Posted on 01/23/2007 3:01:30 PM PST by jdm
STATE OF THE UNION EXCERPTS
Tue Jan 23 2007 17:10:15 ET
The American people expect their elected leaders from both parties to work together on the important issues facing the Nation. Tonight the President will lay out an ambitious agenda, driven by bold and innovative concepts. He will discuss the importance of forging common ground with the new Congress and explain that to keep America safe, we must prevail in the war on terror.
“Some in this Chamber are new to the House and Senate – and I congratulate the Democratic majority. Congress has changed, but our responsibilities have not…We are not the first to come here with government divided and uncertainty in the air. Like many before us, we can work through our differences, and achieve big things for the American people.”
“Our citizens don’t much care which side of the aisle we sit on – as long as we are willing to cross that aisle when there is work to be done. Our job is to make life better for our fellow Americans, and help them to build a future of hope and opportunity – and this is the business before us tonight.”
On our growing economy:
“A future of hope and opportunity begins with a growing economy – and that is what we have…Unemployment is low, inflation is low, and wages are rising. This economy is on the move – and our job is to keep it that way, not with more government but with more enterprise.”
On the importance of strengthening and re-authorizing No Child Left Behind this year:
“Five years ago, we rose above partisan differences to pass the No Child Left Behind Act…And because we acted, students are performing better in reading and math, and minority students are closing the achievement gap.”
“Now the task is to build on this success, without watering down standards ... without taking control from local communities ... and without backsliding and calling it reform…And we can make sure our children are prepared for the jobs of the future, and our country is more competitive, by strengthening math and science skills.”
On the President’s new health care initiatives:
“[I]n all we do, we must remember that the best healthcare decisions are made not by government and insurance companies, but by patients and their doctors.”
On comprehensive immigration reform:
“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… Yet…we cannot fully secure the border unless we take pressure off the border – and that requires a temporary worker program.”
On strengthening America’s energy security:
“Extending hope and opportunity depends on a stable supply of energy that keeps America’s economy running and America’s environment clean. For too long our Nation has been dependent on foreign oil. And this dependence leaves us more vulnerable to hostile regimes, and to terrorists – who could cause huge disruptions of oil shipments ... raise the price of oil ... and do great harm to our economy. It is in our vital interest to diversify America’s energy supply – and the way forward is through technology.”
On the war on terror:
“For all of us in this room, there is no higher responsibility than to protect the people of this country from danger…[T]o win the war on terror we must take the fight to the enemy. From the start, America and our allies have protected our people by staying on the offense. The enemy knows that the days of comfortable sanctuary, easy movement, steady financing, and free flowing communications are long over. For the terrorists, life since Nine-Eleven has never been the same.”
“[O]ur military commanders and I have carefully weighed the options. We discussed every possible approach. In the end, I chose this course of action because it provides the best chance of success. Many in this chamber understand that America must not fail in Iraq – because you understand that the consequences of failure would be grievous and far reaching.”
“The war on terror we fight today is a generational struggle that will continue long after you and I have turned our duties over to others. That is why it is important to work together so our Nation can see this great effort through.”
“Both parties and both branches should work in close consultation. And this is why I propose to establish a special advisory council on the war on terror, made up of leaders in Congress from both political parties. We will share ideas for how to position America to meet every challenge that confronts us. And we will show our enemies abroad that we are united in the goal of victory.”
On American foreign policy:
“American foreign policy is more than a matter of war and diplomacy. Our work in the world is also based on a timeless truth: To whom much is given, much is required. We hear the call to take on the challenges of hunger, poverty, and disease – and that is precisely what America is doing. We must continue to fight HIV/AIDS, especially on the continent of Africa.”
Developing...
"Yet…we cannot fully secure the border unless we take pressure off the border – and that requires a temporary worker program.”
We already have temporary worker programs.
The pressure is differential wages for lower and middle classes between the countries. The pressure can only be relieved if wages equalize and we sink to Mexico's level. Is that the plan?
