An American's response to the State of the union

[t0nythelover]

The State of the Union speech was one of the most interesting works of fiction I have ever heard. The setup of the event itself is a bit much. Any time I have heard a speech applause is always saved for the end, but not here. Whether due to tradition or not, I think the applause is very innappropriate, especially in a state of the union address, and especially in serious times like these. The United States seems to have lost its concept of separation of powers. President Bush is the only President appointed by the Supreme Court. The decision was 5-4 which is very close, in the history of the law these types of judgements are often later found to be wrong judgements. Watching the speech one would think that Bush is a President who was elected and has more than a 59% approval rating. Bush started off as a compassionate and caring individual, making sure to address domestic issues, such as healthcare and the economy. Unfortunately Bush's policies don't seem to be the best ones for the job. There was little explanation of the stock dividend tax cease, which will overwhelmingly put money in rich peoples pockets, while everyone else loses jobs. The medicare plan for the elderly confused me. The program for AIDS help in africa seems extremely unreasonable under the budget. The mentor program also seemed like a b.s. program to make Bush lood good to the public. 450 million will be spent to mentor prisoners children or something. I personally would rather have less prisoners in general and more education to help avoid incarceration in the first place (prisons will never rehabilitate people, only create carreer criminals.)

The other half of the speech centered on the war in Iraq. Saddam has not given proof of disarmament seemed to be the main theme. Whatever happened to innocence until proven guilty? Bush should give up on the war, no one beleives him, no one really supports the war, and it will not increase the security of the American people. I especially found it obscene when Bush leand over and said "I'll put it this way they are no longer a threat to us or our friends"-perfectly said by the Texecutioner. The daily terror alert matrix or whatever he wants to do with intelligence is foolish, no one wants to need to check their daily terror level with the weather. National security is still a joke, and we are inviting more enemies onto our land. If we take the fight to the homelands of other nations, they and their children will bring the fight back home to us.

Bush's statements on drug recovery almost sounded as if he was talking about himself. "Recovery can happen to you" ha, sure thing coming from a coke addict. Most unfortunate was that Bush failed to address his beliefs on affirmative action. Bush has shown his level of consideration for minorities in this nation, none. This will surely be a divisive issue and ignoring it was not the best course of action.

Whats your oppinion of the State of the Union?

[weyes]

my feelings on the speech:

Originally posted by t0nythelover

...I especially found it obscene when Bush leand over and said "I'll put it this way they are no longer a threat to us or our friends"-perfectly said by the Texecutioner...

and that crass, tasteless, disturbing statement was made even creepier by that lean he did on the podium.

and i'd just like to end by adding that he is one of the worst speakers around; too bad i have to listen to his bullshit so much in order to keep up .

[mrmatas2277]

Originally posted by t0nythelover

I especially found it obscene when Bush leand over and said "I'll put it this way they are no longer a threat to us or our friends"-perfectly said by the Texecutioner.

i loved that part of his speech...i thought it was on point...loved it loved it...i agreed with most of his speech...i must admit, the whole African AIDS thing threw me off...as far as his Economic Plan, IMO, it will help the economy "eventually"...we need a shot of adrenalin ASAP...not later on...he has to come to grips that a short term solution (which is what we need right now) will chug the economy along...those two issues were the only ones that i didnt see eye to eye with the President...Missile Defense Plan? ITS ABOUT TIME!!!

[igloo]

Quite frankly, it was a very impressive State of the Union....bold, passionate, moral clarity, in touch, visionary and focused.....

And for the record, many Dems applauded the speech as well.....of course, they challenged some points, but overall there was positive consensus

Even Daschle was forced to say the President did an overall good job

Tonythelover--Welcome back.......I see you are still taking your imbecile pills......ease up, it looks like you OD'd son

[underwater]

Originally posted by t0nythelover

Any time I have heard a speech applause is always saved for the end, but not here. Whether due to tradition or not, I think the applause is very innappropriate, especially in a state of the union address, and especially in serious times like these.

its tradition and its important for america to project an image that we support our leader....and if you noticed....the democrats barely clapped or gave standing ovations.....we would look so weak if we did not give an image of strength and solidarity to the world.....

