State of the Union?

“President Bush says, ‘America is addicted to oil.’” That was what I heard as I started my car this morning. I laughed outloud! I guess it was good that I was driving alone.

But it gave me an idea. What else did President Bush say in the State of the Union Address (SOTU)? What was true, what was spin and what hope, if any, can we take from his speech last night?

I am trained in biblical exegesis, so I know that you can take any quote out of context. I have supplied a link to the official version of the SOTU, see the context for yourself. What I would like to do is supply context to what he said, to give him props when I can, and to call him on things that make no sense.

“Today our nation lost a beloved, graceful, courageous woman who called America to its founding ideals and carried on a noble dream.”

Kind and well deserved words for Coretta Scott King who died on Monday.

“In a system of two parties, two chambers, and two elected branches, there will always be differences and debate. But even tough debates can be conducted in a civil tone, and our differences cannot be allowed to harden into anger. To confront the great issues before us, we must act in a spirit of goodwill and respect for one another -- and I will do my part.”

I hope that this signifies that the administration is turning the page. A truly civil, democratic dialogue would be refreshing and good for our country. Keeping Karl Rove around suggests that this is spin, but we shall see. Questioning Rep. Murtha’s patriotism is not exactly civil discourse, so there is need for change from the President, Vice President and others who work for him.

“In a complex and challenging time, the road of isolationism and protectionism may seem broad and inviting -- yet it ends in danger and decline.

“The United States will not retreat from the world, and we will never surrender to evil.”

Just who is the isolationist? The one who goes to war when most of the world is against it? And, why are there so few mentions of world affairs in SOTU? Aside from terrorism and countries that in the past he has labeled, “The Axis of Evil” he gives few concrete references. No mention of Latin America, where the Bush administration’s policies are failing. No specific mention of Africa? That sure cannot make Bono confident that Bush will keep his promises on debt and HIV.

Secretary Rice deserves credit for patching things up with Europe especially. She has made her mark and perhaps the last four years of Bush’s administration will be less isolationist. Of course, we could use a President who knew the world better and traveled a bit more.

“Along the way, we have benefitted from responsible criticism and counsel offered by members of Congress of both parties. In the coming year, I will continue to reach out and seek your good advice. Yet, there is a difference between responsible criticism that aims for success, and defeatism that refuses to acknowledge anything but failure. (Applause.) Hindsight alone is not wisdom, and second-guessing is not a strategy. (Applause.)”

“Strategy?” Hello! Was there a strategy in going into Iraq? Did anyone plan for the predicted insurgency? Were our troops given the proper armor and equipment? I heard an interesting presentation from The Commonwealth Club this week. It was apparently taped in December and featured several service men and women who had returned from Iraq. One, a woman, was there at the beginning. All she had was a Kevlar vest. She had to buy her own body armor. Their Humvees, she said, were about 20 years old and pretty beaten up. They were also not well armored. Another, a man, had arrived about 18 months after her. He said they had good equipment including, “Up armored Humvees,” which were pretty, “Robust.” Did the public outcry about armor cause the Pentagon to correct bad planning?

“The Palestinian people have voted in elections. And now the leaders of Hamas must recognize Israel, disarm, reject terrorism, and work for lasting peace. (Applause.)”

The results of the Palestinian election point to the failure of Bush administration policy, and bias toward Israel. We need a more balanced policy that calls for justice on both sides.

“Our work in Iraq is difficult because our enemy is brutal….Fellow citizens, we are in this fight to win, and we are winning. (Applause.)”

In some ways winning in Iraq is irrelevant. Are we winning the “War on Terrorism?” Iraq has been a diversion; have we caught Osama? Because we are in Iraq there are hundreds more terrorists, a decentralized command structure that will be harder to root out and we have provided a training ground in terrorist technology.

“It is said that prior to the attacks of September the 11th, our government failed to connect the dots of the conspiracy. We now know that two of the hijackers in the United States placed telephone calls to al Qaeda operatives overseas. But we did not know about their plans until it was too late. So to prevent another attack –- based on authority given to me by the Constitution and by statute -- I have authorized a terrorist surveillance program to aggressively pursue the international communications of suspected al Qaeda operatives and affiliates to and from America. Previous Presidents have used the same constitutional authority I have, and federal courts have approved the use of that authority. Appropriate members of Congress have been kept informed. The terrorist surveillance program has helped prevent terrorist attacks. It remains essential to the security of America. If there are people inside our country who are talking with al Qaeda, we want to know about it, because we will not sit back and wait to be hit again. (Applause.)”

The President came to Buffalo in April 2004. He lied to about 500 law enforcement officers. He said, “Any time you hear the United States government talking about wiretap, it requires _ a wiretap requires a court order. "Nothing has changed, by the way. When we're talking about chasing down terrorists, we're talking about getting a court order before we do so." Why did he need to lie if he had the constitutional and legal authority to order wiretaps?

