I’ve had one open comment and a few e-mails asking for my thoughts on the State of the Union. My basic thoughts were that it was pretty much the same old, same old that we’ve come to expect from Bush. Grandiose plans along with the requisite war on terror references. Instead of a long, drawn out analysis I’m going to just hit a few of the parts of the SOTU.
Be warned there will likely be some sarcasm and cynicism on display in this thread.
“All of us were sent to Washington to carry out the people’s business. That is the purpose of this body. It is the meaning of our oath. It remains our charge to keep.” Yeah, we sent them there to carry out our business…is the purpose of the body…it would be nice if they started.
“Let us show them that Republicans and Democrats can compete for votes and cooperate for results at the same time.” Versus the last few years when they weren’t competing for votes yet didn’t cooperate on much of anything?
“America has added jobs for a record 52 straight months, but jobs are now growing at a slower pace. Wages are up, but so are prices for food and gas. Exports are rising, but the housing market has declined. At kitchen tables across our country, there is a concern about our economic future.” It’s interesting to note the kinds of jobs that were created…more jobs flipping burgers and more jobs that someone has to work two or three of them to support a family in any decent manner. Wages aren’t up THAT much. “Declined” is a really nice word to try and make it appear it’s a gentle slide rather than a run down Space Mountain.
He’s right that right now around kitchen tables there’s concern about our economic future. That would be dad sitting in front of a mountain of credit card bills while a house full of expensive toys his family really didn’t NEED are collecting dust. It would be easy to try and pin our economic problems all on Bush or the Democrats in Congress (and their opponents often do) but Americans themselves have to shoulder some responsibility for the current situation. If we weren’t all so eager to rush into debt we wouldn’t have situations where we all can’t pay our bills. It’s a societal issue that the folks in DC can’t correct if the rest of us don’t want to try and correct it.
“The temptation will be to load up the [tax rebate] bill. That would delay it or derail it, and neither option is acceptable.” They’re politicians. They can’t help themselves.
“Unless Congress acts, most of the tax relief we’ve delivered over the past seven years will be taken away. Some in Washington argue that letting tax relief expire is not a tax increase. Try explaining that to 116 million American taxpayers who would see their taxes rise by an average of $1,800. Others have said they would personally be happy to pay higher taxes. I welcome their enthusiasm. I’m pleased to report that the IRS accepts both checks and money orders.” First, the check and money order line was a good one. Whatever speechwriter came up with it deserves a better job than working for Bush. Now, as for the tax relief expiring it IS a tax increase. You pay more in taxes so therefore it’s an increase. Spin it all you want to spin it but at the end of the day you’re giving more to the government than you are now and that is an increase. The middle class and lower class cannot afford more taxes right now. Liberals and Democrats that want to raise taxes “on the rich” can feel free to do so but the first step is making sure the lower taxes being paid by the less than rich is kept in place. If you raise taxes on the middle and lower class by allowing the current relief to expire then you’re just lying when you say you only want to raise taxes “on the rich.”
“If any bill raises taxes reaches my desk, I will veto it.” Read my lips…oh…wait….wrong President Bush.
“I will issue an executive order that directs federal agencies to ignore any future earmark that is not voted on by Congress. If these items are truly worth funding, Congress should debate them in the open and hold a public vote.” Absolutely right. It’s common sense. That, of course, means there is no chance of that really lasting long in Washington DC.
“We share a common goal: making health care more affordable and accessible for all Americans. The best way to achieve that goal is by expanding consumer choice, not government control.” Exactly right. The last thing we need is another bloated government program that will eventually be filled with inefficiency and waste. However, I doubt the insurance companies will provide more choice to consumers that is more affordable. So something needs done on the governmental level. I don’t know if the tax code changes to stop penalizing people who get insurance through places other than employers will do the trick.
“With all these steps, we will help ensure that decisions about your medical care are made in the privacy of your doctor’s office — not in the halls of Congress.” Wait…where’s the part that says “or in the office of a middle manager at your insurance company?”
“Members of Congress: The No Child Left Behind Act is a bipartisan achievement. It is succeeding.” HA HA HA HA HA HA breathe breathe breathe HA HA HA HA HA HA HA
”I ask you to support a new $300 million program called Pell Grants for Kids. We have seen how Pell Grants help low-income college students realize their full potential. Together, we’ve expanded the size and reach of these grants. Now let us apply that same spirit to help liberate poor children trapped in failing public schools.” Absolutely we need to find a way to get poor children out of failing public schools. Unfortunately, with teacher’s unions wielding the power they have inside one of our two parties it’s unlikely we’ll ever find a bipartisan plan to overhaul the public school system. There needs to be more accountability on the local level as well so that if the problem is incompetence in the classroom or in the administration it can be corrected quickly. We also need to find ways to improve public schools for poor children as well for those that can’t “be liberated.” (Why the military reference?)
