Yes, it's that time again. Bush's second to last address is tomorrow evening.

I'm really looking forward to this one because I can't remember/wasn't old enough to care/wasn't alive to witness a time when a president has been so down in the dumps regarding not only public opinion polls but even support from his own party.

So here's what's supposed to be on the agenda:

Quote :

"President Bush laid out ambitious goals for the future, behind which all Americans can unite, and urged the Nation to move forward with the work that needs to be done this year: * A Strong America Leading The World * American Competitiveness Initiative * The Advanced Energy Initiative * Affordable And Accessible Health Care "

http://www.whitehouse.gov/stateoftheunion/2007/index.html

But, like I said, I'm really interested to see the kind of reception he gets, what with so much disapproval from the public and even other Repubs. Will it be chilly? or the same old stand up clap, sit down, stand back up and clap nonsense that usually goes on.

Quote :

"Nearly two-thirds in U.S. have given up on Iraq NBC/WSJ poll: Bush ‘really in the cellar of public opinion’ By Mark Murray Political reporter NBC News Updated: 2 hours, 39 minutes ago Mark Murray Political reporter WASHINGTON - When President Bush delivers his next-to-last State of the Union address Tuesday night, he will confront this reality, according to the latest NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll: Nearly two-thirds of Americans appear to have given up on success in Iraq and also on his presidency. In addition, the poll finds that nearly another two-thirds believe he shouldn’t move ahead with his troop increase to Iraq, if Congress passes a non-binding resolution opposing it. And it shows that just two in 10 want Bush taking the lead role in setting policy for the country. “Essentially, the president is really in the cellar of public opinion,” says Democratic pollster Peter D. Hart, who conducted this poll with Republican Bill McInturff. “As he faces the audience for his State of the Union, he’s going to find a mood dramatically different to the mood that greeted him at his second inaugural.” McInturff adds that he sees little chance for Bush, in his speech, to win over skeptical Americans on major policies like Iraq. “There is only a limited to modest capacity to change people’s opinions.” Job approval stays the same — low In the survey, Bush’s job approval rating stands at 35 percent, which is virtually unchanged from December, when it sank to 34 percent — the lowest mark of his presidency. In the NBC/Journal poll taken right before his second inaugural address, 50 percent said they approved of his job performance. Perhaps more significant, a whopping 65 percent believe that Bush is facing a longer-term setback from which he’s unlikely to recover. That’s compared with 25 percent who think he’s facing just a short-term setback, and 7 percent who believe he’s facing no setback at all. What’s more, only 22 percent say they want the president taking the lead in setting policy for the nation. Fifty-seven percent say they would prefer the Democratic-controlled Congress holding the reins. Support for the commander in chief “The public really says, ‘I just think it’s over,’” Hart says of Bush’s presidency. “If we had a British parliamentary system, there would be a call for a vote of no confidence. Essentially what the poll is, is a vote of no confidence.” The survey — which was conducted Jan. 17-20 of 1,007 adults, and which has a margin of error of plus-minus 3.1 percentage points — also comes after Bush declared in a Jan. 10 prime-time address that he is sending more than 20,000 additional U.S. soldiers to Iraq. In response, Democrats and even some Republicans have proposed non-binding resolutions opposing such an increase, and other critics have called for cutting funding to pay for these additional troops. According to the poll, 65 percent believe that Bush should not move ahead with his troop increase if Congress passes a resolution opposing it; just 30 percent think he should go ahead it with it anyway. But 52 percent say they would oppose cutting funding for additional troops, while 41 percent say they would favor it. These two sets of numbers, Hart says, send a warning to Congress. “You can go this far” — by passing a non-binding resolution — “but not further.” Regardless of what action Congress takes concerning Bush’s troop increase, the poll shows that most Americans believe the outcome in Iraq has already been decided. Sixty-five percent say the United States will have to withdraw and leave Iraq without a stable democratic government there. By comparison, only 27 percent say the U.S. will prevail and leave Iraq with a stable government. “I think our country has come to a public judgment” on Iraq, McInturff observes. “And it’s a very pessimistic one.” "

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16755951/

should be interesting. let's confine all thoughts in here


[Edited on January 22, 2007 at 10:26 PM. Reason : link]

1/22/2007 10:24:46 PM

I am not sure, but it seems like every year Bush's administration leaks speech topics that are wrong, thereby screwing over the press and allowing them to control the debate. (smart politics) if this year is like years past, i expect this to be all about iran and one or two other things that will surprise people.

