Will Davis: The state of our union is strong
When it comes to the annual State of the Union address, much is often said, but little is actually addressed. The event exists as an opportunity for politicians to repeat their favorite platitudes and for the D.C. political class to rub shoulders. What really matters is not the State of the Union address, but what proceeds it. We are now one year into Donald Trump‘s presidency and conservatives have to be happy, maybe even pleasantly surprised at what President Trump and this Republican Congress have been able to accomplish in one year. Conservatives are used to the Republican party letting us down, but this year has been different. We’ve seen one of the largest tax cuts in American history, which corresponded with the first remaking of the tax code since Ronald Reagan‘s presidency. We have already seen the results of this tax cut come to fruition, including in our home state of Alabama where Toyota and Mazda announced a new $1.6 billion plant in Huntsville that will create 4,000 new jobs for Alabamians. The United States also saw its first year of 3% GDP growth since George W. Bush‘s first term. In addition, we have also confirmed great constitutionalist judges, including Justice Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court. Through remaking the courts, we have a chance to end judicial tyranny in this country and restore the rule of law. The promise of appointing judges after years of activist court rulings was a big reason why some skeptical conservatives held their nose to vote for Donald Trump. He has delivered in this area more than any of us could have expected. Lastly, many concerns about Trump’s presidency involved his foreign policy. Many folks were concerned that somebody with no experience would have significant trouble in the area where the President has the most power and the most responsibility. Yet Trump has assuaged those concerns in his first year in office. He has surrounded himself with some of the most brilliant minds in the country including the likes of Jim Mattis, Nikki Haley, and Mike Pompeo. In Trump’s first year, ISIS is all but done, Jerusalem has finally been recognized as the Capital of Israel, Syria has ceased use of their chemical weapons program, and Iran and Russia have been put on notice. Our foreign policy has made some of the greatest strides in a generation, thanks to this administration. With the economy roaring, the Middle East stabilizing, and the Supreme Court headed in a constitutionalist direction, it’s fair to say that the state of our union is strong. Welcome to Donald Trump’s America, where ISIS is dead and the economy is alive. ••• William Davis is a sophomore at the University of Alabama. There he is involved in various conservative groups and organizations.
Alabama reaction to Donald Trump’s first State of the Union address
President Donald Trump gave his first State of the Union address Tuesday night where he touched on everything from jobs and infrastructure to ISIS. The speech was one of the longer speech’s given by a Commander-in-Chief, spanning an hour and 20 minutes, and when it concluded Alabama’s congressional delegation and state politicians offered their reactions to the speech, falling mostly along party lines in terms of opinion. Here are of some of the highlights: Governor Kay Ivey – Republican: Tonight, President Trump made clear his commitment to the American people and to improving the quality of life for everyone. By protecting our borders, strengthening our military and creating an environment that enhances domestic economic growth, the president underlined his commitment to national security. I echo his call to further improve our economy through continued deregulation, low taxes and investment in infrastructure. U.S. Senator Richard Shelby – Republican: Tonight the President highlighted his many accomplishments and outlined his plan to continue advancing and unifying our country. From signing tax reform into law and eliminating restrictive regulations to growing our military and boosting support for veterans, President Trump has prioritized a conservative agenda that promotes a safe and strong America. I look forward to his promise of rebuilding our infrastructure, which would keep our economy on the rise and provide significant opportunities to foster local economic growth. 1st District U.S. Rep. Bradley Byrne – Republican: The ‘state of our Union’ is strong. From a booming economy to greater respect around the globe, President Trump, his administration, and Congress have been able to turn our country around in a very short period of time. The good news is that things are just getting started. 4th District U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt – Republican: Despite resistance from the Washington establishment, President Trump’s first year has been marked with robust economic growth, job creation, record highs in the stock market and record lows when it comes to unemployment. Because of President Trump’s willingness to shake things up in Washington, and to step over entrenched partisan lines, the State of the Union is strong. 6th District U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer – Republican: President Trump ran on promises to make America more prosperous and more secure, and in his first year in office he has begun to deliver on those promises. As President Trump made clear tonight, he and the Republican majorities in the House and Senate are just getting started. 7th District U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell – Democat: The promises President Trump made tonight in his State of the Union Address are worth about as much as the promises candidate Trump made on the campaign trail: absolutely nothing. One year into this Administration, Trump has attacked Medicaid, which he promised to protect, he forced through tax cuts favoring the wealthy after promising tax relief for the middle class, and he eliminated coverage for millions of Americans after promising to expand healthcare access. President Trump is more focused on defending himself and attacking his opponents than helping the country. Alabama families need more jobs that pay better wages, and that is what I am fighting for in Congress.”
