A preview of Trump's State of the Union speech:
Trump to Test His Base With Bipartisan Call in State of the Union
"Trump will enter the House chamber Tuesday night as the most unpopular modern president to deliver his first State of the Union speech. He’s averaged just a 38 percent approval rating over his first year in office, according to Gallup. White House aides are marshaling allies to spread the word about the change in tone, and the direction of his prime-time address is a tacit admission that Trump’s approach to governing so far has done little to endear him to voters outside of his base.
Damaging revelations from the probe into his campaign’s possible collusion with Russia have been matched by controversies of the president’s making, with many Americans dismayed by his handling of racial issues, attacks on the media, and subverting of political norms. The result of that constant disarray, fanned by regular West Wing backstabbing in the press and a relentless series of political missteps, is a president and party who voters are resistant to crediting even for successes, including recent economic gains.
“The guy has performed so poorly and he has created such animus and a cloud of suspicion about him,” said presidential historian Robert Dallek. “The essential element for any president is credibility. If you’re not a credible or reliable spokesperson for himself, how can you govern in this country?”"
"Yet, Trump on Saturday appeared reluctant to commit to the bipartisan tone aides say he will strike. In two late-night tweets, the president said he’s offered a “wonderful” deal because Republicans want to fix the problem and “to show that Democrats do not want to solve DACA, only use it!”
“Democrats are not interested in Border Safety & Security or in the funding and rebuilding of our Military,” Trump said on Twitter. “They are only interested in Obstruction!”
Trump may also offer greater clarity on trade. His protectionist leanings have kept him at odds with the establishment side of his Republican Party. He walked away from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a Pacific Rim trade pact, during his first week in office, and this month slapped tariffs on solar-panel and washing machine imports. Trump is considering similar actions on aluminum and steel imports to bolster U.S. manufacturers."
"Tuesday’s address comes a day after the sixth round of North American Free Trade Agreement talks is set to conclude in Montreal. Trump has called the current deal “horrible” for U.S. businesses and left open the possibility that he might exit the 24-year-old pact if discussions aren’t favorable to the U.S. -- though people familiar with the matter said he won’t do that in Tuesday’s speech.
The speech is nearly certain to include a significant portion of foreign policy, with Trump seeking to burnish his resume in an area where many voters give him low marks. Just 38 percent of Americans approve of the way Trump is handling foreign policy, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released last week, with a majority -- 55 percent -- disapproving.
That’s driven in no small part by the president’s high-stakes spat with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, whom Trump has taunted as “Little Rocket Man.” Trump is likely to strike a more measured tone on Tuesday, and could again signal his openness to direct talks with North Korea under the right circumstances.
Trump is likely to highlight the significant loss of territory by Islamic State fighters, including coalition victories in Mosul, Iraq, and Raqqa, Syria, and attribute those successes to his decision to loosen the rules of engagement.
Not only Americans will be listening to Trump for clues. “Every leader in the world is trying to figure out where the United States is going,” said Jon Alterman, director of the Middle East program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.
“I still think the president is struggling to articulate what American leadership means. The president’s big challenge has been how to lead in ways that people are eager to follow.”"
The article is long....I did not quote most of it..if you actually wish to know what it says...read it!
Sounds like it will be a typical low-content, high rhetoric speech.
Not sure why this article thinks that it will rile Trump's base--they all know that any call to bipartisanship is just chaff...meant to distract.
Trump to Test His Base With Bipartisan Call in State of the Union
"Trump will enter the House chamber Tuesday night as the most unpopular modern president to deliver his first State of the Union speech. He’s averaged just a 38 percent approval rating over his first year in office, according to Gallup. White House aides are marshaling allies to spread the word about the change in tone, and the direction of his prime-time address is a tacit admission that Trump’s approach to governing so far has done little to endear him to voters outside of his base.
Damaging revelations from the probe into his campaign’s possible collusion with Russia have been matched by controversies of the president’s making, with many Americans dismayed by his handling of racial issues, attacks on the media, and subverting of political norms. The result of that constant disarray, fanned by regular West Wing backstabbing in the press and a relentless series of political missteps, is a president and party who voters are resistant to crediting even for successes, including recent economic gains.
“The guy has performed so poorly and he has created such animus and a cloud of suspicion about him,” said presidential historian Robert Dallek. “The essential element for any president is credibility. If you’re not a credible or reliable spokesperson for himself, how can you govern in this country?”"
"Yet, Trump on Saturday appeared reluctant to commit to the bipartisan tone aides say he will strike. In two late-night tweets, the president said he’s offered a “wonderful” deal because Republicans want to fix the problem and “to show that Democrats do not want to solve DACA, only use it!”
“Democrats are not interested in Border Safety & Security or in the funding and rebuilding of our Military,” Trump said on Twitter. “They are only interested in Obstruction!”
Trump may also offer greater clarity on trade. His protectionist leanings have kept him at odds with the establishment side of his Republican Party. He walked away from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a Pacific Rim trade pact, during his first week in office, and this month slapped tariffs on solar-panel and washing machine imports. Trump is considering similar actions on aluminum and steel imports to bolster U.S. manufacturers."
"Tuesday’s address comes a day after the sixth round of North American Free Trade Agreement talks is set to conclude in Montreal. Trump has called the current deal “horrible” for U.S. businesses and left open the possibility that he might exit the 24-year-old pact if discussions aren’t favorable to the U.S. -- though people familiar with the matter said he won’t do that in Tuesday’s speech.
The speech is nearly certain to include a significant portion of foreign policy, with Trump seeking to burnish his resume in an area where many voters give him low marks. Just 38 percent of Americans approve of the way Trump is handling foreign policy, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released last week, with a majority -- 55 percent -- disapproving.
That’s driven in no small part by the president’s high-stakes spat with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, whom Trump has taunted as “Little Rocket Man.” Trump is likely to strike a more measured tone on Tuesday, and could again signal his openness to direct talks with North Korea under the right circumstances.
Trump is likely to highlight the significant loss of territory by Islamic State fighters, including coalition victories in Mosul, Iraq, and Raqqa, Syria, and attribute those successes to his decision to loosen the rules of engagement.
Not only Americans will be listening to Trump for clues. “Every leader in the world is trying to figure out where the United States is going,” said Jon Alterman, director of the Middle East program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.
“I still think the president is struggling to articulate what American leadership means. The president’s big challenge has been how to lead in ways that people are eager to follow.”"
The article is long....I did not quote most of it..if you actually wish to know what it says...read it!
Sounds like it will be a typical low-content, high rhetoric speech.
Not sure why this article thinks that it will rile Trump's base--they all know that any call to bipartisanship is just chaff...meant to distract.
