Print

Mail

wiki links

Bush to deliver final State of the Union

It's about the economy, the war in Iraq and other unresolved matters that have kept the US on edge. But US President George W. Bush's State of the Union address set for yesterday was something else, too: probably his last chance to seize the public's attention and put it to use.

In his last delivery of the annual policy speech, Bush was to pressure the Democratic-led Congress -- particularly the Senate, where he senses trouble -- to finish up an economic stimulus package fast. He was to talk of improved security in Iraq and reassert that he decides when US troops will come. He was to offer some modest new ideas and recycle others as unfinished business.

The speech was to be roughly split between domestic and foreign matters. There were few surprises expected and no big initiatives.

To the degree the speech favors the pragmatic over the bold, the White House offers a two-word explanation: Blame Congress.

Bush's efforts to overhaul the Social Security pension program and immigration died in Congress, but not just because of Democratic opposition. The Republican president also ran into walls put up by members of his own party. Heading into the speech, White House press secretary Dana Perino said it is unrealistic to expect Congress to take on big problems.

"They haven't been willing to do it in the past several years; there's no reason to think that they would do it this year," she said.

The White House strategy now is to go after what's left of that elusive common ground.

Bush has 12 months remaining, and an even shorter window for legislation this election year.

So he was to push Congress to pass some short-term economic aid and make permanent his first-term tax cuts, which are due to expire in 2010. He was to call for housing reform, better health care and veterans' care, alternative energy development and renewal of the No Child Left Behind education law.

The domestic section of Bush's speech was also to remind the nation of his ideas on climate change, faith-based programs and stem cell research. When he pivoted to foreign matters, Bush was to emphasize progress in Iraq, and repeat that troop withdrawals will happen when they won't undermine Iraq's success.

He was also to comment on Iran, Middle East peace, the spread of democracy and the US-led fight against disease and hunger in poorer nations.

One theme of the address was to be trusting and empowering Americans, a theme Bush has wanted to emphasize in a speech for months.

Of course, the buzz about town concerns the next presidency, not this one.

As long as he commands the military and retains veto power, Bush remains relevant. Yet his clout is slipping. That is the political reality given his approval ratings, which are near the worst of his presidency, and his outsider role in the wild campaign for this year's presidential nominations.

Today's Republican primary is expected shorten Bush's news cycle.
This story has been viewed 2562 times.