Pelosi demands Trump postpone State of the Union address
Call her bluff. Hold an event elsewhere attended by Angel Families, police officers, Border Patrol agents, and all the other people Democrats hate, and invite whoever from Congress wants to attend.
Nancy Pelosi has sent a letter to Trump demanding that Trump postpone the State of the Union address because of the partial government shutdown.
#TheResistance is thrilled.
Chris Cillizza of CNN called it “a major power move“:
Make no mistake: Pelosi’s decision to disinvite Trump from delivering his “State of the Union” address to Congress is a total power play designed to remind Trump that a) Congress is a co-equal branch of government and b) his willingness to keep the government shuttered until he gets money for a border wall is going to have impacts on him, too.
Just in case you missed that message, Pelosi delivered it again in an interview with CNN’s Ashley Killough. “This is a housekeeping matter in the Congress of the United States, so we can honor the responsibility of the invitation we extended to the President,” said Pelosi. “He can make it from the Oval Office if he wants.”
Dear Mr. President:
On January 3rd, it was my privilege as Speaker to invite you to deliver the State of the Union address on January 29th. The Constitution calls for the President to “from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union.” During the 19th Century and up until the presidency of Woodrow Wilson, these annual State of the Union messages were delivered to Congress in writing. And since the start of modern budgeting in Fiscal Year 1977, a State of the Union address has never been delivered during a government shutdown.
In September 2018, Secretary Nielsen designated State of the Union Addresses as National Special Security Events (NSSEs), recognizing the need for “the full resources of the Federal Government to be brought to bear” to ensure the security of these events. The extraordinary demands presented by NSSEs require weeks of detailed planning with dozens of agencies working together to prepare for the safety of all participants.
The U.S. Secret Service was designated as the lead federal agency responsible for coordinating, planning, exercising, and implementing security for National Special Security Events by Public Law 106-544, December 19, 2000. However, both the U.S. Secret Service and the Department of Homeland Security have not been funded for 26 days now — with critical departments hamstrung by furloughs.
Sadly, given the security concerns and unless government re-opens this week, I suggest that we work together to determine another suitable date after government has re-opened for this address or for you to consider delivering your State of the Union address in writing to the Congress on January 29th.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
NANCY PELOSI
Speaker of the House
I say Trump should call her bluff. He doesn’t need her. The Constitution provides that the President:
“shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient.” Article II, Section 3, Clause 1.
It doesn’t say where or how it needs to be delivered to Congress.
Here are a couple of possibilities that come to mind.
- Have Mitch McConnell invite Trump to the Senate chamber, where Republicans hold the majority. Bar Pelosi from entry.
- Hold an event elsewhere attended by Angel Families, police officers, Border Patrol agents, and all the other people Democrats hate, and invite whoever from Congress wants to attend.
I’m sure there are some other possibilities that readers can suggest.
Pelosi stepped in it on this one.
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Comments
Trump should definitely move forward with the state of the union and hopefully the Dems will be no-shows. That will make for some great optics and some memorable zingers.
Agree, and have him please point out her concern about security! Oh, the hypocrisy!
Yes, Nancy, we need security for all Americans! Border security, the wall!
Please put some pressure on her and Chuck:
Pelosi: 202-225-4965
Schumer: (202) 224-6542
I the interest of security, Trump should divert as much money as possible from other California projects to California’s wall. This should be done to protect California’s residents from further invasion.
i gratly appreciate these 2 phone numbers! i have posted them on facebook, & i am sure they will be ringing…..on, & on, & on……:O}}}}}
As a tax paying “Legal” Citizen of the USA, & 75 YEAR TAXPAYER, I insist…..”NO”…..Demand that Pelosi, & Schumer, resign from the Congress, & Senate, “IMMEDIATELY”!
Trump absolutely needs to go ahead with this, in whatever location. Pelosi and the Democrat leadership are terrified that he will use this to convince the pubic that their refusal to do anything that could obstruct illegal immigration is the only reason for the “shutdown”. They, and their allies in the news industry have, so far, been able to confuse and divert the public from seeing the plain and simple truth of the matter, and it would be disastrous for them if Trump could show the public that their only real reason for this is to promote illegal immigration.
