SOTU, Initial Reaction

I enjoyed the pep rally that always is the State of the Union. If you missed it; you can read it here, or read my summary: Freedom and democracy are good. Terrorism is bad. Healthcare and opportunity are good. Wasteful spending is bad. Elections in Iraq are good; dependence on foreign oil is bad. Building a better world for kids is great; the complicated tax code is bad; NIH funding is important...etc.

I never know what to make of Bush. He seems to see things in black and white; and he's definitely ambitious and determined to see peace in Iraq and Israel. If he can pull it off, he'll be remembered as a great President who spread freedom throughout the world. If not, he'll be remembered as an arrogant stubborn prick who got us into the second Vietnam.

The Social Security plan sounds good. I' d like to think I'll be able to see some of the money I'm paying into the system, and I'm a big believer in personal responsibility and ownership in one's own future. It's likely Washington obstructionists will take over, and the Democrats will never let him set up individual accounts, but we'll see.

I do strongly disagree with Bush on amending the constitution to prohibit gay marriage, but I doubt such an amendment would ever seriously move forward. Mentioning it in 3 sentences is solely for purposes of pandering to the right wing of his party. I noticed Laura Bush did NOT applaud after Bush mentioned the amendment.

The most touching moment (see photo below) was when the mom of Marine Corps Sergeant Byron Norwood, who was killed in Iraq, was embraced by an Iraqi woman who just exercised new freedom by voting in the recent election. It's nice to know that there are people who are grateful and thankful for the sacrifice America is making for the freedom of others.



Janet Norwood, right, of Pfugerville, Texas whose son was killed in Iraq (news - web sites) last year, hugs Safia Taleb al-Suhail, leader of the Iraqi Women's Political Council, during the State of the Union address Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2005, at the Capitol in Washington. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)