The domestic half of it was sort of odd, and interesting. Hydrogen cars, massive AIDS initiative in Africa. I wasn't expecting it.
The cowboy stuff about the terrorists was terrific. "Let's put it this way... they aren't a problem to us anymore."
Here's a thought to chill a liberal heart (and most conservatives): if a terrorist attack took out everyone in that building, John Ashcroft would be President.
I was fairly ambivalent. It wasn't as well-written as last years. Hell, *I* was moved by 2002's State of the Union. This year...
I'll say this - if he's serious about the 1.2 billion to develop hydrogen-fueled cars and not just blowing smoke up our collective ass (which I kinda think he is, sorry to say), then I, for one, applaud him. But I'm not going to forget that promise.
Originally posted by PalpatineWHere's a thought to chill a liberal heart (and most conservatives): if a terrorist attack took out everyone in that building, John Ashcroft would be President.
Oh, for fuck's sake, just make SURE I won't get any sleep tonight.
"Ah, the old exploding-beartrap-in-the-ass trick." -- Goemon Ishikawa
Originally posted by OlFuzzyBastardI was fairly ambivalent. It wasn't as well-written as last years. Hell, *I* was moved by 2002's State of the Union. This year...
I'll say this - if he's serious about the 1.2 billion to develop hydrogen-fueled cars and not just blowing smoke up our collective ass (which I kinda think he is, sorry to say), then I, for one, applaud him. But I'm not going to forget that promise.
That was the one thing that took me most by surprise... ven more than the AIDS relief for Africa. And I think it is a great thing. He seemed very serious and passionate about that issue... But that could be a well written speach conveying that. I think the dollar figure he gave betrayed a seriousness about it- I for one hope he does not back down from that one. The boon that would be for this nation in the future is too much to simply throw out there for PR...
I'll admit that I was pretty happy when Bush said the part about the hydrogen-fueled cars (although I cracked up when he mentioned that hydrogen and oxygen react in a chemical reaction and energy is released), but I haven't even heard anything about hydrogen fuel in cars before. Am I just missing something big?
Also, I'm glad that Bush is at least making an effort to branch away from oil dependency. It's not like fossils grow overnight, after all.
Apparently. They've been working on it for years. There (was, at least) a company in Canada that was working on hydrogen conversions for current cars. The problem is that the current hydrogen fuel cells are unreliable.
The good point for hydrogen cars: For people like Bizzle, who hate anything that doesn't have a 0-60 rating, hydrogen gives you just as good (if not better) bang for your buck as gas.
The bad news is: In an accident, the current fuel cells give you enough bang for your buck that airbags and seatbelts become rather pointless.
As for the rest of Bush's speech? Fuck him. I was happy with the domestic stuff, but I knew all along that it was meant to keep the liberals happy with him. But the grin on his face when he said, "Let's put it this way... they aren't a problem to us anymore." made me sick. I was glad that the Joint Chiefs at least didn't stand or clap. This is the bullshit that I hate. He specifically mentioned capturing terrorists in Buffalo. What about innocent until proven guilty? All we have on those guys is that they were seen in an al-Qaeda training camp in 1999. But besides that, to see him smirk about committing state sponsored murder, while he accuses Saddam of state sponsored terrorism? I'm still very angry just thinking about it.
The cowboy stuff about the terrorists was terrific. "Let's put it this way... they aren't a problem to us anymore."
This put a big smile on my face. A smile that got even bigger when the camera panned around the room and showed Daschle with a big old scowl on his face, sitting still while everyone else was clapping and standing up. What a wuss.
The stuff about alternate fuels and hydrogen cars made me laugh too. As much as I am allied to the Right and George W. is my boy, I mean, come on... An oil guy talking about alternative fuel sources? I had to laugh. I'd love to see one of those cars though. I haven't heard about them in years but the idea always sounded kind of cool. The only thing is, like jaguar said, you get one little spark in your hydrogen-tank and BOOM. You are driving the Hindenburg on wheels.
"My own personal feeling is that the Confederate flag no longer has a place flying any time, anywhere in our great nation." - Dick Gephardt, a man who apparently hates history AND the 1st Amendment
1. The fuel cell cars are an outstanding idea. I'm not sure Hydrogen fuel cells are the answer though(please see Hindenburg).
2. $15 billion for African AIDS relief seems excessive(I'm especially angry that it is now cheaper to provide medicines to AIDS victims than it is sufferers of Juvenile Diabetes)
3. Nancy Pelosi is an idiot; sitting in a visible location, she shook her head and laughed. Generally, minority leaders(or the leaders of the opposition party) should tend to at least remain respectful and dignified(as much as they can in Daschle's case. Pelosi looked juvenile. Hell, John Edwards even looked intent and interested when Bush started bashing trial lawyers. This isn't hard to do.
