A couple of thoughts on the SOTU as I watched tonight.
* Overall I thought Bush’s speach wasn’t bad, and he did a fairly decent job of delivering it.
*Condi Rice needs a new stylist. She looked like a vampire.
* Was John McCain winking when George Bush mentioned earmarks, or is his left eye dysfunctional.
* Speaking of earmarks, I like how the leader of the party in charge of the most abusive Congress in history is suddenly railing against them now that they’re no longer in power.
* Cheney perched over Bush’s shoulder gave the impression he was the puppet master. This was highlighted by the fact that both drank a glass of water at the same time midway through the speech.
* Why didn’t all the Democrats stand when Bush said we don’t want a nuclear Iran? Seriously, do they SUPPORT a nuclear Iran? I was reminded at how Democrats can be idiots on foreign policy at times.
* The health insurance policy was not well described. Whether this is intentional or unintentional I don’t know, but I’m suspicious.
* I can’t wait to see the whole balanced budget idea.
* While the Sunni/Shia Middle East conflict was oversimplified, and al Qaeda was perhaps too liberally mixed in with at least some of the events in Iraq, he nonetheless highlighted the fact that the situation a) isn’t progressing well, and b) has the potential to (d)evolve in to a wider regional conflict between Iraq, Iran, Turkey, Syria, and other powers. This has become an increasingly real concern due to our involvment in Iraq.
* Why will 20,000 more troops make a difference? And how does that actually reflect a change of strategy?
In any case, here we go.