We all know the drill. The president gets to address Congress each year about his or her priorities and legislative agenda. Such addresses involve a good bit of pomp and circumstance with the sergeant at arms shouting his familiar "Mr. Speaker, the President of the United States"; raucous standing ovations; and respectful listening.
But, tonight's address has to be different. Donald Trump endangers the life of our nation every single day that he sits in the Oval Office. His words bring out vile racism; his actions jeopardize the health care and economic well being of millions; his ignorant off the cuff remarks make our country less safe on the international stage.
Worst of all, Trump's strong man authoritarian persona imperils the very foundations of our democracy. He decries negative news stories as fake news. His Republican enablers are attempting to criminalize protests in state capitals across the country. His aides say that his powers will not be questioned.
This animal doesn't deserve any sort of legitimization. And congressional Democrats should not be part of normalizing the popular vote loser. That means that every single Democrat in Congress should refuse to stand for this animal after his arrival is announced. No one should shake his small hands. No one should cheer his disgusting empty promises. And when he espouses his truly disgusting policies of division and hatred, he should be roundly booed.
Have some spine, congressional Democrats. Don't recognize Trump's speech to Congress tonight as a presidential address and refuse to acknowledge him as he delivers another round of hatred and stupidity.