PRAISE FOR PRESIDENT BUSH’S STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS (RNC Research)

GEORGE WILL, Columnist: “Senator Daschle threw down a gauntlet. He said the president has not done what John Kennedy did during the Cuban Missile Crisis, and that’s present physical evidence of some sort. Tonight, the President picked up that gauntlet. . . . [H]e gave a date. February 5. He says at the UN, Secretary Powell will do just that.” (ABC News Response To The State Of The Union, January 28, 2003)

COKIE ROBERTS, Chief Congressional Analyst, ABC News: “The president was strong. . . . The president is trying to send a message that he is a compassionate conservative, someone who does care about people like you, that he’s not a cowboy, as he prepares for war. . . .” (ABC News Response To The State Of The Union, January 28, 2003)

MICHELLE MARTIN, ABC News: “It was a commanding speech. It had a lot of sweep and rage.” (ABC News Response To The State Of The Union, January 28, 2003)

MARK HALPERIN, Political Director, ABC News: “[President Bush] presented an agenda that will turn the economy around.” (ABC News Coverage Of The State Of The Union Address, January 28, 2003)

MICHAEL BESCHLOSS, Historian: “One thing is it shows us a lot about George Bush and presidential power. Two years ago . . . many speculated this might be someone who was content to be a President of not great ambition. That was not on display tonight. This is someone who wants to [be] a commanding presence.” (ABC News Coverage Of The State Of The Union Address, January 28, 2003)

GEORGE STEPHANOPOLOUS, Host, ABC’s “This Week”: “What struck me tonight was the contrast between the relatively subdued and sober time the president took and the sweeping nature of the agenda he put out.” (ABC News Response To The State Of The Union, January 28, 2003)

JUAN WILLIAMS, National Correspondent, National Public Radio: “This is the Super Bowl of speeches for American politics and all the big audience. . . . He laid out a case that I think now is going to grow in the days to come as he approaches the UN. He said February 5 for Secretary Powell to make the announcement, a more specific, concrete case against Iraq. And I think now the president is preparing the nation that way, and succeeded tonight. I think he showed real emotion. . . . He seemed to be a real human being up there tonight.” (FOX News Response To The State Of The Union, January 28, 2003)

JUAN WILLIAMS, National Correspondent, National Public Radio: “[B]ut in so many ways you could see this was a human being . . . who cared about the average person trying to make a go of it in this world, in the United States, and I hadn’t expected it and I’m touched by it.” (FOX News Response To The State Of The Union, January 28, 2003)

JUAN WILLIAMS, National Correspondent, National Public Radio: “[O]ne of the things that struck me in listening was when he talked about helping the children of prisoners, when he talked about helping addicts. I don’t think many people associate George W. Bush with that kind of specific compassion and reaching out to people.” (FOX News Coverage Of State Of The Union Address, January 28, 2003)

JUAN WILLIAMS, National Correspondent, National Public Radio: “[H]e clearly wanted to say to the American people, I’m connecting with you. I am not out of touch with where we’re going as a country. People talk about unemployment going up. They talk about issues with the economy. And I think here was the president saying, I’m aware of it. We may have discussions and debates about tax cuts and what works, but I’m here. I live here. I know what’s going on. I’m paying attention.” (FOX News Coverage Of State Of The Union Address, January 28, 2003)

JUAN WILLIAMS, National Correspondent, National Public Radio: “It seems to me the president has the night, and I think he connected . . . connect[ed] with the American people and let them know that he cares about domestic affairs even as he’s carrying on this moment of history in terms of the international issues. The president did his job.” (FOX News Coverage Of State Of The Union Address, January 28, 2003)

PEGGY NOONAN, Wall Street Journal: “I think this was a big and powerful and important speech. . . . That was big stuff, big. . . . I can’t see much to criticize tonight. He had a fabulous sincerity . . . and seriousness when he talked about Iraq . . . .” (FOX News Response To The State Of The Union, January 28, 2003)

