State of the Union Shows President in Top Form

Thank you for this !!! I was wondering if I was the only one who felt he did a great job as President tonight! He made me proud....He honored America whether you believed him or not....

Thanks - it was a good speech and I am surprised that nobody is talking about it on Gather. I guess nobody wants to admit he did a good job.

The things he said do have concrete consequences. Good or bad is up for debate. Still, the President made it clear that we have to deal with our present situation when he said "This is not the fight we entered in Iraq, but it is the fight we're in."

No, everyone did NOT believe that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction, going all the way back to 2003 and the UN weapons inspection teams. And of course this administration claimed that Saddam Hussein and Iraq had connections to 9-11. You should rethink your current line of thinking, Don. H., because your grasp of this situation conveniently ignores the facts. Back in 2003, Vice President Cheney regularly made the rounds on Sunday-morning television, stating emphatically that Iraq's possession of W.M.D. was an incontrovertible fact, as well as claiming nonexistent connections between the Iraqi government and 9-11 highjacker Mohamed Atta. This was not bad intelligence; this was bald-faced lying. And tonight's performance was not a speech, it was another public relations pitch trying to make us feel better about one of the bloodiest, most disastrous adventures ever perpetrated by this great republic. Here are some facts to scrutinize: more than 3,000 American lives lost; 34,000 (!) Iraqi civilians killed just in the last year; more than $30 billion of American money spent on Iraqi "reconstruction" to date, with the president proposing we throw another billion down that sink hole. The American people need to consider the facts against the administration-crafted fictions and demand accountability. This is not a partisan issue. This administration is lying to all of us, no matter our party affiliation.

Did you listen to the speech? You sound like a broken record. Everything you've said could have been copied from any other anti-Bush post. Please let me know when you have something intelligent to say about our CURRENT situation.

Kinda sad when "top form" has the lowest approval rating his history.

Kind of amazing when a President who is down in the polls manages to deliver a very strong and inspired State of the Union address.

I agree, Don. It is amazing that, after all these years, he can finally deliver a speech without messing up too many words. And I don't believe he was wearing the box on his back, so he might have learned to read, also. I am amazed, but still not impressed by his empty words.

I thought the words were precise and accurate, especially about the war. Gather got really quiet tonight because I think the naysayers didn't expect him to frame the issues so well. I think he's going to make a comeback. I can smell it. (see - I throw you guys a bone, you can run with the 'smell it' comment)

Yes, I heard the speech and I read it, as well. My comment could have been copied from any anti-Bush post, but it wasn't. It was merely a statement of facts, none of which, obviously, you can refute. But I suppose it's best if we ignore that pesky thing called reality, square our shoulders, and continue supporting reckless and doomed policies, and refrain from questioning what is being told to us now despite all the patently untrue things that have been told to us up to this point in time. I'm not anti-Bush; I'm pro-America. I love my country, value the lives of my countrymen, care about my country's integrity, and esteem the freedoms and values America represents. Despite his claims during his prime-time advertisement for this adventure, the president hasn't even begun to grasp the "consequences of failing." Nor, unfortunately, have we.

But I'll give you credit; your posting did get two things right. The war in Iraq is indeed "the biggest issue." You zeroed in on that like a laser beam. Pretty insightful. And this is an "historic moment." Unfortunately, it is perhaps one of our most regrettable.

Thom - you offer no better choice than what the President offers. And Joeseph, the cut and run policy equals 0% chance at success. So, I'll take the 0.01%... though I beleive it to be better than that. I have a little more faith in what our country can do in difficult times.

Thom - the difference between you and I is that you have already accepted failure, and the truth is, you hoped for it all along with Bush in power. We need to win and if it takes ten years, then so be it. That's my position.

Joseph - 0.01% is your number, not mine. I feel 100% that we will succeed.

Okay, turnabout is fair play. What you just said could have been posted on any other pro-Bush post. You see, the biggest lie of all is the administration's constant refrain that its doomed strategy is the only one out there, the only one anyone has ever proposed. Dick Cheney, last Sunday morning, said it again, that critics have absolutely nothing to offer in place of what the administration proposes. But the FACT, again, is that the Iraq Study Group Plan, the John Murtha Plan, and the Joe Biden-Leslie Gelb plans all predate the administration's troop "augmentation." Considering the CURRENT situation, as you emphasized to me, these are all better plans.