There was little explanation of the stock dividend tax cease, which will overwhelmingly put money in rich peoples pockets, while everyone else loses jobs.

the truth is that many elderly rely on dividends for income.....and i personally do not see how an person can work an angle that money should be taxed 2X instead of 1X....please explain why you are oppossed to this?....i am assuming that you do not have a portfolio that includes dividend payments.....

The program for AIDS help in africa seems extremely unreasonable under the budget.

i agree....we should divert aid to the middle east and give it all to africa....its a noble cause but will also require huge cultural changes.....its unbelievable that we are responsible for 60% of all food supply to needy nations....

The mentor program also seemed like a b.s. program to make Bush lood good to the public. 450 million will be spent to mentor prisoners children or something.

yeah this seemed a little funny....

The other half of the speech centered on the war in Iraq. Saddam has not given proof of disarmament seemed to be the main theme. Whatever happened to innocence until proven guilty?

this is not the court of law....every single person knows he has these weapons....all we are asking for is for him to show us proof that he destroyed the anthrax, VX....ect.....its to much of a high stakes game to give him the benefit of the doubt...it will be interesting to see how Powell lays it out to the UN....but honestly,

do you really think he is not hiding these weapons?

Bush should give up on the war, no one beleives him, no one really supports the war, and it will not increase the security of the American people.

you should hang out in this forum more often.....most of us do support the war..in fact, i don't really know to many people who really oppose it....most people are not even following the situation closely enough....they just make these comments like ....well we did not find anything....there is no proof....they are not viewing all of the detail and are glossing over the entire picture.....just people that i know here in NY.....even then they would still support america when the time comes.....i believe the american government......and i riddng the world of an outlaw regime that can supply our enemies with WMD will do nothing but help make american citizens safer....

just my 2 cents....great review on the speech...

[guyman1966]

Our "C" student has become an "A+" President.

[guyman1966]

Originally posted by underwater

Originally posted by t0nythelover

Any time I have heard a speech applause is always saved for the end, but not here. Whether due to tradition or not, I think the applause is very innappropriate, especially in a state of the union address, and especially in serious times like these.

its tradition and its important for america to project an image that we support our leader....and if you noticed....the democrats barely clapped or gave standing ovations.....we would look so weak if we did not give an image of strength and solidarity to the world.....

Also, applause is NOT saved 'till the end. Listen back to Kennedy, FDR and even Teddy R.'s public speeches. Applause always interrupts all public addresses, especially the State Of The Union.

[bigmahs]

Originally posted by t0nythelover

The State of the Union speech was one of the most interesting works of fiction I have ever heard. The setup of the event itself is a bit much. Any time I have heard a speech applause is always saved for the end, but not here. Whether due to tradition or not, I think the applause is very innappropriate, especially in a state of the union address, and especially in serious times like these. The United States seems to have lost its concept of separation of powers. President Bush is the only President appointed by the Supreme Court. The decision was 5-4 which is very close, in the history of the law these types of judgements are often later found to be wrong judgements. Watching the speech one would think that Bush is a President who was elected and has more than a 59% approval rating. Bush started off as a compassionate and caring individual, making sure to address domestic issues, such as healthcare and the economy. Unfortunately Bush's policies don't seem to be the best ones for the job. There was little explanation of the stock dividend tax cease, which will overwhelmingly put money in rich peoples pockets, while everyone else loses jobs. The medicare plan for the elderly confused me. The program for AIDS help in africa seems extremely unreasonable under the budget. The mentor program also seemed like a b.s. program to make Bush lood good to the public. 450 million will be spent to mentor prisoners children or something. I personally would rather have less prisoners in general and more education to help avoid incarceration in the first place (prisons will never rehabilitate people, only create carreer criminals.)