”The United States is committed to strengthening our energy security and confronting global climate change. And the best way to meet these goals is for America to continue leading the way toward the development of cleaner and more energy-efficient technology.” Continue? You mean, we’ve started?
“On matters of life and science, we must trust in the innovative spirit of medical researchers and empower them to discover new treatments while respecting moral boundaries. In November, we witnessed a landmark achievement when scientists discovered a way to reprogram adult skin cells to act like embryonic stem cells. This breakthrough has the potential to move us beyond the divisive debates of the past by extending the frontiers of medicine without the destruction of human life. So we’re expanding funding for this type of ethical medical research. And as we explore promising avenues of research, we must also ensure that all life is treated with the dignity it deserves. And so I call on Congress to pass legislation that bans unethical practices such as the buying, selling, patenting, or cloning of human life.” I agree with this. As long as one side of the debate focuses only on embryonic cells without considering the alternatives the debate will continue to stay stalemated (until a Democrat President gets a Democrat house and senate and therefore anyone with conservative views will be excluded from anything and embryonic stem cell research explodes in size.)
“They are worthy of confirmation, and the Senate should give each of them a prompt up-or-down vote.” Darn right they should. Just like Clinton’s should have. Both sides play these kinds of games we should ALL be sick of it. Vote on the nominees and take a stand one way or the other.
“Yet we also need to acknowledge that we will never fully secure our border until we create a lawful way for foreign workers to come here and support our economy.” We already have one, Mr. President.
“Illegal immigration is complicated, but it can be resolved.” Um…it’s not. You just enforce the laws already on the books.
“Blah blah blah Iraq blah blah blah 9/11 blah blah blah Iran.” I kept waiting for something new regarding the “war on terror” but there really wasn’t anything new. There was a whole lot of nothing new.
” America is leading the fight against disease. With your help, we’re working to cut by half the number of malaria-related deaths in 15 African nations. And our Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief is treating 1.4 million people. We can bring healing and hope to many more. So I ask you to maintain the principles that have changed behavior and made this program a success. And I call on you to double our initial commitment to fighting HIV/AIDS by approving an additional $30 billion over the next five years.” How about leading a fight against disease in the US? How about working to find a cause for autism, Mr. President? Oh wait…because my son won’t die from it you don’t care? How about the costs that go into housing, feeding, clothing and giving him therapy for the rest of his life? What about that economic impact? How about you take some of that $30 billion for AIDS and put it into autism research to help the millions of American families effected by that?
When I hear Bush talk like that it makes me almost want to spit. Health care at home is screwed up and he wants to promote it other places. I’m not saying we shouldn’t help but we need to get our own house in order when it comes to disease and right now we don’t have it.
”Our military families also sacrifice for America. They endure sleepless nights and the daily struggle of providing for children while a loved one is serving far from home. We have a responsibility to provide for them. So I ask you to join me in expanding their access to child care, creating new hiring preferences for military spouses across the federal government, and allowing our troops to transfer their unused education benefits to their spouses or children.” I have zero problem with this as long as those military spouses are held to accountability for job performance.
“And so long as we continue to trust the people, our nation will prosper, our liberty will be secure, and the state of our Union will remain strong.” Politicians trust the people? The ones in DC have a funny way of showing it.
Yeah…there was a lot of cynicism in that post. I guess my discontent with the way things are run in DC and the state of our government is coming through. We need real change in the next election and I really hope we can find a way to make it happen.
Members of Congress: The No Child Left Behind Act is a bipartisan achievement. It is succeeding.”
(bangs head on keyboard)
If by CHANGE you mean electing democrats, then you’ll be getting the same for the next 4 years just like we’ve seen it for the last 20. Nothing changes only the faces appear to be different. The American electorate is just to stupid to vote for real change. Many don’t want to see the government meal ticket go away
Change has nothing to do with party affiliation. It has to do with people. Unfortunately, too many are loyal to the party instead of looking at the people.
in politics PARTIES RULE, until the people shed the need to vote for the party because of the person and vice versa nothing will change. Watching our current two party political system is quite similar to having the Seattle Mariners play the Milwaukee Brewers in the World Series year after year after year. There would be other teams allowed to compete but because the Mariners and the Brewers control baseball they pass baseball regs to see to it that the ‘other’ teams aren’t able to compete on an even keel. Not only that but they also control the minor league teams to see to it that the rest of the baseball teams integrity is destroyed by salacious rumors and innuendos.