Live Blogging The State of the Union
Posted on January 31, 2006
I’ll give it a shot I guess.
9:04 p.m. They have just introduced the Justices of the Supreme Court. Woo hoo! There is Justice Alito.
They are followed in by the cabinet.
9:10 p.m. The President appears. Shaking hands.
9:14 p.m. Bush opens with a tribute to Coretta Scott King. Appeals to bi-partisan support, and states that the State of the Union is strong.
“In this decisive year, you and I will make choices that determine both the future and the character of our country. We will choose to act confidently in pursuing the enemies of freedom – or retreat from our duties in the hope of an easier life. We will choose to build our prosperity by leading the world economy – or shut ourselves off from trade and opportunity. In a complex and challenging time, the road of isolationism and protectionism may seem broad and inviting – yet it ends in danger and decline. The only way to protect our people … the only way to secure the peace … the only way to control our destiny is by our leadership – so the United States of America will continue to lead.”
: “On September 11th, 2001, we found that problems originating in a failed and oppressive state seven thousand miles away could bring murder and destruction to our country. Dictatorships shelter terrorists, feed resentment and radicalism, and seek weapons of mass destruction. Democracies replace resentment with hope, respect the rights of their citizens and their neighbors, and join the fight against terror. Every step toward freedom in the world makes our country safer, and so we will act boldly in freedom’s cause.”
I can’t type fast enough to put time stamps on this stuff.
“We are on the offensive… in Afghaniston … in Iraq… training Iraqi forces…we are proud to be their allies in the cause of freedom.” … “We are winning.”
Jeez this is harder than it looks.
Ultimately the only way to defeat the terrorist is to beat their…darkness and fear.
The United States will not retreat to the world, and we will never surrender to evil.
America rejects the false comfort of isolationism.
9:30 Democracies in the Middle East will not look like ours … liberty is the right of all human.” The President describes Iran’s terrorist support and exhorts to the world to not allow Iran to gain nuclear weapons. The President talks to the citizens of Iran with respect and casts a vision for a free and democratic Iran.
9:35 pm: The President calls on congress to re-authorize the Patriot Act. Talks about wire taps:
It is said that prior to the attacks of September 11th, our government failed to connect the dots of the conspiracy. We now know that two of the hijackers in the United States placed telephone calls to al-Qaida operatives overseas. But we did not know about their plans until it was too late. So to prevent another attack – based on authority given to me by the Constitution and by statute – I have authorized a terrorist surveillance program to aggressively pursue the international communications of suspected al-Qaida operatives and affiliates to and from America. Previous presidents have used the same constitutional authority I have – and Federal courts have approved the use of that authority. Appropriate Members of Congress have been kept informed. This terrorist surveillance program has helped prevent terrorist attacks. It remains essential to the security of America. If there are people inside our country who are talking with al-Qaida, we want to know about it – because we will not sit back and wait to be hit again.
Huge applause.
Close up of Hillary, no applause with smirk on face.
9:38 “Four years of economic growth … we need more than temporary tax relief…I call on congress to make the tax cuts permanent.”
9:43 pm
“Congress did not act last year on my proposal to save Social Security” Democrats cheered like never before… But Bush got them back, and responded firmly “yet the rising cost of entitlements is a problem that is not going away – and with every year we fail to act, the situation gets worse … We need to put aside partisan politics, work together, and get this problem solved.”
9:45 p.m. Doesn’t stay on the topic of border control very long for some reason…
9:48 p.m. This Country is addicted to oil! Talks about technology.
We will invest in clean safe nuclear energy, clean cole, and wind power. We will increase research for batteries and hybrids for powering cars. (that will upset environmentalists). Technology will make our dependence on “middle east” oil a thing of the past!
9:52 pm
“We must continue to lead the world in human talent and creativity…” Announces the American Competitiveness Initiative, which will “encourage innovation throughout our economy, and to give our Nation’s children a firm grounding in math and science.” This initiative has three parts. 1) doubling the Federal commitment to the most critical basic research programs in the physical sciences over the next ten years. 2) make the research and development tax credit permanent, and 3) encourage children “to take more math and science, and make sure those courses are rigorous enough to compete with other nations.”
In recent years, America has become a more hopeful Nation. Violent crime rates have fallen to their lowest levels since the 1970s. Welfare cases have dropped by more than half over the past decade. Drug use among youth is down 19 percent since 2001. There are fewer abortions in America than at any point in the last three decades, and the number of children born to teenage mothers has been falling for a dozen years in a row.
9:56 pm: “A life of personal responsibility is a life of fulfillment.” What a great quote!
Announces Roberts and Alito! Huge applause!!! He honors Sandra Day O’Connor.
“The Supreme Court now has two superb new members, Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Sam Alito.” Cheers and a standing ovation. Says, “I will continue to nominate men and women who understand that judges must be servants of the law, and not legislate from the bench.” Honors Sandra Day O’Connor’s service.
He asks congress to prohibit clones, using embryos for research or creating chimaras….
Rebuilding New Orleans…
10:03 pm: Awesome closing to his address:
Fellow citizens, we have been called to leadership in a period of consequence. We have entered a great ideological conflict we did nothing to invite. We see great changes in science and commerce that will influence all our lives. And sometimes it can seem that history is turning in a wide arc, toward an unknown shore.
Yet the destination of history is determined by human action, and every great movement of history comes to a point of choosing. Lincoln could have accepted peace at the cost of disunity and continued slavery. Martin Luther King could have stopped at Birmingham or at Selma, and achieved only half a victory over segregation. The United States could have accepted the permanent division of Europe, and been complicit in the oppression of others. Today, having come far in our own historical journey, we must decide: Will we turn back, or finish well?
