State of the Union? Or Disunion of the State?
January 24th 2007 00:21
Tonight is the President's annual State of the Union (SOTU) address. I'll be watching -- as I always do. I enjoy the pageantry of the SOTU and I appreciate the historical nature of this event that is such an important part of our nation's history.
With that being said, I'm not optimistic that I'll enjoy much about the speech itself. According to the media, Iraq will definitely be one of the issues Bush discusses. Despite his recent announcement of a troop surge, I don't see much that is new or dramatic in what he's doing there. This is "Groundhog Day" territory. The only thing that's new is the ready-to-boil-over impatience of the country and his own party when it comes to his actions on the Iraq issue. That ship hasn't completely sailed, but it's getting ready to leave the harbor.
Bush will also speak about a wide swath of domestic issues. He has been relatively hands-off on domestic issues during his presidency. I don't know if this was intentional or if he lacks the ability to do two things at once -- even with a staff the size of a small army. According to NPR:
While these domestic issues need attention, I'm not excited about the President trying to drive the agenda. As a conservative, I have several reasons to be pessimistic:
* Bush will try to "make nice" with the Dems and give them whatever they want. I'm all for bipartisanship, but it shouldn't be at the expense of your party's core principles.
* In "making nice", he will acquiesce to the big government positions on these issues. Bush has already been a huge disappointment with regard to the concept of smaller government. Now, he seems to be dropping any remaining facade that could be used to classify him as a fiscal conservative.
* He will continue to outline "pie in the sky" goals and then conveniently forget them until this time next year. Here, I'm mostly referring to his references to energy and oil. I'm more than tired of hearing the same old schtick from the SOTU's and getting no follow-up action to back up those soaring, visionary goals.
* He will look buffoonish. Bush has always had "the smirk". Me? I'm tired of his smirk. If a smirk is part of your expressive repertoire -- especially given the current situation our country faces -- then you just don't get it. Also, his butchering of the English language (grammar, pronunciation, etc.) is unsettling. I don't expect an English professor as president, but I do expect effective communication. I used to be williing to overlook these peccadilloes, but now they are tiresome.
This is a president who no longer seems up to the job of leading our nation. I expect cognizance, coherence, and competence from any president. And from a Republican, I also expect conservatism. Sadly, I don't think Bush is hitting the target on any of these.
And, unfortunately, I don't think his aim will get any better tonight at the SOTU.
With that being said, I'm not optimistic that I'll enjoy much about the speech itself. According to the media, Iraq will definitely be one of the issues Bush discusses. Despite his recent announcement of a troop surge, I don't see much that is new or dramatic in what he's doing there. This is "Groundhog Day" territory. The only thing that's new is the ready-to-boil-over impatience of the country and his own party when it comes to his actions on the Iraq issue. That ship hasn't completely sailed, but it's getting ready to leave the harbor.
Bush will also speak about a wide swath of domestic issues. He has been relatively hands-off on domestic issues during his presidency. I don't know if this was intentional or if he lacks the ability to do two things at once -- even with a staff the size of a small army. According to NPR:
Word from the White House suggests that the president will briefly ask for support on his plan for Iraq, but that he'll spend more time focusing on domestic policy and reaching out to Democrats.
Specifically, Mr. Bush is expected to address health-insurance tax changes to help the uninsured, as well as immigration and energy.
Specifically, Mr. Bush is expected to address health-insurance tax changes to help the uninsured, as well as immigration and energy.
While these domestic issues need attention, I'm not excited about the President trying to drive the agenda. As a conservative, I have several reasons to be pessimistic:
* Bush will try to "make nice" with the Dems and give them whatever they want. I'm all for bipartisanship, but it shouldn't be at the expense of your party's core principles.
* In "making nice", he will acquiesce to the big government positions on these issues. Bush has already been a huge disappointment with regard to the concept of smaller government. Now, he seems to be dropping any remaining facade that could be used to classify him as a fiscal conservative.
* He will continue to outline "pie in the sky" goals and then conveniently forget them until this time next year. Here, I'm mostly referring to his references to energy and oil. I'm more than tired of hearing the same old schtick from the SOTU's and getting no follow-up action to back up those soaring, visionary goals.
* He will look buffoonish. Bush has always had "the smirk". Me? I'm tired of his smirk. If a smirk is part of your expressive repertoire -- especially given the current situation our country faces -- then you just don't get it. Also, his butchering of the English language (grammar, pronunciation, etc.) is unsettling. I don't expect an English professor as president, but I do expect effective communication. I used to be williing to overlook these peccadilloes, but now they are tiresome.
This is a president who no longer seems up to the job of leading our nation. I expect cognizance, coherence, and competence from any president. And from a Republican, I also expect conservatism. Sadly, I don't think Bush is hitting the target on any of these.
And, unfortunately, I don't think his aim will get any better tonight at the SOTU.
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