For Democrats, what is to be done?
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
ByByron York March 4, 2025 12:58 pm
FOR DEMOCRATS, WHAT IS TO BE DONE? Five years ago, Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), then the speaker of the House, created one of the most appalling moments in our recent politics. It was Feb. 4, 2020, the night of what would turn out to be the final State of the Union address of President Donald Trump's first term. The appalling moment was when Pelosi theatrically ripped up her copy of Trump's speech in front of lawmakers, the nation, and the world.
Going into the speech, Democrats were beside themselves with frustration. For years, they had sought to tie Trump to Russian dictator Vladimir Putin — does that sound familiar? — and hoped to impeach and remove the president on charges of colluding with Russia. But then, Trump-Russia special counsel Robert Mueller, after years of investigating, admitted he was not able to establish that collusion ever occurred. Democrats turned on a dime and impeached Trump anyway, not over Russia, but Ukraine. (If you don't remember the "perfect phone call," you can look it up.)
That is where the State of the Union came in. Closing arguments in Trump's Senate impeachment trial were on Monday, Feb. 3. The State of the Union was on Tuesday, Feb. 4. And the Senate vote to acquit Trump was on Wednesday, Feb. 5. At the State of the Union, Pelosi, the driving force behind impeachment, awaited the final results of her effort in the coming Senate vote.
On Tuesday night, when Trump gave the speech, Pelosi, as speaker, was sitting behind him on the dais, visible at all times. In a long speech, Trump never mentioned impeachment. Not once. Instead, he celebrated his administration's accomplishments, which he called the "great American comeback." "Jobs are booming, incomes are soaring, poverty is plummeting, crime is falling, confidence is surging, and our country is thriving and highly respected again," Trump said.
But Pelosi, who had shown signs of obsession with Trump throughout the previous year, was certainly thinking about impeachment. She, of course, knew the Senate would never convict Trump. But the Democratic impeachment drive, with the trial coming at the beginning of the election year of 2020, was never realistically intended to remove Trump. Instead, impeachment was intended to damage Trump politically so that he would not be reelected. (By the way, Monday, Feb. 3, the night before the State of the Union, was also the night of the Iowa caucuses for Democrats.)
For some Democrats, and that number probably included Pelosi, the struggle against Trump had become an emotional thing as well. She had pursued and pursued Trump, and yet there he was, still in office. The next day, after he was acquitted, she would have an outburst, wagging her finger at the president and saying that despite the acquittal, "You're impeached forever. You're never getting rid of that scar."
Fast forward five years. Pelosi is now 84 years old and walking with a cane after a recent hip injury. Her party is in the minority, and incredibly, Trump is president again. After all her work, after everything — Trump is president again. Tonight, he will give an address to a joint session of Congress. What to do?
First, a number of Democrats have threatened to boycott the speech. That's probably not a big scare for the White House — it will just mean proportionately more wildly cheering Republicans. Democrats realize that, and most will likely show up.
So, what should the Democrats in the audience do? A new Axios report says some are planning to disrupt the speech, walking out at strategic moments: "Criticism of transgender kids was brought up as a line in the sand that could trigger members to storm out," Axios noted. Others have talked about bringing noisemakers or props, such as empty egg cartons.
It's hard to believe Democrats will actually do that. Are they really that dumb? Who knows?
As for Pelosi, the former speaker is urging fellow Democrats not to follow her example. She wants them to behave during the speech so that they can't be criticized for disrupting the president. "Any demonstration of disagreement, whether it's visual or whatever — just let him stew in his own juice," Pelosi told the Washington Post. "Don't be any grist for the mill to say this was inappropriate."
It's hard not to laugh at the woman who, while sitting in the most visible spot in the House chamber before millions of viewers, tore up the president's speech and waved the torn paper in the air, now advises her fellow Democrats to show restraint. The bottom line is we don't know what Democrats will do. They might not know themselves.
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I'm not sure the Democrats are waiting for advice from a useless turd like Byron York.
Agreed, they don't seem to be interested in any advice, from anyone...
Donald Trump is completely and utterly unfit to hold office, and you think that the Democrats should take advice from people who think he is.
Hell no.
Not at all. Y'all are doing just fine...
On the contrary, he's the right person at the right time, and doing a superb job of leading our nation
49 percent of Americans put this lunatic back in office. That is a tragedy.
Nah the real tragedy was the dope my friends on the left instilled four years earlier and then were dumb enough to kick his ass to the ground and anoint the second chosen one to run against him in 2024.
Shear stupidity.
That's fucking HILARIOUS coming from somebody who supported Biden and Harris.
For somebody "unfit" he's kicking ass every day!
I’m waiting for the latest temper tantrums tonite. Whiny little bitches that dem politicians are.
Their sophomoric nature amuses me. Kinda like this place.
Better than Trumps 5th grade nature.
Only to the delusional and triggered.
Lol sparty, please.
Maybe she should make a big production of ripping up his speech. That's what grown ups do
They could work on their FU alligator clap as well
First step, sideline or get rid of those over 70. Secondly ignore the culture wars and focus on how much trump is fucking the average person. Democrats, trans people are nonexistent when it comes to votes, gays are a very tiny percentage. Minorities are not as far behind now a they once were, get off that wagon (my boss's boss's boss is a Mexican immigrtant (cool guy)). Women do face some challenges, but this isn't the 1950s, move on (most woment want you to). Stick to your guns on abortion. Talk to the middle class wallets and you will win.