Bush's State of the Union speech ~LP Response

greenspun.com : LUSENET : Political and Social Issues: Conversations and Debates : One Thread

Bush's State of the Union speech was a historic 'missed opportunity'

WASHINGTON, DC -- George W. Bush missed a historic opportunity in his State of the Union address last night by not refocusing the federal government on its primary function: Defending the lives and rights of American citizens.

Instead, he outlined a laundry list of 39 new government proposals, new expenditures, and expanded programs -- as well as a potentially endless, worldwide "War on Terrorism," said Libertarian Party Executive Director Steve Dasbach.

"George Bush's compassionate conservatism is sounding a lot like compulsive Clintonism," he said. "Instead of using September 11 as an opportunity to limit the federal government to its core role of defending America, President Bush is using the tragic terrorist attacks as an excuse to further expand the federal government."

In fact, during his 48-minute speech, Bush proposed 39 new or expanded government initiatives, according to the Cato Institute -- which is almost as many on a per-minute basis as Bill Clinton proposed in his last State of the Union address.

Such a strategy not only flies in the face of what conservatives profess to believe -- it also makes Americans less secure, said Dasbach.

"A sprawling, trying-to-do-everything federal government cannot effectively focus on protecting Americans against foreign threats," he said. "A government that tries to do too much will end up doing too little where it really matters -- keeping us safe from foreign threats."

In his State of the Union speech:

* Bush proposed the "largest increase in defense spending in two decades." He also said the U.S. will take action against an "axis of evil" -- nations like North Korea, Iraq, and Iran which have the potential to develop weapons of mass destruction.

Missed opportunity: America doesn't need to spend more money to protect itself -- it needs to spend less money smarter, said Dasbach.

"September 11 could have been used as an opportunity to bring American troops home from the 144 nations and territories where they are stationed; to stop subsidizing the defense of wealthy European nations; and to stop intervening in foreign conflicts that do not affect our security," he said. "Instead, September 11 is being used as an excuse to rid the entire world of 'evil-doers,' while spending more money than we did during the Cold War.

"What President Bush should have done is announce clear, measurable, and finite goals for this War on Terrorism. Our nation's best interests will be served by decisive action that targets the guilty, spares the innocent, and ends as quickly as possible."

* In a clear reference to Enron, Bush said corporations should be "held to the highest standard of conduct."

Missed opportunity: Bush should have used the Enron debacle to vow to end wasteful corporate welfare, said Dasbach.

"While there is clear evidence of irresponsibility by Enron executives, many Americans don't realize that politicians used tax dollars to irresponsibly enrich those same executives," he said. "Over the past few years, Enron has received at least $1.6 billion from the federal government in Import-Export Bank subsidies and from the federal Overseas Private Investment Corporation.

"What Bush should have done is promise to immediately end all Aid to Dependent Corporations -- especially ones with corrupt executives and shoddy accounting practices."

* Bush unveiled the USA Freedom Corps, which will expand the AmeriCorps program and the Peace Corps, and promote "service" to the nation.

Missed opportunity: Bush should have abolished Bill Clinton's tax- funded AmeriCorps program, said Dasbach -- and publicly rejected the notion that compassion comes with a government paycheck attached to it.

"President Bush should have realized that you don't display your love for country by becoming a tax-funded volunteer," he said. "And Bush should have promised to take the money that has been squandered on the AmeriCorps program and return it to individual citizens -- who can best decide how to spend it to help their nation."

* Finally, Bush promised to extend unemployment benefits, expand the Head Start program, upgrade teacher colleges, enact a Patients' Bill of Rights, and expand Medicare to give seniors coverage for prescription drugs.

Missed opportunity: Bush should have used the current economic downturn to start trimming government programs and spending, said Dasbach.

"Bush's modest tax cuts, which passed last year, were a nice start to help revitalize the economy," he said. "But that effort will now be undercut by more government spending, more bureaucracy, and higher deficits. Regretfully, each of Bush's 39 new and expanded programs will further slow the effort to create economic growth."

In his State of the Union speech, Bush said he supported "limits on state power," noted Dasbach.

"Whether in the area of national defense, corporate welfare, volunteerism, or federal programs, Bush should start to put that limited-government principle into practice," he said. "The fact that he did not do so was his greatest missed opportunity."

-- Dick Tator (Razzor-D@WebTV.net), January 31, 2002

Answers

Joe, Nexar, Jules de Nord, Rootbeerman, Okie, yall hafta have some sort of oppenion on this!

-- Dick Tator (Razzor-D@WebTV.net), February 02, 2002.

Agreed upon.

It may be a time of mourning for Americans, but this very same time of mouring is being used as an ally of the president's in order to stay in power, as well as a method for clouding the minds of the people. The American people, in their divine wisdom, see this speech as exactly what Bush should say, even though they shyould see that bush has completely skimped around the issues at hand.

Even the main issue that the States must face, Racism. This would have been the easiest topic to touch upon, even if Bush wanted to continue the clouding of the people by using the 9/11 attacks as his focus. Much of the backwoods redneckers beleive that some "Rag-head" did this and therefore we should kill the lot of 'em. In the speech, Bush could (should) have called for National Unity, and pointed out that this attack has been done by a group of people, not every single person who looks a certain way (I beleive he has made this proclomation before, but he has yet to make it in an offical speech).

Once again, it seems to me that Bush completely missed the whole point that this was suposed to be an adress to the State, instead of to the War on Terrorism. The problem is, not enough people see this, which means, we're gonna have him in power for QUITE the long time.

-- Vampyro (vampyro_thedark@hotmail.com), February 03, 2002.

I don't have an opinion on his speech. I am not watching speeches. I heard George Will make a good observation about State of the Union speeches. He said that until Truman came along the State of the Union was just a written thingy that the President would send over to Congress. Jefferson sent some errand boy with his State of the Union as he thought it pompous to deliver it himself. I think it was Truman that started the big speech and all because he loved to hear himself talk. Every President since has used that as a platform. We are paying too much attention to that yearly speech. All it is the President rallying his side and pointing out little people heros strategically placed in the audience. It has nothing to do with the real State of the Union. So I didn't watch it.

-- (apples@nys.com), February 07, 2002.

Youre right. It is all politics. But you do get to see where he thinks we are at and where he thinks we need to go. And the State of the Union is required by the Costitution. Not yearly. But periodicly, I beleive.

-- Dick Tator (Razzor-D@WebTV.net), February 09, 2002.

I know that it's required but I think they could just send over a written report with statistics and projections, etc. for a more realistic State of the Union address to Congress. That speech aint nothing but grand standing. It's okay for that purpose. I thought the intent for a State of the Union address would be more in line with an annual report but apparently I am wrong.

-- julie (tiger will be me too) (tiger_paws@jungle.net), February 10, 2002.


Moderation questions? read the FAQ