A Running Commentary of the State of the Union
It’s so strange how much ceremony there is in our government. We don’t get to see it very often.
NICE! Nancy Pelosi has spoken. I think they should announce debate tournaments like they announce the entrance of the president.
Dean of the Diplomatic Corps… who is that? I wish they would give names.
It’s weird watching this on CSPAn because there is no commentary… oh there is laura bush. someone in her booth is wearing a blue suit.
The Supreme Court is entering. .. now the Cabinet. CSPAN really doesn’t offer very good closeup camera angles. i wish everyone would sit down so i could see. Too much handshaking. It’s not like they never get to see these people.
THERE HE IS… MR. AMERICA… Now is a good time to go to the potty. I’m sure the number of handshakes will be immense. He does look happier than he has looked in some time. Big ole smile. He’s in hog heaven.
I don’t quite understand all the yelling in addition to the clapping. The capping should suffice.
Oh nice he acknowledged the Madam Speaker.. very rare, apparently, for any President to even shake the hand of the speaker. It was very good of him to acknowledge the history that she has made…
Decisions hard, courage needed - large endeavors. a lot is asked of us. face challenges and enemies… together… congratulates the democratic majority.
Must stay faithful to conviction - but have similar goals. spend wisely, future generations, safety…
Want to work through differences. Citizens don’t care about party as long as there is a willingess to cross the aisle. Job to make lives better - hope and opportunity.
Growing economy - 41 months of job growth - 7.2 million new jobs. low unemployment. low inflation. rising wages. keep going. not more gov’t more enterprise.
budget reforms
balance the federal budget. (standing ovation - led by pelosi)
can do without raising taxes (the frat boys started yelling).
commit to balance in 5 years. haha - limit the spending appetite of big government.
earmarks - 90% of earmarks never make it to the house or senate yet they are treated as law. End earmarks - expose every earmark. Cut the number of earmarks in half by the end of the session. Hmm. not everyone stood.
Take on challenge of entitlements - Social security medicare - they are systems of conscience. Work together to fix Medicare, Medicaid, save social security.
Public Schools
Rose above partisanship - held accountability. minority students are closing the gap (really?)
Give local leaders right to fix schools. Give families ability to choose somewhere better… no clapping from pelosi on that.
But clapping for special education. Strengthen math and science - Reauthorize NCLB… damn - they didn’t show her hands on that one. Health care for all children. That got a standing ovation.
Health Care
Obligation for gov’t to protect elderly, disabled, poor children.
How to afford for all - standard tax deduction. similar to standard tax deduction. no income tax on first 7500 for single 15000 for couples… pelosi = no clap
Ways to cover uninsured - states should get federal funds for poor and sick. Affordable choices grants. More money and flexibility for those most in need.
Expand health savings… no clap from pelosi
Association health plans …. no clap from pelosi
Better technology … clap from pelosi
Pass medical liability reform… only the republicans stand… no clap from pelosi
Decisions by patients and doctors not insurance companies … unanimous clapping
Immigration
Temporary worker program - will not have to sneak in.. can focus border patrol on drug smugglers and terrorists.
Enforce laws at the work site - give employers tools to know
Uphold the tradition of melting pot - welcomes and assimilates new arrivals
Status of Illegals without animosity and without amnesty
Pass comprehensive immigration reform - claps by all. This whole section got claps at every point.
Energy Policy
Too dependent on foreign oil. Terrorists can cause disruptions and raise the price. Diversify energy supply. Increase tech.
Clean coal, solar, wind, clean nuke power. claps.
battery research .. bio deisel .. claps around
new methods for ethanol … claps around
wood chips, grass, ag waste…
reduce gas usage by 20% in the next 10 years… bipart claps
Mandatory fuel standard. missed it.. got an Instant Message (thanks elisa)
Increase domestic oil production. .. no claps from pelosi (this means ANWR)
Face global climate change - wow he is acknowledging it exists… wow! that is quite big.. aww look at that grin.
Fair system of justice
More judicial nominees a fair hearing with a prompt vote… clearly partisan
Terrorists
Have had 5 years to look at stuff. 9/11 was just a glimpse of what they would do if they could.
To win the war on terror we must take the fight to the enemy. looks like bipartisan claps.
Success is measured by things that did not happen.
Stopped a plot to fly plane into tallest building on west coast.
stopped cells in US.
stopped anthrax in us.
British stopped plot of planes.
Owe debt to those fighting - claps around
The evil of 9/11 is still at work
Still a nation at war
Want to continue to attack us. Want us to retreat from the world and abandon the cause of liberty. Want to establish totalitarian regimes. Have other extremists. Take direction from Iran… funding Hezbullah. Want to kill democracy in the middle east.
Dangers have not ended. Use all tools of intelligence, diplomacy, law and … to protect - standing ovation bipart.
War is an ideological struggle where the security of the nation is in the balance. Ideology drove 19 men to get on a plane and try to kill us.
Free people will not take the violent route. Will we build free societies? We must hlep middle east build free societies… bipart clapping.
In 2005: Lebanon chose freedom, Afghanistan chose democracy, Iraq chose democracy - 6 million voted…
2006 the terrorists struck back. (Now he’s saying that the terrorists should be chided for blowing up a mosque… it was an “atrocity.” Sure…)
Within our power to shape the outcome - turn events toward victory - no pelosi clapping… not very bipartisan… ok… now everyon e is clapping… suppose how you define victory.
Reinforcements they need to accomplish goal to have a safe Iraq. Must stop sectarian violence… deploying more reinforcements… “roaming death squads” ( i call them teenagers)… not many claps for the reinforcements.
Iraq wants peace. Committment is not open-ended. Lift restrictions on Iraqi and coaltion forces. Share oil revenue, have free elections. must secure baghdad. Military commanders have weighed options. Provides best chance at success. Many understand that we cannot fail in Iraq. Epic battle of Iran and Al Qaeda. Chaos is the greatest ally. New safe havens new recruits.. would have another 9/11. nothing is more important than to succeed in the middle east. WOW. Not many claps at ALL. That was probably what he saw at his climax. He did NOT look happy at the response.
We went into this united… no matter how you voted you did not vote for failure… save troops… large standing ovation.
War on terror is a long generational struggle. Parties should work together. Special Advisory Council on the War On Terror. Bipartisan group. Add to the ranks of the military. So we ‘re ready for all challenges.. claps. Authorize increase of 92,00 for next 5 years. Standing obation from majority of chamber.
Design a volunteer reserve corps. Critical skills. Could serve even though not in uniform.
UN says Iran cannot have nukes.
Nuclear Iran cannot live side by side with Isreal
Safe Korean Peninchula (sic)
Speak out for cuba, belarus, burma… save the people of Darfur.
Africa
Fight HIV aids in africa.
1.2 billion in aid to fight malaria .. .standing ovation from dems
Millenium challenge support debt relief.
Pandering
Dikembe Mutumbo.. nice he clapped for himself.
Julie Agner Clark - Baby Einstein. Enterprising spirit. Using spirit to help others with that guy from America’s Most Wanted.
Wesley Autry?- jumped under a train to save someone. No chance he voted for Bush.
Tommy Raymond - in Iraq - used body as shield to protect gunner. Refused medical attention to stay. Silver Star recipient. Earned respect of all. Good guy… claps for himself.
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