The state of the union is perilous

Two Nazis were arrested before they were able to launch their attack against Baltimore’s power grid. Their goal was to cause chaos, mayhem and death by plunging a troubled American city into darkness. How many more extremists are ready to commit acts of political violence against innocent Americans, critical infrastructure and vital institutions? How many are out there? Are they organized? Well-funded? Emboldened? Do they stand outside of society, or are they part of a political coalition that wants them because without them the party can’t win? Who are they? Why would any American choose to become a Nazi?

These aren’t trivial questions. They are essential, and the simple truth is that they are not discussed. They are also unlikely to be on the table for the State of the Union tonight, which has become stale, predictable, cynical, and mildly delusional over the modern era. Whatever it is, it certainly isn’t a report to Congress from the president about the state of the 247-year-old American Union.

Ted Cruz will be front and center, as always. Currently, he is fighting to limit US senators to two terms in office, while he’s running for a third. When this was pointed out to him by the excellent Margaret Brennan at “Face the Nation,” he responded by saying that he is staying put in Washington for “all 30 million Texans until there are no more socialists left” to vanquish.  

Aaron Rupar @atrupar

Margaret Brennan to Ted Cruz: "You also introduced a bill to limit terms to two six year terms in office for senators. Why aren't you holding yourself to that standard? You said you're running for a third term."

Certainly it is a Texas-sized display of tough guy swagger from a feckless cynic who abandoned his state to party in Cancun, allowed his father to be slandered, and his wife to be called ugly by Trump.

Ted Cruz’s close associate, the Stanford- and Yale-educated Josh Hawley will be there. Josh Hawley incited the January 6 insurrection, and then ran for his life from the mob he incited. He will be surrounded by cowards, but his will be incandescent.

Kevin McCarthy will be seated behind the president and next to the vice president. He is a man without principles, integrity, intellect or patriotism. He is an ambitious climber, who has assumed an office in name only where he serves at the whim of a confederacy of loons, liars and conspiracy theorists like Lauren Boebert, Matt Gaetz, Jim Jordan and Marjorie Taylor Greene.

George Santos — if that is his name — will be there. His presence alone disgraces the entire Congress. The tolerance of his criminality, fraudulence and psychotic lying by the Republican Congress is evidence of decay and malfeasance that beggar description.

America’s federally elected politicians will all be there, and so will the lobbyists. What will be said will soon be forgotten, and the State of the Union will quickly recede like a small wave from the beach.

When the speech ends, America will remain in crisis, and the world will stand at a dangerous hour.

What is the state of our union? Perilous.

Tonight, we will be told it is strong.

Is it?

It isn’t, and hasn’t been for a long time. Confronting that would make this a truly historic state of the union. Don’t count on it.

Tonight will be another annualized paint drying session. The only hope for relief comes from the likelihood of an obscene breach of etiquette and decorum from the attendant MAGA members.

The state of the union is troubled. It is time for the American people to start discussing it.