3. Ted Kennedy was shown on television asleep in his chair. It was pathetic.
4. Hillary clinton looked disgusted with the proceedings. Of course, if I was a useless Senator married to a horrible President, I'd be bitter too.
5. Somebody on the Democratic side didn't get the memo that at some point, they should stand and applayd. Notice that several times during the speeech, Republicans stood, applauded and whooped it up for the President's initiatives, including health care reform, tax cuts, tort reforrm and the environmental inititaives. To the naked eye, you would say that Democrats are anti-environment.
6. Gary Locke's Democratic response was hilarious because he was referring to the President's remarks about things that weren't even in the speech or referred to the failed environmental policy after talking about serious envrionmental reforms.
7. After the President's remarks on Iraq and the war, war protestors will ne neutered. It's very hard for the Human Rights crowd to decry our alleged abuses after the President talked about torture, etc.
I'd say that the Democrats had their balls cut off last night. The President co-opted several isues and talk about individualism people and the ways his programs would help them. I thought it was a good political speech and the Democratic presidential candidateS(except maybe for Sharpton) have been somewhat neutralized.
"Present day writers, especially of the Socilaist school of thought- base their various theories upon one common hypothesis: They divide mankind into two parts. People in general- with the exception of the writer himself- from the first group. The writer, all alone, forms the second and most impportant group. Surely ths is the weirderst and most conceited notion that ever entered a human brain!" - Frederic Bastiat, The Law, 1850
Originally posted by GrimisPoints about the State of the Union.
3. Nancy Pelosi is an idiot; sitting in a visible location, she shook her head and laughed. Generally, minority leaders(or the leaders of the opposition party) should tend to at least remain respectful and dignified(as much as they can in Daschle's case. Pelosi looked juvenile. Hell, John Edwards even looked intent and interested when Bush started bashing trial lawyers. This isn't hard to do.
5. Somebody on the Democratic side didn't get the memo that at some point, they should stand and applaud. Notice that several times during the speeech, Republicans stood, applauded and whooped it up for the President's initiatives, including health care reform, tax cuts, tort reforrm and the environmental inititaives. To the naked eye, you would say that Democrats are anti-environment
OK Pelosi shouldve been more respectful and dignified, but the Democrats shouldve stood up and hooped and hollered with the Republicans? The State of the Union is not a pep rally. Applause isnt reqired. What do you want next? "SADDAM FEARS BUSH" signs?
Ya know how we do it, big balling and big blingin'....
Originally posted by JaguarAs for the rest of Bush's speech? Fuck him. I was happy with the domestic stuff, but I knew all along that it was meant to keep the liberals happy with him. But the grin on his face when he said, "Let's put it this way... they aren't a problem to us anymore." made me sick. I was glad that the Joint Chiefs at least didn't stand or clap. This is the bullshit that I hate. He specifically mentioned capturing terrorists in Buffalo. What about innocent until proven guilty? All we have on those guys is that they were seen in an al-Qaeda training camp in 1999. But besides that, to see him smirk about committing state sponsored murder, while he accuses Saddam of state sponsored terrorism? I'm still very angry just thinking about it.
-Jag
Oh come on. It's the State of the Union. He's our leader. He's trying to convince us he's protecting us. I'm not going to "get sick" or shed any tears over a bunch of murderers who got capped by one of our spy drones. And, "all we have" on those guys is that they were seen in a Qaeda training camp? This is like saying "all we have on this Mengele fellow is that he hangs around concentration camps." People don't generally vacation in an al-Qaeda training camp.
I say huzzah for Bush.
Edit: Rock, I would have been amused, at the least. They could "woo" every time he mentions taxes.
Pre-emptive edit for Jag: And I know you are going to say "But Bush murdered those terrorists!" and to that I say, "is terrorist life equivalent to your life or mine? Clearly, no.
(edited by PalpatineW on 29.1.03 0829) Damn your eyes!
Originally posted by rockdotcom_2.0What do you want next? "SADDAM FEARS BUSH" signs?
Actually, I wanted to hear them chant "Holy Shit" during the enviro policy portions, have Lieberman with a "Bush stole my Gimmick" sign and to have Bush finish the speech "If ya SMELLLLLLLLLL what the Bush is cookin'"
"Present day writers, especially of the Socilaist school of thought- base their various theories upon one common hypothesis: They divide mankind into two parts. People in general- with the exception of the writer himself- from the first group. The writer, all alone, forms the second and most impportant group. Surely ths is the weirderst and most conceited notion that ever entered a human brain!" - Frederic Bastiat, The Law, 1850
1) As far as I know, it's not illegal to be seen at a training camp. And even if it is now, it certainly wasn't back in '99.