Before history is written down in books, it is written in courage. Like Americans before us, we will show that courage and we will finish well. We will lead freedom’s advance. We will compete and excel in the global economy. We will renew the defining moral commitments of this land. And so we move forward – optimistic about our country, faithful to its cause, and confident of victories to come.
Thank you, God bless you, and may God bless America.
Awesome stuff. I don’t think I’ll ever try to live blog again…that was very difficult.
Here is the full text.
Expose the Left has the video
Others:
Expose The Left
Blogs For Bush
Right Side Redux
Drumwaster
Euphoric Reality
Michelle Malkin has a larger list.
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33 Responses to “Live Blogging The State of the Union”
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Heard Cindy was removed from the gallery .. woohoo
I just read that Cindy was arrested….
“BREAKING: CINDY SHEEHAN ARRESTED IN D.C.!
Sheehan arrested by Capitol Police in house with anti-war banner. Being held and questioned by police after breaking house rules.”
Rama Lama Rama Lama Ding Dong!!
Here’s the link on Cindy Sheehan- http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=1563258 . Appaerntly she caused a disturbance…go figure.
Are you surprised Joe? I’m not. Then there is the dimwit loon that gave her a ticket.
Thanks Joe. According to CNN,she displayed a banner.
heheh. Yeah Jo, that was well worth it, at least in my opinion. LOL.
YW Claudia.
Is this wonderful man talking to a bunch of 3rd graders (dimwits) geez, how immature can you be on national tv?
Jo, what’s happening?
Claudia, the looney left stands up and cheers like a bunch of nuts when he said social security reform was defeated. They looked like idiots – then he nailed them with “there is still a problem” and shut them up thankfully. They are so disrespectful toward him.
Jo, thanks, I just caught that. It’s 4am here and I’m a bit behind the power curve.
I caught that too…how ridiculous. I can hardly wait for the Democratic response…well, yes I can.
The German media will show the response and milk it for all it’s worth.
I’m amazed that Kennedy didn’t clutch his heart and roll down the stairs at the mention of Alito’s name!
You mean you were wishing Peakah?
Great job blogging Jay! You covered it well! Thanks.
I don’t intend on doing it again…ever. Heh. That was exhausting..I missed a lot.
LOL Peakah!
what’s with mr. rebuttal’s eyebrow?
I don’t know, my wife just mentioned the eyebrow…I’m not covering the rebuttal…go somewhere else to see that live coverage.
Wife can’t handle it, turned the channel.
this dude reminds me of a circus carney
LOL, My wife said the same thing about Mr. Rebuttal. I think the eyebrow is stuck there from the Alito confirmation!
Why does this rebuttal remind me of a metameusel commercial? …wierd.
The big surpise in the speech was that there was no surprise on border security from illegal aliens, drug smugglers, and terrorists. Nor was there any suprise with the President calling for guest workers–mass amnesty in disguise. President Bush is in his second term and could afford to protect our borders. Looks like 3 more years of the same and then a radical-left Democrat gets to take over. Sad day. Only one positive aspect. No Democrat could do worse on border issues.
You really think a rad left dem will take over. I can’t see that. I mean I don’t think they can come up with a candidate that isn’t a hillary or teddy mini-me… I don’t think America will bite.
People are rightfully pissed that Bush does nothing about the border. Some folks want to take that one issue and turn him into an enemy over it. I think this is the same thing dems do to him. I disagree that a dem will take over…not only would they not secure the border, they would undo every good thing Bush has implemented to protect us.
I agree, I don’t think America will bite. However, I am independent…if they can come up with a common sense dem like Zell Miller…I will wait and see what the choices are.
Very Nice Speech, President Bush~!
The camera crew must have been Republican, no pans on Kennedy, one on Skerry, and three on Hillary. Good Job~!
They did show Levin too much for my liking. 
I’d be amazed if they chose Zell Miller…only because I think they are still mad about his GOP convention appearance. But as “appearances” go we’ve seen Hillary veer to the right in recent posturing. So who knows…
Pardon me. I did not mean to take one issue and negate all President Bush has done for us. I appreciate him and his court appointments, taxes, the economy, the overseas war on terror, and so on. But, in my opinion, the border issues are so critical to the well being of our country that unless they are addressed we are going to be hit again by terrorists. And, I doubt if the rest of the country would put up with what the border states have to go through. Folks, the border truly is out of control for 2000 miles.
Loma, I’ll give you an Amen on that one.
I’m with you on that one LomaA.
The border is a critical issue for Americans as it effects many different issues (economy, security, demographics). His guest worker amnesty position, in code was a big disappointment.
The border issues are rapidly coming to a head. Having lived in EP – still home to my Dad – I see how destructive all the p.c. garbage is about “undocumented workers”. It needs to be fixed NOW. They are ILLEGAL ALIENS!!! Just as I would be – plus arrested – if I sneak into another country or overstay my visa!
Begin, please, with no longer conferring automatic US citizenship on any baby born in our nation to parents who are citizens of another country! Anyone who thinks women are not crossing the border just to have their child delivered in the US has never looked at what’s happening at the hospitals, clinics, ambulance runs, etc. in every border town. Women cross the border while in labor, cross the river or bridge trying to hold off on delivery until they are in the US.
Time to stop this nonsense! Actually, long past time to stop this!!!!!
President Bush has to get tough on this issue or we are in trouble in a big way!