The day-after analysis of the State of the Union has been filled with commentary about the deplorable and trashy conduct of Marjorie Taylor Greene and her hive of MAGA nutters from George Santos to Lauren Boebert.
Much of that analysis is built around the idea that the appalling spectacle and incineration of decorum, politeness, decency and dignity will benefit the Democratic Party in the perpetual death match between two scorpions trapped in a proverbial bottle. The coverage is built around a zero-sum prism that holds that when one political party wins, the other loses. The construct is simple, clear and exceedingly bad for America.
What happened on the House floor wasn’t good for the Democrats because it was terrible for America. What the American people saw was a carnival of extremism and idiocy. The world saw decay within a legislative body that was once the envy of the world. Those days are long gone. The State of the Union was reduced to cheap spectacle, and turned into yet one more trashy episode of an eight-year long reality show that continues unfolding — revealing more decay and rot with each episode.
During the months ahead the MAGA Congress will cause chaos in the United States, and in the lives of the American people. They will be a force for instability and anxiety until they are removed from power.
The MAGA Congress will almost certainly default on America’s debt payments in a spectacle of economic self-harm. It will plunge global markets into chaos, and deeply harm working families and retirees.
They will seek to cut off military aid for the Ukrainian armed forces, which will encourage Russian aggression and prolong the war.
They will use their power to investigate political opponents and smear members of President Biden’s family, proving that no one is safe from being abused by their government by the MAGA Congress.
They will threaten the peace, prosperity and domestic tranquility of the American people in the months ahead. The world will grow more dangerous. and the country more divided, as a result.
The spectacle may be great for ratings, but it isn’t good for America. In fact, it is poisonous.
When one political party has succumbed completely to a cheap demagogue, and has been overtaken by the lowest people among us, that isn’t a cause for celebration. This isn’t a football game. It’s real life. The breathless announcements on the cable channels preview the State of the Union with the same performative hype that precedes a UFC fight.
The result is always the same when that happens. The American people lose.
As disgusting as it was to watch the display from those tragically ignorant people, it was just as gratifying to watch Biden take them down. He was crafty, and patient and impeccable. His SOTU actually gave me hope. He is smart and so seasoned in the political arena. Biden absolutely showed me he has what it takes to deal with these loonies. He focused on America and never backed down.
Watching the conduct of the far right at the State of the Union address and other venues reminds me of watching a WWE event. They don’t love their country! They love themselves! Marjorie T. Greene and her fellow insurgents are an embarrassment for all of us! Shame on them for their behavior and anyone who listens to their garbage!