Protesters near the U.S. Capitol demonstrate against President Bush before he delivers the State of the Union Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2006 on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Lauren Victoria Burke)
Posted on 01/31/2006 7:17:54 PM PST by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON - The state of the union is fretful. President Bush acknowledged the public's agitated state Tuesday night when he gave voice to growing concerns about the course of the nation he has led for five years.
His credibility no longer the asset it once was, the president begged Americans' indulgence for another chance to fix things.
There is no shortage: the Iraq war, global terrorism, a nuclear Iran, a stingy global economy, skyrocketing health care costs, troubled U.S. schools, rising fuel costs, looming budget deficits and government corruption. All received presidential attention Tuesday night.
In his fifth State of the Union address, Bush sought to balance his usual optimistic message with an odd-fitting acknowledgment that many Americans are suffering beneath a crush of change.
"Fellow citizens, we have been called to leadership in a period of consequence. We have entered a great ideological conflict we did nothing to invite," Bush said. "We see great changes in science and commerce that will influence all our lives. And sometimes it can seem that history is turning a wide arc, toward an unknown shore."
Unknown and uneasy.
The problem for Bush is that few of these troubles are new. He's had four years to ease people's pain.
Nearly 46 million Americans have no health insurance, up nearly a million in the last year. Health care costs are increasing three or four times the rate of inflation.
One of Bush's first successes of his presidency was the 2002 No Child Left Behind, but parents still wonder about the quality of education in their schools. For the first time in generations, American children could face poorer prospects than their parents and grandparents did.
Calling for less dependency on foreign oil is a State of the Union evergreen. Bush has done so in every address.
The president who promised to be a uniter, not a divider, has presided over the hyper-polarization of Washington.
Osama bin Laden has not been caught.
Weapons of mass destruction were not found in Iraq.
Victory in that war seems elusive, with more than 2,240 American troops killed — and counting.
The solutions Bush offered were relatively small-bore and wrapped in familiar language: tax cuts, health savings accounts, alternative energy research and investments in education to help keep America competitive with emerging democracies; and a stay-the-course approach to fighting terrorism.
In a preview of his November election strategy, Bush accused foreign policy critics of "defeatism." He also took a jab at critics in his own party on immigration and trade.
Bush's goal in the address was to acknowledge the public's concerns, and if not solve their every problem, assure them he will try to do better.
"He's learned that the election is over — and now he's free to acknowledge that course change doesn't necessarily mean a mistake," said Republican consultant Rich Galen.
Bush spoke of the global economy and suggested that competitors like China and India are making gains on the United States. "This creates an uncertainty, which makes it easier to feed people's fears."
He said violent crime, abortions and teenage pregnancies are down in an era that has seen Americans take more responsibility — "a revolution of conscience" he called it. "Yet many Americans, especially parents, still have deep concerns about the direction of our culture, and the health of our basic institutions," he said.
The mood of the nation is unsettled. Nearly 7 of 10 American believes the country is headed in the wrong direction. Bush's job approval ratings are among the lowest of his presidency.
At the core of his political problems is his loss of credibility. Most voters believed he was a strong and principled leader in 2004, leading many to support him despite their opposition to the Iraq war and a sluggish economy.
They are no longer giving him the benefit of the doubt.
The proportion of Americans who credit the president with being honest and straightforward has fallen, as has the percentage who credit him for strong leadership qualities.
Democrats hope those numbers don't change after Bush's address. "It's an attempt to make himself healthy before the mid-terms," said Democratic strategies Dane Strother. Americans may be anxious, he said, "but they're not dumb."
Protesters near the U.S. Capitol demonstrate against President Bush before he delivers the State of the Union Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2006 on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Lauren Victoria Burke)
He forgot to mention that the President's approval rating was at fifty percent a few days ago, and will probably go higher in the next few days.
President Bush is applauded as he gives his fifth State of the Union speech Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2006, on Capitol Hill in Washington. Standing behind Bush is House Speaker Dennis Hastert of Illinois, and Vice President Dick Cheney, left,. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, Pool)
I must have missed the begging part.
I'm sure a responsible journalist like Ron wouldn't just make that up.
Another objective piece from crAP.
ABC's Ann 'straight outta' Compton said that just because he joked about Clinton and his dad, doesn't mean he's not a divider instead of a uniter.
lolol .. Ron needs to clean his glasses and ears once and awhile..
I don't know how Ron could type and hand wring at the same time.
He wrote that damn thing yesterday.
Fournier, just another editorial writer posing as a reporter.
Where was Ted Kennedy? Didn't see his ugly mug once. Did he skip the SOTU?
So I'm watching the Dem response to the Prez's GREAT SPEECH and what do the Dims offer up?
To me it looked like some Gay ex religious type of some kind who couldn't even cut it as a Chevy salesman.
How'd that guy get elected to be Gov of Va?
Gov. Warner is giving the rebutal. If he is the brightest star the Rats have, they need to look for a better way. Whats with the eyebrow?
Did any FReepers/PW's counter these commies?
But apparently he has no problem with Bush shoving amnesty down our throats...
No, that's Timothy Kaine giving the dem speech. He must have borrowed a eyelash from Schumer. ;-)
He almost sounds like a televangelist. They need both money and a message so sure, why not go this route?
Pray, pray a lot, Tim. You're gonna need 'em.
Did I see Hillary nod "NO" when Bush spoke about NSA??
Was that a stinger towards her or her husband??
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