump !!!!! great idea….I’ m so sick Pelosi…. she needs to be impeached!!!! or rather thrown out!!! She’s acting like a little kid! Wonder if she knows how many people are laughing about her antics.!!! It is sure is a national disgrace…. how the other countries are laughing at us! …. that a person like her can treat a President with such disrespect! She dishonors the position she has…. she should be thrown out… The Democrats have to be ashamed of themselves. I pray they wake up before it is too late!!! God bless America and God bless President Donald Trump!!!!
Very good option
I like it, that would be s hard SLAP ON THAT OLD BITCH FACE, and from there on she will not recuperate and only destroy her image, which it is so ugly, her selfishness, her idiotic and arrogance self. besides of being a corrupted and disrespectful OLD BITCH will show the country what they are. Dems do not care for the people, just themselves. It is so imbecile to think that let everyone enter the country without knowing who is who, it is a crime. Everyone knows the Wall, Fence, Barrier, or whatever you want it call it is needed now more than ever, when every week caravans after caravans of illegals try to enter the country by force, illegal, by fake asylum lies, which they know they are not being attacked, just to lie. these loop holes must be shut down. EVERYTHING DEMOCRATS STAND FOR IS NOT AMERICAN, IT IS COMMUNISM.
Amen! President Trump can still give the State if the Union speech to the public via TV. It might even be more effective because you wouldn’t have to sit through all that time showing all the Important dignitaries attending.
Move forward with state of nation and invite. The speaker of the House, the people’s house6
Screw Congress they have not been much for decades and they are less now than ever! The new ones are even less they did not take POD in high school and know less about the average twelve year old at home, the colleges do not help with the liberal ignorance they are teaching!
Trump should not listen to the idiot Nancy, give the address the nation.
It is time for Government employees to be able to get to work. Trump and Mc connell should donate their salaries to these hard-working employees. This shutdown is not only stupid but Childish.
Its a great idea to use a venue ‘off-campus’ to advise all Americans attending or listening that the open border that is essential for politicians who fear closing it because their campaign funding depends on $$ from those that want a safe drug shipping route, or more undocumented voters to be created by just walking in!
He can allow that he has hesitated to give Pelosi/Schumer the chance to get the S.C. to consider denying use of a Presidential Executive Order to protect the nation; but, we are no longer able to keep the government closed. Then announce the plan!
NO!
Clearly, you nailed it. ms Pelosi should not be allowed to block presidential access to ” the public ear”.
Further, a White House Steps, or front lawn venue would enhance the projection of power displayed by the SOTU as a Presidential report to the people rather than the President being called into the principal’s office.
He should give it from the oval office and have no interruption and panning of camera’s over ass hole democrats faces
He should do it in the senate
Sounds good to me. Put Pelosi on the front row. She would be obnoxious by her abs
cense from behind Trump.
go trump. this sounds like a good idea. you have been what I wanted in a PRESIDENT SINCE THE ,1960,s.
Sounds like a stellar suggestion to me. Would not have to look at that ugly sour disposition broad for an hour.
Send this to the President! Please.
It’s to become a very powerful position, with true and dangerous security issues.
The president of the United States was elected by all 50 states, (more from some and less from others), yet still elected by the vote of we the people ( not in capitals because we are acting like children.)
Ultimately, the Speaker of the House was elected by her constituents in California, not by the whole country! Regardless of what the tradition is, it was done that way, so that a specific day and date can be set up, for the house and senate members to attend, with the rest of the country which elected them, And not for the speaker of the House to dictate to the president whether he can or cannot address the people of the country, in the bastion of freedom the United States Congress and to the republic for which it stands,
Mrs. Pelosi is attempting to become a dictator, a position she was not elected for.
Attempting to gag the president, should be considered an act of treason against the people who elected Him President and Her in Congress!