State of the Union Speech

President George W. Bush delivered the State of the Union Speech tonight, transcript here. As these speeches go, this one was pretty typical. The one program Bush suggested that caught my attention was Pell Grants for Kids, like those for college students. I don't like 'No Child Left Behind' and I'm not sure I like this one. Throwing money at schools has never improved education.

We must also do more to help children when their schools do not measure up. Thanks to the D.C. Opportunity Scholarships you approved, more than 2,600 of the poorest children in our nation's capital have found new hope at a faith-based or other nonpublic schools.

Sadly, these schools are disappearing at an alarming rate in many of America's inner cities. So I will convene a White House summit aimed at strengthening these lifelines of learning.

And to open the doors of these schools to more children, 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 the same spirit to help liberate poor children trapped in failing public schools.

Bush called on Iran on Iran to 'verifiably suspend its nuclear enrichment, reveal its nuclear intentions and past nuclear actions, and stop oppression at home and support for terrorism abroad.' As one blogger said, the point of the State of the Union Speech is to 'to give the president a once-a-year platform for advancing an agenda.' I'm not sure there was much of an agenda in this speech. California Yankee thought the entire speech was a disappointment.

Politico seemed to like the end of the speech:

"The secret of our strength, the miracle of America, is that our greatness lies not in our government but in the spirit and determination of our people. When the Federal Convention met in Philadelphia in 1787, our nation was bound by the Articles of Confederation, which began with the words, 'We the undersigned delegates.' When Gouverneur Morris was asked to draft the preamble to our new Constitution, he offered an important revision and opened with words that changed the course of our nation and the history of the world: 'We the people.'

"By trusting the people, our Founders wagered that a great and noble nation could be built on the liberty that resides in the hearts of all men and women. By trusting the people, succeeding generations transformed our fragile young democracy into the most powerful nation on earth and a beacon of hope for millions. 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. So tonight, with confidence in freedom's power, and trust in the people, let us set forth to do their business. God bless America!" (more)

Funny how those words just roll off the tongue, " .... trust the people." I wish politicians would remember that more than one day each year.

Kathleen Sebelius, governor of the state of Kansas, gave the Democrat response to Bush's speech. Boring, ...if you stayed awake through her delivery:

Join us ... blah blah blah. Bipartisanship ... blah blah blah. Restore America's role in the world ... blah blah blah. Join us ... blah blah blah ... to be the America we have been and can be once again. (read it all here)

View from a Democrat: "Outright lies, misrepresentation, Republican red meat, meaningless words, fear mongering."

Nancy Pelosi final blink count: 1,002.
Dick Cheney final blink count: 2.

Reactions:

"I'm pleased that this was President Bush's last State of the Union speech. The American people are demanding change in Washington's priorities and while the Congress has made some progress, the President has been a consistent roadblock. --Rep. Tim Walz, D-Minn. (more)

Powerline:

If you're looking for an alternative to SOTU commentary, check out Fred Barnes' cover story in next week's Weekly Standard: "How Bush Decided on the Surge ." It's a riveting account of what was probably the most important decision of Bush's eight years. Here is the conclusion:

The 20-minute speech on January 10, 2007, was not Bush's most eloquent. And it wasn't greeted with applause. Democrats condemned the surge and Republicans were mostly silent. Polls showing strong public opposition to the war in Iraq were unaffected.

But the president, as best I could tell, wasn't looking for affirmation. He was focused solely on victory in Iraq. The surge may achieve that. And if it does, Bush's decision to spurn public opinion and the pressure of politics and intensify the war in Iraq will surely be regarded as the greatest of his presidency.

Much of the speech was devoted to defeating al-Qaeda in Iraq. Also he prodded Congress to act quickly on a $150 billion economic stimulus package laid out out last week.

Pictures, Shays and Bush, Sitting In A Tree....

Joe Biden, who could only muster about 1% of the vote in Iowa, pronounces the president is out of touch with the American people. This network is a carbon footprint waiting to be capped, or whatever.

Bush was asked, "How do you give a re-bate to people who never bated in the first place?"

Comments

[Debbie]

Chuck, you would be surprised at how unhappy I am with Bush and his crowd. I'm a Conservative, Republican, but these past years have been a BIG disappointment. I'm crying with you.

[Chuck Butcher]

I take it you didn't think too much of my short version. Well, just a couple points: earmarks, R's standing, shouting, applause - R Congress worst in history on earmarks.

FISA: doesn't go away, 72 hour emergency wiretaps w/o warrant from the Secret Court, veto if no telecom immunity??? Boy you should be skeeert.

Surge success : 2005 levels? Success is defined strangely.

Blah, blah...

I'm a great fan of two strong Parties, but c'mon. Keep going with this and see where it gets you.

[Stormwarning]

The fact is, as I wrote in my post (and as I referenced CTB's posts), the President failed to name the enemy as radical Islamic (Islamist) fundamentalist jihaists. Sort of just "rolls off your tongue," don't it? Howcome he didn't say it? In fact if you word search the speech, not once does the word Islam (or any form of that word) appear.

[Rastaman]

Pell grants are free money to attend private and religious schools. This would include Islamic schools.

This trashes the separation of church and state, but when did our Constitution ever mean anything to George Bush? Considering how he's so deeply involved with the Saudis and has supported their encroachments on our society, there's no doubt at all that a lot of this money would go to muslim students.

Even beyond that fact that this is a violation of our Constitution, it helps the Islamists.

Another totally screwed idea from George Traitor Bush.

Rasta

[Layla]

Debbie I agree with you on these issues. I wrote my own take on last nights address.

I was not impressed and thought it was cloned off last years address, not much new, and a lot of the same old, same old with a slant.

[courtneyme109]

"But above all, know this: America will confront those who threaten our troops; we will stand by our allies..."

That was my fave bit. A coded reminder to the mullahs that they can can act out from their ensnaring NIE2007 any time they want - if they dare.

Also - perhaps it was a warning to let Iraq settle down and back off from all their fanboys in the ME like the HAMAS, Hiz'B'Allah and the current splintered, hiding Mahdi army.

Barnes says in his book Rebel in Chief that the Pres' philosophy is "When you think you're right - just stand by your guns."

[rob]

"But the president, as best I could tell, wasn't looking for affirmation. He was focused solely on victory in Iraq. The surge may achieve that. And if it does, Bush's decision to spurn public opinion and the pressure of politics and intensify the war in Iraq will surely be regarded as the greatest of his presidency."

lol...wow...All hail the king I guess.

[Skunkfeathers]

LOL...the true irrelevance of the State of the Union speech was the Democratic so-called "responses".

As for the blinkmeter on Pelosi, I figger it's that way for her anytime she's conscious, walking around in a constant state of "duh...".