To the editor:

I am proud to be an Iowan. Gov. Kim Reynolds gave the Republican response to President Biden’s State of the Union address Tuesday evening, March 1. She pointed out what Republican governors have done in the fight against COVID mandates and lockdowns and the COVID virus itself. She expressed how Republican governors early on opened schools, removed mask requirements, and ended the lockdown of businesses and private activities, unlike the Biden administration and Democrat governors that have just recently relaxed some such requirements, no doubt because their poll numbers have declined. Reynolds was articulate and concise. Contrast that with Biden’s presentation. As usual, Biden rambled and mispronounced words, his most prominent gaffe being when he misread “Iranian” instead of “Ukrainian” people. Maybe his teleprompter needs larger print.

As with any State of the Union speech we were overwhelmed with the number of standing ovations. The frequent standing and cheering is getting to be downright silly. That goes for both parties. It seems a current president’s party always attempts to outdo the number of standing ovations given for a past president of the other party. The silliness of it all was on full display when Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer apparently missed the cue of when to stand when he prematurely rose from his seat. For an awkward moment he was the only one standing.

Then there was the constant, bizarre, mouthing actions and rubbing of hands together by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. I expected her at any moment to jump up on the counter in front of her and lead the cheering. Pelosi was so excited. But then, she often gushes over Biden and back in December said “He’s just perfect.”

This State of the Union was different than most in that Biden had the added importance of addressing the war between Ukraine and Russia and what was being done in the way of sanctions. On Feb. 24 (the day Russia invaded Ukraine) after tough new sanctions were announced, Biden said “They are profound sanctions. Let’s have another conversation in another month or so and see if they are working.” Ukraine may be reduced to rubble by then. One can’t say enough about the bravery and determination of the Ukrainian people.

Like any State of the Union address we heard promises, one of which was Biden’s promise, again, to unify the country. That, from a president that called anti-vaxxers Neanderthals, whose Department of Justice called parents domestic terrorists, who was caught on a hot mic calling a reporter “a stupid son of a b—” when the reporter, heaven forbid, asked a tough question. Biden promised to fund, not defund, the police, a statement that brought Democrats to their feet, Democrats that have previously supported the defund agenda. Those same Democrats have been reading the tea leaves about the upcoming midterm elections and have now done an about-face. It’s just the beginning of many about-faces to come from Democrats before November 2022.

Biden promised to bring back manufacturing jobs. He promised to secure the border, although I have yet to hear exactly what he meant. He promised to “make it here in America” and to “buy American.” Does all that sound familiar? It’s an agenda borrowed from Trump, including a variation of Trump’s “America first” slogan.

Chuck Peterson

Fort Dodge