Live Blogging the State of the Union

Well, my first experiment in Live Blogging, tonight’s focus, “The State of the Union”. Check for frequent updates.

6:48-C-Span show its classic “people mulling about” coverage. You know I wonder if some day they’ll get a “best of” together on those.”

Others Live Blogging this Even:

6:55-The appointment of the escort committed were named. Interesting people will escort the President in including archopponents like Richard Durbin, Nancy Pelosi, and Harry Reid, as well as Barack Obama.

6:56-Mrs. Bush welcomed to warm bi-partisan applause in the House Chamber.

7:03-The President’s running a little late.

7:05-”Mr. Speaker, the President of the United States.”

7:07-The President’s taking his time going through the crowd. Has to be relishing the warm welcome with all the garbage he puts up with the rest of the year.

7:09-The President starts out with a tribute to Coretta Scott King.

7:11-After a call for civility, the President declared “The State of Our Union is strong.” When exactly does a President say, “The State of Our Union” is weak?

7:14-Uh oh. Bush said that the elimination of tyranny from the World is vital to America’s future. Those who’ve read here a long time no that I disagree. Particularly when the panacea of Democracy is prescribed for freedom. Lots of Democracies end up corrupt and as dangerous to freedom with gargantuan government and strong men leaders (Hugo Chavez are you watching.) Sorry, but this is simplistic.

7:15-”We love our freedom and we’ll fight to keep it.” A message of defiance to Bin-laden as well as the Americans who’ve suggested negotiating.

7:16-”There is no peace in retreat, there’s no honor in retreat.” Bush answering our leftists friends who think throwing Iraq to the wolves is a policy.

7:19-Bush supreme confidence in our ability to win. “We are winning.” And at this moment, the heads of several leftist bloggers will explode in rage.

7:21-”Hindsight alone is not wisdom and second guessing is not a strategy.” Bush sticks it to the party of retreat.

7:26-Bush got into talking about other things other than Democracy such as the rule of law required for a free society. That’s good. Then, he got into telling new elected governments (including Hamas in the Palestinian Territory) how to govern.

I wonder whether anyone in any administration views Palestinian or Israeli elections as meaning anything. Regardless of what happens, we’re going to pressure the Palestinians to pretend to disarm and the Israelis to give up territory.

7:28-Bush talks about Iran. We respect you and respect your right to win your own freedom.

Translation: We’re not going in.

7:31-Bush defends wiretaps of international Al Queda communications. “We will not sit back and wait to be hit again.” This is pretty clear cut, common sense.

7:35-Bush has talked about isolationism time and time again. I don’t know how many times he’s used it, but its not apt. Except for some of the far far left, no one’s advocating isolationism. The question is whether we’ll engage the world as Naive ninnies or with a realistic understanding of the dangers we face in the world.

7:37-Call for Tax Cuts to become permenent. Because, personally I can’t afford them to go up, and I’m not alone.

7:38-Bush joins the call for Earmark reform, allying himself with Coburn and McCain. Bush also calls for a Line Item Veto Constitutional Amendment, which isn’t happening. Congress won’t pass it.

7:40-Oh, my gosh! Bush’s new solution for Social Security: A Bipartisan Commission to look at the impact of Baby Boomer retirement! With all due respect, Whupdee doo! Furthermore, he wants members of Congress to serve on the Commission as if to assure nothing gets done.

We don’t need more studies, we’ve got them out the wazoo, what we need are solutions.

7:47-”America is addicted to oil.” I’m sorry but this is weird to here from a guy who made his millions in oil. After that line, its golden as the Bush explains how the Administration’s taking steps for alternative energy and ending foreign oil dependence.

7:49-”Training 75,000 Math and Science teachers for advanced placement classes.” Excuse me, Mr. President? What verison of the Constitution are you reading? I don’t find these powers anywhere in mine.

7:52-”America’s not in decline.” Bush tells us to not to let America’s social problems cause us to think the best days are behind us.

7:53-The most partisan part of the speech. Celebrating Alito and Roberts, particularly after Democrats fought this so hard. Then, he thanked Sandra Day O’Connor for her service to the country as an activist judge. In my opinion, her greatest service was her retirement.

7:55-Bush calls on Congress to ban Human Cloning, creating Embryos for the purpose of experimentation and creating Human-Animal hybrids.

7:59-Bush calls for America to “finish well”, not quit half way. Invokes Lincoln and the Cold War.

8:00-”May God Bless America”

I think the speech will be fairly well received. It had some challenging moments. The President at some times sounded like he was trying to ram things into the speech. At other times, he sounded like a CEO, throwing out as many buzz words and nice-sounding programs as possible. He did score some good points, but I think its going to take more than this to get the White House’s momentum back.

Conservative Blogger
Blogs for Bush, Stop the ACLU, Michelle Malkin, Oblogatory Anecdotes, Radical Russ

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