Bush's Last State of the Union

President Bush will deliver his last State of the Union speech tonight. After 8 years, Bush remains low in the polls after alienating many Republicans (myself included on just about everything but foreign policy) and continuing to drive the Democrats batty over how they managed to lose to elections to "Bushitler the idiot frat boy".

Bush will focus on the economy tonight by encouraging Congress to pass an economic stimulus package he can sign to prevent a recession. He will also ask for additional money to continue the progress in Iraq since the surge last summer. Perhaps most importantly, Bush will target the pattern of "earmarks" that have become a favorite of Pelosi's Congress. Despite promises to end earmarks, the Dems have expanded them dramatically symbolized by the infamous "Bridge to Nowhere" in Alaska.

The Politico reports Bush, "planned to renew an old fight over spending priorities by proposing close to $18 billion in domestic program reductions as well as threatening to veto any appropriations bill that does not reduce so-called earmarks by 50 percent from 2008 levels, already cut by Democrats from prior Republican Congresses."

I'll have updates after the speech.

UPDATE

Not a bad speech, probably one of his better SOU's. I was shocked that the Democrats didn't clap over the scientific breakthrough on stem cell research. It almost seemed as though they wanted to destroy embryos by staying silent. Disgusting.

Bush pledged more troops for Afghanistan, good for NATO and especially Canada who is doing the heavy lifting in Kanahar.

An economic stimulus has been agreed to apparently by the Dems, GOP, and President. The markets may be happy about that, or they may figure the government will make things worse (a very possible option).

The Dems have also become the party of earmarks since they were perfectly happy to not clap as Bush talked about halving the number of them in the next budget.

Bush does deserve enormous credit for not having another terrorist attack occur against America at home or abroad since 9/11. Neither Clinton, nor Reagan, nor Carter can claim a record as successful in anti-terrorism.

Bush still scares me on immigration, I don't know how he doesn't get it. He's also in dream world about peace in Israel and Palestine. Not going to happen. As great as it would be, they've been fighting for over 2000 years. The eagerness of the Dems to jump to their feet when Bush talked about his immigration plans is telling.

And of course, Iran must be confronted, militarily if necessary, preferably by diplomacy, deterrence, and sanctions. Bush also claimed that numerous terrorist attacks have been prevented in the US, including a plot to fly a plane into LA's highest building.

All in all, a good speech, much like his others over the past 8 years.