January 28, 2008
President Bush Gives His Last State of the Union
Photograph of President Bush, with Vice President Dick Cheney and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi in the background, delivering the State of the Union by Ron Edmonds/AP
President George Bush gave his final State of the Union address, sounding positive about his leadership but also noting that there's still more to do: "From expanding opportunity to protecting our country, we have made good progress. Yet we have unfinished business before us, and the American people expect us to get it done." (You can read the entire text here.)
The speech focused on war and taxes; Bush also tried to reassure the American public about the economy - "At kitchen tables across our country, there is concern about our economic future. In the long run, Americans can be confident about our economic growth. But in the short run, we can all see that growth is slowing" - and asked that the stimulus plan be passed quickly.
Photograph of First Lady Laura Bush, surrounded by daughters Barbara and Jenna Bush as well as Lynne Cheney and guests by Ron Edmonds/AP
Much of the post-address analysis hasn't been very impressed with the President, finding the speech a laundry list of "familiar ideas". The Democratic response, given by Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius, asked the President and Washington, D.C., to work with Americans to "be the America we have been - and can be once again" by making enough decisions and changes in the next 357 days about issues like the economy, war, and the State Children's Health Insurance Program (which Bush has vetoed twice (full text here).
Left photograph of Hillary Clinton greeting Edward Kennedy as Barack Obama turns away by Scott Applewhite/AP; right photograph of Obama and Kennedy listening to the State of the Union by Ron Edmonds/AP
The evening's excitement was generated when Barack Obama entered the chambers with Senator Edward Kennedy. Kennedy, who joined his niece Caroline in endorsing the senator from Illinois today, sat next to Obama during the State of the Union. The two Kennedys explained to Time magazine why they endorsed Obama (Obama also weighs in on what the endorsements meant); Caroline Kennedy explained her decision to make her splashy endorsement in the NY Times, "I really felt like it was a crucial moment and if I had something that I believed in, then I really owed it to myself to express that. I recently turned 50, so I figured, I'd better get going — what am I waiting for?"
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It looks like Barbara Bush is in serious need of a makeover, that is unless she plans to settle down with someone named Hezekiah in Lancaster County...
Wow, Bushie's last state of the Union. Thank f'ing goodness!
We really need the parliamentary system. It works much better and is actually more a democratic form of government. Plus it wasn't thought up by a bunch of drunken masons who had no respect for lawful authority.
Watching the state of the union tonight is a good way to fall asleep.
Obam doesn't look very happy in those two pictures. And come on, who cares what Teddy Kennedy thinks anymore? Is there a more fitting image of "Washington insider" than him?
Oops. I meant Obama.
"Plus it wasn't thought up by a bunch of drunken masons who had no respect for lawful authority."
Perhaps the most retarded thing I've ever read in my life.
C'mon, what's really important here. Who would you rather ... Barbara or Jenna?
I'd hit Barbara.
Barbara. His mom--that's the Barbara I'd hit. But I'd gladly punch any of them.
just call me Hezekiah
(brunettes ftw)
I concur: Barbara.
Yes, that uptight librarian look from this Yalie leads me to suspect that she still has a lot of breaking in to do. However, I still can't get over that outfit she's wearing - it's like something a 9 yo would wear during "assembly" in grade school....
Na na na na
Na na na na
Hey hey hey
Goodbye.
And yeah, Barbara's hot.
i kept waiting for him to say "9/11"...
then he did, towards the end. i guess i hoped he would make it through his last hurrah without invoking that...
My fellow Americans. On the occasion of my last State of the Union speech as president, let me state clearly and succinctly how our great country is doing:
A lot, lot, lot worse than it was before I was president.
With that in mind, you'll be pleased to know that I have less than one year remaining in office.
The End
Do you think Hilary was embarassed to be wearing the same dress at Laura Bush?
Check out the pic of Bush inside the Daily News today... he totally had a booger in his right nostril.
I wouldn't mind some bush from either of the Bush daughters.