And as far as "0%" chance of success... what is success now? What constitutes success in Iraq? What do you all think is going to happen there? What state does that country have to be in now before we can leave it? There is no chance of success now. We've squandered that. When we took over that country, we did not secure the borders, and we did not provide enough troops to establish and maintain order. The chance for "success" is long gone.

I have a question for Joe and Thom. What do you say to the 12 million people in Iraq who voted in three elections?

Success is a democratically elected government that can maintain peace. A country where the people settle their disputes at the ballot box. A country where the majority rule, but the minority are protected. It takes time and will not happen in the short time that you expect it to.

With guys like you... there would be no America. You would have gave up long before we became a settle nation. Think about it.

bedtime for me...

And your assessment of our differences is completely without merit. You don't know what I think. Are you actually implying that I wanted America to fail, that I wanted this endeavor to be unsuccessful?! That I wanted American troops to die by the thousands and innocent Iraqis to die by the tens of thousand so it would reflect badly on a president that I personally and/or politically didn't like?! That's callous and uncalled for, and you should be ashamed of yourself for making such an irresponsible assertion. This is not about politics or party at this point. This is about truthfulness, transparency, and acting responsibly in light of facts. I didn't appreciate being lied to by Bill Clinton and I don't appreciate being lied to by George Bush.

The point is, this strategy is not about achieving success. Let's say you're correct, and that if we continue on in Iraq for ten years, we'd achieve "success," whatever that might be. Even if the next president is John McCain or Rudy Guiliani or Mitt Romney or Sam Brownback, Republicans all, that president WILL withdraw our troops from Iraq. Do you really think anyone can win an election in 2008, Democrat or Republican, without a viable plan for achieving that in short order?

Last night the President said: "Extending hope and opportunity in our country requires an immigration system worthy of America -- with laws that are fair and borders that are secure. When laws and borders are routinely violated, this harms the interests of our country. To secure our border, we're doubling the size of the Border Patrol, and funding new infrastructure and technology."

Why? So he can put more Border Patrol officers in prison for securing our border? This was a horrible speech. While parts were admittedly inspiring, some of the things he said - like the Border Patrol bit - made my blood boil.

Cut earmarks in half? HALF? In 1987 President Reagan vetoed the Transportation Bill because it contained a staggering 152 pork projects. In 2005, President Bush signed into law 13,997 pork-barrel earmarks. HALF? Makes me sick.

I agree with the necessity of renovating the bankrupt Social Security system... including private accounts. Heck, my 401k returned 18% last year. At that rate the money doubles every 4 years. Why can't everyone get in on that?

I do NOT agree with mandates for schools. The Constitution gives no power over education to the Federal Government. The STATES, counties and parishes need to stop teaching to the tests and teach our kids HOW TO LEARN. We need more competition in schools, merit pay for teachers, and vouchers for parents to move their kids out of failing schools. The black-robed Taliban Supreme Court of Florida shot down school vouchers, so guess what? We're "voting with our feet" and leaving the state.

Giving people tax breaks so they can afford health insurance does not mean they'll BUY health insurance. Unless they provide a policy number, they shouldn't receive the tax break or they'll just have more money for beer, cigarettes and lottery tickets.

I do NOT support more HIV/AIDS help to Africa. We send them condoms and the men are too proud to use them... instead, they rape younger and younger girls because they may not YET be infected. I'm tired of showing compassion to people who are determined to hate us anyway. We need that money HERE.

As far as fuel goes: why do we buy Citgo gasoline? Citgo petroleum is wholly owned by the Venezuelan government of Hugo Chavez, who recently hosted the President of Iran, called President Bush "the devil" and told all of us in America to "go to hell, gringos!" Can anyone here tell me why Citgo gas is sold on virtually every U.S. military installation in the country?

Consider that in every State of the Union address since 2001, President Bush has reported the union as "strong" early in the speech... except this one. The report of our state being "strong" was buried in the last sentence of the speech. He knows.
He knows.

Thom - I believe that a president who proposes a full withdrawal and an accepted defeat will NEVER NEVER NEVER be elected. I assure you, nobody is going to run on that platform. Even Hillary is not that stupid.

Lamar - will have to comment later - I am tight on time.

Lord, as usual you add nothing intelligent to the conversation. It's the same old stuff from you. Why don't you tell us what we do from NOW going forward, and include the consequences of your plan. Look forward to your brilliant commentary.

