Bush State of the Union

[Jason]

Bush State of the Union: Work with me - CNN.com

Faced with a widely unpopular war in Iraq and a Democratic Congress, President Bush in his State of the Union address urged lawmakers to work with him to "achieve big things for the American people."

Full text: Bush: State of union is strong - CNN.com

[rmnunez]

I liked his call for a "temporary worker program"

we cannot fully secure the border unless we take pressure off the border -- and that requires a temporary worker program. We should establish a legal and orderly path for foreign workers to enter our country to work on a temporary basis. As a result, they won't have to try to sneak in

and a 20% reduction in gasoline consumption within 10 years too.

Given legislative mechanics and military logistics, I'd avise giving him the green light with the 21,500 more troops to Baghdad.

[phoenix_fire]

My thoughts on the speech:



Absolutely dreadful.

[rmnunez]

"Work with me" is a good call, he's on his way out, extricating himself from Iraq may be a tall order, particularly at this juncture, besides its illogical to establish some deadline or troop cap.

The call for alternative energy sources is important, environmentalists ought to be very pleased as alternatives invariably are cleaner and more environmentally-friendly than the dirty black tar.

I've often expressed the need to "streamline" immigration procedures so Mexicans in large numbers could more freely go to work and visit their homes and families in both countries. Bush's call for "a legal and orderly path for foreign workers to enter our country to work on a temporary basis" the answer I hope they can legislate to achieve.

[Scribbler1]

In terms of a speech, it wasn't bad. But one must recognize that it was just that, a speech. It wasn't a number of promises or anything specific in terms of policies. It was, in essence a lot of "this is the problem" followed with "we need to...".
A State of the Union speech is designed to be encouraging and upbeat and a way for a president to hold a "pep rally" of sorts to sway public opinion his way. It didn't, at least not in my case. However, overall it wasn't a bad delivery and I suspect Bush's popularity rating goes up about 4 points with it.

[rmnunez]

Despite the Democrat majority in the legislature, we heard thunderous applause at several instances in Bush's speech, this seems unusual if he has fallen in such public disfavor, was so disreputed and widely despised.

[Technosoul]

I will give him the 4 points (hey, he had a new speech writer, did anyone know that?).

I gave my comments over in the political section via my own posting.

[bishop]

initially, i thought it was a good speech. but at the same time, it didn't contain anything we haven't already heard loads of times.. he predictably prefaced talking about iraq by mentioning 9/11.. continuously framing his war as if it had some relation to 9/11.. it wasn't the first time he talked about israel, oil dependency, aid for africa, etc., etc... and, his grovelling plea to give his plan for more of the same in iraq wasn't persuasive in my eyes - despite me feeling slightly sorry for him that he's fallen so far from grace to have to resort to such a tone.

also, speaking about terrorist havens - he failed to mention the haven that is the pakistani frontier where bin laden is believed to be hiding.. guess that doesn't really matter though.. (he also didn't say anything about the resurgence of the taliban.)


but, once i heard jim webb's much more impressive and persuasive speech, bush's paled in comparison.

[Scribbler1]

Quote by: rmnunez Despite the Democrat majority in the legislature, we heard thunderous applause at several instances in Bush's speech, this seems unusual if he has fallen in such public disfavor, was so disreputed and widely despised.

It was mentioned that Nancy Pelosi had wanted the Democrats to be respectful and supportive during the speech. I believe they are managing their opposition in such a way so as not to appear TOO opposite.
They are just covering all their bases, like with pointless "non-binding resolutions."

[bishop]

i don't believe there is anything they can do, short of cutting funding, that could prevent bush from sending more troops. as it is, before he even announced it to the country, he got the machinery in place to begin shipping these people over to iraq. commander in chief means that you don't need permission - but if you don't have the funding, your actions will be limited.

so long as bush is president, and the congress can't decide on what to do with iraq, he'll continue to do whatever he wants.. the dems, particularly after webb's speech, will likely offer more details on how they would prefer to approach the situation.. and if webb's statements reflect the dem's thinking, we will not fully withdraw from iraq, but will maintain a regional presence (i guess in the event that the conflict threatens to enlarge itself into a regional war, and/or to hunt terrorists.)... no precipitous withdrawal as bush, mccain and all the other warmongers insist.

it seems to me that for the next 2 years, we'll have more of the same.. and at the same time, the dems will have finally formulated their plan (slow cooking style), and the public will be ready to adopt the new direction they propose.

[RickSp]

The speech suggested, at least to me, how bankrupt both fiscally and intellectually the Bush administration indeed is. His Iraq policy is now "Stay the Course, only More So." Nothing new, just more of the same. He said "Let us find our resolve and turn events toward victory," as if his empty slogans mean something. All they mean is more dead soldiers, more wasted treasure, more chaos in Iraq, and a larger breeding ground for terrorism.

His health care proposal is a bad joke. Tax those with insurance to support those without. After committing over a trillion dollars on his fiasco in Iraq, Bush proposes to again pick the pockets of the American middle class with what amounts to another tax increase.

This is the sixth State of the Union speech where Bush has used the phrase "energy independence". What has he done? Nothing substantial. More empty slogans. Some folks have gotten very excited that he used the phrase "global climate change" which suggest that he may be in less denial about the obvious than in the past. Will it mean anything in the next year or so? I doubt it.

