Text Of Bush's State Of The Union Speech

President Defends His Iraq Policy, Outlines Energy Plan

(CBS) 
Finally, to keep this economy strong we must take on the challenge of entitlements. Social Security and Medicare and Medicaid are commitments of conscience — and so it is our duty to keep them permanently sound. Yet we are failing in that duty — and this failure will one day leave our children with three bad options: huge tax increases, huge deficits, or huge and immediate cuts in benefits. Everyone in this chamber knows this to be true, yet somehow we have not found it in ourselves to act. So let us work together and do it now. With enough good sense and good will, you and I can fix Medicare and Medicaid — and save Social Security.

Spreading opportunity and hope in America also requires public schools that give children the knowledge and character they need in life. Five years ago, we rose above partisan differences to pass the No Child Left Behind Act — preserving local control, raising standards in public schools, and holding those schools accountable for results. And because we acted, students are performing better in reading and math, and minority students are closing the achievement gap.

Now the task is to build on this success, without watering down standards ... without taking control from local communities ... and without backsliding and calling it reform. We can lift student achievement even higher by giving local leaders flexibility to turn around failing schools ... and by giving families with children stuck in failing schools the right to choose something better. We must increase funds for students who struggle — and make sure these children get the special help they need. And we can make sure our children are prepared for the jobs of the future, and our country is more competitive, by strengthening math and science skills. The No Child Left Behind Act has worked for America’s children — and I ask Congress to reauthorize this good law.

A future of hope and opportunity requires that all our citizens have affordable and available health care. When it comes to health care, government has an obligation to care for the elderly, the disabled and poor children. We will meet those responsibilities. For all other Americans, private health insurance is the best way to meet their needs. But many Americans cannot afford a health insurance policy.

Tonight, I propose two new initiatives to help more Americans afford their own insurance. First, I propose a standard tax deduction for health insurance that will be like the standard tax deduction for dependents. Families with health insurance will pay no income or payroll taxes on $15,000 of their income. Single Americans with health insurance will pay no income or payroll taxes on $7,500 of their income. With this reform, more than 100 million men, women, and children who are now covered by employer-provided insurance will benefit from lower tax bills.

At the same time, this reform will level the playing field for those who do not get health insurance through their job. For Americans who now purchase health insurance on their own, my proposal would mean a substantial tax savings — $4,500 for a family of four making $60,000 a year. And for the millions of other Americans who have no health insurance at all, this deduction would help put a basic private health insurance plan within their reach. Changing the tax code is a vital and necessary step to making healthcare affordable for more Americans.

My second proposal is to help the states that are coming up with innovative ways to cover the uninsured. States that make basic private health insurance available to all their citizens should receive federal funds to help them provide this coverage to the poor and the sick. I have asked the Secretary of Health and Human Services to work with Congress to take existing federal funds and use them to create "Affordable Choices" grants. These grants would give our nation's governors more money and more flexibility to get private health insurance to those most in need.

There are many other ways that Congress can help. We need to expand Health Savings Accounts ... help small businesses through Association Health Plans ... reduce costs and medical errors with better information technology ... encourage price transparency ... and protect good doctors from junk lawsuits by passing medical liability reform. And in all we do, we must remember that the best health care decisions are made not by government and insurance companies, but by patients and their doctors.

[politologist]

The whole thing was a well-staged theatrical performance. Sometimes, when Bush%u2019s populist demagogy compelled the opponents of his policy to stand up and applaud, resembled a primitive puppet show. What we witness in America today is deductive for those who are buying myths about the %u201CAmerican democracy%u201D. 70 percent of the population disapproves Bush%u2019s performance and the overwhelming majority of the citizens claim to stop the whole Iraq adventure. The Democratic majority in the Congress, the lawmakers, who were e l e c t e d by the American people, demand from his CEO, the U.S. President, not to send more troops and to start pulling them back from Iraq. And%u2026 nothing happens! Can you imagine a n y corporation where CEO would dare to disobey the decision of his employer?! In America CEO Bush may do whatever Special Interest tells him to do even though it represents the interests of miserable few%u2026 It shows the real face of the so-called %u201CAmerican democracy%u201D, where the political power has been seized by a small group of extra rich ones. The essence of what is going on in a so-called %u201CCitadel of Democracy%u201D is well formulated in the old eastern proverb: %u201CDogs bark, but the caravan goes on%u201D%u2026

