Thoughts on the State of the Union

I think President Bush accomplished what he needed to last night with the speech. Long on generalities concerning terrorism, oil dependency (yay!) and social security, it didn't get down into the weeds of arcane public policy proposals a la Clinton. At this stage of his presidency, I think that Bush needs to tighten his focus to only the key priorities. Getting bogged down in the details is not in his interest right now ... he should leave that to those lining up for '08. The full text can be read here.

A few thoughts:

- Hilary's hawkishness on national security was betrayed by her smirk and slow shaking of her head from side to side when electronic eavesdropping was mentioned.

- What was with the near-orgasmic reaction of the Dems in the House to the mention of the rejection of Social Security reform?

- Money passage:

Our coalition has learned from experience in Iraq. We have adjusted our military tactics and changed our approach to reconstruction. Along the way, we have benefited from responsible criticism and counsel offered by members of Congress of both parties. In the coming year, I will continue to reach out and seek your good advice.

Yet there is a difference between responsible criticism that aims for success, and defeatism that refuses to acknowledge anything but failure. Hindsight alone is not wisdom. And second-guessing is not a strategy.

With so much in the balance, those of us in public office have a duty to speak with candor. A sudden withdrawal of our forces from Iraq would abandon our Iraqi allies to death and prison put men like bin Laden and Zarqawi in charge of a strategic country and show that a pledge from America means little.

Members of Congress: however we feel about the decisions and debates of the past, our nation has only one option: We must keep our word, defeat our enemies, and stand behind the American military in its vital mission.

Overall rating: B+