A Dear Don Letter
Here’s one quote: “When politicians insult Muslims . . . that doesn’t make us safer. That’s not telling it like it is. It’s just wrong. It diminishes us in the eyes of the world.” And here’s another: “During anxious times, it can be tempting to follow the siren call of the angriest voices. We must resist that temptation. No one who is willing to work hard, abide by our laws, and love our traditions should ever feel unwelcome in this country.” The first comes from Obama’s final State of the Union Address. The second comes from Governor Nikki Haley’s rebuttal. The most interesting thing about the evening was that both speakers clearly sought to distance themselves and their parties from Donald Trump.
+ “The fascinating, unresolved question about polarization — in many ways it is the great question of this Presidential election — is whether the bitter atmosphere is an artifact of politics alone, or whether the country itself is more deeply split.” The New Yorker on a State of the Union for the age of polarization.
+ One of the biggest lines of the night was when Obama touted his anti-terrorist resolve by saying, “Just ask Osama bin Laden” (at which point I pictured Sean Penn grabbing a Mic and heading for Pakistan). Here’s a full recap of the SOTU.