notes on the state of the union

We've been placed in office by the votes of the people we serve. And tonight, that is a privilege we share with newly elected leaders of Afghanistan, the Palestinian territories, Ukraine, and a free and sovereign Iraq. (Cheers, applause.)

(Wow – after an election in which the votes have not yet been counted, Iraq is “free and sovereign! That was quick!)

America's economy is the fastest growing of any major industrialized nation. In the past four years we've provided tax relief to every person who pays income taxes, overcome a recession, opened up new markets abroad, prosecuted corporate criminals, raised homeownership to its highest level in history, and in the last year alone the United States has added 2.3 million new jobs. (Cheers, applause.)

(I find it amazing how just saying something makes in true in some people’s eyes. Tax relief is primarily aimed at the rich, I believe that it is very debatable that we have “overcome a recession”, we know that there are a vast number of corporate criminals that have escaped any prosecution (including Cheney and his Halliburton cronies), and the added new jobs have not outweighed the lost jobs.)

America's prosperity requires restraining the spending appetite of the federal government. I welcome the bipartisan enthusiasm for spending discipline. I will send you a budget that holds the growth of discretionary spending below inflation, makes tax relief permanent, and stays on track to cut the deficit in half by 2009. My budget substantially reduces or eliminates more than 150 government programs that are not getting results or duplicate current efforts or do not fulfill essential priorities.
The principle here is clear: Taxpayer dollars must be spent wisely or not at all.

(Hmmm, wonder who is going to determine which programs are “not getting results”? Obviously, tax dollars being “spent wisely” is a highly debatable concept! Billions upon billions for a war based on lies could be considered “unwise”!)

To make our economy stronger and more dynamic, we must prepare a rising generation to fill the jobs of the 21st century. Under the No Child Left Behind Act, standards are higher, test scores are on the rise, and we're closing the achievement gap for minority students. Now we must demand better results from our high schools so every high school diploma is a ticket to success.

(Funny how he tries to throw us back to the stone age while referencing the 21st century constantly!
Also, we know that the No Child Left Behind act is not performing nearly as well as was expected and is underfunded.)

So we must free small businesses from needless regulation and protection honest job creators from junk lawsuits. (Applause.)
Justice is distorted and our economy is held back by irresponsible class actions and frivolous asbestos claims, and I urge Congress to pass legal reforms this year.

(How often is he going to rant about “junk lawsuits”? He wants to wipe out any protection we have against big corporations while claiming that he’s doing it for small businesses! I find it particularly odd that he specifically mentioned “asbestos claims”.)

To make our economy stronger and more productive, we must make health care more affordable and give families greater access to good coverage -- (applause) --
and more control over their health decisions. (Applause.)
I -- I ask Congress to move forward on a comprehensive health care agenda with tax credits to help low-income workers buy insurance, a community health center in every poor county, improved information technology to prevent medical error and needless costs, association health plans for small business and their employees --
(cheers, applause) -- expanded health savings accounts -- (cheers, applause) --and medical liability reform that will reduce health care costs and make sure patients have the doctors and care they need. (Cheers, applause.)

(Actually, he wants to create a system in which most people will NOT be able to afford to go to a doctor at all.)

To keep our economy growing, we also need reliable supplies of affordable, environmentally responsible energy. (Cheers, applause.)

(Which, to him, strictly means nuclear energy!)

My Clear Skies legislation will cut power plant pollution and improve the health of our citizens. (Applause.) And my budget provides strong funding for leading-edge technology, from hydrogen-fueled cars to clean coal to renewable sources such as ethanol. (Applause.) Four years of debate is enough! (Cheers.) I urge Congress to pass legislation that makes America more secure and less dependent on foreign energy. (Cheers, applause.)

(Funny, we know that the “clear skies” legislation actually has increased pollution! Yes, four years of debate is enough – he needs to compromise and not let his big business buddies get all of the benefits and the people get the shaft!)

One of America's most important institutions, a symbol of the trust between generations, is also in need of wise and effective reform. Social Security was a great moral success of the 20th century, and we must honor its great purposes in this new century. (Applause.)
The system, however, on its current path, is headed toward bankruptcy, and so we must join together to strengthen and save Social Security. (Cheers, applause.)
In today's world, people are living longer, and therefore drawing benefits longer -- and those benefits are scheduled to rise dramatically over the next few decades. (Scattered applause.)

(Do you get the feeling that people thought that they needed to applaud about something every minute or so and it didn’t even matter what they were applauding?)

And by 2033, the annual shortfall would be more than $300 billion. By the year 2042, the entire system would be exhausted and bankrupt. (Noes are heard.) If steps are not taken to avert that outcome, the only solutions would be dramatically higher taxes, massive new borrowing, or sudden and severe cuts in Social Security benefits or other government programs. (Noes are heard.)

(Interesting that he does not mention the trillions that it will cost to start his program or the fact the he will be cutting benefits significantly. The camera did not show the dissenting Democrats, either!)

But we have to move ahead with courage and honesty, because our children's retirement security is more important than partisan politics. (Applause.)

(If only that were true and bush wasn’t creating a partisan split for no real reason!)

I will work with members of Congress to find the most effective combination of reforms. I will listen to anyone who has a good idea to offer.

(Of course, he amends this by listing a number of options that he will not listen to!)

As we fix Social Security, we also have the responsibility to make the system a better deal for younger workers, and the best way to reach that goal is through voluntary personal retirement accounts.
Here is why personal accounts are a better deal. Your money will grow, over time, at a greater rate than anything the current system can deliver, and your account will provide money for retirement over and above the check you will receive from Social Security.

