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Report: Trump Intends To Deliver SOTU As Scheduled At The Capitol, Despite Pelosi’s Objection
Hotair ^
| 01/22/2019
| Allahpundit
Posted on 01/22/2019 12:50:00 PM PST by SeekAndFind
Smart call. Can’t go wrong with Republican voters by standing up to Pelosi, after all. And Trump’s insistence on following protocol by delivering the State of the Union as scheduled is a neat bit of table-turning on Democrats. Normally he’s the one accused of flouting political norms, often for petty reasons. This time he’s the one who’s trying to stick to norms, with Pelosi peevishly trying to block him.
She’s in a bad spot now. Whether she does attend or if she doesn’t, the politics are unkind to her.
If she attends she’ll be stuck sitting there silently with a camera trained on her while Trump blames her and Democrats for the shutdown. And it’ll be personally humiliating for her to have quasi-disinvited Trump from delivering the speech, had her bluff called, and then left with little choice but to dutifully attend and endure the speech anyway.
So she probably won’t attend. But if she doesn’t, the empty chair in-frame over Trump’s shoulder while he makes his speech will reinforce all of the points he’s made about Democrats over the past month. They’re the ones who are being stubborn, not him. They hate him so much that they’ve let this become personal, illustrated by an unprecedented SOTU snub by the new Speaker. They’re so deep in the tank for illegals that they can’t stand to sit there and listen for an hour while he warns the country about the risks of crime from across the border.
Bad optics either way. And I’m assuming there’s no chance that Trump shows up at the Capitol on the 29th and Pelosi somehow seeks to physically bar him from the premises. That would be another opportunity for him to successfully call her bluff. (Or maybe he’ll skip the House entirely and attempt to address the Senate, assuming that’s even possible.) More interesting would be if he was blocked through bureaucratic means, with the Sergeant-at-Arms replying to his letter by insisting that his team can’t be permitted a walkthrough until the Speaker says it’s okay. Would Trump still show on the 29th in that case?
The likeliest scenario is that Democrats boycott the speech en masse, handing POTUS 72 solid hours of “Trump Derangement Syndrome” material about them in the aftermath. I assume they’ll try to counterprogram him too rather than let him rant to the camera for an hour about how awful they are with only a 10-minute rebuttal which no one ever likes by way of reply. But who could they get to speak while he’s speaking who would command a meaningful audience? Don’t say “Ocasio-Cortez”; Democratic leaders are already tired of her. They’re not going to volunteer to inflate her profile further. They can’t tap any of the 2020 contenders either or else the rest of the field will grumble about playing favorites. And they sure can’t send Chuck and Nancy out there to speak. The last time that happened they were ridiculed.
If they were smart they’d ask Michelle Obama to do it, but she wouldn’t. So what do Dems do now?
TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: 116th; congress; pelosi; shutdown; sotu; speakerpelosi; trump; trumpsotu
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To: SeekAndFind
If Pelosi doesn’t show up, put one of those Covington Catholic school kids in her seat — wearing his MAGA hat, of course.
2
posted on
01/22/2019 12:51:44 PM PST
by
Alberta's Child
("In the time of chimpanzees I was a monkey.")
To: SeekAndFind
Trump should invite Clint Eastwood just in case she doesn't show.
3
posted on
01/22/2019 12:53:15 PM PST
by
DannyTN
To: SeekAndFind
” They cant tap any of the 2020 contenders either or else the rest of the field will grumble about playing favorites.”
They can do a “We Are The World” thing, where they take turns singing “Orange Man Bad”, individually and in chorus.
To: All
The baggage pictured was ret'd to Pelosi's office, after the Trump cancellation.
A lot of people were traveling with her. Who were they? Staff? Relatives? Friends?
TAXPAYERS DEMAND TO KNOW
<><> did Nanzi misuse govt offices to let non-govt people use her office as an address?
<><> how many of Pelosis family were in her travel delegation?
<><> were they perhaps hired as govt temps to work for her?
<><> as a pretext to score a free trip paid for w/ tax dollars?
<><> where is the cancelled trip's manifest?
This is a job for Judicial Watch.
Judicial Watch
425 3rd Street, SW, Suite 800
Washington, DC 20024
TELE 1-888-593-8442 between 8:30am and 5:30pm EST.
5
posted on
01/22/2019 12:55:47 PM PST
by
Liz
(Our side has 8 trillion bullets; the other side doesn't know which bathroom to use.)
To: SeekAndFind
Pelosi doesn’t OWN the building. This has been protocol ever since I’ve been around. Trump can request an armed escort from the military if the SAA can’t/won’t do it.
6
posted on
01/22/2019 12:56:42 PM PST
by
BipolarBob
(Occasional-Cortex " Just because I don't know what Armageddon means, it's not the end of the world".)
To: DannyTN
I still have an empty chair from a dollhouse in the back window of my car.
To: Liz
I actually hope all the Rats boycott. The optics of that will be priceless.
8
posted on
01/22/2019 12:57:44 PM PST
by
gibsonguy
To: SeekAndFind
Dems can’t win, The SOTU is all Trump. If you sit there chewing your teeth and grimacing, well, let’s just say it doesn’t get much worse for optics.
