State of the Union

Tonight was the President's State of the Union address.

It was so great to see Justice Alito at the State of the Union, in his judicial robe, on the same day he was confirmed by the Senate and sworn in.

Before the President's arrival, preliminary news was reported that Cindy Sheehan, a guest of Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), was "detained" and removed from the Capitol in handcuffs. Here is the AP report.

As President Bush arrived, he was trailed by Congressional leaders: Frist, Blunt, Pelosi. I didn't see Reid, but behind Nancy Pelosi was Barak Obama. Last I looked, Obama wasn't an official Senate leader. Hillary Clinton was already seated, but Obama came in with the leaders. Interesting, and it may mean something.

As an aside, it was scary that I recognized so many faces and had names to go with them. I'm turning into a political geek.

I loved how President Bush opened the speech:

Today our Nation lost a beloved, graceful, courageous woman who called America to its founding ideals and carried on a noble dream. Tonight we are comforted by the hope of a glad reunion with the husband who was taken from her so long ago, and we are grateful for the good life of Coretta Scott King.

There were so many things he said in the speech that stood out. Too many--I know, because my post was getting too long, and I had to cut a lot. Here are some of them.

But even tough debates can be conducted in a civil tone, and our differences cannot be allowed to harden into anger.

Tell that to Senator Kennedy, whose face reddened (and blood pressure probably raised) as he angrily called for the defeat of Alito's nomination.

Dictatorships shelter terrorists, feed resentment and radicalism, and seek weapons of mass destruction. Democracies replace resentment with hope, respect the rights of their citizens and their neighbors, and join the fight against terror. Every step toward freedom in the world makes our country safer, and so we will act boldly in freedom's cause.

At the start of 2006, more than half the people of our world live in democratic nations. And we do not forget the other half - in places like Syria, Burma, Zimbabwe, North Korea, and Iran - because the demands of justice, and the peace of this world, require their freedom as well.

I'm really glad he included Zimbabwe, because Robert Mugabe is making it a hell-hole.

There is no peace in retreat. And there is no honor in retreat.

Fellow citizens, we are in this fight to win, and we are winning. (Republicans: standing ovation. Democrats: seated.)

And those who know the costs also know the stakes. Marine Staff Sergeant Dan Clay was killed last month fighting the enemy in Fallujah. He left behind a letter to his family, but his words could just as well be addressed to every American. Here is what Dan wrote: "I know what honor is. It has been an honor to protect and serve all of you. I faced death with the secure knowledge that you would not have to.... Never falter! Don't hesitate to honor and support those of us who have the honor of protecting that which is worth protecting."

Staff Sergeant Dan Clay's family was given a long standing ovation.

The Palestinian people have voted in elections — now the leaders of Hamas must recognize Israel, disarm, reject terrorism, and work for lasting peace.

[T]he nations of the world must not permit the Iranian regime to gain nuclear weapons.

I ask you to reauthorize the Patriot Act. (Republicans: standing ovation. Democrats: seated.)

America is always more secure when freedom is on the march. (Applause on both sides. Fox News showed Hillary Clinton. She was clapping but wasn't happy about it.)

On the domestic side:

Keeping America competitive begins with keeping our economy growing.

I urge the Congress to act responsibly, and make the tax cuts permanent. (Republicans: standing ovation. Democrats: seated and not even clapping.)

Congress did not act last year on my proposal to save Social Security (Democrats: standing and cheering).

I am pleased that Members of Congress are working on earmark reform. (Very happy John McCain.)

I ask the Congress to pass medical liability reform this year.

Breakthroughs on this and other new technologies will help us reach another great goal: to replace more than 75 percent of our oil imports from the Middle East by 2025. By applying the talent and technology of America, this country can dramatically improve our environment ... move beyond a petroleum-based economy ... and make our dependence on Middle Eastern oil a thing of the past.

He proposed the Advanced Energy Initiative to encourage research in alternate energy sources.

President also wants to encourage math and science education, and for this he proposed the American Competitiveness Initiative. But really, how will this happen when we have an entrenched education bureaucracy with crummy teachers who can't be fired and no real incentive to improve? How will math and science start looking impressive enough and sexy enough to encourage students to head in that direction?

Through the Helping America's Youth Initiative, we are encouraging caring adults to get involved in the life of a child — and this good work is led by our First Lady, Laura Bush.

I will continue to nominate men and women who understand that judges must be servants of the law, and not legislate from the bench.

Here are parts of how he closed the address:

Yet the destination of history is determined by human action, and every great movement of history comes to a point of choosing.

Today, having come far in our own historical journey, we must decide: Will we turn back, or finish well?

Before history is written down in books, it is written in courage. Like Americans before us, we will show that courage and we will finish well. We will lead freedom's advance. We will compete and excel in the global economy. We will renew the defining moral commitments of this land. And so we move forward - optimistic about our country, faithful to its cause, and confident of victories to come.

The President's speech was well done. Not exciting, but not flat either. I am encouraged to hear him repeat his determination to defeat our enemies and pursue liberty. He said it many times and in many ways, in idealistic terms and in specifics. I hope he said it enough times that the Democrats had it sink in.

On the domestic side, I don't hold a lot of hope. The Democrats are too far around the bend with Bush Derangement Syndrome. But if some of what he proposed gets passed (permanent tax cuts and true medical liability reform please!), then we'll at least be off to a good start.