Here’s who the Alabama congressional delegation is bringing to the State of the Union
President Donald Trump is scheduled to deliver his first State of the Union address Tuesday and the entire Alabama congressional delegation will be in attendance. Members of Congress are given one ticket to bring a guest to the annual event. Typically, members give the tickets to family members, staffers or constituents. Here’s a rundown of whom members of the Alabama delegation are taking as their guests: Sen. Richard Shelby: Shelby will be bringing his long-time friend, Steve Flowers, as his guest. Flowers is Alabama’s leading political columnist. His weekly column appears in over 60 Alabama newspapers (including Alabama Today). He served 16 years in the state legislature. Sen. Doug Jones: Jones will be taking his wife, Louise Jones. Alabama 1st District U.S. Rep. Bradley Byrne: Byrne will be accompanied by Pete Riehm from Mobile, Ala. Pete is a former Navy Surface Warfare Officer and now a businessman in the Mobile area. He is also a leader in the local veterans community. Alabama 2nd District U.S. Rep. Martha Roby: Roby will be taking her daughter, Margaret Roby. Margaret is taking Civics this year and is required to watch the State of the Union address for class, so Roby thought this would be a unique opportunity for her to witness it firsthand. Alabama 3rd District U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers: Mike’s wife, Beth Rogers, will be joining him for the evening. According to Rogers’ office, they’re both excited to support President Trump in his first SOTU! Alabama 4th District U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt: Yet to respond to request. Alabama 5th District U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks: Yet to respond to request. Alabama 6th District U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer: Palmer is bringing his wife Ann Palmer as his guest. Alabama 7th District U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell: Sewell will be accompanied by Mary Joyce Owens, the granddaughter of Recy Taylor. Alabama native Recy Taylor recently made headlines when Oprah Winfrey mentioned her in her in her Golden Globes speech. Taylor, who recently passed away, was an outspoken advocate for victims of sexual assault after being raped in 1944 by six white men who were never brought to justice. Sewell said the Democratic Women’s Working Group will be wearing all black in solidarity with the #MeToo movement and women CBC Members are inviting representatives to wear red Recy Taylor pins at the State of the Union. “Recy Taylor was an American shero and an Alabama treasure who spoke up in the face of racism, hate, and sexual violence,” said Sewell. “While she is no longer with us today, I think Recy Taylor would be proud to know that her granddaughter, Mary Joyce Owens, is attending the State of the Union in honor of her legacy and our ongoing fight against racism and sexual misconduct. By standing up to injustice over six decades ago, Recy Taylor inspired generations of men and women to hold perpetrators of sexual violence accountable. Mary Joyce Owens’ presence at the State of the Union is a symbol of the bravery of all those who are speaking out and a reminder that we will not be silent in the face of injustice.”
10 must-read quotes from Barack Obama’s final State of the Union
President Barack Obama used his seventh and final State of the Union Tuesday night to address broad programs and topics, rather than discuss specific policy ideas. Below we’ve rounded up 10 of the most significant quotes from the President’s speech. Click here to read the full text. On politics: The future we want — opportunity and security for our families; a rising standard of living; and a sustainable, peaceful planet for our kids — all that is within our reach. But it will only happen if we work together. It will only happen if we can have rational, constructive debates. It will only happen if we fix our politics. On terrorism: “Priority No. 1 is protecting the American people and going after terrorist networks. Both al Qaeda and now ISIL pose a direct threat to our people, because in today’s world, even a handful of terrorists who place no value on human life, including their own, can do a lot of damage.” On American strength: When you come after Americans, we go after you. It may take time, but we have long memories, and our reach has no limit. On voting: So, my fellow Americans, whatever you may believe, whether you prefer one party or no party, our collective future depends on your willingness to uphold your obligations as a citizen. To vote. To speak out. To stand up for others, especially the weak, especially the vulnerable, knowing that each of us is only here because somebody, somewhere, stood up for us. On climate change: We’ve got to accelerate the transition away from dirty energy. Rather than subsidize the past, we should invest in the future — especially in communities that rely on fossil fuels. That’s why I’m going to push to change the way we manage our oil and coal resources, so that they better reflect the costs they impose on taxpayers and our planet. On the economy: Let me start with the economy, and a basic fact: the United States of America, right now, has the strongest, most durable economy in the world … anyone claiming that America’s economy is in decline is peddling fiction. On America’s military: The United States of America is the most powerful nation on Earth. Period. It’s not even close. We spend more on our military than the next eight nations combined. Our troops are the finest fighting force in the history of the world. No nation dares to attack us or our allies because they know that’s the path to ruin. … when it comes to every important international issue, people of the world do not look to Beijing or Moscow to lead: They call us. On American entrepreneurship: That spirit of discovery is in our DNA. We’re Thomas Edison and the Wright Brothers and George Washington Carver. We’re Grace Hopper and Katherine Johnson and Sally Ride. We’re every immigrant and entrepreneur from Boston to Austin to Silicon Valley racing to shape a better world. And over the past seven years, we’ve nurtured that spirit. On bipartisanship: Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the constructive approach you and the other leaders took at the end of last year to pass a budget and make tax cuts permanent for working families. So I hope we can work together this year on bipartisan priorities like criminal justice reform, and helping people who are battling prescription drug abuse. We just might surprise the cynics again. On diversity: We need to reject any politics that targets people because of race or religion. This isn’t a matter of political correctness. It’s a matter of understanding what makes us strong. The world respects us not just for our arsenal; it respects us for our diversity and our openness and the way we respect every faith.
