Obviously not Bush's best performance, but with his approval rating in the shitter and the consumer confidence level fairly below the norm, he started to play toward the middle and it made for a lot better, sensible politics on a few of the issues. Thinking of a Texas Oil man talking about alternative energy still puts a smile on my face. But of course Iraq and Iran were the centerpiece once again and I think that just served to be a constant reminder that while he may have good ideas (actually No Child Left Behind wasn't that bad of an idea, either) the execution of this administration has been pretty piss poor.

I was kinda disappointed with the Democrats acting like a bunch of school children though when he mentioned Social Security not passing. Its one thing to shoot down poor legislation, its another to gloat about it at a very inappropriate time.

Thoughts?

They sure had shown Hillary enough last night. Thats the Democratic great white hope. Should make for an interesting election year if anything else.

Obviously not Bush's best performance, but with his approval rating in the shitter and the consumer confidence level fairly below the norm, he started to play toward the middle and it made for a lot better, sensible politics on a few of the issues. Thinking of a Texas Oil man talking about alternative energy still puts a smile on my face. But of course Iraq and Iran were the centerpiece once again and I think that just served to be a constant reminder that while he may have good ideas (actually No Child Left Behind wasn't that bad of an idea, either) the execution of this administration has been pretty piss poor.

I was kinda disappointed with the Democrats acting like a bunch of school children though when he mentioned Social Security not passing. Its one thing to shoot down poor legislation, its another to gloat about it at a very inappropriate time.

Thoughts?

Yeah seeing Bush call for less dependance on foriegn oil is funny. I remember some president back in the '70s named Carter and a guy named Kerry in the 2004 election saying the same thing, too bad not enough people listened.

But of course now, as Bush says, we are bringing the wonders of democracy to the middle east we find ourselves listening to him saying we can't depend on it for oil. That might have to do with voters liking Hamas, The Muslim Brotherhood and guys like Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Thanks for playing democracy! So with that dose of "watch out what you wish for" Bush is more so than ever looking like a completely ignorant fool.

I learned that everything can be solved by spending. And that we're already saving money by putting war appropriations in special requisitions rather than in the actual budget.

It is often like a friend of mine (a real Bush hater) said this morning. "You know, I usually agree with the principle of what he says - like the things he said in the speech. BUt the execution makes me want to shoot people."

I grade it an A-... Nothing unusual and SOTU addresses are generaly boring clap fests. I can not give him the deserved A+ due to the week immigration reform he outlined. IMHO we need TOUGH immigration policy. Mass deportations and contact with the companies building the wall in Isreal so that we to may have one on our borders.... Otherwise a good speech, just nothing too new.

I read an interesting economics article today talking about how to sustain social security.

One of the things economists agreed that needed to be done was to encourage immigration so that more workers came in, took jobs, and payed into the system.

http://finance.yahoo.com/columnist/article/economist/2415

the execution makes me want to shoot people."execution, hah... OH TEH PUNZ

Osgillath ...
Its really fucking hot in Texas. Have you ever been there? Would you work outside on a wall to stretch along the border, because most American's wouldn't. However, those immigrants you are so down on (oh hey, you were born 100 miles to the north you are THAT much superior) would happily build that wall for you. I suppose they could build the wall from the other side though ... as to not make you upset.

As for Hillary, I think you missed another "Great White Hope" that made an appearance for the first time last night. Here's a hint, he's from a state where you'd expect people to act and think (well think may be a bit strong) like Osgillath and yet ... he's a democrat.

Evan Bayh '08!

Well, once the speech took over regular programming, I put in "Fierce Creatures", the second movie featuring the cast of Kline, Cleese, Palin and Curtis. While there were a few moments from time to time that garnered a laugh, and a few that actually had me sit up and watch closer, all in all it seemed to lack substance, and continuity was so-so. Basically, while the same players were involved, any attempt to build on the success of the first attempt was sorely lacking.

Hmmm, one would almost think I had been watching the speech.

Edit: had the name of the movie wrong, heh.

lol wonder how your ancestors would of felt if TOUGH immigration laws were passed. What country would you be in?

Erect a wall huh, Germany tried that once.