Other than that, I am looking forward to Webb's response.

1/22/2007 10:44:18 PM

you leak things to get a feeler for what the response to them will be, then taylor your actual address accordingly. its classic politics.

1/22/2007 10:45:08 PM

^tailor. the Former congressman has little to do with this.

and that is one thing this administration has done very well; control debate.

1/22/2007 10:47:23 PM

Quote :

"65 percent believe that Bush is facing a longer-term setback from which he’s unlikely to recover. That’s compared with 25 percent who think he’s facing just a short-term setback, and 7 percent who believe he’s facing no setback at all."

who are these 7 percenters? please stand up.

1/22/2007 11:02:45 PM

Quote :

"who are these 7 percenters? please stand up."

They can't, they're too old and senile to stand.

1/23/2007 7:42:03 AM

Quote :

"I am looking forward to Webb's response."

yeah, i had forgotten he was giving the Democratic response. Looking forward to that as well

1/23/2007 6:14:31 PM

It's weird seeing Pelosi and Cheney together

1/23/2007 9:04:30 PM

Time to turn this page, get one step closer to the end of the bush term. I'm glad to see Pelosi up there. NBC just said he's down about 54 points from his first state of the union at about 80 percent popularity.

Having one person in white and one person in black on each shoulder reminds me of the devil/angel on each side.

Also they pointed theres a good chance that the next president of the united states is in that room.
-
Division and uncertainty… good talking points there.

[Edited on January 23, 2007 at 9:17 PM. Reason : .]

1/23/2007 9:12:38 PM

jeez, Dick is a cranky-looking old man....

1/23/2007 9:19:52 PM

Don't ask for line item veto... the republicans have used it to kill bills... don't bring it up again.

1/23/2007 9:19:58 PM

whoa - the "cut the earmarks in half" statement, the camera (on ABC) went straight to McCain. He grinned really big and gave to very inconspicuous winks to whoever was beside hiim.

1/23/2007 9:21:16 PM

Pelosi has to stand when enough others do, but watching for when she leads the stand is a pretty good symbol for where the dem's are. She noticeably stood up right away on health insurance, and also on balancing the budget.

1/23/2007 9:24:45 PM

too many numbers on the insurance bit. It's confusing when you throw out a dozen numbers in about 30 seconds and expect people to absorb them all.
bad speech writing.

1/23/2007 9:25:46 PM

i think dick chaney is actually dead

1/23/2007 9:27:47 PM

oh, i just realized that all of Congress already has a copy of the speech that many of them are reading along with. I thought they were just note cards at first....

1/23/2007 9:28:45 PM

so it's like church

1/23/2007 9:30:15 PM

reduce "gasoline usage" by 20%. weak sauce. he better have more than that.

1/23/2007 9:31:48 PM

reduce gas usage by 20% in 10 years

LOL

1/23/2007 9:31:56 PM

a general observation - it's funny how all the men wear black or blue suits, and show flair or color is brightly colored ties, where the women all seem to be wearing bright pant suits.

How funny would it be if all the men in congress started wearing bight, pimp suits

1/23/2007 9:32:50 PM

how about no it wont happen

empty promises

1/23/2007 9:33:07 PM

we must limit gas usage

we must drill more oil

what?

1/23/2007 9:33:11 PM

oh noes, he's been brainwashed by al gore

1/23/2007 9:33:54 PM

no mention of emissions from businesses. he's dodging a huge polluter.

