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President Joe Biden took the podium in front of a joint session of Congress to deliver a campaign speech. Most State of the Union (SOTU) addresses are about the administration’s accomplishments – but not this one. Heartlanders in nearly every state spent time avoiding the television, making a game of the remarks, or posting on social media faces of audience members during cringe-worthy moments.
It was all anyone living in the real world has talked about, and it should be noted that the White House live page showing the speech only let people post these emojis: love, thumbs up, and celebrate – and comments weren’t allowed at all.
Amanda Garcia in Farmington, New Mexico, called in: “Can I get an Amen for the king of pandering?” And that was the start of a sparky evening.
Late to His Own Funeral
Rural and small-town folks have a pet peeve about others not arriving at the pre-scheduled time. Many a grandmother would admonish the tragically late child by muttering, “You’d be late to your own funeral.” The scolding didn’t take, but it did instill a phenomenon of watching others pull the same prank. President Trump must’ve had that grandma, too, as he posted on Truth Social that Biden was “very substantially late.” He also said they would need “Mario Andretti” driving Biden’s limo. Overheard at the Foxhole Pub in Warren County, Indiana, one crabby farmer just asked: “Where the heck is the old goat–I got me an early day tomorrow.”
Biden Attracts People-Watching
It’s almost a sure bet that those Americans weighing in on the SOTU weren’t that interested in content: They came to watch the sideshow and were not disappointed. Most watched as the vice president clapped for her boss, but Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) rolled his eyes one too many times and went viral on media platforms. 
Sheila Renee Folz Clarke in Tennyson, Indiana, bravely endured the entire engagement. “We’ve been watching this,” Clarke admitted. “We noticed how like 80 percent of the room just looks mad and irritated. It’s like him throwing out ideas but no plan to back it up. Still hasn’t addressed the border issue. But he’s ok with murdering babies.” Clarke continued: “I’m enjoying Mike Johnson’s look of disgust every time Biden speaks.”
Margo Gresham, a first responder in Paris, Kentucky, had this to say: “I forced myself to kinda watch. They must have upgraded his program since he was able to form sentences. But everything he said was a flat-out lie. The best part was when they showed MTG in her MAGA hat.” Some call Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) a disrupter. In any case, that lady knows how to poke an old bear.
SOTU Content Killers
Leave it to Mr. Biden to flub a perfectly well-written, albeit somewhat fictional, set of remarks. Those who did watch were waiting to pounce on the gaffes. Granted, the president delivered a rowdy and loud jumbling of words better than on most occasions. Handlers must have told him how important it was. What they did not seem to find important, however, was the murder of Laken Riley. “He completely dismissed the murder of Laken Riley and even got her name wrong. He called her Riley Lincoln,” wrote Suzanne Hanson in Moline, Illinois. The last dig was for the Vice President: “Kamala makes me nauseous, and that smirk on her face was disgusting.”
The delivery prompted some to speculate whether the leader of the free world had been given a 10cc injection of adrenaline on that limo ride. Michele Harrison in Mobridge, South Dakota, was one of those viewers: “Why can’t all dementia patients get whatever drug they gave him? Obviously, it took a little longer to work than they thought.”
From Phoenix, Arizona, James Tunnell was unimpressed: “Misinformation, disinformation, and partisan propaganda filled speech with absolutely nothing I came close to liking, much less agreeing with EXCEPT his support of Israel, which quickly dissipated into some nonsense.” And then Texas showed up in the person of Tammy Sue McNatt, who had a good time with the SOTU: “I took a shot every time he said, ‘my predecessor,’ and now I am seeing double.”
Save Yourselves!
Some couldn’t quite handle hearing Mr. Biden speak and gave all sorts of reasons why they wouldn’t tune in. Many had just been to the grocery store that day, filled up their tank, or opened the electric bill. In Vallecito, Colorado, the Shanley family was out on a double date, and Susie weighed in: “Sorry, Sal Pal…did not/am not watching. We are at friends watching Swamp Invaders (or something)…it is probably more factual than the State of the Union.” You really cannot get more symbolic than that comment.
In the Four Corners (Oil and Gas country), George Reid declined to view, explaining that “In an effort to support the potus tonight, I forgot to tune in.” Joshua Petrash was a bit less supportive or sarcastic: “I did not. I can’t stand hearing even one word come out of that idiot’s mouth.”
Some tried, like Christy Lucero, who was also a victim of the war on fossil fuels in Farmington, New Mexico. “Girl, I got through about 5 mins,” she said. “I had something really good to say but I forgot what it was,” Amanda Garcia chimed in. “Must be having a Joe Biden moment. OMG, I was Bidenized.” Even former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich suffered greatly and said that Biden’s “Inspiring” SOTU Moment Was “when he left.”