The other half of the speech centered on the war in Iraq. Saddam has not given proof of disarmament seemed to be the main theme. Whatever happened to innocence until proven guilty? Bush should give up on the war, no one beleives him, no one really supports the war, and it will not increase the security of the American people. I especially found it obscene when Bush leand over and said "I'll put it this way they are no longer a threat to us or our friends"-perfectly said by the Texecutioner. The daily terror alert matrix or whatever he wants to do with intelligence is foolish, no one wants to need to check their daily terror level with the weather. National security is still a joke, and we are inviting more enemies onto our land. If we take the fight to the homelands of other nations, they and their children will bring the fight back home to us.

Bush's statements on drug recovery almost sounded as if he was talking about himself. "Recovery can happen to you" ha, sure thing coming from a coke addict. Most unfortunate was that Bush failed to address his beliefs on affirmative action. Bush has shown his level of consideration for minorities in this nation, none. This will surely be a divisive issue and ignoring it was not the best course of action.

Whats your oppinion of the State of the Union?

Very good.

I feel he hit all the important parts

Terror, Economy, Medicare and domestic issues.

Now to address your criticism,

1) Applause, it is tradition and liberals didn't complain when Pres Clinton gave his state of the union addresses I wonder why??

2) Not addressing domestic issues, if not limiting the amount people can sue doctors and reforming medicare not adressing domestic issue what is???? Just for a minute forget the fact he was appointed by the HIGHEST COURT OF OUR LAND and focus on what he has acheived in the last 2 years. The cut in dividend taxes as well as a reduction in taxes in general will only put more money in peoples hands which increase consumption. Basic economics tells us that an increase in INCOME (ie. tax reduction)will increase consumption which will help corporate profits and boost stock market valuations as well. This will install whatbis called the wealth effect. So what if the rich get more they pay 80% of the taxes for god's sake isn't that fair the more you make the more you get back period .

3)Now with Iraq Innocent until proven guilty WHAT are you saying man the guy is a maniac he gassed his own people and will stop at nothing to dominate the middle east.

Now to say no one suppotrs the POSSIBLE war with Iraq is false only a small majority oppose the war and will see otherwise when Colin Powell presents DE-CLASSIFIED evidence on the 5TH of Feb.

The leaning over the podium when he was speaking about the progress of the War on terror is what the public wants to hear.

We are winning and paying back those heartless mother fuckers!!! I felt like going up there and high 5'ing him.

Great speech.....

[igloo]

President Bush last night got the single highest ratings approval boost after a State of the Union for any President, especially on the Iraqi issue

Now you can take these polls for what their worth, and indeed last night's polls are quick polls, and President's always get a spike after State of the Union's

BUT

This President has the highest single boost---which means he connected with the American people (misfits like normalnoises of course would miss it), which means his speech was very effective

It is killing the left and other misfits that this President is actually displaying true leadership, does not shy from tough decisions, has moral clarity and vision, will not "pass problems to other Congresses and President's, and the American people are behind...

It is beautiful thing

[t0nythelover]

Without a doubt Bush had a lot of preperation for the speech, and did deliver it quite well considering most of the time he can barely get a word out without messing up. As for the clapping I never blamed Bush for that, I'm not being partisan, this is the first State of the uniion ive seen in a few years, I was just saying that it was weird. Bush spoke alot about how hes gonna fix domestic affairs but its all talk and no action. The tax cut will not help the elderly as much as people say. THe thing in africa is coming at the wrong time. I don't like Bush's policies but I appreciate his professionalism and his capability to look and act like an intellectual adult when needed. As for Bush's fucking up when he speaks, I've been wondering if maybe hes just a bad public speaker, some people get nervous, I dunno. Thanx for the responses.

[underwater]

"peni-chu-la" was very funny...

[timetraveler69]

Originally posted by t0nythelover

The State of the Union speech was one of the most interesting works of fiction I have ever heard. The setup of the event itself is a bit much. Any time I have heard a speech applause is always saved for the end, but not here. Whether due to tradition or not, I think the applause is very innappropriate, especially in a state of the union address, and especially in serious times like these.

Whats your oppinion of the State of the Union?

I agree with your point on the applause. These fuckers applauded everything that came out of the guys mouth.

