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January 31, 2006
Liveblogging SOTU
8:59: "Today, having come far in our historical journey, we must decide, will we turn back, or will we finish well?
8:58: Lots of mention of the US as a "hopeful" society. And what things a hopeful society does and doesn't do.
8:51: Now he's giving a pep talk to the nation. Giving shout-outs to both parties.
8:49: We must continue to lead the world in human talent and creativity.
8:47: Wants new ethanol to be practical and competitive within six years.
8:44: One thing I don't really understand about the health care system. Why can't we train more doctors? Mrs. Chester, a fourth year med student, tells me that the supply of doctors has been steady for a couple of decades. I'm no economist, but that seems like a prescription for higher costs. We'll see if anything that he's talking about gets passed or has any effect if it does.
8:43: I think Bush is doing a great job at fostering bipartisanship so far. We'll see if it lasts. Good jibe about President Clinton and him both turning 60 this year.
8:40: Asks for a passage of the line-item veto. Mainly joking, I think.
8:36: [taxes . . . wait for it . . .] If we do nothing, American families will face a massive tax relief that they do not expect and will not welcome. I urge the Congress to act responsibly and make the tax cuts permanent.
8:36: Together let us protect our country, support the men and women who defend us, and lead this world toward freedom.
8:35: The only alternative to American leadership is a dramatically more dangerous . . . world.
8:33: If there are people in our country who are talking with Al Qaeda, we want to know about it because we will not sit back and wait to be hit again.
8:32: So far, I don't think Bush has laid out a single definable platform or policy, but has merely discussed the philosophical underpinnings of his policies.
8:29: Liberty is the right and hope of all humanity. THe same is true of Iran . . . the Iranian government is defying the world with its nuclear ambitions and the nations of the world must not permit the Iranian regime to gain nuclear weapons.
8:27: . . . the leaders of Hamas must recognize Israel, disarm, reject terrorism, and work for lasting peace.
8:25: He just laid down the gauntlet of challenge to the Dems: No matter what they've felt in the past, they much keep their word and stand behind the US military. -- not a quote.
8:23: There is a difference between responsible criticism that aims for success and defeatism that refuses to acknowledge anything but failure. Hindsight alone is not wisdom and second-guessing is not a strategy.
8:20: We are in this fight to win and we are winning. [On that line, the Democrats didn't stand, but the Generals did.]
8:18: There is no peace in retreat and there is no honor in retreat . . . we would signal to all that we no longer believe in our own ideals or our own courage. But our friends and our enemies can be certain: The United States will not retreat from the world and we will never surrender to evil.
8:17: "allowing the violent to inherit the earth. But they have miscalculated. We love our freedom and we will fight to keep it"
8:16: More than half the people of our world live in democratic nations and we do not forget the other half, in places like Syria, Burma, Zimbabwe, North Korea, and Iran, because the demands for justice . . . require their freedom as well. [Note the point of emphasis for Iran.]
8:13: Pursue enemies or retreat to a comfortable life. Good contrast. Isolationism's road broad and inviting but actually dangerous . . . The United States of America will continue to lead. We seek the end of tyranny in our world. The future security of America depends on it. Democracies replace resentment with hope, respect the rights of their citizens and neighbors, and join the fight against terror . . . (I think)
8:11: Sets the tone for a speech extolling bipartisanship, vows to do his part.
8:10: Watching all the politicians applaud for Bush whether they'd like to or not reminds me of a line from David Mamet's movie "Spartan:" "Savages! They're all savages!"
8:08: Here goes . . .
8:06: Here come the Chief. I wonder who the devildog sitting with the First Lady is.
8:05: I think of Norman Mineta every time I go through airport security . . . usually I think, "Four years of this now and I still have to schlep in my sock feet on tile." Small sacrifice though, if it all works.
8:04: Cool to see General Hagee and General Pace down there. I met General Hagee aboard Camp Pendleton in 2001. He's really tall.
8:03: Sheehan was the guest of a Congresswoman . . .
8:02: Cindy Sheehan taken out of the gallery not long ago. I hope we get video . . . She tried to unfurl a banner . . .
8:00: Only thing I've liveblogged before are the Iraqi elections, so this should be interesting.
Posted by Chester at January 31, 2006 8:01 PM
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