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Thursday February 1st 2018
Below is President Walken's State of the Union Speech from last night
2018 State of the Union Address
January 31st, 2018
United States Capitol Building, Washington D.C.
President Glen Allen Walken
Mr. Speaker, Madam Vice President, Members of Congress, my fellow Americans:
Tonight marks the eighth year I've come here to report on the State of the Union. And for this final one, I'm going to try to make it shorter.
(applause)
I know some of you are antsy to get back out on the campaign trail. Lord knows I’ve been there. If you’re interested, when this is over I’ll be shaking hands in the lobby if you want some advice
(laughter)
I also understand that because it's an election season, expectations for what we'll achieve this year are low. However, if you think that I’m just gonna sit back with my feet up while y’all fight it out to replace me, you’re dead wrong. We’ve accomplished oh so much over these past 7 years, but we still have so much more to do. As President Kennedy once told us, “our national work would not be finished "in the first thousand days, nor in the life of this administration, nor even perhaps in our lifetime on this planet, but, let us begin”. 2 years after that, President Johnson took up his mantle, calling on Americans to “let us continue”.
(applause)
12 years ago, my predecessor, President Matthew Santos, campaigned on a pledge of reforming our nation’s education system. Even as he started his crusade, I know that President Santos knew that things he set in motion would not fully develop and play out during his presidency; perhaps not even his lifetime. 12 years, Lord knows that’s a long time. For 12 years, Education Reform has failed time and time again for one reason or another. Well I say that 12 years is enough. Americans have had enough. They’re tired of hearing over and over again that I can’t be done. For decades our schools have fallen farther and farther behind the rest of the world. Matt, if you’re watching out there tonight, let us continue. Tonight, I’m here to pledge to the American people once and for all that I before I leave office a year from now, I will sign education reform into law! But we can’t do it alone. No sir. We must now come together as a nation, because if we don’t, they’re may be no coming back. To my Democratic colleagues, I call upon you now to honor the commitment you gave to Presidents Santos and Bartlett all those years ago. And to my own party members, enough is enough. Enough talk, enough whining, enough bull. We are going to fund charter schools, we’re going to fund school vouchers, we’re going to find a way to alleviate the student debt that is crushing our young people. And darn it, we are going to eliminate teacher tenure. No longer will unions be able to protect lousy teachers who don’t care about their students. No longer will sexual harassment complaints be swept aside because a teacher was there for so many years! Enough is enough. We can’t afford to wait anymore. The time for change is now!
(applause)
But education is not the only pressing issue we must tackle. No, there is another issue that has been kicked down the road more times than perhaps any other issue. For decades, our roads, our schools, our hospitals, our bridges, our tunnels, are crumbling. This may come as a shock to some of you, but sometimes, politicians lie to you.
(laughter)
Every 2 years, when the re-election cameras are on them, they tell you that they’ll bring home the money to fix everything, and then as soon as the cameras turn away, they suddenly don’t care anymore. The far left will tell you that the millionaires and billionaires are the problem, that they don’t pay their fair share, so we can’t afford to fix them. The far right will tell you that taxes are too high, and that it isn’t the government’s problem. let me tell y’all something: I’m sick and tired of both of them.
(applause)
Time and time again, we’ve kicked this can down the road. No more. The solution to this is right in front of us. All you have to do is look at states like South Carolina, or West Virginia, or New York. Their Governors are already taking action, creating incentives for businesses to invest in new infrastructure. Government and Business can work together if we create the right environment for it to happen. But it isn’t going to happen if we keep sitting on our hands and kicking the can down the road.
Business and Innovation built this country and we need to come together with them again if we’re going to fix our problems.
(applause)
Over the past 7 years, we have seen out great nation make leaps and bounds to overcome the economic hardships of the past decade. Jobs are up, wages are up, unemployment is down, consumer confidence is souring. We’ve slashed the deficit and government waste. We come a long way in 7 years, and a balanced federal budget is finally, after many, many years, within our grasps.
(applause)
We’ve protected our Second Amendment,
(applause)
and we’ve protected our religious liberties.
(applause)
We’ve stood firm and united; unwavering in the face of foreign aggression abroad. We continue to stand firm and united; unwavering in the face of Islamic Extremism both at home and abroad; ever mindful that the price of freedom is eternal vigilance.
(applause)
We still have much to accomplish in the coming months, and with your help, we’re going to soar.
And that is why, my fellow Americans, it is my solemn honor to inform you tonight that the State of Our Great Union is Strong!
(applause)
Thank you, goodnight, and God Bless America!
