So, I guess you heard that the President gave a speech last night. Here are a series of links for you to follow. Pick yer poison.
From the NY Times.
President Warns About Dangers for Nation in Isolationism
By ELISABETH BUMILLER
and ADAM NAGOURNEY
President Bush said that "America is addicted to oil" and set a goal of replacing 75 percent of the.Bold Visions Have Given Way to New Reality
By DAVID E. SANGER
Published: February 1, 2006
WASHINGTON, Jan. 31 — It was an evening for President Bush to confront America's anxieties — and his own.
President Bush last night implored an unsettled nation to reject the idea that "our culture is doomed to unravel" and used his fifth State of the Union address to promise an end to America's oil "addiction."The Washington Times is slower to get its stuff up online. Check their siter again later today to see what their pundits think.
A jaunty and ebullient President Bush, buoyed by the confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr., arrived at the Capitol last night to deliver his fifth State of the Union address, beaming to the Republican faithful...
These are my two cents: The best comment I heard in response is that the SOTU is antiquated and perhaps useless.
It is not that I agree with the statement. At face value, the commentator has a point, but even if we have access to all the information communicated during the address, that the President stands in such a public forum and proclaims his agenda has great merit. Such proclaimation matters.
The SOTU address is more than a pep rally speech. W demonstrated this. It is a summation, an opportunity to underscore what he wants us to believe is worth our attention and will be worth his. It is not a series of promises by any means. It is too general for that. But as a reflection, a Cliff's Notes, it is still worthy of our time.
That being said, there was little new to the President's rhetoric. The "oil addiction" piece was interesting, but as the alternatives that he supports are also supported by Big Oil and the reigning power companies, he's really not going out on a limb with the statement. Had he said "The government will invest $?? billion in support of research firms large and small, public and private, to assist in the creation of sustainable and renewable energy technologies" then we'd have something to talk about. His comment was a throw-away comment.
Same W. Different day. Take it or leave it. He does keep it simple that way.
Posted by tripp at February 1, 2006 09:00 AM