I didn't actually watch much of the State of the Union speech. I opted for college basketball. But that turned out to be pretty painful, too, as both Michigan and Michigan State lost their games in the waning seconds. Punishment for not being a good citizen, I suppose.
What I did see of President Trump I watched through squinted eyes — I find it difficult to look directly at him when he's doing his campaign-rally shtick, but especially in front of my full government and in my capital building. It struck me very much like a drunk uncle going off at a captive family gathering. Reading the transcript and fact checks the next day, I stand by that assessment.
Governor Whitmer's Democratic response was quite a contrast. Clear, personal, without much embellishment...and much shorter. It felt like the sort of good, practical instruction you'd expect from your mother. With a dash of passive-aggressiveness to hasten compliance. Also, like a mom-talk, it took me till the next days to realize there were some holes — like, aren't you the same governor who is currently trying to end-around the legislature for your roads package?
But that's only what I thought. Others may be entertained by the theatrics or put off by a lecture. (The President himself famously cannot stand to have experts tell him things he does not know. Who needs knowledge when you got ego?) Hopefully next year we will have a President I can watch so I don't jinx our basketball teams.
John Auchter is a freelance political cartoonist. His views are his own and do not necessarily reflect those of Michigan Radio, its management, or its license holder, the University of Michigan.
Want to support programming like this? Consider making a gift to Michigan Radio today.