I’m with you, Bisley!
Pelosi demanded, Trump grounded her, so funny.
And have it broadcast live on any number of social media sites, just in case the LSM refuses to cover it. If in the Senate chamber, C-span it. He can Facebook live, etc. But do not let the Media play their reindeer games to minimize its contact to the American people.
The Lefty media may threaten to not broadcast it, but it will only take one or two networks such as Fox or One America to do so and the others will follow like sheep for fear of losing audience.
This is merely more factual evidence, of the corruption of the ‘so called” media, & it’s failure to serve the people……no wonder the internet is replacing them!
Holding the State of the Union address in the Senate chamber would rub Pelosi’s face in her spiteful decision. That would elevate the Senate as being the relevant part of the legislature and decrease the power and visibility of the House.
The Senate chamber is smaller, so there will have to be some cuts made in attendance. Of course, you admit all the Senators, and the police officers, and Border Patrol agents, etc. But the House dis-invited the President, so they are just guests of the Senate. So let Mitch McConnell decide which of those guests to invite.
Or deliver it from the Oval Office (where the venue is even smaller), with selected Senators and House Reps invited — along with Angel Families, Gold Star families, police officers, Border Patrol agents, etc. — and a signed first-edition DVD (“To my biggest fan, Nancy Pelosi. <3, Donald J. Trump") of the speech provided to the rest.
After all, if the national security funding is the problem, as Pelosi says, the Secret Service shouldn’t object to the President staying in the White House for his speech. 😉
Hold int he Senate chamber and invite a few Angel Moms. Let PDT make a spectacle of the State of the Union so he gets in front of the camera again and speaks directly to the People this time for more than 8 minutes. I’m thinking his previous TV address was a preamble to the SotU address so he can hammer the same points more than once in a true marketing fashion. He’s great at persuading and marketing so hye’s following form here IMHO.
Congress has so welcomed the presence of the President that it authorized the creation of the President’s Room right there inside the Capitol Building,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President%27s_Room?fbclid=IwAR1XFlp7LNQGxSEKbt1r3eGFnCoIKJLAbMQlJND_wOmPLNtQDNV-3LuwxoY
Democrats are the aberration, not this president.
He should revert to the format used by George Washington (and many subsequent holders of the office): a written report. Direct it to the leadership of each house and post it on the White House website.
It satisfies the Constitutional requirement and it saves a bundle of money in these financially constricted times by reducing the security and transportation expense of an in-person delivery.
Finicky mouse today — accidentally hit the thumbs up = ignore and count as another down vote, please.
Sounds like complete capitulation to only submit in writing.
Save like $3?
Definitely better to televise from the Senate chambers or White House with all the important visuals and attendees, per the Prof’s suggestion, and create the appropriate spectacle.
He doesn’t even have to do that. He can live-stream a speech to the American People and call it a day.
The Constitution says the president “shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union”. Traditionally, this has been an annual report. But that’s all it is: tradition. There is nothing at all saying he can’t skip it this year, or deliver a speech to the People from the Oval Office and if Congress wants to see it they can view the live-stream … just like everyone else.
(Because that’s what would really irk the media and House Dems: being treated like everyone else in the nation.)
I have to correct myself. George Washington’s Presidential Address was given in person. It was Jefferson who “mailed it in”. And he started something because it was Wilson who was to give the address in person in 1913.
In summary, in-person SOTU reports are not required, but are the current general practice.
Jefferson was noted to have an aversion for public speaking. Even in small groups, he preferred to keep quiet, making up for it by fast writing afterwards.
That Speaker Pelosi would give conservatives the opportunity to hold the State of the Union elsewhere, where the visuals of Democrats not applauding the President are absent, is a YUGE gift.
A suggestion is to deliver from Limbaugh’s EIB show. While fun it wouldn’t have the visuals that are essential today. Others have suggested a Mega Rally somewhere in the country as the venue, with all sorts of live-streaming.
Whatever he does, he got to do an up-yours to the Democrats.
I would respond as follows:
Dear Madam Speaker,
Your request is denied.
