Washblog

It's all so predictable, all so staged, all so managed, all so content-free.  So why attend at all?  Is there some reason to waste your time as a small player in a set-piece?

I'm serious, Congressman.  Don't you have anything more constructive to do on a Tuesday evening?

You're only young once, but you can be immature forever -- Larry Andersen
Blogging at Peace Tree Farm

by N in Seattle on Tue Jan 31, 2006 at 08:51:57 PM PST

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The president's speech to me was nothing but a bunch of soundbites and hot air. The speech tonight conjured up flashbacks of 'healthy forests', 'clean air', and other orwellian phrases that have soured my feelings, and many others. I hope for a Democratic sweep in '06, and that is really all I think about these days.

Thank you again, very much, for showing up here!

by eastside lib on Tue Jan 31, 2006 at 08:46:34 PM PST

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But I'm also still ready to rail at Demo senators who looked opportunity in the face yesterday and ignored it.

At least a chance to make a statement that we are an opposition party that still believes in and honors an American Dream.

Arthur
You sure you ain't staking too much on yer theories? Not enough common sense?

by Arthur Ruger on Tue Jan 31, 2006 at 08:47:25 PM PST

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That did give me some hope, but his record for giving away our taxes to big oil corps and allowing for more pollution seem to refute his speech. Should I be optimistic that an oilman will change?

by botch on Tue Jan 31, 2006 at 08:48:36 PM PST

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I spoke with a friend, and we agreed that the speech seemed to portray a wonderful state of affairs, not what is taking place in the United States.

While our Legislature works hard on health care, energy independence, and the environment, President Bush proposes to cut resources and increase mandates?

I do not feel any better after the president's speech, but Gov Kaine did an excellent job of casting a more hopeful picture of cooperation and results.  I hope we can see that vision realized.

by markoliias on Tue Jan 31, 2006 at 08:53:20 PM PST

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Health care and all I got out of his thoughts on that was somehow electronic records would fix the problem and the OBY/GYNs would come back to rural communities...??

Energy with reference to coal, solar, wind and Nuclear energy.  Better batteries for hybrid cars and making lots more ethanol from other products as well as corn.  Somehow I don't think that's much of a start to address the hard realities.

by Lietta Ruger on Tue Jan 31, 2006 at 08:53:35 PM PST

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I believe that President Bush has spoken about reducing our dependence on oil in every State of the Union speech he has given, but to what real effect has all his speechmaking done? I guess hope springs eternal, but I won't be holding my breath.

The Apollo Energy Project has some real measurable goals that would make a significant difference in our oil consumption.

by Brian on Tue Jan 31, 2006 at 09:00:33 PM PST

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The President's speech tonight was remarkably bereft of any reform related to the kleptocracy that goes on on K Street organized by Tom DeLay and his soon-to-be-elected Blunt or Boehner or Shadegg replacement.  The problem is not the issue of K Street, but rather the election finance system under which we are working.  As long as Members have to raise $500K - $1M just to be in the ballgame, the flow of money around K Street is going to be irresistable.  The President set the tone in his first campaign when he didn't even follow the limits for the presidential campaign and raised infinitely more money than would be allowed under the system.  That hole in campaign finance was never even attempted to be closed by the Congress in the 1970's.  What needs to happen is to develop a system of campaign finance that has limits and gives the ordinary person the sense that he or she can make a contribution that will count even if it's small.  Howard Dean showed the way for us to raise money in small amounts and he scared the Leadership of both parties by the potential that ordinary people could elect their own leaders.  Consider for a moment the effect of every one giving $10 to the candidate for whom they are going to vote for Congress.  If you take my race as an example, 200,000 people will vote for me, which would equal $2 million.  That ought to be enough to end the K Street kleptocracy.

by Jim McDermott on Tue Jan 31, 2006 at 09:01:10 PM PST

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Everytime I hear that person's voice, I feel anew the deep betrayal and the deep harm being done this country and our democracy. It's heartbreaking.

by noemie maxwell on Tue Jan 31, 2006 at 09:53:07 PM PST

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had some inspiring moments and was a good speech...it was completely dishonest, but enjoyable to watch and listen to.

This year's didn't have any captivating moments, and seemed to be a conscious effort to make him confident and show that the past year's failures won't deter him, so they avoided too many big words and stuck with 5th grade sentences that he can handle.

Whenever Bush tries to look and act confident, he just comes off as the ignorant in-over-his-head blowhard he truly is.  And when he said our plan for Iraq is continuing to work, I threw up a little in my mouth.

by sean baratt on Tue Jan 31, 2006 at 10:37:26 PM PST

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It impresses me that what Bush is proposing to do with health care is foster the same sort of change in the social contract that has encouraged employers  to do away with pensions in favor of 401K's and other "ownership" nonsense.  I believe the unofficial military term is KMAGYOYO (Kiss My Ass Gus, You're On Your Own).

What it means is that all the actuaries and Wall Street investment gurus can't guarantee that they can take either pension contributions or insurance premiums and invest them in such a way as assure enough growth to cover the liability.  Folks, if they can't do it, Joe Employee isn't going to be able to do it either.

Another sign of what's coming is some corporate health plans and HMO's charging higher copays or supplemental premiums depending on whether or not an individual submits to a third-party "wellness evaluation".  It's conditioning us to believe that if we have to pay more, it's all our fault.

by ArtFart on Fri Feb 03, 2006 at 12:32:48 AM PST

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