Actually Grey twasn't Germany's idea to build that wall in the City of Berlin.

Fandros

The Germans called the Berlin Wall antifaschistischer Schutzwall (Anti-Fascist Protection Wall).

Shall we call ours the Anti-Wetback Protection Wall?

Before you get your asshairs in a frizz, I'm not a hater. I picked "wetback" for a reason. Mostly due to Carlos Mencia's rise to popularity. He does a bit where he states that Mexican Americans are called wetbacks by people in America. At the same time, Mexicans in Mexico call Mexican Americans pochos, which is spanish for...you guessed it, wetback. So, it seems that Mexicans and Americans are in agreement on this term in the world according to Carlos.

Funny bit (http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/news/nation/13767738.htm?source=rss&channel=krwashington_nation):
One day after President Bush vowed to reduce America's dependence on Middle East oil by cutting imports from there 75 percent by 2025, his energy secretary and national economic adviser said Wednesday that the president didn't mean it literally.
I'm hoping Scott McClellan will go through the speach line by line pointing out where the President was speaking metaphorically. Or maybe it was Opposite Day.

The German wall was erected to keep people *in*, not to keep people out.

The US can use a steady flow of immigrants, but it should be a controlled flow and you should know who it is that is coming in. IMO they should make it easier for documented aliens to legally enter the US for work, but much more difficult for the illegals. Channel the immigration appropriately.

The status quo allows anybody to get in through the Mexican border (and to a lesser extent the Canadian border), including foreigners intent on conducting attacks in the US and various criminal organizations.

I'm curious about something that Bush said in the State of the Union address. He said we were addicted to oil and we need to seek alternatives. Good point, but after a bit of research we see that the very next day Samuel Bodman the energy secretary said that Bush really didn't mean that, he was just using it as an example.

Then I see that the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (which is the very place that would research those alternatives) is laying off its staff in the areas of alternative energies such as wind and biomass (which includes ethanol).

Just thought I'd point this out.

I guess he was just playing to the 5 million or so that think everything he say's is the truth because he is a man of God.

Maybe Bush is aware that most energy producers on the globe would rather do business with China in the future. China has a vast demand with the money in the bank to pay for it and the strongest economy in the world in terms of growth to assure the money keeps on going inot that bank. Something like 80% of the world's population which also is sitting on top of the majority of the world's resources are not too keen on preserving the US's current role in the world. Russia, Iran, most of Latin America that has oil reserves are more then likely placing their bets on China as being the new global leader. With China building up its military with one or two carrier battlegroups on the wishlist, China will able to drive a really hard bargain in the near future if they get the navy they want in order to project power. They certainly have the money to develop one in due time. So perhaps it does take a Texas oil man to have a pretty keen understanding of the world's most valuable commodity: Energy.

So yes, inovation is required for the survival of the US. If the world turns its back on the US, which it is to some degree, than what other choice is there?

Before you get your asshairs in a frizz, I'm not a hater. I picked "wetback" for a reason. Mostly due to Carlos Mencia's rise to popularity. He does a bit where he states that Mexican Americans are called wetbacks by people in America. At the same time, Mexicans in Mexico call Mexican Americans pochos, which is spanish for...you guessed it, wetback. So, it seems that Mexicans and Americans are in agreement on this term in the world according to Carlos.

Carlos Mencia isnt even Mexican. Enough said.

anyone else catch him mention "human/animal hybrid DNA testing?

anyone else catch him mention "human/animal hybrid DNA testing?

Here is that portion of the speech:
Tonight I ask you to pass legislation to prohibit the most egregious abuses of medical research, human cloning in all its forms, creating or implanting embryos for experiments, creating human-animal hybrids, and buying, selling or patenting human embryos.
He might be referring to research such as that carried out in the hope of a cure for Down's Syndrome. Down's results from an extra copy of chromosome 21 and causes mild to moderate mental retardation, a weakened immune system and heart defects. A team of researchers recently was able to insert a full copy of human chromosome 21 into mouse embryonic stem cells. These resulted in mice that have many of the characteristics of Down's Syndrome, which will help scientists better understand what causes the problem and work toward more effective treatment.

That's the sort of thing Bush seems to want to stop.