Sincerely Yours,
Monica Lewinsky
White House Intern
I always knew this State if the Union was going to be epic…but I had no idea that Speaker Pelosi would add another layer of awesome sauce on it.
I am sure President Trump is planning something special.
Maybe there will be free Whoppers and Big Macs?
That will fill CNN’s fainting couches.
Oh! And Melania can supervise a salad bar! They will be toting lefty journalists out of One CNN Center on stretchers!
Special and YUGE!!!
She may have stepped in it, but the key now is to help her really feel the consequences. Deeply and repeatedly.
Initially, I was thinking President Trump would send a copy of the SoTU to Congress…then organize one of his super rallies at a big venue, and give it in front of a crowd.
The optics would be amazing.
But Mitch McConnell inviting Trump to the Senate chamber and barring Pelosi from entry totally works for me as well.
That’s my bet. Stage it in a 100,000+ seat stadium and promote it as a historically significant event. Since “the swamp” isn’t interested in what the people want, stage the first SOTU presented live directly to the American people. It would be the biggest MAGA rally ever.
BTW, the Secret Service is considered an essential government program so the partial government shutdown doesn’t present any higher security challenge than the usual SOTU addresses. Citing security as an excuse was so lame.
Obviously not. This would give Congress veto power over the SOTU. Screw that. DJT will, obviously, blow it off. An opportunity to host a bit of showmanship on his own terms is not something he’ll miss.
I can’t think of any way this isn’t an obvious loser for Pelosi.
Since January 8, 1790, no House Speaker has been bitter and partisan enough to deny the President permission to give the SOTU in front of a joint session of Congress.
Speaker Pelosi has another First. The only question is if this is a #PelosiShutdown or #SchumerShutdown
FRom appearances, it seems the Schmuck is taking his marching orders from Pelousy.
She’s worried about her safety (oh by the way, also the safety of others inside the Capitol, gee thanks for your concern.)
Meanwhile she tells anyone who is concerned about the safety of America through vigorous border security to go to hell.
I mean….
This is like dealing with a 5 year old.
She already has a wall around her house to protect what’s important to her.
There’s obviously no reason for a wall around the country to protect what’s important to everyone else, right?
Also, since she is worried about her safety, DJT can do her a favor and give the speech in the Senate chamber. Republicans can then say that despite the “dangers” in showing up where they work every day even during a “shutdown”, they came anyway, because the GOP has integrity and backbone.
She can take the coward’s path and stay home, behind her wall. Great optics, Nan.
This is a perfect opportunity for the President to speak without having to endure the jeers and whines of the D’Rat Peanut Gallery. He will have the forum and the time to tell the full extent, in exquisite detail – finally, without media censorship – of the true disaster of illegal immigration in this country: the 22-30 MILLION already here (ain’t that enough humanitarianism), and the billions and billions of dollars we are already expending for these low-or-unskilled millions. He can tell the cost to us of each illegal adult and child, and the immense number of stolen social security numbers and id’s. And, most importantly, he can show to the D’Rat alleged stronghold of minority citizens, particularly Blacks and Hispanics, just how much this illegality is costing them in wages, jobs, medical care and educational opportunities. These are the people the biased media strive to keep in the dark. And he also can opine on the necessity and success of walls and other barriers, throughout the world, especially as previously supported and voted on by Democrats, going all the way back to the iconic Barbara Jordan and Cesar Chavez, all the way up to the loathsome “leaders” of the D’Rats today. He can keep saying, “You may not have known that, because the Democrats and the lying media don’t want you to know that.” What an opportunity!
You must listen to the same people I do. Funny how the left just disregards the history. Barbara Jordan’s speech was epic in getting to the truth of what the real costs are. Chavez spoke out against illegal immigration using the term wetback. The Dems never include that part. Editing out the truth is the new normal for the media.
Jordan’s speech is one of my favorites. So glad OANN plays it often- as it should be on other stations.
Let him hold in Jerryworld, Deep In the Heart of Texas. About 100,000 with standing room and shown on the world’s largest Jumbo-trons. Plenty of room for all the police, ICE, CBP, angel families, gold star families, regular citizens. He could rappel from a stealth Blackhawk with the open dome framing the scene. Epic. Glorious. Yuge, I say.