PEGGY NOONAN, Wall Street Journal: “I heard the president’s thinking . . . and it was good stuff . . . .” (FOX News Response To The State Of The Union, January 28, 2003)

PEGGY NOONAN, Wall Street Journal: “I swear the past few days and seeing him tonight, [Bush] was reminding me of Teddy Roosevelt - - the joy of the battle and a moral comfort with where he stands and what he’s doing.” (FOX News Response To The State Of The Union, January 28, 2003)

ALAN COLMES, Co-Host, “Hannity And Colmes”: “I think President Bush did a magnificent job in terms of style tonight. I thought he was really on message, I thought he was very focused . . . .” (FOX News Response To The State Of The Union, January 28, 2003)

BILL KRISTOL, FOX News Analyst: “Awfully strong. . . . I mean, for Americans, I think he laid out the case with considerable detail awfully powerfully, and he answered a lot of the standard objections.” (FOX News Coverage Of State Of The Union Address, January 28, 2003)

BILL KRISTOL, FOX News Analyst: “The president is speaking now as commander in chief. He’s confronting Saddam Hussein, not the Democrats, and I think what you’ll see over the next couple of weeks is the Democrats will fold entirely on foreign policy, except for a few genuinely anti-war Democrats. . . . Senator John Kerry, Senator Daschle -- who voted for the resolution authorizing the use of force but have been very critical . . . of the president on Iraq in recent weeks -- I think they’re now on the spot, but I think the president has really seized the initiative tonight.” (FOX News’ Coverage Of State Of The Union Address, January 28, 2003)

BILL KRISTOL, FOX News Analyst: “I think he was terrific on Iraq and I think he will do OK on the tax debate. And a lot of the compassionate debate will play very well: aid to Africa, mentoring of children whose parents are in prison here, faith-based initiatives. . . .” (FOX News’ “Special Report With Brit Hume,” January 29, 2003)

TONY SNOW, FOX News Anchor: “The most striking thing to me was the silence in the chamber. You had the president with almost a smoldering sense of anger when it came to oppressors around the world, and it was very powerful. People sat silently. I’ve never heard anything quite like it in a State of the Union address.” (FOX News’ Coverage Of State Of The Union Address, January 28, 2003)

LARRY SABATO, University of Virginia Professor: “President Bush got 48 percent of the popular vote . . .but he got 100 percent of the presidency. And that is exactly how he has treated the presidency from the very first day. . . . He is a lot like Teddy Roosevelt . . . Harry Truman . . . and Lyndon Johnson, who inherited the presidency. They actually had bolder plans . . . than their predecessors who had been elected, in two of the three cases by large margins.” (Fox News’ Coverage Of The State Of The Union, January 28, 2003)

PETER JOHNSON, FOX News Political Editor: “[I]t was a phenomenal speech. . . . [T]here was almost a Jeffersonian [thought] in what the President said last night. It was not so much the State of the Union but state of the world. What we can, we do as Americans, to not only affect our own future, but what we can [do to] help the world. This is not a President interested in waging war. He talked about . . . what we can do to save the lives of millions of Africans. This is not a war mongering president. So the plague of AIDS and plague of international terrorism side by side based upon a world view that liberty is endowed by the creator.” (FOX News, January 29, 2003)

PETER JOHNSON, FOX News Political Editor: “[T]here was a committed plan on tax change. There is a committed plan to improve our environment. Over the next 15 or 16 years, by helping perhaps eliminate the combustion engine in terms of automobiles and automobile emissions. That’s a staggering . . . notion especially coming from what is perceived as a right-wing Republican president.” (FOX News, January 29, 2003)

PETER JOHNSON, FOX News Political Editor: Fox News’ Brigitte Quinn: “Did he . . . sway any of the people who might have been on the fence on Iraq?” Johnson: “I think big time. And I think what he is saying to the American people [is] we can’t suffer again what we suffered on September 11th. The risk is too great. The enemy is too strong. If we need to strike now, then I’m asking for the authority to strike now and I think he made the case so persuasively and so colloquial.” (FOX News, January 29, 2003)

