State Of The Union Address

[Pandora 77]

If you didn't see/hear it, you can read the transcript here. You can watch the video that the FNC cameras took here. (this is the site's homepage, so it may be moved in 24 hours.)

Since I have to get up before the sun, I'll post my thoughts tomorrow... after I've perused the transcript THOROUGHLY... SEVERAL times. I've got a bunch of favorite points I want to quote correctly.

[Roethlisberger 0]

Bush's speech was less about the war, so I liked it a lot more.

[Alexander 0]

A strong America must also value the institution of marriage. I believe we should respect individuals as we take a principled stand for one of the most fundamental, enduring institutions of our civilization.

Congress has already taken a stand on this issue by passing the Defense of Marriage Act, signed in 1996 by President Clinton. That statute protects marriage under Federal law as the union of a man and a woman, and declares that one state may not redefine marriage for other states.

Activist judges, however, have begun redefining marriage by court order, without regard for the will of the people and their elected representatives. On an issue of such great consequence, the people's voice must be heard. If judges insist on forcing their arbitrary will upon the people, the only alternative left to the people would be the constitutional process. Our nation must defend the sanctity of marriage.

The outcome of this debate is important, and so is the way we conduct it. The same moral tradition that defines marriage also teaches that each individual has dignity and value in God's sight.

It is also important to strengthen our communities by unleashing the compassion of America's religious institutions. Religious charities of every creed are doing some of the most vital work in our country, mentoring children, feeding the hungry, taking the hand of the lonely. Yet government has often denied social service grants and contracts to these groups just because they have a cross or Star of David or crescent on the wall.

By Executive Order, I have opened billions of dollars in grant money to competition that includes faith-based charities. Tonight I ask you to codify this into law, so people of faith can know that the law will never discriminate against them again.

Wow, too close to a theocracy there, Bush. :|

[Princess 35]

Had we failed to act, Security Council resolutions on Iraq would have been revealed as empty threats, weakening the United Nations and encouraging defiance by dictators around the world.

So it's ok for one man to defy the UN instead? I found the speech to be too focused on the war and all the war against terror crap. And had I been participating in this, I would have downed 11 shots in the first minute. Someone, somewhere, died of alcohol poisoning tonight. Bush needed to tell more on what he was going to do for the middle class that is the majority of the country. He does NOT have my vote in the next election

[Andy 60]

Pfft. From what I've seen governments never help the middle classes, they focus on minorities and all that crap. It's quite pathetic really.

[chozen 1]

Well Beeurd, if you're talking in any way about the present government. They focus on all poorer people. And for this I am grateful. He's doing a lot of good; the media just focuses on his stupid discussions, like taking the whole country to war with out her consent.

He's brought more equality to British politics and the Justice system. He's cut down the amount of asylum applications and lowered down then number of illegal immigrants in the country. Which he's had a hard time doing because of the mixed and varied change in the British public's opinion. One minute it was; "Let them all in its unfair and against UN policies that we stop them from coming in". Now it's: "Chuck out the ******* immigrants!?

(lol.. all the links are from Foxnews *cough* Bullsith site *cough*)

[Mara 29]

Fox News is a lot more fair then CNN or others are.

[chozen 1]

RUPERT K MURDOCH... Owns Fox.

I trust the BBC, and sometimes ITV, for impartial advice. All American news corps are biased in my opinion.

[Bad furday 57]

yay ITV!

*in British announcer voice* " You're watching Formula 1 on ITV!" :p

[chozen 1]

You get ITV? Staelite? hmm.. pretty cool.

[Bad furday 57]

No, sadly I don't get ITV...or the BBC for that matter...

luckily, there are folks out there who post things from the tv..online....hence I know...*keeps quiet* :p

[chozen 1]

You're sooo lucky.. I'm forced with it.. It's crap. Although you'd like the F1 racing.. apart from that.. You'd only get eastenders.. mwa hahahahaha!

[Andy 60]

Well Beeurd, if you're talking in any way about the present government. They focus on all poorer people. And for this I am grateful.

Well, I ***** ain't!

My family is in the exact category of people that the government seem to have forgotten about. Labour has done NOTHING to help me or my family, with the exeption of raising the minimum wage.

Most 'poor' people are more well off than us: having their bills paid, and benefits and tax reductions... Grrr, makes me so goddamn mad.

