Following is the text of an email I sent a little earlier tonight to a friend who'd wondered if Trump's improved demeanor during his presentation before Congress might've been the sign of better things to come (though she also feared it might've only been a "red herring"). As you'll note below, I disagreed with any positive assessment of his performance, just as I do with Seaoat and Joani here, while I'm right in tune with FT and then some:
You needed to listen to Cory Booker and Chuck Schumer pointing out in sharply specific detail after the speech that what Trump said tonight doesn't jibe at ALL with what he's actually been DOING. Either one of these men would've done an excellent job of rebuttal, while I thought the old Kentucky governor's Dem rebuttal was a total waste, an embarrassment in fact, and was obviously written before the guy had any idea what Trump would say tonight. It was simply broad party talking points, with no strong and specific ammunition against Trump's phony statements on the podium. A lost opportunity for sure, something the Democrats can hardly afford at this point.
As to the hate crimes, Rachel pointed out tonight that Trump just the other day said something that implied the crimes were being perpetrated to make HIM (Trump) look bad, and that the Jews themselves might've even carried them out. Are you KIDDING ME???!! I was not aware of that (and haven't had time to research & verify), but, if true, that would be one of, if not the, most HEINOUS conspiracy theories he's ever proposed -- and something right out of Steve Bannon's playbook.
Hubby and I both also thought Trump's lengthy milking of sympathy for the SEAL'S widow was horrific. It was blatantly obvious that it was all done to deflect attention from him, as he continued his attempt to say the raid wasn't on Trump's account -- it was all planned out before he got there. Right. Don't blame HIM for ANYTHING. This man is incapable of ever admitting fault.
So yeah, don't be fooled by whatever he said tonight, or by any apparent new demeanor. Watch instead what he DOES in the coming weeks and months. He is just one of the most horrid people this country has ever produced, and this zebra definitely can't change his stripes.
I know, I should get an opinion once in a while. Ha.
Oh, and I certainly don't blame your sister for not watching. My hubby mostly had his head buried in a book, and it took all I had to stay tuned in to listen to yet more lies and B.S. Trump gives me the creeps, but as much as it sickens us, I think we need to pay close attention to this nefarious enemy from within.