If there's a left Wing President in the Office, will he or she Pander to the RIGHT...?
Hell NO !
I don't know if I'll watch tonight.
This kind and decent President has somehow lost his way?
I respect him and pray for him every day to get thru these last 100 weeks without letting the DEMS ruin our country.
He's too trusting of these animals on the left and too nice to hit back. After six years of him turning the other cheek over and over and over...where has it got us? The RATS just keep taking and taking, spitting the olive branch he handed out in 2001. The DEMS are so full of hate they can't see the decency in this man.
It's really getting tiring. Retire to the Bahamas anyone?
I'll join ya. I may be getting laid off in a couple weeks - but the severance pkg is pretty good since I've been there a long time. 2 1/4 years pay up front the way it looks...
Take it...seriesly, the Bahamas have no income tax, inheritance tax, etc.
We got some property there...it's beginning to look very attractive!
Oh well, I just hope our country will survive the next terrorist attack after the RATS are done begging them for to forgive us for trying to help them move towards freedom and liberty...
George W. Bush, a fellow I supported here in Texas since before most of you even knew who he was has turned out to be a wimp. That's the way he looks because he never seems to fight anyone. He takes $hit off of everyone and after a long period of time you just have to shake your head and realize that he was not what he appeared to be. His communication skills are horrid and it's the same stuff over and over. More vanilla pudding after more vanilla pudding.
What I just wrote is my perception of Bush. In politics perception is reality. We actually have a great economy, unemployement is at the lowest levels ever, etc, etc. If that;s the case then why am I an ex Bush-bot? The answer is simple, the man does not inspire me. There is no heat to him. If he yelled "c'mon! follow me!" I would not because I can't see him doing such a thing.
At the end of the day the Republicans and the Republican president turned out to be passive and skiddish types that seem to only care about people liking them. They wanted people to like them so much they forgot who brought them to the show. They forgot to protect our borders, they forgot to protect out American way of life, they forgot the Constitution, they forgot that they were not hired to "just get along" and most importantly the president fogot what the veto is for.
If the Republicans have some book or plan they have been following it must be titled "Dare to be Mediocre".
Granted, I'm old, but what I remember about the Bahamas was that there, freedom of speech meant that in the bars white men were only allowed to speak to white women if they had a machete and were willing to go outside and use it. Have things improved?
Everything President Bush does is ammo for his critics: Dems, DBM and supposed conservatives who don't like this or that.
This is what concerns me the most, since the dems will make damn sure that me and my daughters will be blown to smithereens and/or be fighting these terrorist islamic assholes right here in the good 'ol USA.
The squishy repub leadership (Lott, Hastert, Frist, various committee chairs) is as much - and probably more - to blame. They led the rollover.
I totally agree.
LOL, yeah, it's been a few since I've been there too, Bimini, Abaco, Nassau...it's better now.
True enough they really did. The GOP sellout though began before Bush became POTUS. The ones who could fight and would fight were left hanging out to dry by them and Bush as well. Having an person from your party in the Executive Branch who does the other parties agenda is as bad if not worse than actually loosing the election to the other party to start with. It makes fighting liberalism an almost impossibility.
The American people IMO would have been served better with a SML like Jeff Sessions. In congress there was many better choices for Speaker of the House.
Like what...start bombing Iran? If you think things are messed up in Iraq now, we bomb Iran and the Shiites in the South will completely explode.
Start hitting everything that comes across the boarder and whatever warehouse it came out of.
Iran thinks we are afraid of them and they have believed that since peanut boy was in office, we have to show them that we have no fear of Iran and they better start respecting the US.
"The DEMS are so full of hate they can't see the decency in this man."
Exactly.
"It's really getting tiring. Retire to the Bahamas anyone?"
Nope. I'm staying here and duking it out. It might take another few decades, but I have no doubt that true Conservatives will rise again. It's all cyclical.
KFI is letting the World know....good job by Ken and John!
That is here in Los Angeles...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.