When my dad was made redundant, we nearly lost our home and everything. At the moment we are coping with what we have now that my dad has some really crappy factory job. I give quarter of my wages to my parents and paying for driving lessons, buses, taxis, internet, and general stuff that I need throught the weeks quickly eats up the rest of it.

[chozen 1]

.. I'm going through the same sith, granted on a lesser scale.. I had to only give up my job because I was doing so bad with other aspects of my life.. And if you're in a certain income brackett then you shouldn't be getting taxed as much.

But a lot of people who I know have really got help.. And none of them are these stupid dicks from Bosnia that you hear about in the news.. Everyones doing sith apart from those who were born into money.

And what the hell will the torries do to make it better? Less taxes? But also they could bump down the minimum wage.. and then we'd all be screwed. And it's a god damn myth.. These poor people aren't getting everything done for them, sure they're getting vouchers and crap to help to get marks and sparks jumpers or some other sith like that. But it's not like they're all getting free housing and free cars.

The Torries won't help me or you either.. They won't help anyone, really.

[Andy 60]

Perhaps I should have worded that last post differently. I wasn't attacking you, Chozen, just the government for not catering for ALL of those they represent.

He's cut down the amount of asylum applications and lowered down then number of illegal immigrants in the country.

Pfft, it was his problem to start with. And as for the illegal immigrants - he just made them all legal so they could leech money from the government.

And I always said, and still say: Send them all back home to wherever it is the came from.

I trust the BBC, and sometimes ITV, for impartial advice. All American news corps are biased in my opinion.

Yeah, BBC are required by UK law to be unbiased. In fact, they recently suspended someone (who later resigned) because they said something in an interview that was deemed racist.

[chozen 1]

Perhaps I should have worded that last post differently. I wasn't attacking you, Chozen, just the government for not catering for ALL of those they represent.

Granted.. Yes.. You're right.. But I still don't trust the torries.. They just stole money from the country last time.

Pfft, it was his problem to start with. And as for the illegal immigrants - he just made them all legal so they could leech money from the government.

And I always said, and still say: Send them all back home to wherever it is the came from.

It was his fault.. But you can remember when everyone wanted immigrants in.. Then changed their damn mind after, it was screwed..

And yes.. If there isn;t any more wars going on.. Send them back.. they don't need to be here..

And another thing I hate is those damn people who come over for damn hospital cover.. it pisses me off. Why the hell should I donate my kidney to some prat who should get help in his own country.. It's annoying..

they said something in an interview that was deemed racist.

Which I would like to add was not.. He spoke the truth.. It was taken the wrong way by two people.

[Pandora 77]

*cough* State of the Union is about America, not Britian. *cough cough*

OKAY, my thoughts! (yea)

I first want to point out that this was probably Bush's most well-delivered speech yet, and I look foreward to hearing four more years of them.

My FAVORITE passage was this: "Some critics have said our duties in Iraq must be internationalized. This particular criticism is hard to explain to our partners in Britain, Australia, Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, Thailand, Italy, Spain, Poland, Denmark, Hungary, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Romania, *interrupted for applause*the Netherlands, Norway, El Salvador, and the 17 other countries that have committed troops to Iraq." And I get the feeling the democrats hated it. Why? He's right.

I liked his rebuttle to criticisms that we didn't use enough diplomacy with Iraq: "Nine months of intense negotiations involving the United States and Great Britain succeeded with Libya, while 12 years of diplomacy with Iraq did not."

"Different threats require different strategies" should dispel a few rumors that we should be in North Korea right now instead of Iraq. *crosses fingers*

"America will never seek a permission slip to defend the security of our people." Translation: Our actions will be swifter than ever. (clock this, Bartlett police [local joke])

"We have no desire to dominate, no ambitions of empire." Believe it or not, the Republican party is not a bunch of commies. (Mrs. "Hitler" looked very proud of her husband, by the way).

For those of you that think he doesn't care about the middle class, I've got news for you: "... reduced the marriage penalty, begun to phase out the death tax, reduced taxes on capital gains and stock dividends, cut taxes on small businesses, and you have lowered taxes for every American who pays income taxes." --If you're middle class, you pay taxes, and if you pay taxes, you'll feel this one.

"The pace of economic growth in the third quarter of 2003 was the fastest in nearly 20 years. New home construction: the highest in almost 20 years. Home ownership rates: the highest ever." = advancement of the middle class, and the beginnings of of un-welfare-related success for the lower classes (who are STILL getting way more than their fair share of help, I might add).