SNBC CHRIS MATTHEWS, “Hardball,” Co-Host: “I think it was well crafted . . . .” (MSNBC’s “Imus In The Morning” January 29, 2003)

CARL JEFFERS, Political Commentator: “I think he succeeded . . . in getting people to think that . . . there really is evidence that the U.S. has, that the administration has, that can be presented.” (MSNBC’s Response To The State Of The Union, January 28, 2003)

CRAIG CRAWFORD, The Hotline: “I expect he will get a big bump . . . because of the shear force and determination.” (MSNBC Morning, January 29, 2003)

CRAIG CRAWFORD, The Hotline: “To the average person . . . these are the kinds of things that do upset Americans . . . that could actually galvanize some people to [say] yeah, lets go get this guy.” (MSNBC Morning, January 29, 2003)

GENERAL NORMAN SCHWARZKOPF: “I think a combination of what I heard last night in the State of the Union address and what’s going to happen this week is what I’ve been looking for. I’ve said all along that I’m convinced the administration has hard intelligence that they couldn’t release for many reasons, not the least of which is to protect their sources. So, I’ve been looking forward to what’s going to happen this week . . . I thought the speech last night was compelling. Saddam has got to go.” (NBC’s “Today,” January 29, 2002)

CAMPBELL BROWN, NBC Correspondent: “This was the president’s strongest case that we have heard him make yet for military action against Iraq . . . using his speech last night to . . . present a frightening scenario, that he claims makes Saddam an immediate threat.” (NBC’s “Today,” January 29, 2002)

JACK FARIS, Head Of National Federation Of Independent Businesses: “[W]e heard a calm, confident President that’s got his act together.” (CNBC Response To The State Of The Union Address, January 28, 2003)

JAMES CRAMER, Co-Host, CNBC’s “Kudlow And Cramer”: “Domestic saving and investment is such an important national goal. Capital formation comes from saving and investment. . . If you look carefully at the president’s program . . . he is reaching out to investors to save and invest more. He is trying to make it cheaper and more rewarding to do so. This is vital, it seems to me, and the Democrats are missing the boat on this.” (CNBC Response To The State Of The Union Address, January 28, 2003)

WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN Senior Political Analyst: “I think he was very effective in one crucial respect. He supplied an important missing link for many Americans, the link between Saddam Hussein and al Qaeda. He said there are links between Saddam Hussein and terrorist organizations.” (CNN’s “Live At Daybreak,” January 29, 2003)

JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN Correspondent: “This was a determined President Bush that we heard tonight. We saw the set jaw. We saw the look in his face. A president that left no doubt what his intent is.” (CNN’s Response To The State Of The Union Address, January 28, 2003)

TUCKER CARLSON, Co-Host, CNN’s “Crossfire”: “I think [President Bush] helped himself quite a bit, laying the predicate for what's going to be a much more elaborate argument in favor of going to war with Iraq. . . . I think he outmaneuvered Democrats, kind of amazingly, on two issues that should have been theirs: AIDS and Africa; and alternative energy. He laid out a pretty eloquent case for both of them. These are obviously Democratic issues. And it just shows how completely disorganized the Democratic Party is.” (CNN’s “Inside Politics,” January 29, 2003)

THE AMERICAN PEOPLE: “In a poll done by Knowledge Networks for CBS News after the President’s State of the Union speech, 81 percent of Americans said they believed that President Bush had the same priorities for American that they had.” (CBS Website, www.cbs.com, Accessed January 29, 2003)

THE NEW YORK TIMES: “Anyone who had forgotten the president’s ‘compassionate conservative’ agenda was reminded last night of his ability to create bold and surprising initiatives that breach the gulf between left and right. There were some of those ideas in his agenda, particularly the most welcome proposal to spend an additional $10 billion over the next five years fighting AIDS in Africa and the Caribbean.” (Editorial, “The Nation, The President, The War,” The New York Times, January 29, 2003)