“Our economy is healthy and vigorous, and growing faster than other major industrialized nations. In the last two-and-a-half years, America has created 4.6 million new jobs -- more than Japan and the European Union combined. (Applause.)”

The President conveniently fails to note that this 1.5% job growth is low for comparable stages of economic cycles. He also fails to tell you that only the top 5% of families experienced any real wage growth on his watch. Are his tax cuts working? They are only if you are among the very rich.

“Tonight I will set out a better path: an agenda for a nation that competes with confidence; an agenda that will raise standards of living and generate new jobs. Americans should not fear our economic future, because we intend to shape it.”

OK! I am waiting for him to shape the economy in this world of global competition in ways that are fair to American workers. How is he going to help American industry to compete? Is his healthcare reform going to help?

“We must also confront the larger challenge of mandatory spending, or entitlements. This year, the first of about 78 million baby boomers turn 60, including two of my Dad's favorite people -- me and President Clinton. (Laughter.) This milestone is more than a personal crisis -- (laughter) -- it is a national challenge. The retirement of the baby boom generation will put unprecedented strains on the federal government. By 2030, spending for Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid alone will be almost 60 percent of the entire federal budget. And that will present future Congresses with impossible choices -- staggering tax increases, immense deficits, or deep cuts in every category of spending. ‘Congress did not act last year on my proposal to save Social Security -- (applause) -- yet the rising cost of entitlements is a problem that is not going away. (Applause.) And every year we fail to act, the situation gets worse.

“So tonight, I ask you to join me in creating a commission to examine the full impact of baby boom retirements on Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. This commission should include members of Congress of both parties, and offer bipartisan solutions. We need to put aside partisan politics and work together and get this problem solved. (Applause.)”

Thank God and some smart Congresspersons who saw that Bush’s plan to “personalize” Social Security did not solve the problem of solvency of the Social Security Trust. So, we need another commission? I hope it is truly bipartisan, has no one on it that is afraid of getting bounced from office, and has some guts. It is a good way to dodge the issue for a few more years. Forgive me if I don’t hold my breath.

“Keeping America competitive requires affordable health care. (Applause.) Our government has a responsibility to provide health care for the poor and the elderly,and we are meeting that responsibility. (Applause.) For all Americans -- for all Americans, we must confront the rising cost of care, strengthen the doctor-patient relationship, and help people afford the insurance coverage they need. (Applause.)

“We will make wider use of electronic records and other health information technology, to help control costs and reduce dangerous medical errors. We will strengthen health savings accounts -- making sure individuals and small business employees can buy insurance with the same advantages that people working for big businesses now get. (Applause.) We will do more to make this coverage portable, so workers can switch jobs without having to worry about losing their health insurance. (Applause.) And because lawsuits are driving many good doctors out of practice -- leaving women in nearly 1,500 American counties without a single OB/GYN -- I ask the Congress to pass medical liability reform this year. (Applause.)”

Well they cut Medicaid. Medicare prescription drug plan is a disaster, good thing he did not brag about it in the speech. Medical insurance accounts. Give me a break! Does he have any sense of decency and understanding about the poor, the working poor, and the average American who works from paycheck to paycheck? We need real healthcare reform, and yes the poor need real protection as does the middle class family that can be wiped out with one hospitalization. Oh, tort reform, like that for the gun manufacturers that takes away all responsibility and gives them a free ride?

“America is addicted to oil, which is often imported from unstable parts of the world.”

Who knew? How much are we paying this guy to tell us the obvious?

“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. (Applause.) “Breakthroughs on this and other new
technologies will help us reach another great goal: to replace more than 75 percent of our oil imports from the Middle East by 2025. (Applause.) By applying the talent and technology of America, this country can dramatically improve our environment,move beyond a petroleum-based economy, and make our dependence on Middle Eastern oil a thing of the past. (Applause.)”

Let’s see if we get some real proposals and the money to back them up here. I am no expert, but so far there is no such thing as clean coal. If we can make zero emission coal happen, we may have something. Nuclear? You have got to be kidding!

“Tonight I announce an American Competitiveness Initiative, to encourage innovation throughout our economy, and to give our nation's children a firm grounding in math and science. (Applause.)”

“Every Child Left Behind” gives me absolutely no confidence that Bush will fund any of his educational mandates. They have it so convenient in Washington; you pass a law, then fail to authorize the funding. You then brag about it for four more years.

“A hopeful society expects elected officials to uphold the public trust. (Applause.) Honorable people in both parties are working on reforms to strengthen the ethical standards of Washington -- I support your efforts. Each of us has made a pledge to be worthy of public responsibility -- and that is a pledge we must never forget, never dismiss, and never betray. (Applause.)”

Both parties are sinners here. Let’s not talk about lobby reform, let’s talk about congressional ethic reform.

"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. (Applause.)"

Mr. President, talking about this after the disaster and in the SOTU is not enough. Put the money on the table. Your current budget proposals leave out 140,000 homeowners.