Posted 16:11 by Grote 0 comments

We interupt this broadcast..

...of Addison's really entertaining Lovecraft trip to bring you analysis of the State of the Union. By the time I realized it was on, I decided not to watch it and read the text afterwards and break it down the day after. I'm using CNN's trancript if you want to follow along. Actual quotes from the text will be in italics.

Part 1 Introduction
Nothing really importantso we'll just go right along to...

Part 2 Economy
I will send you a budget that holds the growth of discretionary spending below inflation, makes tax relief permanent, and stays on track to cut the deficit in half by 2009. Oh this should be really interesting. I'm all for both of these but I honestly don't see how we can do both at the same time. Well, short of pulling out of Iraq and Afghanistan. Ok, you can stop laughing now. Seriously.

Under the No Child Left Behind Act, standards are higher, test scores are on the rise, and we are closing the achievement gap for minority students. I'm not really sure that's true. I figure that FactCheck will probably provide us with some evidence to the contrary. Although, if it IS true, then it wouldn't be the first time I'm wrong.

Now we must demand better results from our high schools, so every high school diploma is a ticket to success. See, this is one of the reasons why I refuse to call Dubya a real Republican. We do need higher standards but shouldn't they be set by the States? What works in New York or Ohio may not work in Alabama or Arkansas. Let the states or the local communities set the levels. Not the Federal Government.

And we will make it easier for Americans to afford a college education, by increasing the size of Pell Grants. Actually I think college education should be a tax write-off for families making less than say 75,000 to 100,000 a year. Yes, that means we might have to raise taxes but we'd be able to pay for it with the new revenue from those who had higher paying jobs due to college degrees.

Small business is the path of advancement, especially for women and minorities... ...and I urge Congress to pass legal reforms this year. Frivolous lawsuits are tricking? If you're being sued then every lawsuit brought against you is frivolous. That said I think there needs to be a law stating that if the jury or judge finds for the defendant and deems the lawsuit frivolous then the one who brought the lawsuit must pay for legal costs. It's tricky but I'm sure people smarter than me can hammer that out.

With tax credits to help low-income workers buy insurance, a community health center in every poor county, improved information technology to prevent medical errors and needless costs... You said we're gonna cut the deficit in half, right? How are we gonna pay for this?

My Clear Skies legislation will cut power plant pollution and improve the health of our citizens. Right, the environment *hasn't* been getting worse since you took office. (Oh sure it's better than it was 30 years ago but we've got a long way to go). And Ethanol isn't that great. It takes more oil to grow and transport ethanol than it provides. Hydrogen or other sources are probably the way to go.

It is time for an immigration policy that permits temporary guest workers to fill jobs Americans will not take, that rejects amnesty, that tells us who is entering and leaving our country, and that closes the border to drug dealers and terrorists. I think it's time to look at putting armed guards along the Mexico border. Besides, if we need to overthrow a radical government we should get rid of the crooked Fox.

Part 3: Social Security
I have to agree with Bush here. Why should I keep paying into a system when I won't see a dime? I'd rather take the 150.00 a month a put into an IRA or stocks and bonds. The big problem goes back to educating the workforce. Too many people *depend* on Social Security as their only means of income after they retire. It won't be and it can't be.

For the good of families, children, and society, I support a constitutional amendment to protect the institution of marriage. First, I don't understand why CNN put this under the Social Security heading but sure, we'll play along. I've said it before so I'll keep it brief. Here's what the government should do on all levels: not recognize any marriage. Marriage is a religous instiution and govenment should only recognize civil unions, between whatever couple wants it.

Part 4: Faith Based Initiatives
I think the transcriptionists/editor missplaced the defence of marriage amendment and should have put it in here. Anyway not much else of note.

Part 5: The War on Tearir Terror
The United States has no right, no desire, and no intention to impose our form of government on anyone else. *cough*Iraq*cough*

Not much else to note on this part of the speech. It acomplishes what it was inteded to do, give the State of the Union. Part of that is the War on Terror. Or at least I thought so until I got to this last part:

Today, Iran remains the world's primary state sponsor of terror -- pursuing nuclear weapons while depriving its people of the freedom they seek and deserve. We are working with European allies to make clear to the Iranian regime that it must give up its uranium enrichment program and any plutonium re-processing, and end its support for terror. And to the Iranian people, I say tonight: As you stand for your own liberty, America stands with you. um.... uh-oh. Is Iran next on the hit parade?

Part 6: Iraq
Here we go...

That country is a vital front in the war on terror, which is why the terrorists have chosen to make a stand there. Well, it might be because we singlehandedly destablized the entire country and allowed them to flow in, but that's just my opinion.

cross Iraq, often at great risk, millions of citizens went to the polls and elected 275 men and women to represent them in a new Transitional National Assembly. And I say good for them. What's really sad is that Iraqis ran the risk of DYING going out to the polls to vote and yet had a higher turnout percentage than our country did in the last presidential election. *sigh*

We will not set an artificial timetable for leaving Iraq, because that would embolden the terrorists and make them believe they can wait us out. We are in Iraq to achieve a result: A country that is democratic, representative of all its people, at peace with its neighbors, and able to defend itself. This is the most importnat part because if we leave Iraq in chaos, like some want to do now, Iran WILL invade and then we'll have a bigger mess than what we started.

Well, that's about it. Policywise, nothing else important was said. And as always I welcome your comments and feedback.