"Manufacturing activity is increasing. Inflation is low. Interest rates are low. Exports are growing. Productivity is high. And jobs are on the rise." JOBS ARE ON THE RISE!!!! Yeah, people lost jobs, but let's look at why: after 9/11 and going into the war, Bush said don't panic, go about your daily lives as best as you can. What happened? People paniced. Companies lost money, businesses went under, and consequently, people got laid off. Now it's getting better.

"These numbers confirm that the American people are using their money far better than government would have, and you were right to return it." GASP! People know how to use their own money when they're allowed to keep it??? Who'd a thunk?

"We are requiring higher standards[in schools]." Hey, guess what: now you'll have to work to pass school. Ds aren't enough anymore. No more stupid Americans, huh?

"This nation will not go back to the days of simply shuffling children along from grade to grade without them learning the basics." Can I get a AMEN?????

"I propose larger Pell Grants for students who prepare for college with demanding courses in high school." Dems should like this one: "grant" as in, "free money."

"I propose increasing our support for America's fine community colleges, so they can train workers for the industries that are creating the most new jobs." "community colleges," as in, "colleges that just about any schmoe can afford." Wow, a Republican, supporting the common man? GOT to be a first, right?

"We must continue to pursue an aggressive, pro-growth economic agenda." He is NOT out to destroy the economy afterall, is he?

"Congress has some unfinished business on the issue of taxes. The tax reductions you passed are set to expire. Unless you act, the unfair tax on marriage will go back up. Unless you act, millions of families will be charged 300 dollars more in Federal taxes for every child. Unless you act, small businesses will pay higher taxes. Unless you act, the death tax will eventually come back to life. Unless you act, Americans face a tax increase." Sorry guys, he's not quite finished helping the needy yet. And yes, that's bad news if you like paying for things you'll never get to touch.

"What the Congress has given, the Congress should not take away: For the sake of job growth, the tax cuts you passed should be permanent." Translation: the working class needs to keep some of their paycheck. It's demoralizing to watch your income go out.

"Our agenda for jobs and growth must help small business owners and employees with relief from needless Federal regulation, and protect them from junk and frivolous lawsuits." How about another AMEN???

"Consumers and businesses need reliable supplies of energy to make our economy run, so I urge you to pass legislation to modernize our electricity system, promote conservation, and make America less dependent on foreign sources of energy." Translation: We've got more than enough oil-rich lands to drill. The polar bears will get on with their lives, I PROMISE.

"This will require that Congress focus on priorities, cut wasteful spending, and be wise with the people's money. By doing so, we can cut the deficit in half over the next five years." Yes, that's right. No more throwing money at problems.

"I propose a new temporary worker program to match willing foreign workers with willing employers, when no Americans can be found to fill the job." Sister Psychic says: I see Texas and Florida re-electing Bush in the first hour of the election.

"I oppose amnesty, because it would encourage further illegal immigration, and unfairly reward those who break our laws." Now I REALLY need an amen!

"By strengthening Medicare and adding a prescription drug benefit, you kept a basic commitment to our seniors: You are giving them the modern medicine they deserve." No, we're not just throwing the elderly out of the workforce, we're helping them out.

"I signed this measure proudly, and any attempt to limit the choices of our seniors, or to take away their prescription drug coverage under Medicare, will meet my veto." Heheh, yeah, bring it.

"A government-run health care system is the wrong prescription. By keeping costs under control, expanding access, and helping more Americans afford coverage, we will preserve the system of private medicine that makes America's health care the best in the world." Yes, we're not a socialist country, thank God.

"We must stand with our families to help them raise healthy, responsible children. And when it comes to helping children make right choices, there is work for all of us to do." Unless you want the world to be run by hoboes in fifteen years.

"The aim here is not to punish children, but to send them this message: We love you, and we don't want to lose you." How ANYONE can POSSIBLY disagree with this is BEYOND me. Drug tests in schools! It's not a violation of privacy, it's every schools right!

"To help children make right choices, they need good examples.... call on team owners, union representatives, coaches, and players to take the lead, to send the right signal, to get tough, and to get rid of steroids now." It takes a community to raise a child, and with the media, the community has about 285 million people in it. That's a lot of grown-ups that need to act like adults.