THE NEW YORK TIMES: “Bush’s personal popularity hinges on his obvious sincerity and determination to show leadership in fearsome times. He has lost none of the daring and conviction that got him where he is today - a man who enjoys political power matched by few presidents in American history.” (Editorial, “The Nation, The President, The War,” The New York Times, January 29, 2003)

NEW YORK POST: “[T]he president could not have stated his policy with regard to Iraq more clearly.” (Editorial, “Courting History’s Verdict,” New York Post, January 29, 2003)

NEW YORK POST: “George W. Bush is nothing if not a leader -- in the best sense of the word.” (Editorial, “Courting History’s Verdict,” New York Post, January 29, 2003)

THE DES MOINES REGISTER: “[The] single most coherent speech articulating the case for a war.” (Editorial, “Bush Makes His Case,” Des Moines Register, January 29, 2003)

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL: “[T]he more we inspect the merits of the Bush [tax] plan the better it looks.” (Editorial, The Wall Street Journal, January 29, 2003)

THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION: “Last night, the president laid a compelling, at times emotional case for Iraq’s failure to comply with United Nations resolutions, and for the basic evil that is Saddam Hussein.” (Editorial, “With Iraq And Joblessness, Bush Faces Higher Hurdles,” The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, January 29, 2003)

THE LOS ANGELES TIMES: “In seeking to corral the support of the American public, the president sought to make an emotional connection between the 9/11 tragedy and going after Hussein. The rhetoric worked. But many facts remain to be filled in. Bush built a foundation Tuesday, but he left a lot of hammering, sawing and nailing to be done by Powell. The president made the emotional case. Now it’s up to Powell to present the facts.” (Editorial, “Bush’s Whys For War,” The Los Angeles Times, January 29, 2003)

DONALD LAMBRO, The Washington Times: “Bush ‘laid out an ambitious economic and domestic reform agenda aimed at his political base and the nation’s major voting blocs, as he began his two-year campaign for a second term.’” (Donald Lambro, “Bush Targets Voting Blocs With Agenda,” The Washington Times, January 29, 2003)

PAUL BLUSTEIN, The Washington Post: “Even some of the president’s toughest critics last night hailed his emphasis on providing drugs to people who have contracted the AIDS virus.” (Paul Blustein, “Activists Hail President’s Call For More Funding To Fight AIDS,” The Washington Post, January 29, 2003)

THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE: “Few presidents have had to give the speech of their life more often than George W. Bush. Tuesday night Bush had to rally the nation in time of war; persuade allies to support the use of military force in Iraq; and reassure Americans he is mindful of the struggling economy, unemployment and gaping holes in society’s safety net . . . . [Bush] is good at conveying confidence and strength, and certainly did last night.” (Editorial, The Houston Chronicle, January 29, 2003)

THE BOSTON HERALD: “This war cannot begin unless and until the American people believe it is a just war. Last night George W. Bush helped to make that case.” (Editorial, Boston Herald, January 29, 2003)

THE DENVER POST: “The president has shown an increasingly sure-handed grasp of foreign affairs.” (Editorial, “Bush Rallies Iraq Coalition,” The Denver Post, January 29, 2003)

TOM SHALES, The Washington Post: “The speech had, somewhat surprisingly, moments of penetrating eloquence, eloquently delivered. . . . Perhaps the most artfully crafted part of the speech came just before the conclusion, after Bush’s long but measured harangue against Iraq’s dictator: ‘The liberty we prize is not America’s gift to the world; it is God’s gift to humanity.’ Beautiful. It is hard to recall Bill Clinton uttering a better-turned phrase and he had eight years in the White House, while Bush has had only two.” (Tom Shales, “A War Cry Tempered By Eloquence,” The Washington Post, January 29, 2003)