Here’s the full text of President Obama’s final State of the Union address
U.S. President Barack Obama delivered his final State of the Union address Tuesday night. Here’s the full text, from the White House: Mr. Speaker, Mr. Vice President, Members of Congress, my fellow Americans. Tonight marks the eighth year I’ve come here to report on the State of the Union. And for this final one, I’m going to try to make it shorter. I know some of you are antsy to get back to Iowa. I also understand that because it’s an election season, expectations for what we’ll achieve this year are low. Still, Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the constructive approach you and the other leaders took at the end of last year to pass a budget and make tax cuts permanent for working families. So I hope we can work together this year on bipartisan priorities like criminal justice reform, and helping people who are battling prescription drug abuse. We just might surprise the cynics again. But tonight, I want to go easy on the traditional list of proposals for the year ahead. Don’t worry, I’ve got plenty, from helping students learn to write computer code to personalizing medical treatments for patients. And I’ll keep pushing for progress on the work that still needs doing. Fixing a broken immigration system. Protecting our kids from gun violence. Equal pay for equal work, paid leave, raising the minimum wage. All these things still matter to hardworking families; they are still the right thing to do; and I will not let up until they get done. But for my final address to this chamber, I don’t want to talk just about the next year. I want to focus on the next five years, ten years, and beyond. We live in a time of extraordinary change — change that’s reshaping the way we live, the way we work, our planet and our place in the world. It’s change that promises amazing medical breakthroughs, but also economic disruptions that strain working families. It promises education for girls in the most remote villages, but also connects terrorists plotting an ocean away. It’s change that can broaden opportunity, or widen inequality. And whether we like it or not, the pace of this change will only accelerate. America has been through big changes before — wars and depression, the influx of immigrants, workers fighting for a fair deal, and movements to expand civil rights. Each time, there have been those who told us to fear the future; who claimed we could slam the brakes on change, promising to restore past glory if we just got some group or idea that was threatening America under control. And each time, we overcame those fears. We did not, in the words of Lincoln, adhere to the “dogmas of the quiet past.” Instead we thought anew, and acted anew. We made change work for us, always extending America’s promise outward, to the next frontier, to more and more people. And because we did — because we saw opportunity where others saw only peril — we emerged stronger and better than before. What was true then can be true now. Our unique strengths as a nation — our optimism and work ethic, our spirit of discovery and innovation, our diversity and commitment to the rule of law — these things give us everything we need to ensure prosperity and security for generations to come. In fact, it’s that spirit that made the progress of these past seven years possible. It’s how we recovered from the worst economic crisis in generations. It’s how we reformed our health care system, and reinvented our energy sector; how we delivered more care and benefits to our troops and veterans, and how we secured the freedom in every state to marry the person we love. But such progress is not inevitable. It is the result of choices we make together. And we face such choices right now. Will we respond to the changes of our time with fear, turning inward as a nation, and turning against each other as a people? Or will we face the future with confidence in who we are, what we stand for, and the incredible things we can do together? So let’s talk about the future, and four big questions that we as a country have to answer — regardless of who the next President is, or who controls the next Congress. First, how do we give everyone a fair shot at opportunity and security in this new economy? Second, how do we make technology work for us, and not against us — especially when it comes to solving urgent challenges like climate change? Third, how do we keep America safe and lead the world without becoming its policeman? And finally, how can we make our politics reflect what’s best in us, and not what’s worst? Let me start with the economy, and a basic fact: the United States of America, right now, has the strongest, most durable economy in the world. We’re in the middle of the longest streak of private-sector job creation in history. More than 14 million new jobs; the strongest two years of job growth since the ’90s; an unemployment rate cut in half. Our auto industry just had its best year ever. Manufacturing has created nearly 900,000 new jobs in the past six years. And we’ve done all this while cutting our deficits by almost three-quarters. Anyone claiming that America’s economy is in decline is peddling fiction. What is true — and the reason that a lot of Americans feel anxious — is that the economy has been changing in profound ways, changes that started long before the Great Recession hit and haven’t let up. Today, technology doesn’t just replace jobs on the assembly line, but any job where work can be automated. Companies in a global economy can locate anywhere, and face tougher competition. As a result, workers have less leverage for a raise. Companies have less loyalty to their communities. And more and more wealth and income is concentrated at the very top. All these trends have squeezed workers, even when they have jobs; even when the
Alabama delegation responds to Barack Obama’s final State of the Union