(So he is GUARANTEEING that your money will grow, even though that is impossible to do in the stock market. And he doesn’t mention the decrease in benefits that you will receive under this plan. I’ve never quite understood why this is being forced on us, since anyone who wants to do this has a number of options for it already. Obviously, it is not because they are looking out for our best interests!)

Government is not the source of these values, but government should never undermine them.

(And government should never force them on everyone in the country!)

Because marriage is a sacred institution and the foundation of society, it should not be redefined by activist judges. For the good of families, children and society, I support a constitutional amendment to protect the institution of marriage. (Cheers, applause.)

(Thought he had given up on this for now – wonder if he just wanted to work it in his speech or if he really is going to go after this discriminatory, divisive amendment.)

To build a culture of life, we must also ensure that scientific advances always serve human dignity, not take advantage of some lives for the benefit of others. (Applause.) We should all be able to agree -- (applause) -- we should all be able to agree on some clear standards. I will work with Congress to ensure that human embryos are not created for experimentation or grown for body parts, and that human life is never bought or sold as a commodity. (Applause.)
America will continue to lead the world in medical research that is ambitious, aggressive and always ethical.

(Again, seems like his fans were just jonesing to applaud, no matter what he said! And, of course, his version of “ethics” seems to be far narrower than most people’s!)

The Constitution also gives the Senate a responsibility: Every judicial nominee deserves an up-or-down vote. (Cheers, applause.)

(A not very subtle stab at the Dems and the possibility of filibustering.)

Our government will continue to support faith-based and community groups that bring hope to harsh places.

(He certainly has not problem supporting “faith-based” groups to the exclusion of others!)
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In America, we must make doubly sure no person is held to account for a crime he or she did not commit, so we are dramatically expanding the use of DNA evidence to prevent wrongful conviction. (Applause.) Soon I will send to Congress a proposal to fund special training for defense counsel in capital cases because people on trial for their lives must have competent lawyers by their side. (Applause.)

(Oddly enough, a couple of statements that actually make sense! Though, considering his derision of trial lawyers, the second one is a bit out of place.)

Our third responsibility to future generations is to leave them an America that is safe from danger and protected by peace. We will pass along to our children all the freedoms we enjoy; and chief among them is freedom from fear.

(hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha)

Our nation, working with allies and friends, has also confronted the enemy abroad, with measures that are determined, successful and continuing. The al Qaeda terror network that attacked our country still has leaders, but many of its top commanders have been removed. There are still governments that sponsor and harbor terrorists, but their number has declined. There are still regimes seeking weapons of mass destruction, but no longer without attention and without consequence. Our country is still the target of terrorists who want to kill many and intimidate us all, and we will stay on the offensive against them until the fight is won. (Cheers, applause.)

(What a balancing act! We’ve made progress, but they’re still out there. We’re doing great, but you must stay afraid!)

During this time of war, we must continue to support our military and give them the tools for victory. (Applause.)

(As opposed to what they have been doing!)

In the long term, the peace we seek will only be achieved by eliminating the conditions that feed radicalism and ideologies of murder. If whole regions of the world remain in despair and grow in hatred, they will be the recruiting grounds for terror, and that terror will stalk America and other free nations for decades. The only force powerful enough to stop the rise of tyranny and terror, and replace hatred with hope, is the force of human freedom. (Cheers, applause.)

(Translation – we will kill for peace and continue to create breeding grounds for terrorists with our actions.)

The United States has no right, no desire and no intention to impose our form of government on anyone else.

(Man – how could he say THAT with a straight face?!)

And because democracies respect their own people and their neighbors, the advance of freedom will lead to peace. (Applause.)

(funny, our democracy doesn’t seem to do this!)

To promote peace in the broader Middle East, we must confront regimes that continue to harbor terrorists and pursue weapons of mass murder. Syria still allows its territory, and parts of Lebanon, to be used by terrorists who seek to destroy every chance of peace in the region.
You have passed, and we are applying, the Syrian Accountability Act, and we expect the Syrian government to end all support for terror and open the door to freedom. (Applause.)
Today, Iran remains the world's primary state sponsor of terror, pursuing nuclear weapons while depriving its people of the freedom they seek and deserve. We are working with European allies to make clear to the Iranian regime that it must give up its uranium enrichment program and any plutonium reprocessing and end its support for terror. And to the Iranian people, I say tonight: As you stand for your own liberty, America stands with you. (Cheers, applause.)

(Here we go – war with Iran and Syria!)

Our generational commitment to the advance of freedom, especially in the Middle East, is now being tested and honored in Iraq. That country is a vital front in the war on terror, which is why the terrorists have chosen to make a stand there. Our men and women in uniform are fighting terrorists in Iraq so we do not have to face them here at home. (Applause.)

(Funny that they weren’t there until we invaded and no one there was a threat to us in any way, shape or form.)

We are standing for the freedom of our Iraqi friends, and freedom in Iraq will make America safer for generations to come. (Cheers, applause.)

(Quite a leap in logic there!)

Right now, Americans in uniform are serving at posts across the world, often taking great risks, on my orders. We have given them training and equipment, and they have given us an example of idealism and character that makes every American proud. (Applause.) The volunteers of our military are unrelenting in battle, unwavering in loyalty, unmatched in honor and decency, and every day they are making our nation more secure.

(Well, his speech writers sure know what to throw in there – we have given the “volunteers of our military” the “equipment” they need – hitting 2 sore spots at once.)

The attack on freedom in our world has reaffirmed our confidence in freedom'spower to change the world. We are all part of a great venture: to extend the promise of freedom in our country, to renew the values that sustain our liberty, and to spread the peace that freedom brings.

(In 2 sentences, 9/11 became an attack on our freedom and the reason why we went to war! His speech writers do their jobs! I could never re-write history that succinctly!)