Apparently the WH is hoping people will be talking about the President's Bold New Plan tomorrow.
If it is anything like they are leaking, it nothing but the same old tired and failed policies he has been proposing.
Here is a link to the WH Bullet Points for the 2007 SOTU
HoHum. I'm bored with it already.
Health Care for All? Nope Tax Increases on the Middle Class.
Here is his chance to do something good. He can offer up a "bold" new health care plan that will take the cost of healthcare off the backs of our most economically unstable companies while at the same time guarantee health care to all Americans.
Is Bush going to do something Bold and Good? Nope.
Those lucky enough to have good health insurance will now be taxed on that as though it were income. Companies will lose their tax benefits for providing health insurance so many companies will stop providing it. If he is trying to level the playing field, he may be successful -- he will level it out so no one has health insurance.
He is not proposing to do anything about the root causes,e.g., getting the insurance companies out of the driver's seat.
Bush's healthcare plan will not benefit Americans.
A Real Energy Policy? Nope. Just More Profits for Big Oil.
Is Bush going to propose a new energy plan? Doesn't sound like it.
He wants to reduce gasoline usage by 20%. That is what MSNBC is reporting. I'm not sure they mean gas or if they mean petroleum. It doesn't make a lot of sense if it is just gasoline.
He is going to propose that we burn more ethanol. Now I guess we could make up the 20% difference in gasoline with ethanol.
But if you go buy a car today it will only burn up to 15% (is that the right number -- I have to check) ethanol. That won't reduce your usage by 20%
Our Domestic auto companies are all on the brink of bankruptcy. The only thread they are hanging onto is the thread of profit they make from SUVs. They can make $10,000+ per SUV in profit. They don't make nearly that much per car.
Plus, they seem to have a problem making cars people want to buy anyway. Now Bush wants to raise the CAFE standards.
There are 2 ways to get the auto companies to increase gas mileage:
- Command and Control Regulations
- Market Demand
Command and control like CAFE works. But the companies will make their products just meet that standard. Nothing more. And the standard doesn't change often.
The other way is to provide incentives in the marketplace. I would rather have them give me a tax deduction if I buy a high mileage car. Give me a $5000 tax credit if I buy an electric car. That will stimulate that market. Actually, I think the market is there, it is the companies that are lagging behind.
But they need a push or they won't move. Congressman Dingell can probably give them quite a push with a few hearings. They fear him.
Is Bush going to talk about windfall profit taxes on oil companies? Nope. Is Bush going to talk about the US. collecting the royalties that the oil companies owe? Nope.
Immigration? Bush's Plan isn't Bold or New. He just couldn't get his own party to go along with it.
How about Iraq? Does he think we will forget about it if he gives us some domestic cookies. (Though the domestic program doesn't sound like he is offering us cookies, sounds more like bricks.)
More likely he knows that people have limited patience and he figures if he uses the first 20 minutes without discussing Iraq most folks will switch channels and miss the Iraq discussion.
MSNBC quoted a poll that said 54% don't think he is honest.
That is a tough one. Lucky for him he doesn't read the news.
I thought it would be interesting to go back and see what he said in other SOTUs.
2006
In his 2006 State of the Union Address, President Bush described the state of our Union as strong . . .
The President announced three new domestic initiatives:
• the American Competitiveness Initiative, to encourage American innovation and strengthen our Nation's ability to compete in the global economy;
• the Advanced Energy Initiative, to help break America's dependence on foreign sources of energy;
• and a comprehensive agenda to make health care in America more affordable, portable, transparent, and efficient.
With the right policies, we will maintain America's competitive edge, we will create more jobs, and we will improve the quality of life and standard of living for generations to come.
President Bush laid out ambitious goals for the future, behind which all Americans can unite, and urged the Nation to move forward with the work that needs to be done this year:
• A Strong America Leading The World
• American Competitiveness Initiative
• The Advanced Energy Initiative
• Affordable And Accessible Health Care
I wonder how these are going for him?
How about 2005:
In his State of the Union Address, President Bush described the state of our Union as confident and strong - the U.S. economy is growing steadily, more Americans are finding jobs, and our Nation is serving as an active force for good in the world. * * *
President Bush laid out ambitious goals for the future, behind which all Americans can unite, and urged the Nation to move forward with the work that needs to be done this year:
- Growing Our Economy and Renewing Great Institutions
- Saving Social Security for America 's Future Generations
- Protecting America 's Families and Promoting Compassion Across the Nation
- Making America Safer with Decisive Action to Win the War on Terror and Spread Freedom
I wonder how those are going for him?
The economy is horrible. He didn't do a thing to "save" Social Security". I'm not in New Orleans, but I'd guess the people there aren't exactly experiencing any compassion from the WH.
Safer? Winning the War on Terror? Spreading Freedom?
Well, I don't feel any safer. Every single report I have seen says Iraq is a disaster and that Bush has created more terrorists. And I doubt people in Baghdad are feeling too free these days.