Democracy for Vancouver

J. said the SOTU was even too nauseating for him to watch more than a few minutes, despite his intention to discuss it this morning with his 6th graders, so I’m glad I missed it.

But my predictions for content were only 3 for 7 - I suck:

1) No mention of New Orleans or the Gulf Coast. WRONG.

Tonight the armies of compassion continue the march to a new day in the Gulf Coast. America honors the strength and resilience of the people of this region. We reaffirm our pledge to help them build stronger and better than before. And tonight I’m pleased to announce that in April we will host this year’s North American Summit of Canada, Mexico, and the United States in the great city of New Orleans.

But, in my defense, there was nothing of substance on NOLA or the Gulf Coast, nothing to actually help them “build stronger and better than before” (whatever the hell that means).

2) On the economy: “We’ve had a little stumble, but the fundamentals of the economy are strong. However, it will only stay strong if the tax cuts are permanent.”

To build a prosperous future, we must trust people with their own money and empower them to grow our economy. As we meet tonight, our economy is undergoing a period of uncertainty. America has added jobs for a record 52 straight months, but jobs are now growing at a slower pace. …

We have other work to do on taxes. Unless Congress acts, most of the tax relief we’ve delivered over the past seven years will be taken away. …

There’s only one way to eliminate this uncertainty: Make the tax relief permanent.

3) On the Middle East: Staying in Iraq is somehow necessary to quashing suicide bombers in Israel, so we have to stay there until the rapture or the creation of an independent Palestinian state, whichever comes first.

The mission in Iraq has been difficult and trying for our nation. But it is in the vital interest of the United States that we succeed. … A free Iraq will show millions across the Middle East that a future of liberty is possible. …

…We must do the difficult work today, so that years from now people will look back and say that this generation rose to the moment, prevailed in a tough fight, and left behind a more hopeful region and a safer America. (Applause.)

We’re also standing against the forces of extremism in the Holy Land, where we have new cause for hope.

Energy: He’ll make one last pitch to open up ANWR, and blame the high energy costs on environmentalists and Democrats. WRONG.

Nope. Everything on energy was positive, happy horseshit, and no ANWR in sight.

5) National Security: He’ll either gloat or retaliate on today’s FISA vote.

To protect America, we need to know who the terrorists are talking to, what they are saying, and what they’re planning. Last year, Congress passed legislation to help us do that. Unfortunately, Congress set the legislation to expire on February the 1st. That means if you don’t act by Friday, our ability to track terrorist threats would be weakened and our citizens will be in greater danger. … We’ve had ample time for debate. The time to act is now.

6) Healthcare: He’ll blame Dems for not passing an S-CHIP bill that he “could sign.” WRONG.

No mention of children’s healthcare at all, and healthcare itself only received a few paltry sentences.

7) He’ll make some wannabe reference to Abraham Lincoln. WRONG.

Nothing on Lincoln or the Civil War. He went for the Founding Fathers instead.

There wasn’t anything new in this one - Bush is on the senior slide, his brain already clearing brush in Crawford. Would that it had been there the last 7½ years.