Thursday, April 29, 2021

Tidbits And Cat Treats: Speech To Congress Edition


By Baxter

It's pretty hard to get 85 percent of folks to agree on anything these days, but it appears that Joe Biden has done just that. Approval of his speech to Congress last night is through the roof. So is optimism. Here are a few takeaways from us cats.

The TV talking heads couldn't shut up about how a crowd of just 200 was "weird." Frankly, it was a relief. It was so much more pleasant not to have 1,600 pairs of hands punctuating everything POTUS said with goofy applause, and Biden's friendly, retail-politics-style exit following the speech was cordial and calming. And bonus: No annoying guests in the gallery! Let that irritating practice lapse, please — Ronald Reagan started it with Lenny Skutnik in 1982, and it hit rock-bottom with Rush Limbaugh last year. Never bring it back.

That said, gallery guest and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff was très adorable with his blown kisses and hand-over-heart gesture to our Vice President. Emhoff can stay.

We did not know that the flowers embroidered on First Lady Jill Biden's dress represented all the states and territories in the US, plus DC. Fab! (And speaking of fashion choices, we noted that Liz Cheney wore blue.)

Best moment was probably Biden's acknowledgement of the two powerful women seated behind him. We loved it, and just hope that now, everyone understands that there is no "e" on the end of "Madam."

Finally, it was hilarious that the GOP, which has only three Black Congress members, decided to trot out one of them to declare that America isn't a racist country. (But perhaps by making Tim Scott say it, the Republicans are a racist party?) Vice President Harris refused to fall into that semantic trap this morning with this great response. We'll let her have the last word:

"No. I don’t think America is a racist country, but we also do have to speak truth about the history of racism in our country and its existence today. I applaud the President for always having the ability and the courage, frankly, to speak the truth about it." We cats PURR.

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