1/23/2007 9:34:16 PM

Quote :

"so it's like church"

if you're catholic.
Protestants only get an outline of their services, not verbatim scripts.

haha - bush and cheany just drank water at the exact same time. The old "watch me drink this water while my puppet keeps talking" ..... except not.

1/23/2007 9:34:45 PM

I don't like government officials who talk about how bad of an idea government is/how poorly it functions/how bad of a decision maker it is, or politicians who attack politics to gain publicity points.

Bush has several times in this speech attacked government saying they are bad at doing work & making decisions(I'm not saying this is exclusively a republican thing to do, Obama likes attacking politics too). It seems kind of bad for him to attack the institution he heads, saying private corporation is so much better.
-

And Pelosi just stood fast on immigration reform.

1/23/2007 9:34:56 PM

we will end foreign dependence on oil by 1980

we will end foreign dependence on oil by 1985

we will end foreign dependence on oil by 1990
...


reduce gas usage by 20% in 10 years

at least we are starting to get realistic

1/23/2007 9:35:57 PM

pelosi almost got some air jumping up so fast after "we owe a debt of gratitude".
Want to show we support the troops!!

1/23/2007 9:37:48 PM

how long will it take the stop invoking sept. 11th??

1/23/2007 9:38:14 PM

are you guys still scared?

not scared enough yet? i'll keep going!!

1/23/2007 9:40:06 PM

until january of 09
i hope so anyway.

1/23/2007 9:40:14 PM

Promising paradise for political goals helps make religion look more ridiculous.

1/23/2007 9:40:20 PM

umm, we're at war with iraq because of Sept 11, according to him. why would he stop talking about it now.....

1/23/2007 9:40:43 PM

zombieleeza

1/23/2007 9:42:03 PM

^haha, i was thinking that

1/23/2007 9:42:55 PM

jesus - condi looks more angry than Cheany

= ?

1/23/2007 9:43:19 PM

haha McCain looked like his ass was sleeping

[Edited on January 23, 2007 at 9:46 PM. Reason : I know, but that's what it looked like]

1/23/2007 9:43:46 PM

i think that's b/c they are reading the speech in their laps

1/23/2007 9:45:01 PM

She knew his "turn towards victory" would mean escalation, thus she was slow to get up, having to use her hands on the desk in front of her for alot of support.

The symbolism of everyone’s moves on this scale is interesting to watch.
-

http://www.johnedwards.com/action/sign-petitions/nofunding

Now that he is talking about escalation openly, I bet Edwards gets alot more signatures.

[Edited on January 23, 2007 at 9:46 PM. Reason : .]

1/23/2007 9:46:09 PM

Nancy Pelosi needs to stop blinking every second

1/23/2007 9:46:30 PM

I agree, I like seeing who claps and who stands for certain things, and how quick they are.

1/23/2007 9:46:55 PM

The more you look at her, the less attention you pay to him.

1/23/2007 9:47:15 PM

attention women: stop getting nose jobs. It's obvious and it looks stupid. (i'm looking at you, madam Speaker)

1/23/2007 9:47:47 PM

she's probably sending coded messages to the turrists

you know they're watchin'

[Edited on January 23, 2007 at 9:47 PM. Reason : .]

1/23/2007 9:47:48 PM

Chaos is the greatest ally

1/23/2007 9:48:51 PM

freudian slip?

1/23/2007 9:49:08 PM

Quote :

"The more you look at her, the less attention you pay to him. "

dude

she's been smacking her lips since the beginning

add the blinking and she looks like a damn Furby

stupid women

1/23/2007 9:49:34 PM

dems aren't standing. they don't want to succeed in iraq

1/23/2007 9:49:45 PM

Just watching and doing hw back and forth; did he not mention Iran at all?

1/23/2007 9:50:11 PM

I voted for failure

1/23/2007 9:50:22 PM