SOTU 2006

I always like to post on a speech before I am ruined by the punditry I read.

I come across a Bush lackey to some, but I thought it was a very good speech last night and it was one of his better deliveries. Our president has learned to give a domestic speech and use a TelePrompTer; I am so proud.

The foreign policy segment was perfect. He praised the troops, defended the mission, laid out the stakes, and asserted the need for Executive authority in combating terrorism. Pitch perfect.

The domestic stuff doesn't resonate with me but I believe that he believes it. He really thinks that government has a place in improving education - he's not just saying it for votes. I do not share that view. I will try to be open minded when he unfurls additional detail, but that was a hard part of the speech for me. (We discussed Spinach vs. Ice Cream, this was a dentist drill).

As blog pragmatist, though, I am not gonna let it ruin my SOTU experience. I liked the speech and am proud of my efforts to reelect him.

Partisan gripe: the best achievement the Democrats could trumpet was the fact that they halted any effort to fix Social Security. No they didn't pass their plan, no they didn't influence the GOP plan, they just blocked any reform so that the problem can fester. And that was the only thing they felt worthy of a Dem-only standing ovation.

I guess Gov. Kaine did pretty well in the rebuttal. I am a tough sell. He says "there's a better way" but I notice the Democrats never really mention one. He called for more bipartisanship in problem solving; I certainly haven't seen the Democrats as being open to it.

It was good that they kept Sense. Kerry and Kennedy under wraps and showed a moderate voice. Do you figure Rahm Emmanuel had Cindy Sheehan arrested? That worked out pretty well.

Second Bush Administration Posted by jk at February 1, 2006 10:55 AM