[politologist]

The whole thing was a well-staged theatrical performance. Sometimes, when Bush%u2019s populist demagogy compelled the opponents of his policy to stand up and applaud, resembled a primitive puppet show. What we witness in America today is deductive for those who are buying myths about the %u201CAmerican democracy%u201D. 70 percent of the population disapproves Bush%u2019s performance and the overwhelming majority of the citizens claim to stop the whole Iraq adventure. The Democratic majority in the Congress, the lawmakers, who were e l e c t e d by the American people, demand from his CEO, the U.S. President, not to send more troops and to start pulling them back from Iraq. And%u2026 nothing happens! Can you imagine a n y corporation where CEO would dare to disobey the decision of his employer?! In America CEO Bush may do whatever Special Interest tells him to do even though it represents the interests of miserable few%u2026 It shows the real face of the so-called %u201CAmerican democracy%u201D, where the political power has been seized by a small group of extra rich ones. The essence of what is going on in a so-called %u201CCitadel of Democracy%u201D is well formulated in the old eastern proverb: %u201CDogs bark, but the caravan goes on%u201D%u2026

[sheburns]

Note, ruthiewilson, that the text is presented "as prepared for delivery.." What is prepared for Bush and what he is able to read or pronounce are two different things. He's a good ole boy and talks like a good ole boy, and at the same time I don't put it past him to purposely truncate the word democratic to shortchange and insult those who oppose him, as he snickers to himself.
MOre importantly it should be noted that he has plenty of hidden agendas in this speech, like his plan to make sure employers are not hiring undocumented workers...here comes the US Citizen ID idea again...a way for the Repubes to track us all with the technology that could be used develop and promote sustainable energy. And note his intentions to create "affordable" health care coverage, not actual health care just insurance, which is all about the big business, insurance stockholders and CEO who make 400% more than the working poor or even the working middle class.

[memerider]

At least the speech was not his usual cheerleading to his base we've seen in the past. A new speechwriter clearly helped (as well as a room full of democrats).

We may never know the truth about what steps led to the decision to attack Iraq, but we all can agree it was a mistake. What's troublesome is that Iraq is no longer a stable, secular state--it now shares Islamic extremism with Iran, Afghanistan, and a number of the other Islamic states. And this is not religious--it's about power and wealth, with religion used as a tool, just as Christianity has been used to keep peasants in their place by powerful Western leaders. The hornets' nest has just increased in size and focus since our regime change in Baghdad.

The only real hope is to develop alternative energy sources and stop wasting our resources and relying on foreign energy with gas-guzzling cars and MacMansions. We The People have to get a grip and stop it ourselves.

Until we start insisting on smaller vehicles and homes, we are at the mercy of Islamic extremists, irrespective of how many of our pristine wilderness areas we drill.

Both dems and repubs need to wake up and quickly refocus on this issue and forget about red herrings that both parties use to grab our attention.

[thewayicit]

America is on the verge of technological breakthroughs that will enable us to live our lives less dependent on oil? We have the technology NOW! Why aren't we utilizing it? Could big oil have anything to do with it? At least George acknowledged that he was aware of Global Warming. I was beginning to think he thought it was just a theory!

[ruthiewilson]

The third paragraph of the address includes the following sentence: "Some in this chamber are new to the House and Senate %u2014 and I congratulate the Democratic majority."

I am quite sure that Bush actually stated "Democrat majority." Important distinction given that right wing Repubs have made it their goal to deny the Democratic party the use of the word democratic. If I am correct, I would respectfully ask CBS to make this correction.

[rharrin1]

I can't get over how stupid SOME of the people who post on this board really are.

Yes democrats voted to go to Iraq and it was based on the information they were given by bush and cheney.

And it has been proven that the information was false fabricated by bush and cheney.

Now just what part of that do you not understand?

[mojo805]

Wake up Congress! If you think that the troop surge is a needless risk for American troops to shore up a government that in the end will be unfriendly towards to the US, then STOP Bush NOW!