[weyes]

Originally posted by t0nythelover

...I don't like Bush's policies but I appreciate his professionalism and his capability to look and act like an intellectual adult when needed...

don't cave in to all of the extreme conservatives that seem to be ruling this board. i had no idea !!! what's pat buchanan's screenname? has anyone met jesse helms at a meetup yet?

i have never seen any evidence of george w. being smarter than my ten-year-old sister. and the burden of proof is on him.

and i am ashamed that the president of my country can't pronounce the word "nuclear" - a word which he has chosen to use almost every day. maybe i should invite him over for some "pe-sket-ti" and meatballs and some "cim-ma-ninn" toast in "fe-bu-ary," or we could go to the "li-bary" and check out some of the books in the picture book section.

[mrmatas2277]

Originally posted by weyes

has anyone met jesse helms at a meetup yet?

and i am ashamed that the president of my country can't pronounce the word "nuclear"

Jesse Helms is a party animal...chics all over him..booze everywhere...viagra pills all over the tables...this man knows how to throw a party!!!! :party:

as far as pronunciation goes...PLEASE....people from say, Miami say "water", "nuclear" and even phrases (like-- "Forget about it":tongue: ) differently from people from New York...Boston people have a fawked up way of saying things too...whats ur point?? the man is from Texas!!!! he sounds like one of those "Good Ole Boys" from the south...

[guyman1966]

Originally posted by weyes

i am ashamed that the president of my country can't pronounce the word "nuclear" - a word which he has chosen to use almost every day.

Look, your real issue here is that your friend from the LA board Sassa is getting her ass handed to her on a regular basis from almost everyone here. This is not an ultra conservative forum. Its just that she is narrow-minded and spews inaccurate information with a very bad attitude. While I do not agree with your post, at least you stance is presented in a positive fashion and without bashing ALL Americans.

Now, to address your point on how President Bush pronounces the word "Nuclear"... I don't care how he says it, as long as he can find the button!

[igloo]

Originally posted by weyes

don't cave in to all of the extreme conservatives that seem to be ruling this board. i had no idea !!! what's pat buchanan's screenname? has anyone met jesse helms at a meetup yet?

i have never seen any evidence of george w. being smarter than my ten-year-old sister. and the burden of proof is on him.

and i am ashamed that the president of my country can't pronounce the word "nuclear" - a word which he has chosen to use almost every day. maybe i should invite him over for some "pe-sket-ti" and meatballs and some "cim-ma-ninn" toast in "fe-bu-ary," or we could go to the "li-bary" and check out some of the books in the picture book section.

The state of President Bush is good

Cal Thomas

January 30, 2003

The state of President Bush is good

President Bush called some journalists into the Oval Office last Monday (Jan. 27) for a "background " briefing on his State of the Union address. As one of the favored few, I was impressed by how comfortable he is with being in charge. George W. Bush has a hide stronger than an armadillo and a vision that what he is doing and wants to do is completely and undeniably right. And yet he has a soft heart, tearing up when he talks about what his "faith-based initiative " can do to help the hopeless and the helpless.

Those qualities came through in his address to Congress and to the nation. There was his compassionate side as he again asked Congress to pass his faith-based proposal. He also called for more spending to fight AIDS in Africa and the Caribbean. The tough ideological side came through on tax cuts, which he asked to be made permanent. In an in-your-face rebuke to the Daschle-Pelosi Democrats, the president said, "Jobs are created when the economy grows; the economy grows when Americans have more money to spend and invest; and the best and fairest way to make sure Americans have that money is not to tax it away in the first place. "

Even some of the big over-spenders (including some Republicans) who have contributed to the deficit they regularly decry applauded when the president said, "The best way to address the deficit and move toward a balanced budget is to encourage economic growth and to show some spending discipline in Washington, D.C. "

The president's opponents have hoped that their unrelenting criticism of him on just about everything (amen-ed by the big media) would force him to retreat. The opposite has happened as we saw a president with real convictions address the criticism with steadfastness. When he said about European critics of his policy toward Iraq, "The course of this nation does not depend upon the opinions of others, " is there anyone who believes he doesn't mean it?

