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Maddie


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State of the Union
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Thoughts? A transript.

Can I just say that Hilary totally owned? I loved the look she gave Bush when he said that line about his dad loving Clinton. Then proceeded to lead a round of applause when he said, "Congress did not act last year on my proposal to save Social Security..."

Anyway, my lengthy thoughts...

"On September the 11th, 2001, we found that problems originating in a failed and oppressive state 7,000 miles away could bring murder and destruction to our country."
Weak and failed states certainly provide a venue for terrorism to develop, but they don't create it. Bin Laden isn't even Afghani, he's Saudi.

"Dictatorships shelter terrorists, and feed resentment and radicalism, and seek weapons of mass destruction. Democracies replace resentment with hope, respect the rights of their citizens and their neighbors, and join the fight against terror."
I'm not in any way a fan of dictatorships, but to break governments down into good or bad strictly along the lines of whether or not they are demoracies is an incredibly simplistic and unhelpful way of looking at the issue. I am a supporter of demoracy, but it's incredibly ignorant to think that democracy alone is the answer.

"And we're writing a new chapter in the story of self-government -- with women lining up to vote in Afghanistan, and millions of Iraqis marking their liberty with purple ink, and men and women from Lebanon to Egypt debating the rights of individuals and the necessity of freedom."
Egypt is FAR from being a democracy in the sense that Bush defines the word above. If this is the brand of democracy that were looking to as an example in the Middle East, Iraq is in serious trouble.

"Our coalition has learned from our experience in Iraq. We've adjusted our military tactics and changed our approach to reconstruction. Along the way, we have benefitted from responsible criticism and counsel offered by members of Congress of both parties."
Firstly...kind of. Secondly, how about taking advice from people who actual know something about the Middle East, not just American politicians?

"Tonight, let me speak directly to the citizens of Iran: America respects you, and we respect your country. We respect your right to choose your own future and win your own freedom. And our nation hopes one day to be the closest of friends with a free and democratic Iran."
I'm not defending the Iranian government, but I really don't see them as much less democratic that Egypt, Bush's bastion of democracy in the Middle East. I also find the assumption that a free and democratic Iran is one that would be a friend of the US to be naive. I think there is a belief that the only way a country could be against US values is if it's an authortative regime run by extremists, something that is just not true.

"Isolationism would not only tie our hands in fighting enemies, it would keep us from helping our friends in desperate need."
I guess he means that if we were isolationist we wouldn't be able to help out in situations like the genocide in Darfur. Oh wait...nevermind.

"In the last two-and-a-half years, America has created 4.6 million new jobs -- more than Japan and the European Union combined."
I must steal from Wonkette here...
"Though if you worked there, you’d have health care by now."

"Keeping America competitive requires us to open more markets for all that Americans make and grow. One out of every five factory jobs in America is related to global trade, and we want people everywhere to buy American. With open markets and a level playing field, no one can out-produce or out-compete the American worker."
This is so ridiculous I almost cannot even believe he said it. Almost. An "open market" is in NO way synonymous with a "level playing field." An open market in the sense Bush means it results in a race to the bottom for wages with factory jobs going to countries that can produce the cheapest via obscenely low wages, dangerous work environments and non-existent healthcare. Not only does this result in a loss of American jobs, but the exploitation of people in developing nations. Though American businessmen can certainly profit.

I admittedly don't know much about his proposed AIDS/HIV, education, and alternative energy programs, but they sound like a step in the right direction.

"Lincoln could have accepted peace at the cost of disunity and continued slavery. Martin Luther King could have stopped at Birmingham or at Selma, and achieved only half a victory over segregation. The United States could have accepted the permanent division of Europe, and been complicit in the oppression of others. Today, having come far in our own historical journey, we must decide: Will we turn back, or finish well?"
I can just picture a few of these people turning in their graves right now.

-- Edited by Maddie at 03:46, 2006-02-01

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laken1


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Is it wrong that I was just wondering if anybody even watches the State of the Union? I just can't listen to him for 2 hours. After I read up on it I'll comment...

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mckenke


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I agree with everything you said Maddie.  It makes me so angry how countries are labeled "good" and "bad" and have almost identical regimes.  Anyway, I decided to add my thoughts on HIV/AIDS since that is my area of expertise.  What Bush actually said was begnin in theory


We show compassion abroad because Americans believe in the God-given dignity and worth of a villager with HIV/AIDS, or an infant with malaria, or a refugee fleeing genocide, or a young girl sold into slavery. We also show compassion abroad because regions overwhelmed by poverty, corruption, and despair are sources of terrorism, and organized crime, and human trafficking, and the drug trade.


The U.S. funding for HIV/AIDS (PEPFAR) has done quite a bit of good, but there are so many caveats to receiving the money.  One of the biggest ones being that in order to receive the money countries and organizations have to sign pledges stating they are against prostitution.  Since sex workers are extremely vulnerable to HIV/AIDS, especially if they are young girls sold into "slavery" (as Bush stated), they need to be targets of HIV/AIDS programming.  Bush does not support programs that allow organizations to work with sex workers and certianly makes condom distribution extremely difficult.  Basically my point is that he seems to talk a good game here, but in practice he sets up tons of roadblocks in the name of "morality."



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carmenb513


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laken1 wrote:

Is it wrong that I was just wondering if anybody even watches the State of the Union? I just can't listen to him for 2 hours. After I read up on it I'll comment...

My thoughts exactly- I'm don't want to start a debate- but the fact that he went to Yale is a joke .


Right?



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blubirde


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laken1 wrote:

Is it wrong that I was just wondering if anybody even watches the State of the Union? I just can't listen to him for 2 hours. After I read up on it I'll comment...