TOM SHALES, Washington Post: “Some members of Congress and the pundit elite may remain skeptical, but chances are Bush changed more than a few American minds with his speech last night. Doves may not have become hawks, but the proverbial ‘undecideds’ are probably more inclined now to see things Bush’s way.” (Tom Shales, “A War Cry Tempered By Eloquence,” The Washington Post, January 29, 2003)

DAN BALZ, The Washington Post: “The president appeared to have his eye more on the American people than on Republican and Democratic lawmakers or world leaders who demanded more evidence that Hussein is hiding weapons of mass destruction. Rather than offer new information to satisfy such critics, Bush used the speech to lay out in simple terms the urgency of confronting Hussein, and at times repeated assertions that have been previously challenged by other countries and experts.” (Dan Balz, “One Topic Rules Bush’s Thinking,” The Washington Post, January 29, 2003)

JOHN FARRELL, The Boston Globe: Bush “marked the midpoint of his first term with an urgent call to arms last night, using bold strokes of rhetoric to try to rekindle the abating sense of national purpose, and moral clarity, that he harnessed so effectively after al Qaeda struck America. . . . In the weeks after 9/11, as the nation went to war in Afghanistan, Bush had America’s full faith and attention. Last night he sought to sustain his mission through more muddled times, striving to convince an unsettled and less-certain nation that he still knows the road to victory, and that it runs through Baghdad.” (John Farrell, “In A Time Of Uncertainties, A Rallying Cry,” The Boston Globe, January 29, 2003)

DEBORAH ORIN, New York Post: “President Bush last night delivered a powerful speech that left no one with any doubt that he’s ready to go to war unless Saddam Hussein disarms fast. . . . Presidential scholar Charles O. Jones called it ‘a great speech’ because it conveyed a sense of resolve and linked today’s crisis to America’s role in history. Before the speech, Jones said Bush had to convince the public on Iraq. Afterward, he said, ‘If this doesn’t make the case, it can’t be made.’” (Deborah Orin, “Resolute Bush Shows He’s Ready To Do Battle,” New York Post, January 29, 2003)

DEBORAH ORIN AND BRIAN BLOMQUIST, New York Post: “It was a speech given in a sweeping tone that evoked America’s place in history and put the battle against terror in that context.” (Deborah Orin And Brian Blomquist, “Prez Pounding The War Drum,” New York Post, January 29, 2003)

DOTTY LYNCH, CBS News Senior Political Editor: “This speech and, at least the instant reaction to it, should give the Bush folks some optimism that he still has the power to move the American public.” (CBS News Website, www.cbsnews.com, Accessed January 29, 2003)

ROSS BAKER, Rutgers University Political Scientist: “Great seriousness of purpose. The kind of mischievous glint in his eye was gone. There was much more of an aspect of gravity about him. He really sounded like he meant business. ‘The economic part, the Medicare part . . . were all a prelude to what I think people were waiting for: the arraignment of Saddam Hussein.’” (Mimi Hill, “Many Experts Give Address High Marks,” USA Today, January 29, 2003)

KATHLEEN HALL JAMIESON, Pennsylvania University Professor And Author: “It was a well-written and well-delivered speech. The cues to the international community were very important.” (Mimi Hill, “Many Experts Give Address High Marks,” USA Today, January 29, 2003)

ROBERT DEPOSADA, Latino Coalition President: “He did very well. He made it very clear that this is a time of crisis, a time the country needs to rally together. And I think by being so specific both on foreign policy and domestic policy, he’s sending a message that the country needs to rally together to overcome these tough moments. He set a very good tone for the country.” (Mimi Hill, “Many Experts Give Address High Marks,” USA Today, January 29, 2003)

RICHARD GREENE, Author: “Instead of trying to rally the world with Texas bravado, Bush wisely went the soft, sad, even teary-eyed route to talk about and sell his intentions with Iraq. Because he talked like a Republican but sounded like a compassionate Democrat with his voice tone, he may have pulled the rug out of much of the resistance to his future plans both here and abroad.” (Mimi Hill, “Many Experts Give Address High Marks,” USA Today, January 29, 2003)