This sense of conviction and correctness is beginning to wear down the president's domestic opposition and make them look petty. In a remarkably favorable essay for the New York Times Magazine last Sunday, Bush critic Bill Keller wrote, "George W. Bush is what no one predicted - a powerful president with a pure conservative agenda and a gambler's instinct. By comparison, Ronald Reagan may look like a moderate. " Could praise - however reluctantly given and tainted by the use of "conservative, " which liberals regard as a dirty word - be higher than this?

Keller added, "There is something there, some preexisting quality, that avid Bush critics have missed. " Supporters of Bush didn't miss it. They knew it was there all the time.

The Washington Post's Tom Shales virtually threw in the "Bush is a stumbling, bumbling, syntax-mangling idiot " towel when he wrote of the president's address that it had "moments of penetrating eloquence, eloquently delivered. " Eloquence has rarely modified the name George W. Bush. There was more. Shales said Bush's line, "The liberty we prize is not America's gift to the world; it is God's gift to humanity, " was "Beautiful. " That's another word not usually associated with the rhetorical skills of this president.

The speech was understated and modulated, which gave it more power. Rather than bombast, the president adopted a style of muffled strength. One doesn't have to brag about destroying the enemy, as Saddam Hussein huffs and puffs he will do, when one can actually do it.

In person and before millions of viewers, this president has a resolve not seen in years. Some of his critics are beginning to understand that. Others, such as the congressional Democratic leadership, resort to the same negativity in which they have always indulged, because it has worked for them with previous Republican presidents and Republican congressional leaders.

It's not working with this president. He knows where he wants to go and he knows how he wants to get there. That's called leadership. What more could be asked of a president?

[bigpoppanils]

Originally posted by igloo

Tonythelover--Welcome back.......I see you are still taking your imbecile pills......ease up, it looks like you OD'd son

can you stop with this bullshit please?

[mrmatas2277]

Originally posted by guyman1966

Now, to address your point on how President Bush pronounces the word "Nuclear"... I don't care how he says it, as long as he can find the button!

[bigpoppanils]

Originally posted by igloo

has moral clarity and vision, will not "pass problems to other Congresses and President's, and the American people are behind...

thats funny!

[igloo]

Originally posted by bigpoppanils

thats funny!

Fact......deal with it

[bigpoppanils]

Originally posted by igloo

Fact......deal with it

no...bush's wonderful tax cut combined with increased spending will lead to massive deficits (fact: the US's tax revenue took over 10 years to recover from reagan's tax cuts, mostly due to tax increases by bush sr. and clinton)

not to mention his brilliant plans for medicare and social security

[bigmahs]

Originally posted by bigpoppanils

no...bush's wonderful tax cut combined with increased spending will lead to massive deficits (fact: the US's tax revenue took over 10 years to recover from reagan's tax cuts, mostly due to tax increases by bush sr. and clinton)

not to mention his brilliant plans for medicare and social security

Reaganomics is completeley diffrent. Tax cuts puts money back into the consumer's hands which is 2/3rds of the economy.

[igloo]

Originally posted by bigpoppanils

no...bush's wonderful tax cut combined with increased spending will lead to massive deficits (fact: the US's tax revenue took over 10 years to recover from reagan's tax cuts, mostly due to tax increases by bush sr. and clinton)

not to mention his brilliant plans for medicare and social security

So brilliant Bush drafted this entire economic plan himself?....wow, he must be a smart guy...

But don't let the Harvard Economics professor who was on the team that "helped" Bush know you are giving all the credit to Bush for this plan......I forgot his name off the top of my head, but he may get insulted..he was considered one of the world's chief economists...

There are others who helped Bush, who may equally be upset you are giving Bush all the credit....so keep it down

[bigpoppanils]

Originally posted by bigmahs

Reaganomics is completeley diffrent. Tax cuts puts money back into the consumer's hands which is 2/3rds of the economy.

how is reaganomics different from what bush is doing?

tax cuts and increased spending...i dont see a difference

[bigpoppanils]

well igloo...everything bush is doing is being created by advisors....so youre saying he doesnt deserve credit for anything thats going on?