[mojo805]

"The care of human life and happiness and not their destruction is the first and only legitimate object of good government." --Thomas Jefferson to Maryland Republicans, 1809. ME 16:359

A... chief [executive] strictly limited, the right of war vested in the legislative body, a rigid economy of the public contributions and absolute interdiction of all useless expenses will go far towards keeping the government honest and unoppressive." --Thomas Jefferson to Lafayette, 1823. (*) ME 15:491

More can be found at: http://etext.virginia.edu/jefferson/quotations/jeff0650.htm

[long_rider]

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/012307B.shtml

[long_rider]

IMPEACH this idot for lying to us again.

[jjteacher]

To syntyche...those folks who so movingly shook his hand and asked for his autograph as he exited the chamber were HIS INVITED guests. Real SINCERE!

[alphie6690]

i wish jjteacher was my teacher...o wait, she is...LOL!

[jjteacher]

I would feel sorry for a man so entirely self-deluded as this President if it wasn't for the fact that so many others are paying the price for his pathetic mismanagement. When he occupied Iraq, he also took up permanent residence in Fantasyland!

[alphie6690]

another thing, conservatives are big losers who in reality, are the original liberals. they should just go get high off OxiCotin with that fat man, Rush Limbaugh , that hypocrit!

[alphie6690]

if this incompetent fool thinks he can win people over by actually having a structured (wow, am i stretching it) speech, he has another thing coming.

He says that we're in the 41st month in which there have been no job declines, but, my tio licho just lost his job...j/k about that..comic relief

how can he be offering tax cuts, when there is a freaking $8.6 TRILLION deficit! what a moron!

jazthegenius pointed out that he said "minority students are closing the achievement gap."...what the hell???..why doesnt he worry about the redneck hillbillies in the south, they're dumber than rocks!

i guess his immigration policy is...ok

i didnt buy any of the oil ***, striaght up BS

he spoke too much of the "totalitarian ideology", and only achieved making me rethink wether "ideology" is a word, b/c it just sounded weird after the kagillionth time.

and i found it hilarious that he thanked God for the TSA workers, i mean, they do great things, like, mope around all day and get payed $15 per hour.

what stood out themost was this little phrase : "they [iraqis] just want to live in peace"...hilarious!!! i bet he thinks we think he thinks we think its his fault...well, it is!

and finally, all that *** about helping Africa with HIV and AIDS, total BS, he only pledged like..1/5 billion, yet he spends 6 billion per month on this damned war...ay yayay!

[jazthegenius]

"minority students are closing the achievement gap." I'm glad Bush sees this as a grand accomplishment, perhaps it is to deter from the fact that U.S. students as a whole, not just minorities, constantly under perform in comparison to other nations. Oh and by the way, he mentioned 9/11 four times!

[syntyche-2009]

Very effective, genuine and at times, an uplifting address that reached the President's political opponents. To paraphrase one reporter, No matter how down President Bush may be, he always rises to the challenge and is always open to diverse political views. I am very proud of President Bush and enjoyed watching his exit from the chamber, while he exchanged handshakes, hugs, and signed autographs. God Bless America.

[digitaltaz]

Both Republicans and Democrats alike are responsible for our troops being in Iraq...least we not forget that Senator Clinton as many other Democrats had done, voted "YES" to sending troops into Iraq.
But, President Bush and the Republican held congress at that time promised a strategic military plan that would bring our fighting forces home, and leave just a small compliment of soldiers to help the Iraqi's with small sectarian squirmishes and humanitarian operations. This is where the comments made by the Democratic response tonight holds great strength...the President has refused to listen to the military advisors and continues his Napoleonic ideology on the war in Iraq.
It is time to bring all of the Middle Eastern countries together at the diplomatic table and try to find a sense and an end to sectarian violance and a peaceful exsistance of all, in this important and historic region of our world.
Its time to bring our fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, cousins, neighbors, our friends home from the front lines of battle.

[tygear360]

I am a young voter but I care about our future and I learn more and more about Politics everyday. I enjoy hearing the President%u2019s speech. His topics were strong and improve my American Moral. It is time to stand by them and move forward. Students and professors at universities are improving the quality of bio-diesels. Ethanol cars are running side by side with gasoline. We have got to get away from crude oil faster than 10 years, at least 12% less oil used in 5 years. We have the resources to produce let us get started. Come through President and America will support you, the issues are solid but it is time to start %u201CWalking%u201D the %u201CTalk%u201D!