State of the Union address met with skepticism
President Bush’s State of the Union address Jan. 23 was business
as usual, much to the chagrin of many present. During his address
the President hit on such topics as healthcare and alternative
energy, and of course, the war in Iraq.
State of the Union address met with skepticism
President Bush’s State of the Union address Jan. 23 was business as usual, much to the chagrin of many present. During his address the President hit on such topics as healthcare and alternative energy, and of course, the war in Iraq.
“I think the biggest surprise was how uncomfortable the President looked,” said Congressman Sam Farr, after the address. “He didn’t convey much passion for what he was talking about and he certainly had the fewest applauses of any of the speeches he’s given of late.”
Part of the reason the President may have seemed so despondent is that he is hampered by his lowest approval ratings in polls and was delivering his annual State of the Union address before the first Democratic House and Senate in 12 years.
Bush appealed to Congress in his State of the Union speech to give his Iraq strategy a chance to work, running into a wall of skepticism, especially from Democrats who control the House and Senate. He faced a skeptical Congress and American public who strongly oppose his sentiments to send more troops to Iraq.
However he glossed over topics of health care reform and alternative energy production and generally gleamed over other issues such as immigration as well, according to Farr.
“He didn’t offer any bold solutions and discussed things he still hasn’t delivered on,” Farr said.
Farr said he felt like Bush intentionally waited until the end of his speech to discuss the topic of the war in Iraq and at that point he brought up proposed legislation that Congress has already voted down twice.
“I think it would make more sense to send 21,000 Congress people to Iraq than an additional 21,000 soldiers,” Farr said. “Both the House and the Senate will continue to support the troops in Iraq, but I think as far as policy is concerned, you will continue to see Congress reject Bush’s proposals.”
Presidential hopefuls from both parties aired their thoughts on the Iraq policy during morning talk shows Wednesday. Democratic presidential aspirants Barack Obama and Bill Richardson voiced firm opposition to Bush’s troop escalation.
“He has not made the case,” Obama, an Illinois senator, said on CBS’ “The Early Show.”
Two Republican presidential hopefuls – Arizona Sen. John McCain and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani – countered that there is no choice but to give Bush’s plan a chance to succeed.
“It’s the only game in town,” McCain said on the same program.
The President also admitted freely that he is a newborn on the alternative energy issue, but Farr’s assessment is that Bush lacks follow through.
Bush declared climate change a “serious challenge” but did not endorse proposals for mandatory reductions of greenhouse gas emissions.
“The idea of climate change finally passed his lips,” Obama said. “That’s long overdue.”
The other major initiative called for in Bush’s speech was for making employer-financed health care benefits taxable income after a deduction of $15,000 for families and $7,500 for individuals.
Farr felt like California is way ahead of the President in terms of healthcare.
“The tax situation seems silly for people who are already insured,” Farr said.
Associated Press special correspondent David Espo and White House correspondent Terence Hunt contributed to this report.
Patrick O’Donnell can be reached at po*******@pi**********.com.