9
posted on
01/22/2019 12:57:49 PM PST
by
1Old Pro
To: DannyTN
And if she still objects, Clint can whisper those
magic words.
10
posted on
01/22/2019 12:57:50 PM PST
by
Bratch
(u)
To: SeekAndFind
This is really going to po Pelosi.
She does NOT want to be on camera...and she knows its a "Gotcha" moment waiting to happen.
To: SeekAndFind
Interesting. If the Sergeant at Arms works for Pelosi, I suppose she could order him to refuse to comply with Trumps request. That would be an escalation from her suggesting a delay to a downright refusal.
The rest of the analysis is good. Trump has Pelosi in a corner.
12
posted on
01/22/2019 12:59:25 PM PST
by
hinckley buzzard
(Power is more often surrendered than seized.)
To: SeekAndFind
Love my POTUS!!
It’s our House, not hers!!!
Her empty chair would be perfectly symbolism!!!
13
posted on
01/22/2019 12:59:30 PM PST
by
edie1960
To: Bratch
Speaking of Clint, Trump should put an empty chair next to him, like Clint did.
14
posted on
01/22/2019 12:59:39 PM PST
by
dfwgator
(Endut! Hoch Hech!)
To: gibsonguy
7 boycotted last year...The big thing was ....they didn't stand when the President entered.
Their stunts are disgusting.
To: SeekAndFind
Democratic counter programming?
You mean business as usual on NBC-PBS etc.
Laughable, like its really going to be negative this time.
16
posted on
01/22/2019 1:00:06 PM PST
by
cicero2k
To: SeekAndFind
Im not sure of the protocol of a president using the congressional building sans permission. It could be an issue ( separation of powers, etc). At ANY event, Id love to see pdjt give the address in a nice big arena or conference hall complete with American citizens seats could be provided for such Congress critters as may wish to attend. But Congress doesnt elect the president , American citizens do- (through the electoral college of course). We dont have a parliamentary system and Nancy pelousy doesnt have any say
17
posted on
01/22/2019 1:00:07 PM PST
by
faithhopecharity
(“Politicians arent born, they’re excreted.” Marcus Tullius Cicero (106 to 43 BCE))
To: All
According to a 2011 report by Judicial Watch, the documents uncovered show that Pelosi used the Air Force aircraft for a total of 43 trips, covering 90,155 miles, from January 1 through October 1, 2010.Judicial Watch, through FOIA, continues to pursue other records related to Pelosis use of Air Force aircraft.
EXCERPT Pelosi racked up huge bills using tax dollars to fly family members, free, in the US Govt's Air Force One plane.
The USAF records reveal a number of trips made by Pelosi in 2010 obtained by J/W in July 2011, detailing:
<><> expense summaries,
<><> flight manifests,
<><> copies of receipts,
<><> Congressional correspondence.
Documents obtained by J/W in January 2019, show that a 2015 trip taken by Pelosi cost taxpayers a whopping $184,587.81.
The documents J/W obtained in 2011 include:
<><> A May 6-10, 2010, Congressional Delegation to Afghanistan and Germany to discuss issues of mutual interest in Qatar and Afghanistan,"
<><> conduct oversight on womens issues (troops) in Afghanistan
<><> visit with US troops
<><> meet with government officials in Germany.
The total cost of military travel was $204,135.00.
The records indicate then-Speaker Pelosi made a personal request that the maximum per diem allowance be made available at the enhanced rate of an additional $50.
cont
18
posted on
01/22/2019 1:00:08 PM PST
by
Liz
(Our side has 8 trillion bullets; the other side doesn't know which bathroom to use.)
To: SeekAndFind
I know it will never happen, but I would give a great deal to see President Trump refused entry into the House chambers and have him give the SotU in the hallway outside.
To: All
cont
J/W found numerous trips were made by Speaker Pelosi between her home base, San Francisco, and DC's Andrews Air Force Base.
Several trips included Pelosis family, including her husband, daughter, granddaughters and son-in law.
<><> One Staff Summary Sheet detailing a January 4, 2010, flight from San Francisco to Andrews Air Force Base notes that Pelosis daughter Christina owes for $99.00 (flight) and $7.82 (meal).
<><>The documents suggest that the Speakers office was billed for the fees but do not indicate whether the bills were paid.
=====================================
A January 7-11, 2010, Congressional Delegation to Detroit, Michigan, for the expressed purpose of reviewing the impact of congressional appropriations and policy in promoting innovation, technological development and job creation in US auto industry.
The Detroit trip required $24,336.60 in commercial air travel and an additional $10,046.87 in expenses.
The Pentagon (read taxpayers) also paid for military escorts. One document notes that the mode of transportation for the trip would be Comair and Milair, (commercial air travel and military air travel).
However, the only cost related to the military portion of the transportation detailed in the records is a $15,000 advance (tax dollars) secured for (A) ground transportation, (B) meals and (C) lodging.
A total of 24 House Members (16 Democrats, 8 Republicans), led by then-Speaker Pelosi and then-Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD), were on the list of trip participants.
Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH) drove himself to Detroit and sought $228 in mileage reimbursement.
20
posted on
01/22/2019 1:00:52 PM PST
by
Liz
(Our side has 8 trillion bullets; the other side doesn't know which bathroom to use.)
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