# If Bush says, "The state of the Union is... **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 30, 2006, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-bush-says-the-state-of-the-union-is/342267 "2006-01-30T22:27:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-bush-says-the-state-of-the-union-is/342267/81 "2006-02-01T03:13:31Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > Actually, that is what **Aeschines** is doing. He’s just not bothering to wait for the speech to be made. And, in hindsight, he made the right call. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-bush-says-the-state-of-the-union-is/342267/82 "2006-02-01T03:14:39Z")
> [@Frostillicus](#): > > I’d like to play a drinking game tomorrow night in which I take a shot of whiskey every time Bush lies out of his ass, but I am afraid I would die of alcohol poisoning within the hour. ☹ You appear to have given W too much credit there. Lies require semantic content. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-bush-says-the-state-of-the-union-is/342267/83 "2006-02-01T03:16:21Z")
> [@asterion](#): > > The first thing I’ve heard out of Bush that I’ve really liked so far is a push to get the line-item veto back into law. Sounds nice… until you realize that the last time he salivated for a power like that was to eliminate the anti-torture item that was added to the latest defense appropriations bill. ---
**Author:** ![Lama\_Pacos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Lama\_Pacos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lama_Pacos)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-bush-says-the-state-of-the-union-is/342267/84 "2006-02-01T03:18:00Z")
Anyone watching the Democratic response? I feel like I’m watching a low-budget informercial. ---
**Author:** ![Lama\_Pacos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Lama\_Pacos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lama_Pacos)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-bush-says-the-state-of-the-union-is/342267/85 "2006-02-01T03:19:13Z")
> [@](#): > > Are you talking about IRAQ?! We did nothing to invite the conflict in IRAQ?! > > Which planet are you posting from? Or are you one of those people who still believe that Saddam Hussein’s brainwashed minions were flying those jets on 9/11/2001? I was paraphrasing Bush’s speech. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-bush-says-the-state-of-the-union-is/342267/86 "2006-02-01T03:21:12Z")
> [@Lama Pacos](#): > > I was paraphrasing Bush’s speech. Whoops! Sorry! ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-bush-says-the-state-of-the-union-is/342267/87 "2006-02-01T03:22:47Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > Sounds nice… until you realize that the last time he salivated for a power like that was to eliminate the anti-torture item that was added to the latest defense appropriations bill. I like the idea on principle, no matter who’s in office. Besides, last time it still had built-in checks, since it had to be sent back to the House and it was limited only to appropriations. So a President couldn’t cut out an anti-torture item or the Real ID boondoggle. The pork can be helped with the line-item veto. I suggest an Amendment to get rid of the damn riders on unrelated bills. And I was wrong. Clinton managed to use it 82 times. ---
**Author:** ![Lama\_Pacos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Lama\_Pacos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lama_Pacos)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-bush-says-the-state-of-the-union-is/342267/88 "2006-02-01T03:24:09Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Whoops! Sorry! It’s ok. 🙂 I posted it because I thought it was particularly absurd and outrageous to anyone who’s ever read a history book. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-bush-says-the-state-of-the-union-is/342267/89 "2006-02-01T03:25:17Z")
> [@Lama Pacos](#): > > Anyone watching the Democratic response? I feel like I’m watching a low-budget informercial. Note how they made sure not to get anyone who might want to run in 2008. Or even has to run in 2006. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-bush-says-the-state-of-the-union-is/342267/90 "2006-02-01T03:26:17Z")
So far, the Democratic response is, I think, very shrewd. Calm, moderate, wonkish. Sounds like a guy with a plan - something the Democrats have sorely lacked for a long time. The Democrats need to put forward more people like Tim Kaine, and fewer people like Howard Dean and John Kerry. And nothing - nothing - could be worse than the response from last year. Wasn’t it last year that they trotted out Nancy Pelosi to give her deer-in-the-headlights look and utter some totally non-memorable inanities? ---
**Author:** ![Lama\_Pacos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Lama\_Pacos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lama_Pacos)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-bush-says-the-state-of-the-union-is/342267/91 "2006-02-01T03:26:54Z")
“Have you or a relative recently been injured in an accident? Do you feel entitled to compensation? Call Kaine and Sons today and find out how YOU can get money for your accident!” ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-bush-says-the-state-of-the-union-is/342267/92 "2006-02-01T03:26:58Z")
