2008 Woodie Awards
Bush Begins to Acknowledge Polls in State of the Union Address
Steven Carroll
Issue date: 2/7/07 Section: News
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Facing the reality of dwindling approval ratings and a Democrat-controlled congress, President Bush delivered a more compassionate, less aggressive State of the Union Address this year.
In his speech there was no mention of the plan to privatize social security, one of the cornerstones of Bush's presidential campaigns. Whereas two years ago, social security was mentioned 18 times in the State of the Union Address, it was only mentioned twice this year. Bush did say that social security needs to be "saved" but did not suggest privatization.
"He acknowledged a need to defend his policies," said Dr. Margaret Groarke, Peace Studies Program Director and an Assistant Professor of the Government Department.
On Iraq, Bush asked for more time to allow the situation to improve, rather than assuming the role of the unquestioned Commander-in-Chief. "I have spoken with many of you in person. I respect you and the arguments you've made... Our country is pursuing a new strategy in Iraq, and I ask you to give it a chance to work," said the president.
This softer way of addressing the need to continue military action in Iraq seems to be in response to the proposals being worked on by members of both parties in both houses to stop the president's most recent call for an increase of troops in Iraq.
"It was the most passionate and heartfelt moment of his speech; asking for more time to make things work. It was a sign of him recognizing criticism against him," said Dr. Groarke.
The president also said he will be submitting a budget that will strain government spending to eliminate the deficit in five years without raising taxes. Health insurance was mentioned frequently throughout the duration of the speech. "I propose a standard tax deduction for health insurance that will be like the standard tax deduction for dependents," said Bush of his plan to give income tax deductions to families and people who have health insurance.
Another notable proposal was to stop the practice of using earmarks that waste government money. "These special interest items are often slipped into bills at the last hour, when not even C-SPAN is watching", said the president, followed by a chorus of laughter. Earmarks, late changes made to bills and policy often used to allocate money towards "special interests", resulted in $18 billion of spending in 2005 alone, according to Bush.
In his speech there was no mention of the plan to privatize social security, one of the cornerstones of Bush's presidential campaigns. Whereas two years ago, social security was mentioned 18 times in the State of the Union Address, it was only mentioned twice this year. Bush did say that social security needs to be "saved" but did not suggest privatization.
"He acknowledged a need to defend his policies," said Dr. Margaret Groarke, Peace Studies Program Director and an Assistant Professor of the Government Department.
On Iraq, Bush asked for more time to allow the situation to improve, rather than assuming the role of the unquestioned Commander-in-Chief. "I have spoken with many of you in person. I respect you and the arguments you've made... Our country is pursuing a new strategy in Iraq, and I ask you to give it a chance to work," said the president.
This softer way of addressing the need to continue military action in Iraq seems to be in response to the proposals being worked on by members of both parties in both houses to stop the president's most recent call for an increase of troops in Iraq.
"It was the most passionate and heartfelt moment of his speech; asking for more time to make things work. It was a sign of him recognizing criticism against him," said Dr. Groarke.
The president also said he will be submitting a budget that will strain government spending to eliminate the deficit in five years without raising taxes. Health insurance was mentioned frequently throughout the duration of the speech. "I propose a standard tax deduction for health insurance that will be like the standard tax deduction for dependents," said Bush of his plan to give income tax deductions to families and people who have health insurance.
Another notable proposal was to stop the practice of using earmarks that waste government money. "These special interest items are often slipped into bills at the last hour, when not even C-SPAN is watching", said the president, followed by a chorus of laughter. Earmarks, late changes made to bills and policy often used to allocate money towards "special interests", resulted in $18 billion of spending in 2005 alone, according to Bush.