FULL TEXT: Joni Ernst’s Republican Party response to the 2015 State of the Union

National Journal ^ | 1/20/2015

[Finny]

Ernst has energy, intelligence and is conspicuously pro American.

That may be, but she sure failed to exhibit it in this response to Obama. On the contrary, she exhibited cliché thinking complete with platitudes and political timidity.

[NFHale]

RE Megyn and Britt:

Best line of the night: “He needs to remember there’s EIGHTY more Republicans there since he took office...”

Or words to that effect...

She’s great.

[stephenjohnbanker]

Yep

[Toespi]

What would have been wrong with an aggressive attack on the Obama admin? How about mentioning the Obamacare lies, the Berghdal terrorist release, the Syrian red line, the multiple terrorist attacks in THIS country, the Benghazi lies, the non-appearance at the Paris rally, the release of thousands if illegal children into the US......actually the list is so long and there is so much, I forget.

Instead we get another milk toast crappola speech. This is why the Republicans are a joke.

[sarge83]

Didn’t care much for her speech, watered down bland the GOP wants delivered. I will say this she is easy on the eyes!

[equaviator]

“Good job Ms. Ernst.”

Well then, you should tell HER that!

[ObamahatesPACoal]

So Ernst is for TPP trade fast track?

[Liz]

Yeah, but he's still gotta get up in the AM....LOOK IN THE MIRROR .....and face the fact that he's looking at 80 new Republicans more than there were last year. All of them w/ costituents dangling votes......and egging them on to extract payback.

========================================

Important to remember---what Karl Rove, Boehner, McConnell and RINOS think is decidely irrelevant.

The MOST IMPORTANT THING is what we, the people, think.

You can bet the RINO types are shivering in their boots---they KNOW the midterm voters that dumped the party of Obama are watching and waiting.

......and will turn on them....if they start acting like the party of Obama.

[iowamark]

I don’t know what she thinks of the Trans Pacific Partnership specifically, but she is certainly a free trade backer.

[mountainfolk]

Frankly, I find your critique of the Joni Ernst response to the Obama performance to be very cliched and agendized. You seem to be more interested in pushing some personal political opinions than in considering the impact of her response on the audience that was still lingering after Obama left the platform. There was no way that Ernst could have impacted anything that Obama threw out, one way or another. Her job was not to throw out some cutting remarks to make herself look tough and placate those who are currently not too pleased with the Republican party. I thought she had a well thought out message designed for the American people in general. Her personal experiences of growing up disadvantaged is identifiable to probably most of the posters on this board. Her outlook on the future also is in sync with those millions of Americans who have always looked forward regardless of past or current circumstances. Platitudes are not a bad thing anyway. Political timidity does not fit Senator Ernst whose life story is indicative of superior strength in belief of herself and America. You should rethink your motives for trying to lessen her in any way. Response to situations need not always invite acrimony or aggressiveness. Joni Ernst did a good job with her response and I applaud her.

[trebb]

From Finny re: a post I made: Trebb and Crazy Ivan, tell me -- are you glad to hear her say that Congress is "back to work" on our "behalf" (ha ha), "ready to make Washington focus on [our] concerns again"? Because frankly, that's the PROBLEM, whereas Ernst clearly thinks it's the solution. Trebb, I have news for you -- YOU are the "fantasy conservative" in this equation. The rest of us are actual thinking conservatives who recognize a weak sister when we see one, and Joni's speech was weak as a kitten.

Dear Finny, your music class activism may make you think you are qualified to be the spokesman for FR, but the expectation that Joni should have come out swinging vs. a calm rendition of what everyone knows to be true - Dem and Repub alike - strikes me as one who loves a good rant (as does your entire post to us) but who cannot be satisfied because nobody will take the time to read your mind and use it as a checklist for a speech. If Joni had come out swinging, she would not have been able to satisfy you, let alone all who get tingles running up their legs just because someone uses strong words - after all, no matter what anyone says, they are just words and they may be good for a "Bon mot!", but w/o action they are useless. Sans time to rebut every point/comment "The Won" made (which would have equated to a pissing contest which would have incensed the Left as much as a cartoon incenses the Muslims, unifying them even in support of that which they know is hurting them, while we remain fragmented.

I have an idea, since some of us who thought the speech was adequate and of the proper tone to be digested by all, Left and Right, (which was my original point), are being mocked, hjow about you say what you would have had Joni say and explain why it would have been oh so much more productive. After all, it was just a speech like so many others and, no matter the words, it will be forgotten as all rebuttals to SOTUs have been over the ages. Without action, words is words is words...

I eagerly await your "make me feel good and tingly" rendition of what she should have said.

Sincerely, Fantasy Conservative