"To encourage right choices, we must be willing to confront the dangers young people face, even when they are difficult to talk about." What's the Ad Council's new anti-substance-abuse slogan? "Say nothing. Do nothing. Stop nothing"? Yeah-huh, thought so.

"We will double federal funding for abstinence programs, so schools can teach this fact of life: Abstinence for young people is the only certain way to avoid sexually transmitted diseases." And teen pregnancies. No, donating condoms isn't good enough.

"Congress has already taken a stand on this issue [marriage] by passing the Defense of Marriage Act, signed in 1996 by President Clinton. That statute protects marriage under Federal law as the union of a man and a woman, and declares that one state may not redefine marriage for other states." IF YOU STILL THINK THIS IS A REPUBLICAN ISSUE, YOUR THINKING PRIVLIDGES SHOULD BE REVOKED!!!!!!!

"Religious charities of every creed are doing some of the most vital work in our country, mentoring children, feeding the hungry, taking the hand of the lonely. Yet government has often denied social service grants and contracts to these groups just because they have a cross or Star of David or crescent on the wall." And you thought charity was a dirty word in the republican party.

"Tonight I ask you to codify this into law, so people of faith can know that the law will never discriminate against them again." Nope, we're not about to Christian-ify the entire country.

"America is the land of the second chance and when the gates of the prison open, the path ahead should lead to a better life." And, IMHO, the third chance should not come. It can be prevented by the ex-con, or law enforcement, doesn't matter which.

"By our actions, we have shown what kind of nation we are. In grief, we found the grace to go on. In challenge, we rediscovered the courage and daring of a free people. In victory, we have shown the noble aims and good heart of America." And it just KILLS the left that Bush led us through all that and we managed to come out on top. Gee, maybe he knew what he was doing all along?

"It [the letter] began, "Dear George W. Bush." "If there is anything you know, I, Ashley Pearson, age 10, can do to help anyone, please send me a letter and tell me what I can do to save our country." She added this P.S.: "If you can send a letter to the troops, please put, 'Ashley Pearson believes in you.'" This got me a little misty.

"Tonight, Ashley, your message to our troops has just been conveyed. And yes, you have some duties yourself. Study hard in school, listen to your mom and dad, help someone in need, and when you and your friends see a man or woman in uniform, say "thank you." " And I bet you little Ashley Pearson, age 10, does just that. I bet she votes Republican in eight years too.

*sits back with an umbrella and calmly waits for the mud to sling*

[chozen 1]

He made some decent points there.

But I think he's now got the democrats and the church now against him.

I love the way that he's now going to issure drug tests in school. I'm so glad I don't live in the states, as well as the fact that i'd have no hospital coverage to speak of, i'd be pretty much ewoked.

[Pandora 77]

I don't have any medical coverage at ALL, but I'm still doing fine. If I needed help that badly, I know I'd get it. If I contracted cancer or something equally as awful, I know how and where to get the aid I need... course, it also helps I live 45 minutes from the best research hospital in the country.

[chozen 1]

hmmm.. maybe.. But I don't like the thought of being opperated in a gutter just because I'm poorer than the next guy.. Tis, in a way, a breach of equal rights.

But I suppose it works, right?

[Pandora 77]

No it's not. You get what you pay for.

[chozen 1]

But it's still not equal..

If by equal you go by the dictionary meaning:

1. Having the same privileges, status, or rights: equal before the law.

2. The quality or state of being the same in quantity or measure or value or status

[Drake 53]

No it's not. You get what you pay for.

And if you're too poor, you die. That's the problem with a two-tiered health care system.

[Pandora 77]

Not true. When I was born, my family was dirt poor. We lived in a trailer that became a split-level after a tornado hit it, and then was demolished by a flood. Now I have the luxury of a brand-new car, brand-new computer, DSL,a house we built from the ground up (which no one on either side of my family has EVER done before), and a lot more conveniences. But how did we get them? Welfare? Unemployment? Hardly. My parents worked their asses off for sixteen years, never once cheating the system, and paying as many taxes as people making three times as much as their combined incomes. It's perfectly fair, and it's perfectly equal. There is NOTHING stopping ANYONE in this country from living comfortably. You just have to be willing to work at it. And, unfortunately, not a lot of people are willing to work anymore.

[Andy 60]

Althpugh there are always going to be people who simply don't want to work, getting a decent job is easier said than done.