State of the Union Score Sheet

January 31, 2006

Bush has had a miserable fifth year, some say it is due to the “second term curse”. Curses aside, it is because of Bush arrogance and incompetence. Americans understand what is going on because his over all job approval ratings have been very poor, even for a second term. His Republican base is disserting him because his policies have made it tough to faithfully defend him and they need to win elections this year. 

Do not expect Bush to honestly care about elections, he isn't running. Though he owes a lot to his past supporters, he doesn't see it that way … all is fair in love and politics. Bush will touch on many things and here are some:

1. Alito Confirmation: Certainly he necessarily sees this as a victory though the Republican controlled Congress guaranteed him the victory right after his nomination last year. The senate hearings and pontificating were just a formality and made for even more dull and annoying CSPAN, but he will couch it in terms of a battle hard fought and won. He won't mention his previous nominee, Harriet Miers who according to him was the best qualified person in the country. If so, why did he want Alioto?

He will probably make Alioto and his sobbing wife stand for applause. Now THAT should make her cry again!

2. Iraq: He will stay the course and does not see any reason to change. He will not offer any definitive pullout plan nor will he describe a detailed plan for "Victory in Iraq" because he has none and never has.  He will provide the standard bullshit answer regarding the 2,200 plus soldier deaths, talking about how Americans are honor their sacrifices and are proud of them for it. He won't mention the 15,000 plus wounded and maimed soldiers or the 40,000 plus Iraqi deaths.

He might even mention a new Iraqi school or two for good measure. A family of a dead Marine might also be in the offing.

3. Troop strain: He will not mention that the number of soldiers in Iraq are fewer than needed and are at the breaking point with respect to resources. There are just so many times you can force soldiers into yet another tour of duty. Of course he will not mention a draft.

4. Terrorism: He will mention this frequently because keeping Americans afraid serves him. He has no real plan to fight terror other than to say that Iraq is the focal point conveniently forgetting that this was not so before the war. He will huff and puff declaring how America will not back off and he is the man to do it. Expect him to mention Iran but not discuss the war planning to bomb it probably this year.

He will certainly want the Patriot Act renewed so he can be the terrorist fighter he says he is. After all, to Bush, the Constitution “is just a piece of paper” like he said last fall. No use being inconsistent and ask the un-Constitutional portions of the Patriot Act be removed. That wouldn't do at all!

5. Domestic spying: He will mention this because he thinks that by saying what he is doing is legal will make so. It won't, but he doesn't care. Only Congress can directly confront him and though they should, they do not have the mental competency or political will to do so.

For Americans to receive a fair hearing about this, would require an aggressive investigation by a Republican controlled Congress. “Fat chance” Not even Democrats genuinely want the truth.

6. Economy: He will say the economy is strong and it got that way because of his tax cuts.  He thinks giving most cuts to the rich helps the poor or even the fading middle class. Incredibly, a higher percentage of rich now hold more of the total wealth than ever before, meaning the rich got richer the poor poorer.

He won't mention the non-existent savings rate for Americans, the worst since The Great Depression, the thousands of dollars in credit card debt and a sagging housing market because they would interfere with his rosy and distorted economic outlook.  Being rich distances him from financial reality.

7. Tax cuts: He will want “his” tax cuts made permanent in the face of over 8 trillion in national debt, the highest ever in history. A permanent tax cut will rapidly add trillions more debt, severely weaken the U.S. dollar and make the U.S. the biggest debtor nation in human history. And who would want to invest in the United States?

8. Budget: He will say he wishes to reign in spending even though he has miserably failed to do this the past five years. His proposals will be weak and disingenuous. He has never vetoed any legislation let alone a spending plan.

Undoubtedly Bush failed basic math as did his colleagues. Republicans can never again say they are fiscally responsible.

9. Energy: He will broadly make reference to the steep rise in energy prices, never taking blame and conveniently forgetting he chided Clinton over $1.90 a gallon for gasoline six years ago. He will gloss over the fact that most Americans are seriously struggling to keep up with the pace of energy increases.

He will tout his “work” and support in alternative energy, probably mentioning hydrogen and hybrid cars. There will be no mention as to how the U.S. will actually convert to a hydrogen economy.  

He will mention ethanol because Congress generously gave billions in subsidies to Midwest farmers in a blatant political payoff for future votes in 2006 and 2008. It wasn't about energy, except political energy and momentum.

10. Medicare Prescription Drug Plan: He will talk about how the new Medicare Prescription Drug Plan is the answer for seniors and will be an unequivocal success. Never mind that millions of seniors are confused and millions will be excluded after the statutory deadline. He won't talk about how the new system cannot accurately sign up seniors and so pitiful is its performance, that the government had to tell pharmacies to fill prescriptions anyway. 

He won't mention the cost, which should be at least $800 million over ten years when he said is would be just $400 million.  Nor will he mention that the civil servant who pointed out the 400 million dollar discrepancy was fired for telling the truth.

He will probably have a token senior stand up waving a drug prescription card the Health Secretary himself helped them get. That person will be one of the few who will have allegedly signed up and got benefits.

11. Health Care: He will talk about this a lot. He will mention health savings accounts and more allowable tax deductions. He won't mention that millions of Americans do not have health insurance and no matter what kind of an account or deduction they might get, millions will still go without adequate care.

Bush and Congress have health coverage and being well paid, can afford the best care most Americans cannot have. Washington politicians and their families have no connection with the working man and woman.

12. Global Economy: He will talk about this but not have not real plan. He does not understand that the educational system in the U.S. based on his “No Child Left Behind” policy leaves more and more behind and uneducated. Tragically, those able to make it through are not equipped to compete in the global economy. They have no clue, after all they are taught to pass a performance test and not to be ready to ultimately enter the workforce. He and his followers just don't get it.

13. Ethics and corruption: Don't expect him to mention this at all. He sees nothing unethical about Congressmen taking bribes, profiting from insider stock trades, hiding money under different companies, or White House staffers leaking CIA agent names. The more he avoids this topic, the better he thinks it is for him. Maybe so, but not for Republicans wanting to persistently remain in power.

This State of the Union address and those remaining, will come from a lame duck caught in the realities of re-elections and party politics. Because of his divisive policies the past 5 years, his effectiveness will diminished even more. His legacy will be a failed second term with a mediocre showing for eight years. Pitiful.

4:12 pm