State of the Union Address LIVE THREAD 9:01pm EST.

White House .gov ^

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

President Bush will deliver the annual State of the Union this evening at 9:01pm (Eastern Time). The speech will be webcast live on the White House web site. The President will discuss the extraordinary challenges our country has faced and the historic achievements we have made. Yet he will also stress that there.s much more for our country to do: "America this evening is a Nation called to great responsibilities. And we are rising to meet them…" "We have not come all this way – through tragedy, and trial, and war – only to falter and leave our work unfinished. Americans are rising to the tasks of history, and they expect the same of us." He will also remind the American people that we are a Nation still at war, and our government is meeting its responsibility to protect the American people: "Our greatest responsibility is the active defense of the American people. Twenty-eight months have passed since September 11, 2001 – over two years without an attack on American soil – and it is tempting to believe that the danger is behind us. That hope is understandable, comforting – and false." "...America is on the offensive against the terrorists..." "As part of the offensive against terror, we are also confronting the regimes that harbor and support terrorists, and could supply them with nuclear, chemical, or biological weapons…" "...Because of American leadership and resolve, the world is changing for the better…" He will discuss the progress we’re making in Afghanistan and Iraq, and renew our commitment to ensuring those countries are free and peaceful: "The men and women of Afghanistan are building a nation that is free, and proud, and fighting terror…" "The work of building a new Iraq is hard, and it is right. And America has always been willing to do what it takes for what is right." On priorities here at home, the President will discuss why he’s optimistic about our growing economy, and call on Congress to take action that will help turn our economic recovery into a lasting recovery. He will call on them to help train Americans for the jobs of the 21st Century: "America’s growing economy is also a changing economy. As technology transforms the way almost every job is done, America becomes more productive, and workers need new skills… We must respond by helping more Americans gain the skills to find good jobs in our new economy." President Bush will also discuss the importance of health care and the major cause for why Americans lack health insurance: the rising costs of health care. "On the critical issue of health care, our goal is to ensure that Americans can choose and afford private health care coverage that best fits their individual needs. To make insurance more affordable, Congress must act to address rapidly rising health care costs." Finally, the President will argue that in a time of great change in our country and world, the things that make our country strong should never change: "We are living in a time of great change… Yet some things endure – courage and compassion, reverence and integrity, respect for differences of faith and race. The values we try to live by never change. And they are instilled in us by fundamental institutions, such as families, and schools, and religious congregations. These institutions – the unseen pillars of civilization – must remain strong in America…" "All of us – parents, schools, government – must work together to counter the negative influence of the culture, and to send the right messages to our children."

"The President shall from time to time give to Congress information of the State of the Union and recommend to their Consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient." Article II, Sec. 3, U.S. Constitution • History • State of the Union History Quiz • State of the Union - 2003 • State of the Union - 2002 Q1. What President delivered the first State of the Union Address?  George Washington  John Adams  Thomas Jefferson  James Madison  Franco Harris

January 20, 2004
Communications Director Dan Bartlett discussed this year's State of the Union.

January 19, 2004
Author/Historian Richard Norton Smith discussed the history of the State of the Union address.

[az1roadrunner]

Ya know, I thought GW, our President delivered a heck of a whemstinder speech tonight, or was that stemwinder, for the most part. Of course, ya gotta consider that he is from Texas and the liberal press thinks that anyone from Texas doesn't have vocabulary skills, so I thought he did a great job.

On the other hand, these liberals will have to be dealt with.

AAAAAAARRRRRGH!

(just kidding about the AARGH).

[Fledermaus]

Democrats can't ever give a speech without bringing up some BS ancedote about ONE individual like we even care.

[NYC Republican]

I LOVE the way Brit Hume spanked More Kondracke on the difference between entitlements and tax cuts. He SPANKED him. Brit is fantastic, as is Tony Snow!

[ThinkDifferent]

Ok, he actually said *one* thing I agree with. Re-importing drugs from Canada should be legal. Drug companies should be forced to stand up to socialist price-fixing governments rather than overcharging Americans.

[Sacajaweau]

You have the puppet absolutely right. She needs a weenie with a military background to be her VP in 2008.

[hole_n_one]

Last one.......

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

Jim Lehrer: Which beings us to our final question. Governor Bush, both you and the Vice-President have offered plans to provide prescription drugs for the elderly. What makes your plan superior?

Al Gore: Jim, I'd like to interrupt here and answer that question as if it were my turn to speak. Jim, let me tell about a friend of mine. [ holds up a picture of an elderly woman ] Her name is Etta Munsen. She's 94, she's a widow living on Social Security in Sparta, Tennessee. Etta was born with only one kidney. She also suffers from poilo, spinal menengitis, lung, liver, and pancreatic cancer, an enlarged heart, diabetes, and a rare form of styctic acne. Now, several recent strokes, along with an unfortunate shark attack, have left her paralyzed and missing her right leg under the knee. Just last week she woke from a coma to find that, due to a hospital mix-up, her left arm had been amputated, infected with syphillis, and then reattached.

Jim Lehrer: Mr. Vice-President, we are short of time..

Al Gore: As you can imagine, Jim.. Etta's prescription drug bills are staggering. They run to nearly $113 million a day! And she tells me that some weeks she has to choose between eating and treating her Lyme Disease. Now, under my plan, Etta's prescription drugs would be covered. Under my opponent's plan, her house would be burned to the ground. And that is wrong. That is just wrong!

Jim Lehrer: Governor Bush? Response?

George W. Bush: I believe that some of those figures may be in-ock-urate.

Al Gore: Jim, what you just heard from my opponent is an attack on my integrity and my character. And I will not reply in kind. Instead, I will take those remarks and tuck them away, away in a tiny "lock-box", where all bad thoughts go.

[Monty22]

Brit just kinda yammered what they did, hah.. Sounded so bored.

Their response was so lacking.. Offering nothing, not even really contending anything either. Useless.

[Peach]

Yes, I liked that too.

Heard a good joke today. God created Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve.

[hugorand]

I'm stunned that Daschle didn't run for President. He's such a dynamic speaker; and his message is so uplifting.

/sarcasm

[mhking]

I love Chris' strip! (I need to call him! Thanks for reminding me!)

[Republican Wildcat]

Exactly what I was just thinking--he just let her die and did nothing to help?

[dennisw]

You are an American so hire a fellow American. Or are you an H1-B yourself?

[clamper1797]

I think an H1B has 10 days to leave the country if his employment has been terminated. Is your guy legal?

And he has to be sponsered

[Pubbie]

"I'll say one good thing about her, I hear she's a great cook."

You mean cRook?

:)

[jla]

No doubt in my mind that if he were able, RR would be voting for Dubya next November.

[tet68]

Quick, get out the spotlight!

[jwalsh07]

Woe is America sayeth the Undertaker.

[StarFan]

Millions of children are being denied smaller classes and better teachers because of our President. Imagine that! So nice to point an accusative finger at a President who has only been in office 3 years and got more done than these stray albatrosses who have occupied a seat far too long and have nothing to show for their time in office. They're disgraceful.

OMG, what a phoney smile from Dashole as he too ended with God Bless America. Fred Barnes asking what the heck Nancy meant by America must be a light not a missle. LOL.

[kingu]

Bush had an awesome first half of speech, went wandering into territory that as a conservative I don't like to see, but it took but a moment for the RATs to open their mouthes to realize how dumb they think that all of us are.