State of the Union Address

I really, really, enjoy the pageantry of these events. The SoTU is one of the great events of the greatest Democracy on Earth. There are all the branches of government gathered (was disappointed more Supreme Court Justices weren't there - what was up with that?) in one place - a historic place, and when you think of all the people who have passed through that place and sat in those seats it can be rather awe-inspiring. I also enjoy seeing the foreign dignitaries in attendance. I wonder how Adnan Pachachi was feeling?

GWB has a pretty good delivery when he's had time to practice. Very few verbal gaffs. Good job there.

Whenever they flashed the camera on Teddy Kennedy he seemed to be shaking that big face of his so hard I was afraid his jowls were going to burst.

Hillary must have been extra careful about her look this time. She took a lot of flack for the frowny-puss she was wearing the last time out, so this time she had a big, fake and frankly extremely odd and forced smile when the focus went to her. Be naaatural Hillary...you remember what that was like, don't you?

I liked what Bush said about the War on Terror. He was forceful. He stuck to his guns and didn't back down from his positions. The whole run-down of nations that are in Iraq with us was excellent. It reminded me of Howard Dean's bizarro-speech last night when he started shouting out all the states yet to come, only it was...good. Excellent, in fact. Unilateral my ass. "As we debate at home, we must never ignore the vital contributions of our international partners, or dismiss their sacrifices." Yes.

I actually worried that he was spending too much time on issues of war, that he was actually sounding too bellicose for once (I usually find him, contrary to what the critics say, rather understated) - but I need not have worried. It was just a long speech (for Bush).

I was a bit surprised, and somewhat impressed, that he brought up something controversial like the Patriot Act, and that led to one of the better moments of the evening. The President said, "Key provisions of the Patriot Act are set to expire next year..." and there was applause from the Democrat side, but then he said, "The terrorist threat will not expire on that schedule." Zing. Point Bush.

He talked about some spending programs, but nothing in the multi-billion-dollar range, thank goodness, or am I forgetting something? It all sounded good to me. I thought the issue of steroids in professional sports as part of the War on Drugs was an interesting thing to bring up, and frankly I think it was a pretty fair connection, and not a bad move (Hey! That's Tom Brady!).

Sooo...that's my quick-impression-after-the-speech-run-down for now. I liked it, but then maybe I would.

America will never seek a permission slip to defend the security of our country.