Thread by @jbronitsky

As a former chief speechwriter (and academic), I slapped a "D+" on Biden's first SOTU. Here are my thoughts @FoxNews along with a few more notes.

foxnews.com/politics/speec…

"The 'buck stops with me' president didn't acknowledge responsibility for any of the problems he's produced, ranging from unprecedented illegal immigration due to open borders to inflation and anemic job growth resulting from draconian COVID mandates."

"The policies that received the most applause were those that Biden has opposed all along, such as getting kids back into classrooms and supporting law enforcement. As such, the address was an insult to the intelligence of Americans."

"It was as if the Biden White House gambled this would be the first time in a year the citizens of this country were tuning into the news. Frighteningly, as the current White House resident isn't getting any younger, this might stand as the most lucid SOTU of his administration."

I'd add that Biden's delivery was pitiful. He bumbled and stumbled, failed to maintain a persuasive tempo, and was unable to usefully moderate his voice, undermining the weight and meaning of his words. His off-script interjections (e.g., "I mean it!") were further damaging.

Notably, unlike Trump who heralded the heroic citizen next door, Biden reserved praise for his comrades in Congress, the faceless bureaucrats of the administrative state, and the executives of major corporations who have jumped into bed with the federal government.