In this video, Bill Maher argues for the abolition of the State of the Union address, stating that it has misled Americans into believing the president holds king-like power (0:15). He highlights how the event, from the president's grand entrance (0:29) to the expectation of Congress lining up like "medieval peasants" (0:56), perpetuates a distorted view of the president's role.
Maher emphasizes that the Constitution, particularly Article One, Section One, grants legislative powers to Congress, not the President (1:14). He states that the president's role is to "execute" laws, not propose them (1:51). He criticizes the State of the Union address for becoming the "president's big Etsy wish list for America" (2:05), citing examples like President Biden's proposals for the Junk Fee Prevention Act (2:17).
Maher points out that the public's perception of presidential power is inflated, with many Americans believing the president controls economic factors like egg prices, gas prices, and interest rates (3:13). He traces this misconception back to the event's "ballet" and "royal wedding" feel (3:41). He also mentions that George Washington's first State of the Union was a mere 833 words (4:31) and that Thomas Jefferson ceased delivering it in person to avoid appearing too much like the King of England (4:54).
Finally, Maher attributes the current "imperial presidency" to a collective blame, noting that Congress has effectively allowed presidents to declare war without their explicit declaration (5:51). He concludes that the State of the Union address is "embarrassing" (7:13) and highlights the deep division in American politics, evident in the inability of opposing parties to even clap for benign statements (7:34).
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