[Praxius]

Quote by: rmnunez Despite the Democrat majority in the legislature, we heard thunderous applause at several instances in Bush's speech, this seems unusual if he has fallen in such public disfavor, was so disreputed and widely despised.

I was watching it up here and the Canadian news and the former republicans/democrats were interviewed on their opinions on the speech. It was picked apart pretty good.

The democrats making big applauses at times, was more of a small way to send the message to Bush saying "This is what you should stick with, we agree."

The speech wasn't the best, that's for sure. A lot of people were talking about how it had little impact compared to previous speeches from other presidents and himself included.

A lot of criticism came from the point where he said that the Middle East would be the most important thing in US History.... which begs to wonder what the Civil War, Revolution, WWII, etc. were.

There was nothing new.... it just seemed to me like a high school kid making a public speaking project just to get through it.

The Democrats response afterwards was actually much more inspiring then Bush's. Of course they have a little bit of a safe leadway before they start getting directly into the spotlight, so it all remains to be seen if they can follow through with their goals.

Another thing that was commented on was the Democrats finishing their speech with something along the lines of "If Bush makes the right decisions, we'll be behind him. If he doesn't...... we'll show him the way."

Which is kinda odd...... I mean..... what is the way? If they know the way, shouldn't they be doing it right now, and save some lives of your soldiers?

It's all in a gray section of things..... I've got hope for your democrats, mainly because you got nobody else to hope for, since the Republicans royally screwed up.... but I don't know if either side knows what to do.

[Praxius]

Quote by: RickSp This is the sixth State of the Union speech where Bush has used the phrase "energy independence". What has he done? Nothing substantial. More empty slogans. Some folks have gotten very excited that he used the phrase "global climate change" which suggest that he may be in less denial about the obvious than in the past. Will it mean anything in the next year or so? I doubt it.

Yeah the Demos picked up on that in the report afterwards here and pretty much said it how you just said it.

[brien]

Ho humm Just a old whore in a new dress.

[Osborn F Enready]

My father, born in 1933, summed it up perfectly I think.

"I have seen too many of these to look at it as anything other than it is....hot air".

It was probably the best "delivery" Bush had done on a speech, and I would suspect also a new speech writer, but just more of the same from a man whose actions contradict his words with consistent regularity.

I remember one speech he gave about "No new Nation Building".
Much like another speech long ago about "No more new taxes".......

[grandpa]

Quote by: RickSp The speech suggested, at least to me, how bankrupt both fiscally and intellectually the Bush administration indeed is. His Iraq policy is now "Stay the Course, only More So." Nothing new, just more of the same.

"Stay the course" on an agenda we should have put in a drawer marked "can't do."

Grandpa h.

[xyzer]

I'm amused!? Praxius sounds the tone? "What has he(the President) done?"In this case its about energy problems...(Seems as if Prax doesn't realize who passes the laws and hold the purse strings in the USA?)..Hey guy it's the Congress which passes the laws, funds them and exercise a form of oversight over the exeuctive branches execution of them....Even Rick..who should know better says...

What has he done? Nothing substantial

Shame on you Rick..You obviously need a lesson in government under our constitution? Our President is not a King?

Congressional leaders and spokespersons immediately responded to the Presidents attempt to get them to address the important issues for the next few years by guess what? It's the Iraq War thats the issue and that's the constant refrain.. The inexpert politicians keep telling the(expertly advised) President how to run a war/occupation.What tactics to use, how many troops are needed??? They know better how to counter terrorist activities than the generals on the ground???? Since when did Joe Biden or Ted Kennedy carry a rifle? Or hoist anything but a drink?

Where has bipartisanship in addressing energy reform, illegal immigration countermeasures, social security reform, health care etc gone? Is it submerged in the politically driven magnification of the Iraq venture? Is that really the most significant issue in this great country? I think not!

I was less than impressed with the Presidents speech..tho I thought he should have continually emphasized how successful his economic and tax cutting policies have been. The economy has really boomed during his tenure!

A largely inert Republican led Congress has done little of anything to address the issues over the past few years. Is this Democrat controlled Congress going to do anything except posture and preen(like their newly elected "Queen"?) Are they going to get off their collective critical platforms and act? Or is it going to be more of same..plus increased 'earmarks', social spending ventures and constant criticism in their lead up to trying to take back the presidency in 08?

[RickSp]

Quote by: xyzer Even Rick..who should know better says... Shame on you Rick..You obviously need a lesson in government under our constitution? Our President is not a King?

Bush should learn that lesson. I note you end the sentence with a question mark. It appears that you are not sure either.

[xyzer]

I do agree with you Rick...both sides revel in generalized politically motivated 'slogans' such as "Stay the Course", "New Direction","Bitpartisan Approach"...and a series of generalizations open to interpretation by the "blunt monster with uncounted heads, the still discordant multitude?"?

Some of us in the discordant multitude may be monsters but we are not so blunt as to listen to that 'crap"!
Can we ever get a positive suggestion mixed in with the glittering generalities and slogans spouted by politicians? I'm still waiting for the first informed suggestion from the Democrat Apparatchik?

[xyzer]

Bush should learn that lesson. I note you end the sentence with a question mark. It appears that you are not sure either.

Touche'! You have a point