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-- 'State of the Union' speech reactions.

'State of the Union' speech reactions.

I missed it, but heard that some repubs were little mum on some topics. What did I miss? Reactions?

Any new targets? Big ideas? Themes? Freedom / end of tyranny?

I missed it too, but I think what he said was a load of bullshit and did I mention the US administration are a bunch of tossers?

It was pretty good, hence the quiet on the subject here.

It was a good speech.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/rele...0050202-11.html - Transcript. I didn't watch it, I'm glad I didn't, and I can't wait until he gets impeached.

PS: At least he won't be the leader of the country I'll be headed (Yeah. I'm one of those people who wants to jump ship to Canada like the thousands of other Americans who visited http://cic.gc.ca/ just after the 2004 election) in May. I, like millions of others, am fed up with what the US has done over the last few years. Our rights are just slowly being stripped away in the name of 'terrorism' (like the PATRIOT Act) and it will not stop. Why? Because there's too many dummies here that actually think Bush is doing a decent job (how'd he get 51 % of the vote?).

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Originally posted by ali92 http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/rele...0050202-11.html - Transcript. I didn't watch it, I'm glad I didn't, and I can't wait until he gets impeached. PS: At least he won't be the leader of the country I'll be headed (Yeah. I'm one of those people who wants to jump ship to Canada like the thousands of other Americans who visited http://cic.gc.ca/ just after the 2004 election) in May. I, like millions of others, am fed up with what the US has done over the last few years. Our rights are just slowly being stripped away in the name of 'terrorism' (like the PATRIOT Act) and it will not stop. Why? Because there's too many dummies here that actually think Bush is doing a decent job (how'd he get 51 % of the vote?).

I didn't bother watching, didn't feel like I would learn anything. Read the transcript this morning. I see I wasn't wrong. At least he probably didn't sound like a 5 year old.

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Originally posted by ali92 http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/rele...0050202-11.html - Transcript. I didn't watch it, I'm glad I didn't, and I can't wait until he gets impeached.

Don't hold your breath.

In comparison to his other SOTU speeches, I'd say it was about average. His Axis of Evil 2002 speech was a lot more moving and impressive in terms of pursuasion. The content itself I'll save for a rainy day, but in general I thought the highest point of the speech was not Bush himself, but the hug between the soldier's mom and the Iraqi voter up above. I also had some agreements with some minor points as well, but the major points, of course, I had some major disagreements with.

His foreign policy part was pretty vague, and I think this was deliberate. I can understand the rationale for not putting a timeline stamp on when we'll withdraw troops - nevertheless I think at least an estimate date of departure should be thrown on the table now or at least in the very near future. I was a bit surprised at his tough rhetoric towards Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Pakistan - telling them that they'd better shape up their efforts toward democracy. I guess he received the memo about his Inauguration speech being a bit contradictory on this part - claiming to spread democracy in tyranical countries. Needless to say, I'm quite skeptical of any actions towards these tyranical and oppressive countries that Bush has such close business ties with.

It was an interesting sign to see him step up against Iran and N. Korea. But again it seems like idle threats. In my head I was thinking that Iran and N. Korea were saying, "Yeah? Well you and what army?" Considering how bogged down we are in Iraq, and considering our decreasing levels of military recruitment, this seems a bit of a stretch to follow those neocon dreams of further invasion (unless, of course, you say the "D" word).

I also thought the ink-stained fingers by the Republicans was downright fucking stupid and misplaced. I'll let this blogger state my sentiments:

quote:

You do not own their courage. The people who stood in line Sunday did not stand in line to make Americans feel good about themselves. You do not own their courage. They did not stand in line to justify lies about Saddam and al-Qaeda, so you don't own their courage, Stephen Hayes. They did not stand in line to justify lies about weapons of mass destruction, or to justify the artful dodginess of Ahmad Chalabi, so you don't own their courage, Judith Miller. They did not stand in line to provide pretty pictures for vapid suits to fawn over, so you don't own their courage, Howard Fineman, and neither do you, Chris Matthews. You do not own their courage. They did not stand in line in order to justify the dereliction of a kept press. They did not stand in line to make right the wrongs born out of laziness, cowardice, and the easy acceptance of casual lying. They did not stand in line for anyone's grand designs. They did not stand in line to play pawns in anyone's great game, so you don't own their courage, you guys in the PNAC gallery. You do not own their courage. They did not stand in line to provide American dilettantes with easy rhetorical weapons, so you don't own their courage, Glenn Reynolds, with your cornpone McCarran act out of the bowels of a great university that deserves a helluva lot better than your sorry hide. They did not stand in line to be the instruments of tawdry vilification and triumphal hooting from bloghound commandos. They did not stand in line to become useful cudgels for cheap American political thuggery, so you don't own their courage, Freeper Nation. You do not own their courage. They did not stand in line to justify a thousand mistakes that have led to more than a thousand American bodies. They did not stand in line for the purpose of being a national hypnotic for a nation not even their own. They did not stand in line for being the last casus belli standing. They did not stand in line on behalf of people's book deals, TV spots, honorarium checks, or tinpot celebrity. They did not stand in line to be anyone's talking points. You do not own their courage. http://msnbc.msn.com/id/6861528/#050131

