Bush's Speech: Worst-Ever SOTU?

By: Lowell
Published On: 1/24/2007 12:37:39 AM

I've been watching State of the Union speeches for many years now, and I've seen good ones, mediocre ones, and bad ones.  Now, before you start accusing me of total partisan bias, some of the best SOTU speeches were delivered by Ronald Reagan, and some of the worst were by Jimmy Carter.  So, it's not just a partisan thing when I say: Bush's speech tonight was the worst SOTU ever.  I mean, seriously, let me count the ways:

*No passion
*No enthusiasm
*No eloquence
*No originality
*No inspiration
*No clue

Did I forget anything?  Oh yeah, he repeated the same, tired, idiotic, pablum that he's been spouting continuously for years now.  What a pathetic joke of a President.  In sum, Bush's SOTU speech tonight was a big, fat ZERO.  Nada.  Zip.  Stick a fork in this Presidency, it's done. 

P.S. I agree with Teacherken: Jim Webb kicked ass!  Yeah, Dubya, why don't you just TRY asking Jim Webb about his "boy" one more time.  Just try it! :)

[UPDATE: Excellent point, as always, by Josh Marshall:

What a strange man. After disarmingly gracious opening remarks about Nancy Pelosi's speakership, the president congratulates the 'Democrat majority' -- words most every Democrat takes as a calculated insult. The prepared remarks say "Democratic majority". But apparently he couldn't help himself.

Apparently, George W. Bush is incapable of being gracious, even when he tries to be ("how's your boy?").  Worst. President. Ever.]

Comments



Bush asked him about his boy once (Chris Guy - 1/24/2007 12:41:23 AM)
ONCE


I must say... (James Martin - 1/24/2007 1:17:18 AM)
When Webb pulled up the picture of his father i was like Oh Vey, but he tied it into his speech WONDERFULLY!

It was also great that he quoted 2 REPUBLICAN Presidents!



Bush looked weak (DanG - 1/24/2007 1:36:58 AM)
I thought a lot of things were wrong with Bush, but I could at least always find comfort in that the man looked like a tower of strength at the SOTU.  It was comforting.

He looked beaten, tired, and weak.  It made my stomach turn.  I have no sympathy now.  Only resentment.



Great speech, great night! (drmontoya - 1/24/2007 2:24:34 AM)
Just got back from Baileys in Ballston. It was a good night. Thanks Lowell for the diary.


Bush's honorees... (Jambon - 1/24/2007 3:53:06 AM)
did anyone find it odd that Bush picked Dikembe Mutombo and the CEO of Baby Einstein as two of his citizen heroes?  Not to diminish the good those individuals have done, but do former NBA stars and wealthy CEO's really need to have their messages amplified at the SOTU?

His last two choices were excellent.  Which is why I think Presidents should stick to honoring humble heroes whose voices ARE NOT heard in the cauldrons of power.

The Bonos, Oprahs, and Anjelina Jolies of the world will never have a problem getting there message out.



bushes last sotu (pvogel - 1/24/2007 5:39:34 AM)
I just looked at my morning post, and was reminded that by the next sotu, Bush will be so lame they will have to coin a new word for the  lameness factor.

By then, the primaries will be on, and more important things will be decided  then what Bush and the neos want.



Bush's energy policy: "Critics See Too Little Significant Change" (Lowell - 1/24/2007 7:52:42 AM)
According to the Washington Post.  On Bush's new renewable fuel target:

Bush said he will ask Congress to require oil companies to use 35 billion gallons of renewable and alternative fuels by 2017. The administration said this would replace 15 percent of the projected annual gasoline consumption.

The questions: How will that target be met? This year the ethanol industry will produce more than 7.5 billion gallons, almost all of it corn-based, passing the current target that had been set for 2012. But it would take more than last year's entire U.S. corn harvest to make enough ethanol to meet the target. Most industry experts say that there is not enough evidence that producing biofuels from other sources can be done on anything close to that scale.

Wonderful.



Decent SOTU (Gordie - 1/24/2007 7:53:30 AM)
Grassley loved the energy. Must say I agree with some Republicnas, it was Idiots best speech, even though it did not beat Carter's.
The best for the night belongs to Jim Webb. I hope the D's can find a way to keep the comments at the end of his rebuttal, which was more a SOTU then a rebuttal.
The war mongering idiot still had to put lots of fear in the SOTU.
Now it comes to him carrying out the message. Since he promised to Rebuild NO and their was not a single mention of NO, the only way anything will get done is because D's push for it.