2) No, I don't care if Bush is murdering terrorists. I care because I'm willing to bet he's murdering suspected terrorists.
3) This is Bush, guys. Last night he tried to say, "Well, we KNOW Saddam has these weapons, even if he says he doesn't have them. And because we haven't SEEN these weapons, that means he's hiding them from us. So we're going to war." Now if Saddam really doesn't have the weapons (which I doubt), there is no way Saddam can produce these weapons that he doesn't have. But if Saddam does have these weapons, he knows he's got them well hidden enough that the US doesn't seem to have a clue as to where they are. So either way, we go to war without the proof we said we were going to obtain.
Of course then I remembered that this is George W. Bush that we're talking about, so I take back any faith in I had in his new domestic policies. He's big on headlines, but does very little in the followthrough. My guess is that some, if not most, of his domestic plans get cut off at the knees. With the exception of killing Stem Cell research, and Late-Term Abortions.
I thought the behavior of most of the Democrats was pretty much disgusting. Of course I do not expect them to pop up and applaud at every opportunity (to be honest, I felt there was far too many "applause breaks" anyway), but to slay glued to your seat, often not even clapping simply because a Republican was giving the speach was terrible. I mean, what about their issues, and the humanitarian stuff? You would think they would stand up and applaud on things like aid to Africa to fight HIV and the Hydrogen powered cars. It seriously got to a point where I was looking at the crowd for instances where one or two Democrats popped up right away- I would LOVE to take a close look at a tape and figure out who these people were, because I have a bit more respect for them. It is one thing to stay seated because the speaker says something you disagree with. But to stay seated for PURELY partisan reasons is simply in bad taste.
Um, they did stand up and applaud when he talked about the hydrogen cars and the AIDS relief in Africa. (A lot of the Republicans didn't, mind you.) They didn't when he discussed his economic plan or during his stupid cowboy shit regarding the "war", but that's to be expected and they'd have been even more hypocritical than usual if they did give Dubya a standing ovation everytime he pimped some platform that they disagreed with.
And, I've got to be sympathetic to Nancy Pelosi -- that was when Bush was stating that his tax plan would allow "92 million Americans to keep an average of $1,100 or more" - I laughed at that, too.
"Your enemy is not surrounding your country. Your enemy is ruling your country." "President" George W. Bush - Is he talking to Iraq or us?
Overall, it was a good speech. Some thought seemed to have been put in to addressing domestic issues, rather than throwing together any old shit just appease the Democrats. There were a few stooopid things, though, eg. Bush's statement that Saddam has "clearly shown his contempt for the UN". And this is coming from a man whose administration has repeatedly stated that they don't intend to stand by a UN resolution if it means not going to war. Talk about contempt.
"This put a big smile on my face. A smile that got even bigger when the camera panned around the room and showed Daschle with a big old scowl on his face, sitting still while everyone else was clapping and standing up. What a wuss."
Here's in idea to settle things: Get Bush and Saddam in the same room, and they can whip out their Johnsons and compare size. Don't like it? Because that kind of shit-eating fratboy bullplop that springs to mind when you see Bush smirking and saying things like ""Let's put it this way... they aren't a problem to us anymore." It's REALLY not the way the so-called leader of the civilised world should be conducting business.
"Here's the thing: I don't give a tupenny f*ck about your moral conundrum, you meatheaded shit-sack. That's pretty much the thing." Daniel Day-Lewis as Bill "The Butcher" Cutting, Gangs Of New York. You'd be surprised at how many statements this can be used as a response to.
Originally posted by PalpatineW>Here's a thought to chill a liberal heart (and most conservatives): if a terrorist attack took out everyone in that building, John Ashcroft would be President.
Ashcroft was in the building, so he'd have kakked too. I was wondering at the time (while heavily drinking), how many we'd have to go through to put Powell up there.
The Vice President Richard Cheney Speaker of the House John Dennis Hastert President pro tempore of the Senate1 Ted Stevens Secretary of State Colin Powell Secretary of the Treasury Paul O'Neill Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld Attorney General John Ashcroft Secretary of the Interior Gale A. Norton Secretary of Agriculture Ann M. Veneman Secretary of Commerce Donald Evans Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy G. Thompson Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Melquiades Rafael Martinez Secretary of Transportation Norman Yoshiro Mineta Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham Secretary of Education Roderick Paige Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony J. Principi
Rumsfeld was in the building. I guess he kind of looks like Ashcroft when the camera is far away and not really focus. But NBC made it a point to tell us last night at Ashcroft was not there incase something really bad happen we dont have to turn to the queen of England to run the country.
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