Domestically, the big issue of course was Social Security, which the papers have begun seeing the obvious fallacies of the proposed plan:

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationw...-home-headlines

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dy...6-2005Feb2.html

http://www.cbpp.org/2-2-05socsec4.htm

When you have an Administration official come out right before the speech and admit that Bush's plan does next to nothing to help the solvency of SS, which to my recollection was the supposed purpose of reforming/privatizing it in the first place, you can bet it won't get very far. And as Henry Reid mentioned 2 days ago in the WaPost, all Dem. Senators are firmly against privatization, so it will be pretty much DOA even if it gets through the House (and there's plenty of indication that it may not even pass the House). There's also a growing sentiment from centrist Repubs. in both the House and Senate on his proposal, so this isn't just a Dem. rebellion. I suggest you read Josh Marshall's blog for more on that (www.talkingpointsmemo.com).

And finally, here's a nice factchecking website on pretty much every point Bush came up with:

http://www.thinkprogress.org/

So again, taken as a whole his pitch was average/above average, but the content was pretty shakey at best.

blah blah blah

*applause*

blah blah blah

*more applause*

No mention of the $350M he pledged towards helping the Palestinians to pursue their own state. Like Cyrus and others even give a damn.

I was very upset that he didn't fawk up delivering a speech like he used to...so in that sense I must say I was impressed

Bush used it for what he wanted: To put a spotlight on the Iraqi elections and declare success with his policy there, because no one remembers why we went there and also to springboard his social security agenda. He accomplished the goals he wanted, as he got the press and talking heads to start focusing nonstop on that. So I'll just say good job on marketing a bad product.

What did he say about the free rider problem ??

I think it may be a good idea to identify the constitutional mandate for the president's SOTU speech. I find it strange how the actual speech departs so much from the language of the constitution.

Current SOTUs involve so much showmanship, that I find them really bizzare.

quote:

US Constitution Article II. Section 3 He shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient; he may, on extraordinary Occasions, convene both Houses, or either of them, and in Case of Disagreement between them, with Respect to the Time of Adjournment, he may adjourn them to such Time as he shall think proper; he shall receive Ambassadors and other public Ministers; he shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed, and shall Commission all the Officers of the United States.

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Originally posted by IKKI-ZUVK What did he say about the free rider problem ??

is that an econ question? did i miss something in the speech?

Read the transcript some hours ago. Predictable.

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Originally posted by Shakka Don't hold your breath.

Of course I'm not. That's why I'm leaving. I wouldn't be surprised if conservatism/republicism (?) in our presidential office stays around in the US for the next 20 years (the only exception in the last 20 was Clinton).

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Originally posted by ali92 Of course I'm not. That's why I'm leaving. I wouldn't be surprised if conservatism/republicism (?) in our presidential office stays around in the US for the next 20 years (the only exception in the last 20 was Clinton).

Ah. Jimmy Carter was before your time.

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Originally posted by Shakka Ah. Jimmy Carter was before your time.

Oh yeah? I'm only 19, so yes.

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Originally posted by Shakka Ah. Jimmy Carter was before your time.

like anyone remembers that was alive and kicking then..

i vote that an unfair remark

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Originally posted by ResonantDrag like anyone remembers that was alive and kicking then.. i vote that an unfair remark

sigh...I feel old. And I'm having another birthday this weekend. At least my b-day is on Superbowl Sunday for a change!

lol

how the time does fly

btw, happy birthday!!!!!!

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Originally posted by Shakka sigh...I feel old. And I'm having another birthday this weekend. At least my b-day is on Superbowl Sunday for a change!

what? did that happen frequently before this year's three week hiatus?

thats cool. happy B-day you old fart. long live the Republic.

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Originally posted by Q5echo what? did that happen frequently before this year's three week hiatus? thats cool. happy B-day you old fart. long live the Republic.

LoL. I think this is the latest the big game has ever been played during the calendar year. This year I just got lucky. Thanks.

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