Tuesday night President Barack Obama delivered his final State of the Union address before Congress. Nationally televised, the hour-long speech in the House chamber was short on policy details and focused more on being urging Americans to be more tolerant. “I want to focus on the future,” the president opened his speech. Obama continued, “America has been through big changes before – wars and depression, the influx of immigrants, workers fighting for a fair deal, and movements to expand civil rights. Each time, there have been those who told us to fear the future; who claimed we could slam the brakes on change, promising to restore past glory if we just got some group or idea that was threatening America under control. And each time, we overcame those fears.” Here’s what the Alabama delegation had to say about his final speech: U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL): President Obama’s policy agenda on trade, crime, immigration, spending and debt all have one common feature: they make life harder for working Americans and put the country at needless risk. With wages down, record numbers not working, and crime rising in cities across the U.S., the next person to occupy the oval office will have to chart a dramatically different course. U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL): Tonight’s address was another political speech full of empty rhetoric that offered no real solutions to the issues facing American families and businesses each day. While the President used the podium tonight to tout his record, Americans at home know that he is poised to leave behind a legacy of failed policies that have damaged our economy and made America weaker across the globe. The American people deserved to hear from the President tonight about his real, comprehensive plan to defeat ISIS and radical Islamic terrorism. They also deserved to hear that he will not circumvent Congress, unilaterally infringe on law-abiding Americans’ Second Amendment rights, or allow thousands of improperly vetted Syrian refugees into our nation. The American people are sick and tired of this President’s blatant disregard for the Constitution, policies that prioritize what is best for Washington over what is best for America, and speeches to score political points. While I’m pleased that this is his last State of the Union address, the American people would be better off if it were his last day in office. U.S. Rep. Bradley Byrne (AL-01): If you like the direction our country is headed, then you probably enjoyed tonight’s speech. If you don’t think our country is headed in the right direction, then you were probably disappointed. I certainly was. President Obama tried to paint a rosy picture tonight, but the facts simply aren’t on his side. A quick glance around the globe shows our enemies growing stronger and our allies under attack. Right here at home, wages are stagnant, our borders remain unsecured, and veterans still aren’t receiving the care they deserve. Tonight marks the beginning of the post-Obama era, and it is time to start looking past this time of big government toward an America where the government actually works for the people and not the other way around. U.S. Rep. Martha Roby (AL-02) For all President Obama’s lofty rhetoric and aspirational soundbites, tonight’s speech offered little in substance for how to actually address the nation’s problems. I was particularly disappointed that, once again, the president came up short of delivering a bold, decisive, comprehensive strategy to defeat Islamic State terrorists. Instead, we got a lecture on the semantics of war. I did appreciate President Obama admitting how he regretted the deep divisiveness of his presidency. He said he wants to ‘do better,’ and if he’s serious, he can start by engaging with the people’s elected representatives rather than attempting unilateral executive orders every time he doesn’t get his way. Unfortunately I believe we can count on the opposite. That’s why I remain committed to fighting Executive Branch overreaches at every turn, should they occur. Whether it’s an attempt to grant amnesty to illegal immigrants or a power grab by the Environmental Protection Agency or a threat to erode Second Amendment rights, Congress must stand up and fight back against abuses of executive power during this last year of President Obama’s time in office. U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (AL-03): Tonight’s speech will be more of the same. Over the past seven years, we have seen our country’s economy struggle, watched our national debt grow to astronomical numbers and lost our spot as a defense superpower in this world. We have watched the Federal government grow and become more intrusive in our day to day lives at the expense of our Constitutional rights. I am relieved President Obama’s time in office is coming to an end because no matter how much ‘hope and change’ was promised, our country is weaker and more polarized than ever. U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt (AL-04): The good news is that this was the President’s final State of the Union address. The bad news is that just like his previous seven addresses to Congress, it was unfortunately filled with the rhetoric, partisanship and divisiveness the American people have rejected. President Obama is probably now worried about his legacy and exactly how he will be remembered. I do not think history will be kind to President Obama. We have seen that Obamacare is an abject failure. There is still no plan for defeating ISIS. The Iranian deal has isolated our allies while emboldening our enemies. And it is not fiction that our economy actually remains stagnant both in terms of growth and take home pay. The focus of my conservative colleagues and I is to spend the next year focused on restoring a confident America and getting back to the basic principles of the Constitution. An America where people are empowered to make their own decisions and go after their own dreams and get government out of the way. U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks (AL-05): No statement available at this time. U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer (AL-06): No statement available at this time. U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell
