State of the Union: Judges

From the President's speech:

A future of hope and opportunity requires a fair, impartial system of justice. The lives of our citizens across our nation are affected by the outcome of cases pending in our federal courts. We have a shared obligation to ensure that the federal courts have enough judges to hear those cases and deliver timely rulings. As President, I have a duty to nominate qualified men and women to vacancies on the federal bench. And the United States Senate has a duty, as well, to give those nominees a fair hearing, and a prompt up-or-down vote on the Senate floor. (Applause.)

Aside from the War on Terror, this is the number one issue. Note that it gets just a single paragraph in the most high profile speech the President will give all year...

State of the Union: Energy

From the President's speech:

It's in our vital interest to diversify America's energy supply -- the way forward is through technology. We must continue changing the way America generates electric power, by even greater use of clean coal technology, solar and wind energy, and clean, safe nuclear power. (Applause.) We need to press on with battery research for plug-in and hybrid vehicles, and expand the use of clean diesel vehicles and biodiesel fuel. (Applause.) We must continue investing in new methods of producing ethanol -- (applause) -- using everything from wood chips to grasses, to agricultural wastes.

We made a lot of progress, thanks to good policies here in Washington and the strong response of the market. And now even more dramatic advances are within reach. Tonight, I ask Congress to join me in pursuing a great goal. Let us build on the work we've done and reduce gasoline usage in the United States by 20 percent in the next 10 years. (Applause.) When we do that we will have cut our total imports by the equivalent of three-quarters of all the oil we now import from the Middle East.

To reach this goal, we must increase the supply of alternative fuels, by setting a mandatory fuels standard to require 35 billion gallons of renewable and alternative fuels in 2017 -- and that is nearly five times the current target. (Applause.) At the same time, we need to reform and modernize fuel economy standards for cars the way we did for light trucks -- and conserve up to 8.5 billion more gallons of gasoline by 2017.

Achieving these ambitious goals will dramatically reduce our dependence on foreign oil, but it's not going to eliminate it. And so as we continue to diversify our fuel supply, we must step up domestic oil production in environmentally sensitive ways. (Applause.) And to further protect America against severe disruptions to our oil supply, I ask Congress to double the current capacity of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. (Applause.)

America is on the verge of technological breakthroughs that will enable us to live our lives less dependent on oil. And these technologies will help us be better stewards of the environment, and they will help us to confront the serious challenge of global climate change. (Applause.)

I really don't have any objection to any of this...

The surprise, for me, was the call for doubling the size of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. I think that's a great idea. I also support legislation that would require withdrawals from the SPR be restricted to strategic purposes. The idea is to have oil when we needed it, not when the price goes over $2.50 per gallon.

Which brings me to a serious problem that Democrats have on this issue. The environmental lobby loves higher gas prices. The "little guy" that the Democrats claim to support, can't afford it. Those two constituencies should be played off each other and let's see who wins that battle. It might be very telling about just who exactly controls the Democrat Party... (Yes, I said Democrat Party...when Democrats start acting like they support democratic principles, I'll consider changing the nomenclature.)

State of the Union: Immigration and Border Control

From the President's speech:

Extending hope and opportunity in our country requires an immigration system worthy of America -- with laws that are fair and borders that are secure. When laws and borders are routinely violated, this harms the interests of our country. To secure our border, we're doubling the size of the Border Patrol, and funding new infrastructure and technology.

Yet even with all these steps, we cannot fully secure the border unless we take pressure off the border -- and that requires a temporary worker program. We should establish a legal and orderly path for foreign workers to enter our country to work on a temporary basis. As a result, they won't have to try to sneak in, and that will leave Border Agents free to chase down drug smugglers and criminals and terrorists. (Applause.) We'll enforce our immigration laws at the work site and give employers the tools to verify the legal status of their workers, so there's no excuse left for violating the law. (Applause.)

We need to uphold the great tradition of the melting pot that welcomes and assimilates new arrivals. (Applause.) We need to resolve the status of the illegal immigrants who are already in our country without animosity and without amnesty. (Applause.) Convictions run deep in this Capitol when it comes to immigration. Let us have a serious, civil, and conclusive debate, so that you can pass, and I can sign, comprehensive immigration reform into law. (Applause.)

Enforecement First is the ONLY method for safe, secure and fair immigration policy. Without enforcement, none of these ideas will work. A guest worker program? Yeah, we need one. But not at the cost of an insecure border. We need a very large wall on our borders with a big gate. And everybody who comes through those gates should be welcomed with open arms and background check to make sure they aren't here to blow stuff up. What is so difficult to understand about this issue?

State of the union: Healthcare

From the President's speech:

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

And so 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 on payroll tax -- 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, this 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 health care affordable for more Americans. (Applause.)

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. (Applause.) We need to help small businesses through Association Health Plans. (Applause.) We need to reduce costs and medical errors with better information technology. (Applause.) We will encourage price transparency. And to protect good doctors from junk lawsuits, we passing medical liability reform. (Applause.) 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. (Applause.)

I am for any healthcare initiative that provides a safety net for those who need in this country. Where I take exception is when the state ends up providing a lifestyle choice instead of a safety net. We talked about this at some length on the show last night and some of that should make it in to the Sunday "Best of the TIB Network" show...

State of the Union: Education

From the President's speech:

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, 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 the 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 someplace better. (Applause.) We must increase funds for students who struggle -- and make sure these children get the special help they need. (Applause.) 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. (Applause.)

I'm sure there are some success stories, but all I remember hearing about the state of education in this country (and in the state of Ohio) has been bad news. No Child Left Behind has not really been the success story that the President says it is. It may be a bipartisan love-fest, but that doesn't mean it has produced results that are worthy of praise. Should NCLB be renewed? I can't say that NCLB has really achieved success; but then again, I really don't know what benchmarks to use here...

Boehner Statement of State of the Union

Via email:

"The President has laid out a series of ambitious proposals addressing the nation's priorities, and I hope Congress will give each a fair hearing. If Democrat leaders are going to oppose the President's agenda, they have an obligation to present their own alternatives. The American people demand more than criticism - they want results.



"One issue on which I think Republicans and Democrats can find common ground is fiscal responsibility. Earlier this year, the House enacted earmark rules built on the reforms adopted under Republican leadership last fall. And House Republicans have introduced legislation giving the President line-item veto authority, another important tool in the fight against wasteful spending. I'm hopeful we can go further in the months ahead, and work together to balance the budget and bring further accountability to the way Washington spends taxpayers' dollars.



"Another area I hope we'll be able to work together is on allowing low-income students in chronically underachieving schools the option of attending private schools. An opportunity scholarship program has been in place in Washington , D.C. , and it has been a success. There is no reason our laws should trap lower-income students in underachieving schools, denying them their right to a good education.



"Similarly, our laws shouldn't prevent working Americans from obtaining affordable quality health coverage. I have always been supportive of plans that provide workers access to affordable health care and more ownership over their medical decisions. The proposal unveiled by the President tonight for increasing the number of Americans with health insurance sounds promising, and it deserves a full and fair hearing in Congress.



"Finally, the President has outlined a new strategy for success in Iraq , but in order for this effort to be successful the Iraqi government must be held accountable. This week, House Republicans put forward a series of strategic benchmarks to help the President and our armed forces succeed in Iraq . If we fail in Iraq , or withdraw our troops prematurely, the terrorists will follow us home. Success is our only option.



"Our goal is a safer and more secure America -- one where families can raise their children without the fear of terrorist attacks. These benchmarks will help us candidly and honestly assess whether we are achieving our goals and whether the President's new strategy is successful."

The State of the Union Address - UPDATED

Announcement from the TIB Network and Wide Awakes Radio: I'll be anchoring the W.A.R. coverage on the President's State of the Union Address. Pre-game show starts at 7PM eastern with the speech itself at 9PM. Post-game analysis after the speech until at least 10PM eastern. Please tune in...

What do we expect?

The Domestic Agenda:

Health care. Bush will propose a tax deduction of $7,500 for individuals and $15,000 for families regardless of whether they buy their own health insurance or receive medical coverage at work. He also would subject employer-sponsored health care benefits to taxation, meaning those with more policies worth more than the deduction would see a tax hike. But those who get policies at work worth less than the deduction, the preponderance of workers with employer-provided insurance, would get a tax break. Another proposal would give some federal money now going to hospitals and other facilities to states for programs to reduce the number of uninsured.

