Tuesday night President George W. Bush gave his State of the Union address flanked by Vice President Dick Cheney and first female Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, (D), Calif. Bush expressed concern about many topics that are not usually at the forefront of his agenda. Many who commented on his speech afterwards were positive in their remarks about his bearing, subject matter, and unusually well-spoken, sharp statements.
Bush began by acknowledging Pelosi, turning then to the obstacle of getting the divided House to work together for the betterment of the nation.
“Our citizens don’t care which side of the aisle we sit on as long as we are willing to switch sides to get the job done,” Bush said. He intends to balance the federal budget without raising taxes, which caused much discussion. The president wants to eliminate the federal deficit in the next five years.
Bush discussed the need to reform social security for the sake of the generation following the baby boomers. This is the generation to which today’s students belong. If no action is taken, Bush claims they will be left with three bad decisions; raise taxes, lower benefits, or lower available options. Bush’s plan to privatize social security is highly contested in Washington.
As expected, Bush announced his intention to reauthorize the “No Child Left Behind” program. He voiced concern about affordable healthcare for all citizens and his interest in creating private health insurance. He claims 100 million Americans will benefit from lowered tax bills and a leveled playing field for those who cannot afford insurance through their jobs.
Bush proposed a program for temporary migrant workers, hoping to impede drug smugglers and terrorists while releasing pressure on the recently doubled border patrol.
One previously untouched topic was global warming. Bush emphasized America’s need to increase battery research, refine bio-diesel fuel and clean diesel engines, as well as find new methods to produce ethanol and natural fuel from woodchips, grasses, and agricultural waste. He wants to lower gasoline usage by 20 percent in the next ten years, cut imported oil supplies by 75 percent, and create a mandatory fuel standard for vehicular economy and emissions.
The largest point touched in his speech was that of the War on Terror and American’s role in Iraq. He stated it is in the interest of the nation to help people in the Middle East build free societies, citing in a positive light that 12 million Iraqi citizens voted last year. “This is not the war we entered in Iraq, but this is the war we are in,” Bush noted. “Let us find our resolve and turn events toward victory.”
Bush demanded more involvement of the Iraqi government in his new plan. He stated Maliki must end sectarian violence in the Iraqi capitol. Bush promised to send 20,000 American troops to join those already serving in Iraq and 4,000 United States Marines to Anbar Province to hunt Sunni extremists to help pave the way for peace.
Bush asserted that if the U.S. stepped away from the Middle East, Iraq would be overrun with extremists spreading chaos worldwide, America’s “nightmare scenario.”
“To allow this to happen would be to ignore the lessons of 9-11 and invite disparity,” Bush stated. He further proposed a bipartisan Special Advisory Council for the war and requested authorization for an increase of the military by 92,000 troops over the next 5 years.
Nearing the end of his speech, Bush recognized four heroic Americans, including Wesley Autry, whom, upon seeing a man fall onto the tracks of New York subway, jumped down, rolled with the man between the tracks, and held him as a train sped over their bodies. “There are so many people dying overseas, we have got to show each other some love,” Autry said.
Those who remarked on Bush’s speech afterward had primarily positive comments on his presentation.
Sen. Jim Webb (D), Va., who served in the Marine Corps in Vietnam and is the center of three generations of military men, replied that he hopes the administration is serious about healthcare and education.
He stated he is looking forward to working with the President on the policy of fuel economy.
Sen. John Edwards (D), N.C., stated about Bush’s speech, “I think Americans have heard all they can about Iraq.”
Contrarily, Sen. Lindsay Graham (R), S.C., stated that Bush was correct in his decision to remain in Iraq. “We are impatient as Americans, the Maliki administration is only 8 months old,” Graham said.
Tennessee’s Rep. Zack Wamp (R), said it was the first time the president had effectively explained the situation in Iraq.

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