Couldn’t this Address have been an e-mail?

It came up in casual conversation on the phone yesterday. “Are you really going to watch that?”

A colleague and I were talking about the Presidential address scheduled for last night. Befuddled, I explained that, of course, I was going to watch. I personally believe it’s a responsibility of active citizenship to do so – especially when modern technology allows us to be in the room so to speak.

But as I sat with their comment, I realized just how fed up we all are. And if there was ever a moment for us to return to the century long tradition of written Presidential messages to Congress, this was it. Did we miss the opportunity?

I don’t know about you, but I’ve been on screens enough in the past year to justify never seeing a digital projection again. We’ve admitted that in this blog before, haven’t we? That we’re all just burnt the hell out on screen time? Well, all of us except my toddler.

But we had precedent we could have used this time, just once, to turn this annual message into an email. Should we have taken it?

I’m being a bit facetious with the email slant. A formal message to Congress from the President has certain…expectations. But surely we could have thought about just sending a written message this once? I’m honestly thinking about this in deference to the office of the President.

Seeing the House chamber as empty as it was due to COVID protocols, was the pomp and circumstance of the event diminished? I’m genuinely asking and hope you’ll consider dropping a response in the comments below.

But these events aren’t just about the pageantry of a Presidential address. The Constitution calls on the President to “recommend to their consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient.” (Article II, Section 3). And for that reason alone, maybe it was ok – despite whatever the ratings end up saying – for President Biden to shoot his shot in person. After all, a $1.8 TRILLION spending plan (American Families Plan) being proposed on the heels of an earlier $1.9 Trillion American Rescue Plan (Coronavirus Relief) AND his March 31 proposal of the $2.3 Trillion American Jobs Plan (Infrastructure) is going to take some serious salesmanship.

Say what you will about American politics, most of it still boils down to person-to-person marketing. And despite everything, President Biden certainly has a reputation for that kind of deal-making. And we as advocates benefit by seeing the Executive’s priorities laid out in real time.

I guess, if I’m honest, I’ve not come down fully on either side of this question. Once in my lifetime I’d like to see something different but also historic, like a POTUS simply sending a written message again. But, also being honest, I have to acknowledge that the pageantry in person really does still mean something.

So, I have three questions for you: 1. Did you watch? 2. Were you disappointed by the atmosphere? 3. Would you rather have had an email?

P.S. Important side note – I’ve closed out the reader survey. THANK YOU to everyone who took time to fill it out! I’ll be announcing the giveaway winner in the coming days!