Quick impressions on the State of the Union Address

[greybeta]

As always, I am fascinated by the pomp and circumstance that is given to the President of the United States. Even if that office is occupied by the village idiot.

wldntulk2knwwho observed that starting off honoring Coretta Scott King was an ingenious move. If there were any thoughts of protest at the beginning of Bush's speech, they were quickly nixed by the acknowledgement.

I thought there was an early Bushism when he talked about "isolationism and protectionism", but feanor16 pointed out that Bush actually used protectionism correctly. I'd like to meet Bush's brilliant speechwriting team someday.

Bush kind of implied that the war on terror was a war on tyranny. Does that mean we have to fight ourselves now?

Oh, and Mr. President, I hear ethanol is not exactly the best alternative fuel source. Besides, you're a big oil man. What real incentive do you have for getting America off oil?

And apparently, we should start wars in Iran and North Korea. I mean, over half the world's population lives in a democracy. Although, one sixth of the world's population lives in a certain Asian country that is now threatening our hold on oil.

Nix stem cell research because life is precious, sanctified by our Creator. Is that so? I wonder what Bush would say about capital punishment in his home state of Texas.

And now we're going to try to spy on international calls? Wow, we're giving up a lot of freedoms to ensure our security. I'd have to say it's almost like we're not free at all. I guess that's they meant when they said America is a land of limited liberties.

A nod to Roberts and Alito. The Supreme Court shall remain conservative for at least another decade, though it remains to be seen if Roe v. Wade will be overturned. The gay marriage issue will probably come up as well.

Overall, Bush played it safe. With midterm elections coming up in a few months, he hit on what he thought he would be able to push through for his Congress buddies.

I found it fascinating that the Democrats chose the Governor of Virginia to give the Democratic Response. I fully expected Reid or Pelosi to give it, but I suppose even they want to avoid saying too much with midterm elections on the horizon. So the Dems played it safe, too.

Funny, why is it when Washington starts to play it safe, I feel unsafe?

Comments

[samroswell.livejournal.com]

1. Anyone referring to the president as a "village idiot" tends to actually occupy that position himself.
2. Care to rationally explain how you see the U.S. as a tyranny? Referencing an organization that stands and calls for the destruction of Israel is not a rational explanation.
3. You claim to be a historian; did you miss where our current president actually failed as an "oil man"?
4. I expect, unrealistically apparently, educated people to distinguish between "stem cell research" and "embryonic stem cell research". I don't, however, expect dim-witted polemics to distinguish between the execution of someone because of the choices he made and the execution of another because he doesn't yet have opportunity to make choices.
5. What freedoms are lost when someone listens in on your international call? Reads your email? Reads your IM messages? Liberty? Are you now imprisoned because of this potential action? Property? Are you now destitute? Life? Are you now dead? The freedom to kill and harm others? Now, stepping away from the abstract philosophical issue, should we listen to calls from ObL into the country? What about other known Al Queda members? What about other known, declared "Enemies of State"? Do we only listen to the foreign side, or do we also pay attention to who is speaking stateside, and what he is saying? Also, based on your words, I presume that you would not have us listen in on ObL's foreign-foreign conversations; should we just fire all current employees of the NSA, CIA and State Department?
6. What was your opinion of the Democratic Wing applauding the failure to of Congress to take steps to fix the obvious failure know as Social Security? Do you fail to see it as a failure? Personally I feel that I should count what was deducted from my pay last year for S.S. as a charitable contribution, and attempt to recoup some of the loss...

It's late, goodnight.

[greybeta.livejournal.com]

1. It takes one to know one.
2. Actually, Hamas would be among the best people to ask if the U.S. is a tyranny or not.
3. And yet, I see a bunch of oil lobbyists paying a bunch of money to the Bush dynasty.
4. Rational, educated people will be the ones to lead America to its destruction.
5. I'm not saying that. I'm just saying that we should be aware that we are never truly free in a land of limited liberties.
6. Who knows? Maybe we'll look back twenty years from now and applaud the Dems for standing up to Bush. Don't assume too much.

[kmg-365.livejournal.com]

1. It takes one to know one.

So are you agreeing with his assessment? That those who call Bush a village idiot are, themselves, idiots? If so, what does that say about the validity of their claims?

2. Actually, Hamas would be among the best people to ask if the U.S. is a tyranny or not.

You will have to beg my pardon, but I really don't understand your insistence on using Hamas as the tyrrany litmus test. Are you suggesting that we should be considered tyrants because we don't support their agenda to destroy Israel?

I would think that the best people to ask if the US is a tyranny is its citizens. Not terrorists who have pledged to destroy an entire nation and people.

Maybe we'll look back twenty years from now and applaud the Dems for standing up to Bush.

Social Security won't magically make itself solvent. Even the most conservative estimates state that the fund will go bankrupt if we continue business as usual. Pelosi's statements that she will block any and all social security reform is counter-productive, and not worthy of applause. If you have issues with the recommendations of a bi-partisan comission, then by all means, Nancy, offer alternatives. Filibustering and obstructionism are not solutions. Nor are they the basis for a platform - something I would think the past several election cycles would have taught the Democrats.

[thanoslug.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I was kind of annoyed at the Dems for their hearty applause at their failure to do anything about the mess that the social security system is in. Woo hoo, we have blocked Bush from trying to keep social security from becoming bankrupt, we rule. I mean really, how childish can they be?

There is, indeed, a difference between stem cell research and embryonic stem cell research. Bush has really only ever spoken out against the embryonic research.