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Biden searches for common ground in State of the Union address

John Fea   |  March 2, 2022

Last night Biden delivered a solid State of the Union Address. Not great. Nothing to write home about. But solid. It was the speech the country needed this week. I give credit to Joe Biden for his effort to find common ground with Republicans. Even the GOP members of Congress bit their tongues and applauded his condemnation of Russia and support of Ukraine.

After the Ukraine section of the speech, the partisanship started. The GOP refused to applaud or stand for infrastructure, job creation, and clean water. Nancy Pelosi seemed to visibly shake with enthusiasm at certain points in the speech.

Here were some of the moments that caught my attention:

The behavior of Marjorie Taylor Greene and Lauren Boebert brought me back to junior high:

#SOTU22 was not without its partisan moments. Two far-right Republican lawmakers, Lauren Boebert and Marjorie Taylor Greene, shouted ‘build the wall’ in response to immigration policy. ‘Sit down,’ a Democratic lawmaker shouted back https://t.co/Dt7Xatt7Qd pic.twitter.com/EDQA4xLAoY

— Reuters (@Reuters) March 2, 2022

On Thursday I am teaching Clifford Geertz’s essay on the Balinese cockfight in my historical methods course. Geertz is an anthropologist known for “thick descriptions” of culture. He would view last night’s State of the Union as a text– full of symbols (and symbolic actions) that need to be studied and unpacked. For example:

Pelosi's body language speaks volumes. She seems to be turning her back to the GOP side of the aisle every time she stands up and cheers. #SOTU2022

— John Fea (@JohnFea1) March 2, 2022

When Biden walked into the chamber I thought he looked stiff and old. But he seemed to gain strength and vitality as the speech went on. By the middle of speech he looked ten years younger:

When Biden starts talking about "dignity," and "looking people in the eye" he is almost untouchable. #SOTU

— John Fea (@JohnFea1) March 2, 2022

Here were some tweets that caught my eye during the speech:

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) and Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) turn their backs and refuse to applaud Biden's cabinet. #SOTU pic.twitter.com/bKzzT84IBS

— The Recount (@therecount) March 2, 2022

As T.J. Stiles notes, the Build Back Better section of the speech seemed directed to West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin:

It feels weird to listen in on Biden’s private chat with Joe Manchin.

— T.J. Stiles (@TJStiles_Author) March 2, 2022

Another moment of unity:

McCarthy and Scalise seemed legitimately happy about the fund the police line. #SOTU

— John Fea (@JohnFea1) March 2, 2022

JUST IN: 78% of #sotu watchers approve of @POTUS Biden’s address, @CBSNewsPoll director @SalvantoCBS reports as part of our ongoing coverage. https://t.co/pVTtBSYKS9 pic.twitter.com/lWlVQeSOxo

— Ed O'Keefe (@edokeefe) March 2, 2022

The Easter-Christmas crowd when they come to Mass. https://t.co/v2PaFd6yaW

— Kevin M. Kruse (@KevinMKruse) March 2, 2022

Breyer’s display of humility:

"Who me?" Well, Justice Breyer is just adorable. #SOTU pic.twitter.com/jmdfdy2j2W

— Caroline Earls (@CarolineEarls) March 2, 2022

Filed Under: Way of Improvement Tagged With: Joe Biden, Lauren Boebert, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Nancy Pelosi, Russian invasion of Ukraine (2022), State of the Union, State of the Union 2022