Republican reaction


The Grand Old Party is split down the middle.
Not all Republicans were cheering the State of the Union address. Robert Novack has the details.

The consensus on the Right was that President Bush's fifth State of the Union Address was his worst. Republican congressmen agreed privately that he was most effective at the beginning with his familiar message of why U.S. forces cannot abandon Iraq. The problem for these lawmakers was the rest of the 51-minute presentation, which was filled with unpleasant surprises.

With polls showing the president's approval rating persistently anemic (as low as 39 percent), the speech aimed at a kinder, gentler Bush. But beyond atmospherics, the policy initiatives staked out new directions in the sixth year of his presidency that raised questions. Is this the real George W. Bush? Is he really his true father's son and not Ronald Reagan's?

The president seemed more comfortable with his foreign policy declarations than with what followed, but even here he did not live up to expectations. Pre-speech tips from White House aides and from Bush himself had pointed to laying down the law to the Iranian regime (step back from nuclear arms) and the Hamas party in Palestine (recognize Israel). He did so, but not with the force and specificity promised.

As expected, Bush backed away from what a year earlier were labeled as the two great initiatives of his second term. He complained that "Congress did not act last year on my proposal to save Social Security," unintentionally setting off self-congratulatory celebration by Democrats on the floor. But Bush made no promises about trying to revive his personal accounts. The president did not even give the comprehensive tax reform the courtesy of a death notice. It went unmentioned and apparently unmourned.

As far as I am concerned, George W. Bush did two things right. He cut taxes. And after 9-11, he drew the line on the War on Terror.

He has taken more than his fair share of unfounded accusations and flak, but overall he is not a great President.

He was a better choice than the alternatives. Apparently the Democrats are upset with him about that. There is every chance that George W. Bush's presidency will eclipse Bill Clinton's. Apparently Democrats are upset with him about that too.

George W. Bush's strengths are that his political opponents have been weak and foolish and made missteps.

— NeoWayland

Posted: Thu - February 2, 2006 at 04:39 AM  Tag


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