I love the idea, except for the rappelling. I mean, dam-; Trump is good, but not that good. I’m younger than Trump. I spent a career wearing a badge. I have been a hard rock miner in my youth, and done timbering in the mountains. In college I climbed up mountains and rappelled down them AND jumped out of airplanes for fun. I know I am not in shape to risk that despite my relative youth. I’m pretty sure that his life has not been all that physical. Smaller helicopter, let it land. Sideboys along the path from the helicopter to the stage, saluting and him answering the salute.
Subotai Bahadur
Maybe rappelling in is a bit much. But he sure could tandem jump in with the Black Knights. GHWB did it at 90. If the Secret Service let GWB land on an aircraft carrier and not in a helocopter, then a tandem jump isn’t out of the question. Place would erupt and scare all the illegals out of the Metroplex.
Good idea. He can do it around Super Bowl weekend – after all, nobody else is going to be using it.
President Trump ought to hold a State of the Union event at the White House. Invited guests to include those mentioned in the article, as well as the Clemson football team. After his address, more pizza, burger and fries!
I like the food idea. The buffet should be YUGE…and include Chick-fil-A.
It could be one of the most anticipated addresses ever and actually establish a precedent to have more “we the people” present and less photo-ops for the politicos. The latter’s jack-in-the-box applauding has log since gotten to be annoying and nonsensical.
Similar to fireside chats. Streaming only, live. Leaving traditional media scrambling for crumbs.
Don’t invite the obamas – if mooochelle is there, getting to the buffet will as chaotic as gettig a TV at a black-Friday sale at Walmart.
Even if it is fast food.
You Commenters are great! Get this stuff to Our Man! Make America Governable Again!
Until we take back our educational system from the rabit lefitsts infestting it and running it, forget that thought.
We missed that opportunity, never to return about forty years ago.
Pelosi once again demonstrates her disdain of the Constitution. As the Prof wrote above, it provides the President “recommend to their [Congress] Consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient.”
Our impasse right now is because he has recommended measures that they refuse to acknowledge or consider. he should go straight to the American people again, and explain why we should be burning up the phone lines to our Congressmen, who cannot be bothered to protect Americans.
She is teamed-up with the most rabid of Jew-haters.
She has become Nancy the Ghoul.
“Become”?
#FAIL
The Democrats are walking this back, saying it was merely a suggestion. https://twitter.com/jim_newell/status/1085566876233723905
Another crack in the wall. Things are not going well for the Dems under MAGA. They are now cowering and clutching their pearls just like the “It’s never EVER the right time to do the right thing!” RINOs.
The President ought to take them up on their “proposal” and go with his own alternative.
This is nothing more than political theater.
Last week, the Democrat Congress Critters were vacationing in Puerto Rico on funding from lobbyists. This coming week, Denny Hoyer is cancelling a scheduled 11 day recess, sort of. Though the House members are still free to leave Washington and go where ever they wish and do whatever they wish, they may be called back, maybe. Now Nancy Pelosi wants to cancel the State Of The Union message, from the President, based upon false security claims. Unfortunately, she can not stop the President from delivering a SOTU message. This is the 21st Century and the President can deliver his SOTU message to both the people and the Congress, from anywhere, electronically. If it were done that way, the only losers would be the Congress and the SCOtUS which would lose all the face-time they enjoy at the event.
Sounds like a darned good time to employ Article 2, Section 3 of the US Constitution.
…he may, on extraordinary Occasions, convene both Houses, or either of them…
Every morning of every day from now until the House votes through a funding resolution he can sign. About 6 A.M. would do for the announcement.
“Under my authority as President, under Article 2, Section 3 of the US Constitution, I am hereby convening the House this morning to take up the extraordinary occasion of ending the government shutdown, and in the event of the Speaker adjourning the House before legislation is passed which I can sign, I will call the House back into session every single morning for the same purpose. Weekdays, weekends, holidays. Doesn’t matter. They’re going back to work until their job is complete.”
Geo., thank you. That provision had previously escaped my notice!!!!
There is a classic tenet of military leadership: never issue an order which you know will not be obeyed. The follow-up to that is: unless you are willing to shoot those who refuse to obey.
