Ah, nah.. I don't think we'd have that many OSU folk here.. then again, didn't think there were any TCW people here either!
Amazingly blah Democratic response. I feel like being l33t type poster and saying simply: The Democrats suck. They have nobody stepping forward and taking leadership or taking a stand. Instead they are just highlighting a string of tepid Dems who make tepid responses.
It is hard because I was speaking against the Dems and I don't want to PWn anyone besides the Bushies. I'll save my caps for them, so I can really win.
Just so you young guys will know, the White House/Congress/Government has been TALKING about reducing dependance on foreign oil since the 70's, and HAS DONE VIRTUALLY NOTHING ABOUT IT! Blah, Blah, Blah. These guys give speeches, have photo opps, take money from lobbyists, and do virtually nothing that ever changes anything for the average person. I heard Jimmy Carter give a similar speech on this subject over thirty years ago.
i like this kaine guy. and i hope warner mounts a legitimate campaign. forget hillary. warner can win. and frankly i want anyone who can win.
I would be happy to forget Hillary. But Warner has been better in print. He was less than inspiring, and certainly didn't provide a strong contrast to Bush in his response.
My fault. Warner actually is someone I wouldn't mind too much. Russ Feingold is still my number one choise right now.
Two things that pop up when I think of Feingold 1) He's divorced. Can't win an election when you've got family issues. It's a sad reality 2) He was the only senator to vote against the patriot act. Try getting that past the media spin that a vote like that generates.
Some other thoughts... on the first half anyway... it is getting late: Glad to see he's read Arthur Schlesinger Jr.'s autobiography. Again, we rejected isolationism by the end of WWII, not after it. Maybe if we had fought corruption within the CPA things might be going a little better. Is this a new policy? Certainly didn't see it in advance of the war. Claiming we have a strategy for Victory is not a strategy for Victory. Standing behind the military all the way, just like in TANG. Claiming the run-around on FISA would have prevented 9/11 has already been shot down. Implying the link is better than the explicit African Yellow Cake, but still wrong. Took Chutzpah to use this when so many people know it os false. No and no. I like how he conflates American Leadership with Bush policies. 3 Dems and a former one. Where's Ike... oh yeah, he was against the military-industrial complex.
Here's a good review of the speech, from AP, via the Austin American-Statesman... Analysis: State of the Union Agitated By RON FOURNIER AP Political Writer WASHINGTON — The state of the union is fretful. President Bush acknowledged the public's agitated state Tuesday night when he gave voice to growing concerns about the course of the nation he has led for five years. His credibility no longer the asset it once was, the president begged Americans' indulgence for another chance to fix things. There is no shortage: the Iraq war, global terrorism, a nuclear Iran, a stingy global economy, skyrocketing health care costs, troubled U.S. schools, rising fuel costs, looming budget deficits and government corruption. All received presidential attention Tuesday night. In his fifth State of the Union address, Bush sought to balance his usual optimistic message with an odd-fitting acknowledgment that many Americans are suffering beneath a crush of change. "Fellow citizens, we have been called to leadership in a period of consequence. We have entered a great ideological conflict we did nothing to invite," Bush said. "We see great changes in science and commerce that will influence all our lives. And sometimes it can seem that history is turning a wide arc, toward an unknown shore." Unknown and uneasy. At a private home tucked in a quiet neighborhood in Costa Mesa, Calif., about two dozen people from all walks of life gathered to watch Bush's speech while eating tacos and potato chips. One of them, social worker Julie Carlson, said she felt "negative" about the overall state of the nation, particularly the health care system. "There seems to be every week something that comes up, something I don't agree with or something that disheartens me," said Carlson, 29. The problem for Bush is that few of these troubles are new. He's had five years to ease people's pain. Nearly 46 million Americans have no health insurance, up nearly a million in the last year. Health care costs are increasing three or four times the rate of inflation. One of the first successes of Bush's presidency was the 2002 No Child Left Behind law, but parents still wonder about the quality of education in their schools. For the first time in generations, American children could face poorer prospects than their parents and grandparents did. Calling for less dependency on foreign oil is a State of the Union evergreen. Bush has done so in every address. The president who promised to be a uniter, not a divider, has presided over the hyper-polarization of Washington. Osama bin Laden has not been caught. Weapons of mass destruction were not found in Iraq. Victory in that war seems elusive, with more than 2,240 American troops killed — and counting. The divide over Iraq spilled into the House chamber, where parents of fallen soldiers attended in support of Bush and peace protester Cindy Sheehan was arrested just before the address. The solutions Bush offered were relatively small-bore and wrapped in familiar language: tax cuts, health savings accounts, alternative energy research and investments in education to help keep America competitive with emerging democracies; and a stay-the-course approach to fighting terrorism. Ten months before congressional elections, Bush accused foreign policy critics of "defeatism." He also took a jab at critics in his own party on immigration. Bush's goal in the address was to acknowledge the public's concerns, and if not solve their every problem, assure them he will try to do better. "He's learned that the election is over — and now he's free to acknowledge that course change doesn't necessarily mean a mistake," said Republican consultant Rich Galen. Bush spoke of the global economy and suggested that competitors like China and India are making gains on the United States. "This creates an uncertainty, which makes it easier to feed people's fears." He said violent crime, abortions and teenage pregnancies are down in an era that has seen Americans take more responsibility — "a revolution of conscience" he called it. "Yet many Americans, especially parents, still have deep concerns about the direction of our culture, and the health of our basic institutions," he said. The mood of the nation is unsettled. Nearly 7 of 10 American believes the country is headed in the wrong direction. Bush's job approval ratings are among the lowest of his presidency. At the core of his political problems is his loss of credibility. Most voters believed he was a strong and principled leader in 2004, leading many to support him despite their opposition to the Iraq war and a sluggish economy. They are no longer giving him the benefit of the doubt. The proportion of Americans who credit the president with being honest and straightforward has fallen, as has the percentage who credit him for strong leadership qualities. Democrats hope those numbers don't change after Bush's address. "It's an attempt to make himself healthy before the midterms," said Democratic strategies Dane Strother. Americans may be anxious, he said, "but they're not dumb." http://www.statesman.com/news/conte...e_House_Advisers/State_of_Union_Analysis.html Keep D&D Civil.
I did not waste my time listening to the Lier in Chief last night. Others did. Think Progress has a good spread on the SOTU, for those of you more interested with facts than truthiness. Edit: Think Progress now has a glossly pdf of their SOTU analysis here.
George W. Bush telling America it needs to end its addiction to oil is like Tony Montana telling America it needs to end its addiction to cocaine. I heard nothing but empty, completely meaningless rhetoric from the campaigner-in-chief last night. He talks the talk, but when it comes to walking the walk, he becomes a paraplegic.
Actually, America will lose its dependence on oil as soon as we can build an infrastructure that offers an oil alternative. It certainly needs to start immediately, so it's good to be brought up and dealt with. That said, it will take 20+ years for any noticeable change.
I agree with you. Unfortunately, that kind of initiative will never come from an administration run by a former oilman whose own family has been in the pocket of the Saudi Royal family for decades. GWB was talking out of his mouth and his ass simultaneously last night, and I found it to be absolutely pathetic. Since my expectations have been lowered to zero by this President, I wasn't surprised in the least.
