At the last minute, I decided to do a live blog on the State of the Union address. The following blog will be a quick paraphrased understanding of the president’s priorities outlined in the speech. I will update as needed.
9:00: I turn on C-Span.
9:01: Laura Bush enters upper gallery.
9:03: Supreme Court Justices and Cabinet secretaries enter chamber.
9:09: President Bush enters the chamber, applause seems rather muted compared to past speeches, though it could just be a broadcast audio characteristic.
9:12: President Bush turns to Speaker Pelosi to bring the chamber to order. She introduces the president. President Bush starts the speech giving congrats to Pelosi. Ugh. Clearly an attempt to reach out to Dems.
9:15: Bush starts to talk about common purposes. Spending money wisely. Talks about government division and bipartisanship. Make life better for Americans and extending prosperity. Growing the economy - talks about job growth, 7.2 million jobs, low inflation and unemployment. More enterprise.
9:18: Economic priorities - balance federal budget without raising taxes. Spending discipline - touts deficit surpluses and growth. Eliminate the deficit within 5 years. Touts earmark reform - budget reform process, accountability and visibility, cut earmarks in half by end of session. Social Security and Medicaid/Medicare reform - no specifics.
9:21: Promotes No Child Left Behind Act, asks to renew. Touts school choice.
9:23: Americans must have affordable health care. Government must help elderly and children. Two initiatives - standard tax deduction for families and individuals for health care. No payroll taxes for healthcare, touts tax reform to help people pay for private health care. Promotes grants for states who help provide healthcare assistance. Promotes association health plans, information technology, health savings accounts, price transparency, medical liability reform. Best health decisions made by patients and doctors.
9:27: Immigration reform, touts temporary worker program (Ugh…not again). Enforce immigration law at the worksite. Touts “melting pot,” and assimilation. Asks Congress for comprehensive immigration reform.
9:29: Talks about dependence on foreign oil. Diversify energy supply. Use clean coal, nuclear power, wind and solar. Biodiesel fuel and find new methods to use ethenol. Agricultural wastes for energy. Asks Congress for cooperation in reducing gasoline use by 20% in 10 years. Promotes government intervention in setting fuel efficiency and alternative fuels standards. Step up domestic oil production, double supply of strategic petroleum reserve. Touts global climate change and confronting the problem (Why??!!!).
9:33: Talks about judge vacancies, for a prompt up/down vote on Senate floor.
9:34: Starts to talk about defense and stopping terrorists. Must take the fight to the enemy. (Democrats slow to stand and about half just stay seated). Starts to tout successes in breaking up terrorist plots. Gratitude to public servants who stop terrorists. America is at war as long as terrorists are still in the world. Terrorists want USA to abandon cause of liberty. Touts Iranian influence on Sunni extremism. “They want to kill Americans, kill democracy in the middle east.” Dangers have not ended. Use every lawful and proper tool to find enemies and protect America. Ideological struggle. Free people are not drawn to violent ideology. Build free societies and promote human rights for our security.
9:42: Talks about Lebanon, Afghanistan, Iraq elections. Talks about 12 million turnout for Iraq vote. Terrorists strike back in 2006. Syria and Iran undermining Lebanon. Al Queda blow up mosque, promoting Iraqi death squads and sectarian violence. Don’t abandon our friends, leaving our security at risk. Let us find resolve and turn events toward victory. New Iraq strategy, demanding more from Iraqi government. Iraq must stop sectarian violence. Deploying 20,000 troops to Iraq, mostly Baghdad. “Marines…with orders to find the terrorists and clean them out.” Time for Iraqi government to act, commitment is not open ended. Lift military restrictions on coalition forces. Iraq must take responsibility for its security. Violence backed by Iran, Al Queda. Nightmare scenario for Americans…chaos is their greatest weapon. Must spare America from the danger.
9:49: Congress did not vote for failure. Support our troops in the field and those on their way. Generational struggle. Close consultation on Iraq war. Bipartian advisory panel. Calls for increase in size of Army and Marine Corps. Civilian reserve corps, hire critical skills for use abroad. We have diplomatic strategy. Sanctions on Iran, won’t be allowed to aquire nukes. Promotes independence Palestine. Diplomacy for North Korea. Work to save the people of Dafur.
9:54: Continue to fight HIV/AIDS in Africa. Touts success of those getting AIDS drugs. Calls Congress for foreign aid to fight malaria in Africa. Support trade and debt relief to help eliminate poverty. American character, self sacrifice greatest strengths. Pounts out NBA star Mutambo, proud to call him American citizen. Others in gallery examples of American character.
10:02: America faces danger, but we can go together. Our cause goes on. End of speech.
Conclusion: Unusually interesting speech in my opinion. The sections on defense and American resolve were great and definately showed a commander-in-chief who is strong in character and not afraid to stand up for victory abroad. Domestic priorities seemed more liberal however. The call for comprehensive immigration reform is NOT what the majority of Americans want and the president seems adamant to defy the call for increased border protection. The call to decrease gas consumption by 20% and increase fuel standards are sure ways to help tank the economy. Tax deducations for health care seem like an interesting idea, though I’d like to read more analysis on the logical results from conservative think tanks. Earmark reform and balancing the federal budget were mentioned, both great ideas. Bush also included talk about school choice, which definately leads into vouchers. The debate will be interesting on No Child Left Behind in terms of funding levels.
Overall, a stong speech for the president, though I think he’s wrong on most domestic priorities. I think he’s too concerned with appeasing Democrats and is showing his true moderate colors. However, I think he was very strong on his defense of Iraqi policy and plainly communicated what American priorities are in Iraq.