Don H. good article and I agree. I think his speech was very good, and yes, even the Dems gave him standing ovations, on several occassions. They acted as if they all got along and set for the most part their differences of opinions aside.
I also, thought that gather would be buzzing last night after his speech and it wasnt , cause he did do a good job and just because we agree with him doesnt make us wrong. You cant get it through some of these peoples heads(even the dems agree on this one) that you cant just pull the troops out now. Yes, it may take awhile but look at the mess we will leave behind if we choose to cut and run.
You made good points Don. Keep fighting the good cause.

Lamar, I have to agree with most of the points you made. I don't think there is any hope that Bush can get anything done on the domestic side, so it was just fluff to me. As for AIDS help, I think it's a good thing, as well as debt relief to poor nations.

As for school - fed should get out of that biz. Social Security - I agree wth you. My 401k is doing great, while social security takes a nice bite out of my paycheck and gives little back. Ear marks? How about he VETO every bill that has one or more ear marks? That would solve that problem. Citgo - I am guilty via 7-11. But I heard that 7-11 is ending their deal with Citgo... hope that happens soon.

I still think the speech was very strong, especially on the war issue.

lord - you've got a brain the size of a parrot.

Thom' i could use your support to end another failed war ,please help me end this failed war nom, before we throw millons more down the Rat- Hole. Thom go to Mickyd on gather- read my article: let me know if you can help.

Good read Don, and lets not forget,.. every Supreme Court justice showed up to hear Prez Bush!!!

Wow, our president reads from a sheet of paper handed to him by, who knows, and he's in top form? It's so easy to fool small minded people I suppose. He reiterated his faulty plans for Iraq......wait a tick......we have been fighting for like 5 years now and there is no shortage in Al-Qaeda now is there. Oh, but there is a magical number of enemy that just keep on sprouting......where were they before 9/11? I thought it was a rogue group of radicals? Can't defeat a small group in 5 years? Interesting........lies lies lies.....and he'll keep spewing them as long as you people keep buying them. Oil is the word.....control is the word.......any way to gain these. Freedom? Yikes.....if the state of Iraq is what freedom looks like I'll pass. There lives were infinitely safer and more content before our democracy. Kudos on having faith in something though, too bad it's George W. Bush

Hey Raol Duke,..." no shortage in Al-Qaeda now is there"......NEWSFLASH!!!!!!....Al-Qaeda has been in Iraq for many years before the Good O'l U.S.A ....

No terrorist attacks on our soil since 911. We enjoy this peace on our homeland because of Bush's strategy. Enjoy it and speak freely! You can still do so in America.

Did you hear the interview he did with Juan Williams at the Whitehouse? He could barely make coherent sentences...

Juan Williams interviews George W. Bush at the Whitehouse (Jan 29, 2007).

Sounded good to me. He's not as smooth as someone like Clinton, but I'd take Bush's ideas and frankness any day. He's still a great President in my book.

All the regular idiots check in. Yeah.........great speech.

I can't wait to see hear what you fools will be saying after the impeachment.

Josh W-----LOLOL,...so when he's NOT impeached what happens to you? Do all the lib's really move to Canada?.... as I have asked before: give the rest of us what info you have on the impeachment thing,...cuz it's really a funny idea,....oh and PLEASE make it legit,..NOT a cut and paste from the web page of code pink. ...THX

news flash- don.h is a hate monger on the president's payroll.he has promised he wud shut shop and stop being a pain on gather if bush does not get elected. he published that saddam hussein hanging video with much glee. v sit here waiting fr his own video...:)).don.h is a nonentity . he used to b a points whore on gather who revelled in publishing controversial and/or sleazy stuff for the comments .
p.s-the characters and the news flash are fictitious .any resenblance to any character living or dead is purely coincidental;)

ashish - put down the pipe. I am the one and only Don H.... good, bad or indifferent, I have not tried to be anybody else on Gather, and I don't give a hoot about points.

I did take some glee in watching Saddam hang - he deserved it, and the way it went down was crazy.

Liz- welcome back. I know we differ, but that's ok with me. We're both Americans and want what's best for our country.

Josh - that monobrow is rockin', bro.

Don H.
You are asleep!! Bush is a the worst so called presedent in the history of or now world wide hated country. This slaughter all about oil and power! And our young men and women, most of whom are not old enough to vote are dieing for nothing more then a bunch of money/power hungry ex lawyers who are lyiing, theiving criminals! WAKE UP!!

I'm wide awake, Steven. How much pot do you smoke on a typical day? Just wondering. Obviously you're baked.