State of the Union 2007
A few minutes ago George W. Bush finished giving his State of the Union address.? While it was not a good speech, I must say that it also was not a bad speech.? He glazed over the topic of Iraq, focusing instead on a new domestic policy.
President Bush emphasized healthcare reform,? immigaration reform,? alternative fuel sources, and renewal of the No Child Left Behind act.? ? On all of these issues, it seems that he has? chosen to? take a rather liberal stance, seemingly reaching out to the new Democratic majority and the majority of the American people.? On healthcare reform, he? proposed? tax cuts for people that pay for their own healthcare and also for? small? businesses that provide? healthcare for? employees.? His proposal for immigration reform, the most? liberal of the? ideas that he? put forth,? is an obvious reach? out the? Democratic party; most of the Republicans in attendance chose to remain seated.? He also addressed? Global warming for the first time in his presidency, emphasizing a reduction in the American? dependance on foreign oil and an increase in the regulations regarding? car exhaust.?
As previously stated, President? Bush deliberately failed to address the war in Iraq in much detail.? At a time when his approval? ratiings are at an all time low,? I am of the opinion that? this was an error.? By failing to address the most pressing issue in current American politics, he has opened the? door for speculation and insult from all sides.? What little he did say echoed the speech that he? gave a few weeks ago in which he addressed his? highly? unpopular new policy in Iraq.? This? new policy calls for an escalation of the number of troops? deployed? on the? ground as well as an increase in military funding.?
This leads into the? Democratic response delivered by Senator Webb? out of? Virginia.? Senator Webb, a Vietnam veteran and father of a marine who is currently? fighting in? Iraq, called the president out for? his resonsibility in the war.? The point that the Democrats stressed the most was a need? for a new? policy in the Iraq? war, one that would get our troops out of harms way and reduce the? Iraqi? dependance on American support.? ? Senator Webb began, however, with a call for the president to address the needs of an ever dwindling? American middle? class.? The? response emphasized the need for the president to address the loss of? American manufacturing? jobs to outside countries.? Overall, I? think that? the? Democratic response? tonight was a? good one.? President? Bush took steps in his speech to reach out? to the? Democratic majority, but he? fell short? on the most important issue, that of Iraq.? The? Democrats also? did a? good job selecting Senator Webb, a moderate and a veteran, to? deliver the response because? it shows the willingness of the party to? compromise and work? in a? bipartisan? way.?
Overall? I must say that President Bush did not screw up too bad tonight.? I do not support his? new policy in Iraq, but his obvious attempts to appeal to the new Democratic majority seemed, atleast at this point, to? be sincere.? ? In the weeks and months to come we will see if he truly stands behind the plan that he has? layed out tonight.?
From the brilliant mind of? Mike Kean,? your friendly Sargeant at Arms.? ?
January 24th, 2007 at 9:46 am
Very good, Mike. Thoughtful analysis. There are so many reasons to be angry at this guy, and we lose so much ground when we give in to our anger on the Left. Compelling analysis and dialogue are the only way we ever move forward. And that always means listening to those on the “other side” of our debates. Last night was the first time I ever heard President Bush approach dialogue. Unfortunately, the closest he’ll ever get to the ocean of critical thinking in this life is to gaze from above, much as he gazed at New Orleans in Air Force One following Katrina. He’ll never jump in, and he’ll never learn to swim.