Posted on 01/28/2008 9:27:50 AM PST by AllseeingEye33
Final SOTU unlikely to yield surprises
By: David Rogers Jan 28, 2008 11:40 AM EST Updated: January 28, 2008 11:40 AM EST President Bush delivers the State of the Union on Jan. 23, 2007 When the president gives his last SOTU address, the core Bush agenda will be evident in his remarks, described as about evenly devoted to foreign and domestic policy.
Before President Bush heads to the Capitol tonight, no one should be surprised if he first doublechecks a pair of crucial Senate votes this afternoon—and the closing Dow.
More than most, this State of the Union address has its changing dynamics, not only because it is the last of the Bush presidency but also because the nation faces such historic uncertainty: wars overseas, falling financial markets and no clear champion yet in either political party to take the helm when Bush leaves.
The president is expected to speak fervently of his trust in Americans, even as he asks voters to trust him with more surveillance authority—now being debated in the Senate—and billions more for the war in Iraq.
But the downturn in the economy has shaken what’s been a pillar of his power, and Bush knows he will have to share the stage more this year even as he tries to hold on to a piece for himself.
Nothing illustrates this better than the new $150 billion economic stimulus package, a major subject tonight but one not even in early drafts of the speech a month ago.
The president will single out Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Republican Leader John Boehner for their work in shaping the bill, which comes before the full House Tuesday. See Also
And the re-emergence of Boehner as a legislative dealmaker could be hugely important if Congress were to tackle what would be the mega-domestic bargain this year: pairing the president’s legacy education issue—No Child Left Behind—with expanded health insurance for working-class children, a top Democratic priority.
At the same time, it is difficult to overstate the impact of Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson in the stimulus talks. Republicans call him an “energizer bunny”; Democrats are relieved to have someone who listens.
“I was going to call you but I was working my way up,” Paulson told Pelosi, when she telephoned him early on.
“He’s not there to fight us, he’s there to work it out,” said House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.).
Looking ahead, the former investment banker and Goldman Sachs CEO is increasingly optimistic he can break through in the Senate this year and complete mortgage reform legislation, including tighter supervision of government-sponsored entities [GSEs] such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, two entrenched Washington interests.
“I don’t want to sound naïve but I think there’s a real chance for action,” the secretary said in a brief interview Sunday. “There’s no excuse and we’ll be embarrassing ourselves if we don’t do it.”
White House aides caution that Bush will temper his own legislative ambitions this evening and the speech will instead be laced with examples of where the president can act administratively to boost his goals.
No Child Left Behind, up for review this year, remains a legislative priority, for example, but Bush will also announce new education initiatives, such as one targeted to high school dropouts, that can be implemented by his order alone.
“The executive branch has a role to play in government, and in the State of the Union it is perfectly appropriate for the president to bring up issues that he plans to get done on behalf of the American people,” said White House press secretary Dana Perino.
“The president will mention policies that can be implemented through executive or administrative action without congressional involvement.”
The core Bush agenda will be evident in the president’s remarks, described as about evenly devoted to foreign and domestic policy.
The administration has a pending request for $108 billion more for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as the larger war against terror, and faced with a Feb. 1 deadline, Bush will also demand a quick end to debate on legislation authorizing warrantless eavesdropping to fight terrorism.
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Let me be the first to throw up
Where is the PROJECTILE VOMIT alert on this one?
--(we need a special font for sarcasm)--
Is that the same Pelosi who has called his impeachment and prosecution? President Bush is really trying to go out with a whimper.
I’m going to have to kill myself I guess.
The transformation is complete.
Pretty good evidence that Bush has lost his mind.
What a swell idea!
Just throwing the dog a bone.
Let's here it from those suffering from
One is far left and the other is center left, Actually they agree on more than they disagree.
Is anyone really going to bother watching or listening to this guy, tonight? Does anyone really care what he says about anything?
The transformation is complete
————————————————————————>
Not quite yet.....he’s probably going to endorse Hillary then reveal that Papa Clinto has adopted Bill thereby making Hillary his sister-in-law.
As Bill would say at the Crawford Ranch....Let’s Saddle Up Boys and head to Miss Kitty’s Place.
‘’Visualize a world where a tactical nuke went off at Max Yasgur’s farm in 1969’’
Great tagline. Was the source Eric Cartman?
Bank on it!! Five minutes after the speech the RATS will be on TV ripping him. He hasn’t gotten it in eight years and tonite will be no different.
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