Ha! I certainly couldn't. I figured it was better to avoid listening than being frustrated and angry the whole evening. I was talking to my dad on the phone and he said he had to get out and go get some food or something because he couldn't listen to "stupid Bush" talk. Hee!! Dad, I love you. (My dad NEVER says stuff like that. I couldn't believe it.)


I flipped to the State of the Union (in between Veronica Mars' segments) and I jumped in on a portion where he was talking about countries that curb their citizens freedoms for the government's own well-being (or something like that) and I honestly thought he was talking about the U.S. for a few moments...



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Maddie


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I thought this Washington Post article was interesting.

-- Edited by Maddie at 12:41, 2006-02-01

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blubirde


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Maddie wrote:

I thought this Washington Post article was interesting.-- Edited by Maddie at 12:41, 2006-02-01
Excellent! An actual reporter, reporting facts instead of just reguritating spin. Good work, WaPo, for once. (Or maybe twice.)

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scarlett


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I read in the New York Times today that we only import 20% of our oil from the Middle East. Here I thought we got almost all of it from them, the way we've been so militarily involved over there.

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valenciana


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laken1 wrote:

Is it wrong that I was just wondering if anybody even watches the State of the Union? I just can't listen to him for 2 hours. After I read up on it I'll comment...

Here's how you do it: play the SOTU drinking game!  Hubby and I picked the words and phrases that called for a drink.  We picked freedom, 9/11, God, and a few others.  It's the only way to make it bearable.


I too loved the looks from Hillary.  They usually cut to Ted Kennedy at key moments but I didn't even see him.  That's okay though, Hillary's facial expressions were priceless.  I wish the Daily Show would do live commentary or something.


Also, did anyone else notice how uncomfortable and awkward Alito looked?  Sucks to be sitting in the front row at the SOTU on your first day of work.  He was all looking around like a kid on a field trip and he kept jumping up to applaud when he finally noticed everyone else around him was.  That kind of thing keeps you pretty entertained too...



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Maddie


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valenciana wrote:
I wish the Daily Show would do live commentary or something.

Also, did anyone else notice how uncomfortable and awkward Alito looked?  Sucks to be sitting in the front row at the SOTU on your first day of work.  He was all looking around like a kid on a field trip and he kept jumping up to applaud when he finally noticed everyone else around him was.  That kind of thing keeps you pretty entertained too...
I'm totally psyched for the Daily Show tonight. I can't wait to see what Jon says. And more Greenspan! That was hilarious last night.

About the Supreme Court justices, I thought this was hilarious from Wonkette...
The SCOTUS at the SOTU: Did they exhibit "good behavior?"

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tri_sarah_tops


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I don't have a lot of time to post right now but I agree with everything Maddie said. I just wanted to comment on the Cindy Sheehan thing. Did you guys hear about this? She attended the adress as a guest of a Democratic congressman and was thrown out, arrested, and placed in jail because of her t-shirt. The wife of a Republican congressman was also asked to leave because she was wearing a "Support our Troops" t-shirt.
======================================

Charges against antiwar protester Cindy Sheehan, who was arrested after an incident involving a T-shirt she wore to the State of the Union address, will be dropped, officials told NBC News Wednesday.

U.S. Capitol Police took Sheehan away in handcuffs and charged her with unlawful conduct, a misdemeanor, when she showed up to President Bush's address Tuesday night wearing a shirt that read, "2245 Dead. How many more?" -- a reference to the number of soldiers killed in Iraq.

But Capitol Police will ask the U.S. attorney's office to drop the charges, NBC News' Mike Viqueira reported Wednesday.

"We screwed up," a top Capitol Police official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

He said Sheehan didn't violate any rules or laws.

Sheehan, whose son Casey died in Iraq, was not the only one ejected from the House gallery. The wife of a powerful Republican congressman was also asked to leave, but she was not arrested.

Beverly Young, wife of Rep. C.W. Bill Young of Florida -- chairman of the House Defense Appropriations subcommittee -- was removed from the gallery because she was wearing a T-shirt that read, "Support the Troops -- Defending Our Freedom."

The Capitol Police official said officers never should have approached Young.

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bumblebee


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"Lincoln could have accepted peace at the cost of disunity and continued slavery. Martin Luther King could have stopped at Birmingham or at Selma, and achieved only half a victory over segregation. The United States could have accepted the permanent division of Europe, and been complicit in the oppression of others. Today, having come far in our own historical journey, we must decide: Will we turn back, or finish well?"
I can just picture a few of these people turning in their graves right now.


This is hysterical.  The king of wiretapping is comparing himself to the heroes of civil rights? Yikes.


I didn't watch the address (like everyone else, just didn't have the stamina), but I've been reading about what was said.  I did hear most of the rebuttal on NPR, and i have to say that that really impressed me--I love the sane, moderate, simple approach the Democratic party seems to be moving towards.  I hope they keep it up. 


**edited to keep my opinions out of it, because i get personal when it comes to Bush and I don't want to stir up controversy. 



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ranchera20


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laken1 wrote:

Is it wrong that I was just wondering if anybody even watches the State of the Union? I just can't listen to him for 2 hours. After I read up on it I'll comment...

I can never watch his billion hour speeches!!! And I hate it when everyone stands up to clap every 2 seconds!!


 



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halleybird


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TriSarahTops: Thank you for posting that. I had no idea that went on. Hello, freedom of speech, anyone?


Anyway, I didn't watch it, for the same reasons as Laken & blubirde. It just makes me feel upset & embarrassed to watch him.



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Eurodaisy


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valenciana wrote:

play the SOTU drinking game!  Hubby and I picked the words and phrases that called for a drink.  We picked freedom, 9/11, God, and a few others.  It's the only way to make it bearable.
We invited 3 friends over and did the same thing, it was great fun!

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