[ARCADIA]

I rated the SOU a A-: He did an outstanding job on the international issues, an equally great job on the environmental/domestic issues, but, he was a bit weak in justifying the proposed tax reductions. Granted it can stimulate the economy; but, that is only true is we can find a credible mechanism to pay for it. It is also not entirely clear which economy would be stimulated. Is it the US or the greater global economy that we are trying to stimulate?

An excellent speach though. I am glad to see the UN put in its' place.

[Torie]

Ya the tax cut stuff doesn't withstand the empirical reality. But the fact is, that seeming to do nothing, even if nothing is the best policy (over the long term, in the short term, it would give a short term boost), in the face of a soft economy for reasons beyond the control of mere governments, is political suicide. Thus I give him a bye.