It is much better for the POTUS to do exactly what he is doing. Right now Trump is controlling this situation by standing pat and allowing the Dems to react. Every time the Dems act, in this situation, they look smaller and more petty.
Steny Hoyer
I like the idea of his own address, but, seriously, they are denying him the vestiges of office. This is his first SOTU speech. They know what they are doing. Re-enforcing that he is illegitimate and unworthy of the normal trappings of the office. His authority is unrecognized.
The guy is getting 90% negative press coverage. He no control over the DOJ because somehow, now, they are deemed independent of the executive branch! This will blow up in the Dems and #nevertrumpers face, but they are ruining tradition. They are daily destroying comity in Governance. It will not easily be reinstated.
Last year was technically his first SOTU, he also addressed both houses in 2017.
Pelosi looked like an idiot here. It backfired. The SS said there were no issues for security and the (D)s are not saying it will/must be cancelled.
Yes, the Establishment, including the Democrats are actively attempting to legitimize Trump, as President. The problem with that is that they are misreading the situation.
Trump was elected because a majority of the people who work for a living were fed up with their elected representatives ignoring them, their problems and their clearly expressed desires. The election of DJT was not a revolt. It was a warning. If the establishment politicians refuse to recognize and heed the warning, then the electorate will be forced into the position of taking action, or folding. I would not bet on the electorate folding.
Get either Christopher Walken or Michael Shannon to read the speech.
I wanted Trump to submit his SOTU speech in writing rather than show up to that zoo, but now that they’re rattling the cages, I’m for your suggestion that he hold his own event.
A la Pulp Fiction, Walken can pull out his speech, and say that until now, he’s had it hidden inside pelosi’s butt.
President Trump should deliver the State of the Union address along the border where the test samples of the wall are erected!
Before The Donald enters the House Chamber, he should wipe his feet on Gidget Cortez.
– And stick his umbrella in Rashida Tlaib.
hold it at her house.
point out the fences around it too.
DJT should send a terse polite response to the Speaker. GET STUFFED.
Nancy’s gambit doesn’t seem well thought out. The speaker sits behind the president during the address, so if it’s cancelled, she gets no face time. Wonder how she squared that with her extreme vanity? Trump ought to put a photo of her mug (at the top) on a stick and hold it up a few times to ask “How do you like that, Nancy?”
Hope Trump moves it and it’s by invitation only – Dems need not apply.
Can Trump build Pelosi’s Wall in time for the SOTU?
recommend to their Consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient.” Article II, Section 3, Clause 1.
Three word State of the Union address delivered to nancy pooplosi
Fund. The. Wall.
Give that to all the WH press corps(e obama style) half an hour before having a HIGH visibility delivery to her.
As much as that appeals to me on one level, my gut says it is not enough. The SOTU address is POTUS’ best chance to deliver his message directly to The People – those folks Congress-critters like to ignore except during election season – and Salesman Trump can deliver that message in a way that none has been able to in my lifetime.
Popcorn and carbonated beverages are on hand. This could be fun!
I might actually feel sorry for democrats if they weren’t so exceedingly smug and stupid. Not a winning combination. Currently, they’re celebrating Nancy because they are under the mistaken impression that she has the power to stop the SOTU address. Yes, they really believe that. They’re going to be outraged if he gives it in the Senate chambers and they’ll probably say its illegal. That dumb broad, Pelosi has just given Trump complete control over the narrative and left herself standing out in the cold.
She and chucky are afraid they will get SHAMED for keeping the government closed and won’t be able to fight back. GO Mr President and Ripe them a New One !!!!!
The Dems have tipped their hand. They are the REAL facsists.
Change the venue and invite the Senate and House members who want to attend. Likewise, have security provided by Marines and Rangers who volunteer for the duty. What an awesome show of support from our military.
He should do it in the Senate… prefaced by video of all the times the Democrats wanted a wall, on a loop, and broadcast to everyone in the nation.
Nancy doesn’t want the State of the Union address during the shutdown that she is refusing to end, because she thinks people don’t know that she is the reason the shutdown is continuing. She knows Trump won’t be able to refrain from calling her out on it.