Subject: Re: Democrats during the speech
Other than Al Green, the democrats did little to express their outrage or protest during Trump's insufferable lie-peppered blathering. Why? Would it have only played into Trump's narrative?

Yes.

Also, the Democrats have been positioning themselves as the "institutional" party - the idea that the regular and orderly functioning of government provides important services and stability to society that is critical to maintain against those who would tear down the "guardrails." Part of that is respecting the outcome of elections. And if you win an election, it means you have legitimacy to exercise the powers of that office. For Trump, that means (among many many things) the right to deliver an annual speech to Congress that will be accorded at least the minimal amount of civility due to the office.