Bush Pledges Crackdown On Earmarks

State Of The Union Speech Also Calls For Patience In Iraq, Fast Action On Economic Plan

(CBS/AP) 
There are 158,000 U.S. troops in Iraq, a number that is expected to drop to 135,000 by July. There are 28,000 in Afghanistan, the highest number of the war, which began there in October 2001. Congress, despite repeated attempts, has been unable to force troop withdrawals or deadlines for pullbacks, and Iraq has receded as an issue in Washington.

Aides had said Mr. Bush would not use the address as a summation of his time in office. But he did, turning to the phrase "over the past seven years" when talking about some of the most-prized efforts of his administration: tax relief, federal involvement with religious charities, the global freedom agenda and increased funding for veterans.

"I thought this was a boilerplate speech," presidential historian Douglas Brinkley told CBS News after the speech. "It was in many ways the legacy speech."

"I must say I thought that the president read his speech well tonight," CBS News chief Washington correspondent Bob Schieffer said. "But there was no music - there was no soaring rhetoric."

He spoke of trust in people - taxpayers, homeowners, medical researchers, doctors and patients, students, workers, energy entrepreneurs and others - to drive their own success and that of the country. The unspoken message: Government isn't the answer.

"In all we do, we must trust in the ability of free people to make wise decisions, and empower them to improve their lives and their futures," Mr. Bush said.

A major challenge for Mr. Bush in his address was simply being heard when many Americans already are looking beyond him to the next president.

His speech came hours before Florida's presidential primary election and just eight days before Super Tuesday when voters in more than 20 states go to the polls on the biggest day of the primary campaign. Republicans running for president rarely mention Mr. Bush, preferring to focus on conservative hero Ronald Reagan instead.

Before Mr. Bush arrived, his would-be successors and their well-wishers clogged the center aisle.

Sen. Barack Obama came first, followed closely by his new patron, Sen. Edward Kennedy. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton entered the chamber a few minutes later, equally mobbed by well-wishers. She reached out and shook Kennedy's hand. Obama, nearby, turned away.

Mr. Bush will turn from Monday's speech and plunge into politics, raising money for Republicans from Wednesday through Friday at events in California, Nevada, Colorado and Missouri, sandwiched around other appearances to tout themes from his speech.

As for the Democrats, Clinton said, "Tonight is a red-letter night in American history. It is the last time George Bush will give the State of the Union. Next year it will be a Democratic president giving it."

Mr. Bush said he would send Congress a budget that terminates or substantially reduces 151 "wasteful or bloated programs" totaling more than $18 billion.

He renewed a proposal to spend $300 million for a "grants for kids" program to help poor children in struggling public schools pay for the cost of attending a private school or a better public school outside their district.

On two issues that were centerpieces of State of the Union addresses past - Social Security and immigration - Mr. Bush passed the buck back to Congress, which had ignored the president's earlier proposals. Contending that entitlement spending is "growing faster than we can afford," he said, "I ask members of Congress to offer your proposals and come up with a bipartisan solution to save these vital programs for our children and grandchildren."

But as Schieffer reports, everywhere you turn the Democrats were very, very skeptical.

"We talked to Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of the House, today and we said the president is planning to challenge you on immigration and she said 'poor baby.' That was a direct quote," Schieffer said. "She said 'look, it's his own party that abandoned him on immigration, we can't help.'"

The president also announced a White House summit on inner-city children and religious schools and said that his annual meeting with the leaders of Mexico and Canada will be held this year in New Orleans, to show off recovery efforts.

He prodded Congress to extend a law allowing surveillance on suspected terrorists, renew his education law and approve free-trade pacts with Colombia, Panama and South Korea. (Watch Mr. Bush On No Child Left Behind)

He also recycled ideas on alternative energy, affordable health care, housing reform and veterans' care. Mr. Bush also renewed his ideas on climate change and stem cell research.

Mr. Bush made only one mention of Osama bin Laden, who remains at large more than seven years after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. There was no reference to North Korea. In his 2002 address, Mr. Bush caused a stir by warning that Iraq, Iran and North Korea constitute an "axis of evil." The United States and its allies are pushing North Korea to abandon its nuclear programs.

[bighdelight]

Wow!! amazing that he would cut in half the congressional pet projects!!! Does that mean half the troops and half the cost of this pet project war is going to happen??? yeah, right. I officially declare Bush to be the worst president this country has ever had....and probably the worst we will ever have.

[tbweb]

FOX NEWS
FL
Clintion 51% Win
Obama 30%

Posted by usmcvn at 09:12 PM : Jan 29, 2008,,,

Sen. Hillary Clinton won the Florida Vote but no Delegates because the Democratic National Committee punished Florida for moving up its Primary date. In my view the nomination for the Democratic Party starts in earnest from this point forward. I hope that the "race issue" did not decide the Florida Vote. I also hope that the race issue did not divide the Democratic Party to the point where many Voters will be Voting race from this point forward, because if thats the case Sen. Clinton will end up with a hollow victory and nomination in her ultimate victory and a very divided and polarized Democratic Party and Convention. If you ever heard the statement that sometimes when you win you lose, this would be one of those moments if this campaign has in fact digressed into race.

[donbl1]

J, actually, I think it is 34.3 years in business and investing.

[j-whitman]

See you folks later, I''ve heard enough here dumbing down our problems --- Got news to watch anyway.

[j-whitman]

dontb1,,,, Are you trying to tell us you''ve had 35 years in business and investing ?????

[tibu987]

DUH!
I predict that Bush will unveil many more types of improvements for the economy, the war, taxes, health care, etc. before his term ends.
I also predict that several more Bush cronies will leave the sinking ship prior to November.
Politics as usual.
Gimme a break!

[j-whitman]

dontb1,,,,, Go ahead, buy a home in Florida --- It hasn''t changed much since I lived there in the 60''s.

[donbl1]

gm6005, good to see another financial interest guy.

Actually, my sources are daily WSJ, BW, CNBC and 35 years in business and investing.

It is GOOD for America for the Swiss to buy a house in Dever as it repatriates dollars!!!!! Think about it! Think about the Saudi investment in Citi. That was ALSO good as it repatriated dollars.

On inflation, depends if you are referring to core or not. I tend to focus more on core as the other one is usually up and down.

[bm6005]

J, the rate of inflation is less than the rate of growth of GDP....

BTW, the decline in the dollar is seriously impacting Europe...
Posted by donbl1

Source on the rate of inflation Vs. rate of GDP growth. I''ve recently heard the exact opposite on financial TV. Also, we have Swiss friends who are estatic over the Euro''s increase to the dollar. They just bought a new house in Denver to add to their other two in Switzerland! They love it!! Who does your analysis, O''Reilly?

[donbl1]

J, I agree the property taxes will be a problem for states in 2009 if the properties are revalued. Here in Texas we are still rising.

California and Florida are all over the news. Thinking about buying a vacation place in Florida as it may be my last chance as these price deviations only come every 20 years. 20 years from now I won''t care.........