> [@Lama Pacos](#): > > It’s ok. 🙂 I posted it because I thought it was particularly absurd and outrageous to anyone who’s ever read a history book. Heh…I’m not familiar enough with your politics yet to have figured out whether you were serious or not. ---
**Author:** ![Weirddave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-bush-says-the-state-of-the-union-is/342267/93 "2006-02-01T03:33:15Z")
Anyone notice Governor Kaine doing the Clinton thumb-sticking-out-over-the-top-of-his-fist gesture? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-bush-says-the-state-of-the-union-is/342267/94 "2006-02-01T03:43:33Z")
> [@Lama Pacos](#): > > “Have you or a relative recently been injured in an accident? Do you feel entitled to compensation? Call Kaine and Sons today and find out how YOU can get money for your accident!” \ That was exactly what he sounded like! ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-bush-says-the-state-of-the-union-is/342267/95 "2006-02-01T03:44:18Z")
> [@Yeticus Rex](#): > > Screw the moon…it’s been a longer 46 years since anybody’s been visiting a Trench. Don’t you mean 45 years, 364 days, 23 hours and 40 minutes? ---
**Author:** ![ZebraShaSha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/eada6e/32.png) [@ZebraShaSha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZebraShaSha)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-bush-says-the-state-of-the-union-is/342267/96 "2006-02-01T03:50:47Z")
> [@Airman Doors](#): > > Now THAT was funny! > > When Bush spoke of inactivity on Social Security, the Democrats stood and cheered. Bush rebuked them with pointed finger, and they did it again! > > This is great political theater. I pity people who miss this, they miss a great show. I would have _loved_ to watch this. I generally don’t watch televised speeches, but this I would have watched. As most here, I wasn’t expecting anything but political theatre - but I wasn’t expecting _good_ political theatre. That sounds awesome. ---
**Author:** ![Monstre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@Monstre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monstre)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-bush-says-the-state-of-the-union-is/342267/97 "2006-02-01T03:52:09Z")
> [@Lama Pacos](#): > > Anyone watching the Democratic response? I feel like I’m watching a low-budget informercial. His eyebrows were… distracting… and kind of creepy. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-bush-says-the-state-of-the-union-is/342267/98 "2006-02-01T03:52:16Z")
> [@asterion](#): > > I like the idea on principle, no matter who’s in office. Besides, last time it still had built-in checks, since it had to be sent back to the House and it was limited only to appropriations. So a President couldn’t cut out an anti-torture item or the Real ID boondoggle. We are talking about Bush here, his lawyers will find more powers there than the ones you can only imagine. Especially because it was in an appropriations bill. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-bush-says-the-state-of-the-union-is/342267/99 "2006-02-01T03:58:15Z")
> [@Lama Pacos](#): > > Anyone watching the Democratic response? I feel like I’m watching a low-budget informercial. Agreed. It should be more in the spirit of, “Well it’s all very well to blame the Big Bad Rabbit when by-elections are going **against** the Government!” ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-bush-says-the-state-of-the-union-is/342267/100 "2006-02-01T04:01:43Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > We are talking about Bush here, his lawyers will find more powers there than the ones you can only imagine. Especially because it was in an appropriations bill. I don’t like appropriations riders, even when I agree with them. But, as I understand the [Line Item Veto Act of 1996](http://thomas.loc.gov/home/lawsmade.bysec/presidential.html#lineitem), only three classes of legislation could be removed. In no case was the kind of rider you’re talking about one of them. I don’t think legislation could be easily passed that gave any more power to the President than that. I’m not sure how it’d have to be written to pass Constitutional muster, or if it was rechallenged if the slightly different makeup of the Court would affect the decision. Since Breyer, Scalia, and O’Connor dissented, I have no idea how it’d turn out. I might guess another 6-3 against. Maybe 5-4 against if all the votes were the same except for Roberts and Alito, since the makeup of the rest of the court is the same since the decision in 1998. I can’t really see a 5-4 for. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-bush-says-the-state-of-the-union-is/342267.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-bush-says-the-state-of-the-union-is/342267.md?page=6)