WILLIAM SALETAN, Slate Magazine: “As a president and orator, Bush has two great strengths: moral clarity and resolve. . . . When Bush talks like that, he doesn’t just send chills down people’s spines. He puts steel in them.” (William Saletan, “A Reveille, Not A Record,” Slate, January 29, 2003)

DAVID BROOKS, The Daily Standard: “The president presented a vision that is both compassionate and full of resolve. In other words, perfectly in tune with America. . . . This was speech as autobiography. President Bush once again revealed his character, and demonstrated why so many Americans, whether they agree with this or that policy proposal, basically trust him and feel he shares their values. Most Americans will not follow the details of this or that line in the address. But they will go about their day on Wednesday knowing that whatever comes in the next few months, they have a good leader at the helm.” (David Brooks, “A Speech As Autobiography,” The Daily Standard, January 29, 2003)

DAVID BROOKS, The Daily Standard: “It was a strong, sober, moral, and determined speech, which will give the president the latitude he needs to pursue the right course.” (David Brooks, “A Speech As Autobiography,” The Daily Standard, January 29, 2003)

DAVID BROOKS, The Daily Standard: “In this speech, the president was able to show his resolve, his sober determination, his moral vision.” (David Brooks, “A Speech As Autobiography,” The Daily Standard, January 29, 2003)

TERRY EASTLAND, The Daily Standard: “As he has before in his speeches, Bush saw America not as a bundle of interests, but a moral cause.” (Terry Eastland, “Next Stop: War,” The Daily Standard, January 29, 2003)

DAVID TELL, The Daily Standard: “This is an eccentric opinion, I know, but as a rule, I think Bush delivers formal, telepromptered speeches better than any president in modern memory. Better even--no letters on this, please--than Ronald Reagan.” (David Tell, “More American Unilateralism,” The Daily Standard, January 29, 2003)

ANDREW SULLIVAN, Political Commentator: “And because his domestic concerns seem to me motivated by a decency and a compassion I cannot but respect. As someone with HIV, I listened to his words about AIDS and found my throat catching. This is a Republican president, and yet he sees the extraordinary pain and anguish and death that this disease has caused and is still causing. He made me question again my more pragmatic concerns about the feasibility of HIV treatment and prevention in Africa and shamed me into realizing I should be far more optimistic in the attempt to tackle this issue. And when he spoke about addiction - a problem I also see all around me - I also felt a genuineness in his words that surprised me.” (Andrew Sullivan Website, www.andrewsullivan.com, Accessed January 29, 2003)

ANDREW SULLIVAN, Political Commentator: “[I]f his goal was to show resilience, patience and a moral grasp of America’s current responsibility, then he accomplished it. In many ways, this was a Kennedy-like speech, a speech a Democratic president could have made, if the Democratic Party hadn’t fallen into such moral and strategic confusion. Self-confident, convinced, as he should be, of the benign nature of America’s role in the world, ambitious, and warm, it was a tour de force of big government conservatism, mixed with Cold War liberalism.” (Andrew Sullivan Website, www.andrewsullivan.com, Accessed January 29, 2003)

SEN. TOM DASCHLE (D-SD): “I thought it was a good speech. The president delivered it well.” (NBC’s “Today Show,” January 28, 2003)

SEN. TOM DASCHLE: (D-SD): “I think it’s important that we try to find compromise. There is a great deal of opportunity, whether it’s prescription drugs or the economy, [or] tax cuts. I think there are some real possibilities as long as we go into this with good faith, and I’m hopeful he’ll be prepared to do that.” (ABC’s “Good Morning America,” January 29, 2003)

SEN. JOE BIDEN (D-DE): “I thought it [the President’s AIDS initiative] was great.” (CBS’ “The Early Show,” January 29, 2003)

SEN. JOE LIEBERMAN (D-CT): “Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman (D-Conn.), another presidential candidate who has been hawkish on Iraq, said, ‘The president began to make an effective case tonight in a way that he hasn’t done before.’” (Dan Balz, “One Topic Rules Bush’s Thinking,” The Washington Post, January 29, 2003)