Energy. Bush is expected to call for a sharp escalation in the federal mandate on use of ethanol as a renewable fuel alternative, a goal that may prove difficult to meet. He also may seek the power to raise fuel economy standards for passenger cars, authority he also asked for last year. Some Democrats worried the plan would give transportation officials overly broad authority to change the system.

Education. Bush will push for Congress to renew his education accountability law, No Child Left Behind, which expires this year. Democrats will expect him to go along with increases in spending to help schools make the required progress under the law.

National Security:

Bush was not expected to rehash the speech he gave less than two weeks ago laying out his revamped plan for Iraq, the centerpiece of which is a 21,500-troop increase in the U.S. military presence. Instead, he was to broadly defend his stand that Iraq is part of a war on terror that will make Americans safer.

This post will be updated throughout the day as more information comes available.

UPDATE: Over at The Corner, K-Lo reports:

Tony Snow just said (on The Today Show) that the president is going to talk about immigration in a way that is "visionary" tonight in the State of the Union. Hey, go for it. Goodness knows we could use some law-abiding, non-patronizing vision on this front.

UPDATE 2 - AP News Alert:

WASHINGTON (AP) President Bush will call in his State of the Union message for Americans to cut their gasoline consumption by 20 percent by 2017.

That's great...but unless he has a PLAN for doing this it is meaningless...

UPDATE 3 - From Reuters:

About 30 million Americans could face a tax hike under President George W. Bush's plan to expand health insurance coverage and address rising health care costs, the White House said on Monday

The LAST thing we need is yet another big government entitlement program...

UPDATE 4 - AP News Alert:

WASHINGTON (AP) President Bush will seek in his State of the Union message to dissuade skeptical lawmakers who are ready to oppose his Iraq war build up, the White House says.

The only way this works is if he announce a plan to cut and run...and I don't think you'll be hearing that during tonight's speech...

Hewitt Melts Snow

Rarely will you hear or see me say very many positive things about Blew Blewitt, but he is absolutely right here and he makes Tony Snow look like Scotty McClellan in the process. Tony should know better...

Read the whole thing, but here are the key parts:

First, business-as-usual dictated that the White House released all the crucial details before the speech, thus draining the address of audience and drama. Ratings were in the tank as a result, as one would expect from the closest thing to a rerun the political world sees. I asked Snow why the rush to gut the audience, and he explained how this allows the White House to get inside the MSM’s news cycle and thus positively affect the coverage.

Tony no doubt believes this. It is nonsense, though, and the new news cycle doesn’t care what the morning papers say or don’t say. Americans respond to first person appeals, not the laundered spin of the MSM –an impact that is not merely blunted but wholly destroyed by the promiscuous peddling of talking points prior to launch. If the president is going to have a chance of persuading the public, the public has to actually watch him. They didn't. He didn't. It isn't that complicated.

When I suggested that Steve Jobs built audience and interest by holding all details about the iPhone in the deep freezer, Tony responded that the war in Iraq isn’t the iPhone –completely true, of course, and completely beside the point. Creating audience and gaining credibility with it, whether the financial and electronics press, or the American public, always begins with the audience’s attention.

Want to kill all of the State of the Union’s impact? Tell everyone what is in it.

Want to build audience? Tell no one. Don’t even give a copy to the Speaker. Make her listen and react, and all the Congresspeople as well.

That’s point one. Now to the "follow up" that wasn’t.

Explaining why it is necessary to “surge” and why the sacrifice of American lives is not just noble, but necessary, requires a daily engagement by the Administration’s best communicators, and across the entire media spectrum. The center-right doesn’t much care what is said on Russert’s Sunday coffee clatch, and there is a good argument that independents don’t either. There is no mass audience anywhere, and no single appearance on a single show will do. The key message –the war can be lost in Iraq, with slaughter on a scale approaching Rwanda and immediate effects on American security—is not getting through or not being believed. Part of the problem is that in a shattered media environment, the Administration and the Pentagon, as well as GOP leadership on the Hill, are not making the case day-in-and-day-out. “Making the case” doesn’t mean the Sunday shows, by the way, or an op-ed here or there.

It means the Today Show, the O’Reilly Factor, Lou Dobbs and Jay Leno.

It means the Weekly Standard and the New Republic, and every paper’s D.C. bureau chief.

And it means, most definitely, the blogs, and not just on conference calls that allow the list to get checked off all at once.

While we're on the subject, the Ohio GOP could stand to learn a few of these lessons too...