The SOTU Address Open Post

I leave this post open to let those who want to comment on the President's State of the Union Address. Enter here and share your thoughts. I'll be posting a recap at the end of the evening.

UPDATE:
Excerpts of the speech can be found on the White House website.

UPDATE:
There's a difference between responsible criticism and defeatism. No kidding. Bush talked over a smattering of applause.

UPDATE:
Captain Ed Morrissey is liveblogging.

SSgt Clay's words are a direct retort to the Sheehanapalooza (who managed to get detained by the House Seargant at Arms for violating house rules when she attempted to unfurl a banner in the gallery).

UPDATE:
The only way to defeat terrorist is to ... offer alternative of freedom. Supports democratic reform. Elections.. but they're only the beginning. It requires the rule of law, protections of minorities... open paths of peaceful opposition reducing radicalism...

Now, the leaders of Hamas must recognize Israel...

Iran sponsors terrorists, in the Palestinian territories and Lebanon. It must end. The Iranian government is defying the world with its nuclear ambitions and the world must stop Iran...

UPDATE:
Time to connect the dots - Patriot Act and terrorist surveillance program to intercept communications between terrorists abroad and here within the US. The program has prevented terrorist attacks. If there are people talking with al Qaeda, we want to know about it. We are not going to sit back and be hit again.

UPDATE:
For those who want to read the speech, Bare Knuckle Politics has a copy.

Our economy is healthy and vigorous. 4.6 million jobs created over past 2.5 years. Impressive stuff. This is the kind of stuff that Democrats don't want folks to know.

UPDATE:
Bush is bringing up the issue of a line-item veto. Curious. That's one way to deal with the problem.

UPDATE:

The best way to break this addiction is through technology. Since 2001, we have spent nearly 10 billion dollars to develop cleaner, cheaper, more reliable alternative energy sources – and we are on the threshold of incredible advances. So tonight, I announce the Advanced Energy Initiative – a 22-percent increase in clean-energy research at the Department of Energy, to push for breakthroughs in two vital areas. To change how we power our homes and offices, we will invest more in zero-emission coal-fired plants; revolutionary solar and wind technologies; and clean, safe nuclear energy.

Why stop at only 22% and what does that mean in actual dollar terms? Percentages sound great but if there isn't much money there to start, it's not as big a deal. Weaning the country off foreign sources of petroleum means a huge effort in multiple directions, and going the route of technological innovation is a start.

It's also something many a President has proclaimed in the past 30 years, and yet not one has actually engaged in a concerted and dedicated energy policy.

UPDATE:

A hopeful society comes to the aid of fellow citizens in times of suffering and emergency – and stays at it until they are back on their feet. So far the Federal government has committed 85 billion dollars to the people of the Gulf Coast and New Orleans. We are removing debris, repairing highways, and building stronger levees. We are providing business loans and housing assistance. Yet as we meet these immediate needs, we must also address deeper challenges that existed before the storm arrived. In New Orleans and in other places, many of our fellow citizens have felt excluded from the promise of our country. The answer is not only temporary relief, but schools that teach every child … and job skills that bring upward mobility … and more opportunities to own a home and start a business. As we recover from a disaster, let us also work for the day when all Americans are protected by justice, equal in hope, and rich in opportunity.

Many of the people in New Orleans and other localities may never return because the state and local governments failed to uphold their responsibilities. However, schools, job skills, and the like will not fix the problems that are immediate concerns: the need for permanent shelter, a permanent fix to the levee and flood control systems, and coastal development. On those issues, there's much work to do.

UPDATE:
So, there it is. I don't think it was one of his strongest speeches, but there were some interesting policy nuggets. He's taking direct swipes at the thugocracies that happen to be sitting on puddles of oil in the Middle East and Venezuela. The problem is that there's not nearly enough urgency to make a serious dent on moving towards energy independence and a move to non-petroleum based energy sources. And that doesn't even touch on the fact that a whole boatload of petroleum goes into producing everything from plastics to computers to all manner of materials that people take for granted. That's a tall order and wasn't even addressed.

Addressing the Iranian people directly to know that the US stands behind them and that the US doesn't see them as the enemy is a solid move and one that doesn't have any political risk to the US. If it helps destabilize the Iranian mullahs, even better. It just ratchets up the pressure on the mullahs. Just how many of the Iranian people will learn of this support? That remains to be seen.

Reiterating the fact that despite all the natural disasters over the past year, the US economy was strong and still producing tons of jobs was a good move at bolstering his credentials.

No one can deny the success of freedom, but some men rage and fight against it. And one of the main sources of reaction and opposition is radical Islam – the perversion by a few of a noble faith into an ideology of terror and death. Terrorists like bin Laden are serious about mass murder – and all of us must take their declared intentions seriously. They seek to impose a heartless system of totalitarian control throughout the Middle East, and arm themselves with weapons of mass murder. Their aim is to seize power in Iraq, and use it as a safe haven to launch attacks against America and the world. Lacking the military strength to challenge us directly, the terrorists have chosen the weapon of fear. When they murder children at a school in Beslan … or blow up commuters in London … or behead a bound captive … the terrorists hope these horrors will break our will, allowing the violent to inherit the Earth. But they have miscalculated: We love our freedom, and we will fight to keep it.

There's nothing quite like the smell of freedom, but democracy isn't just about holding elections. There's more to it.

Elections are vital – but they are only the beginning. Raising up a democracy requires the rule of law, protection of minorities, and strong, accountable institutions that last longer than a single vote.

That's a direct statement to those who poohpooh the Palestinian elections and Hamas coming to power. And President Bush called Hamas out on the carpet as we. As he had to.

And it's also a curious statement to make since it could clearly refer to his own election in 2000 - considering how many people in our own country disputed the results and the institutions survived that controversy.

So there you have it.

If you've got your own thoughts on the matter, by all means share them in the comments. Don't worry, I wont bite, and I wont delete comments unless they're profane, disrespectful of other posters, and generally in bad taste. Keep it PG-13 folks.