SEN. JOE LIEBERMAN (D-CT): “I think last night the president made the case quite effectively and I appreciate it. He spelled out why Saddam threatens us, and why this is really his last chance -- Saddam’s to live by the promises he made.” (CNN’S “Inside Politics,” January 29, 2003)

SEN. ZELL MILLER (D-GA): “I like what I heard tonight. On Iraq, nobody wants to go to war just for the sake of going to war. But history has proven time and time again that you often have to fight smaller, briefer wars in order to avoid bigger, longer-lasting wars. On the economy, I’m going to support each and every tax cut that comes before the Senate. Like with my grandchildren, I love them all.” (Senator Zell Miller, Press Release, January 28, 2003)

SEN. JOE BIDEN (D-DE): “I was very pleased for the first time to hear the president give detail. He talked about 38 metric tons of -- you know, he went down the list. That gives credibility to the case that the president is making. Now the hope I have is that this will embolden us to be able to convince . . . the U.N. Security Council to come up with a second resolution. That’s important for the days and weeks after.” (FOX News Coverage Of State Of The Union Address, January 28, 2003)

SEN. BILL NELSON (D-FL): “The president put forth an accurate statement of the need to disarm and remove Saddam Hussein, because he does have weapons of mass destruction - both chemical and biological.” (Bill Cotterell, “Bush Speech Draws Raves, Skepticism,” The Tallahassee Democrat, January 29, 2003)

SEN. MARK PRYOR (D-AR): “I thought the president did a pretty good job in making a case for stimulating America’s economy and continuing the war on terrorism.” (Tom Parsons, “Response To President Mixed Among Arkansasans In Congress,” The Associated Press, January 29, 2003)

SEN. DICK DURBIN (D-IL): “The president made his argument last night. It was a good argument.” (CNN’s “Inside Politics,” January 29, 2003)

REP. STENY HOYER (D-MD): Hoyer, “a Southern Maryland Democrat who is his party’s No. 2 House leader, said Bush’s comments on Iraq ‘were extremely important’ in making the case to the American people for a war to disarm Saddam Hussein, and Hoyer praised his decision to go to the United Nations on Feb. 5 to consult with members on how to proceed.” (Julie Hirschfeld Davis, “Congressional Response Is Predictably Partisan,” The Baltimore Sun, January 29, 2003)

REP. PATRICK KENNEDY (D-RI): “It was a very compelling speech with regard to foreign policy and the need to defeat terrorism.” (“Quotations From Southern New England Lawmakers On The State Of The Union,” The Associated Press, January 29, 2003)

REP. TOM UDALL (D-NM): “Udall was particularly hopeful about the president’s statements on ensuring that all Americans have health care. ‘These are things that we have the potential to work on in a bipartisan basis,’ Udall said.” (Mary Perea, “Bush Continues To Build Case For War Against Iraq,” The Associated Press, January 29, 2003)

REP. DARLENE HOOLEY (D-OR): “I praise the president for his message of compassion, particularly in the areas of education and health care.” (“Reaction From Oregon’s Congressional Delegation,” The Associated Press, January 29, 2003)

SEN. CHARLES SCHUMER (D-NY): “Bush gave a ‘rousing speech’. . . . ” (Ken Fireman, “‘Crucial’ Hours Ahead,” Newsday [New York, NY], January 29, 2003)

REP. CAROLYN MCCARTHY (D-NY): Rep. McCarthy “called it ‘probably one of his best speeches,’ and praised Bush’s hushed and focused demeanor.” (Ken Fireman, “‘Crucial’ Hours Ahead,” Newsday [New York, NY], January 29, 2003)

Have noticed that the press doesn't have the foggiest about the programs he put in place in Texas!

You can say that again. For them, everything is new..they don't do their homework..the read the RAT talking points about how GW was a lousy governor that didn't know what he was doing and didn't accomplish anything while he served. BAH!

FYI! These are just some of the positive remarks made about President Bush's State of the Union.
Noticeably absent from positive remarks: Senator Kennedy, Rep Pelosi, and Ms. Clinton!

Well, imagine that...

Psssst.....PhiKap.....Karsus can't stand the President.....he thinks he's a liar! Is that funny or what?!!

Karsus......even after reading all the positive comments about the President's incredible speech, you had to try to smack him down, didn't you? Sheesh!!

Thanks PKM for a great post! As a mom whose son is serving under this magnificent Commander in Chief, who loves and respects his troops, I am PROUD and THANKFUL to have him as my President!!

btw, I watched Juan after the speech, and he was nearly moved to tears. It's good to see that even some libs recognize who our President really is.

I just do not want my grand childern to have to be paying for all the debt we have ran up. You have to admit that a 2,000,000,000,000 budget is just a little large and could be cut.

As for GWB being a liar, well what do you call some one who promises to do everything he can to protect the USA yet leaves our borders unprotected? You can not protect the country if you can just walk across the border with a sholder launched SAM.

Lastly, I thought you said you were never going to respond to me again?

btw, I watched Juan after the speech, and he was nearly moved to tears. It's good to see that even some libs recognize who our President really is. That struck me too. Juan was positively MOVED by the address.

I've never seen him this way. That was the one thing (aside from the address itself) that made an impression.

I cannot help but hope that there were many other thinking liberals who were touched as well.

Kennedy sleeping was one of my highlights in watching the DemocRATS!

Passed out.

And Hitlery! hiding behind the Joint Chiefs--check their necks for bite marks!

Ross Baker of Rutgers came closest:

The kind of mischievous glint in his eye was gone. There was much more of an aspect of gravity about him.

President Bush has matured before our eyes--and it was in his eyes.

When he told our troops:

You support our country, and the country supports you"

. . .he was looking past the assembled phonies to the coming epic display of the valiance of our finest.

Godspeed swift victory and safe return for the finest fighting force on earth.

Lie-berman: "The president began to make an effective case tonight in a way that he hasn’t done before."

How the devil would he know? He was far too busy rudely carrying on with the hildebeast while the President was speaking.

You have to admit that a 2,000,000,000,000 budget is just a little large and could be cut.

HOLY COW!!!!!! President Bush has racked up THAT MUCH in two years????????? YOWSERS!!!! That man must be spending as much as the average Democrat. Wowowowowowow!

"As for GWB being a liar, well what do you call some one who promises to do everything he can to protect the USA yet leaves our borders unprotected? You can not protect the country if you can just walk across the border with a sholder launched SAM. "

It's comming. Bush doesn't slap people on the side of the head. He pokes you many times and in the end you feel this alot more then a big slap. I caught Ridge talking yesterday (At 5 am PST) and he's gonna make some huge changes. Normally I would of went back to sleep but he was pretty strong on defending the borders and ports etc..

My bet is Bush will let Ridge do the work so the sh*t sticks on Ridge and not him. The Mexicans will be very pissed very soon once the crack down starts. He was talking about going after the coyotes bringing illegals accross the border and some database everyone crossing the border will have to pass to get through?

"That man must be spending as much as the average Democrat. Wowowowowowow! "

You don't get it. The more he spends the less the dems can spend it. I think that's his plan? Most of it we can agree on and the rest is a bone to the moderates !

Let's face it, Tommy could never ever come across to the American people, invoking any emotion or trust except revulsion at his bashing his own country and leaders! I don't think they make a soap box big enough yet for him to stand on, high enough behind the podium. That's what has him pissed. He wouldn't know how to emulate a real man to save his life. He suffers from "angry-little man syndrome!"
;) Best wishes.

I wasn't going to reply about that other thing (whatever it was).....this is different.

Besides, I couldn't help myself. You're such a large target, it's hard not to shoot at you.

I'll leave you to your fantasies now.

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Arms Inspector Meets With Saddam Hussein