Well, Cerri, I think that seals the deal. You win. How can anyone argue with that?
I didn’t think I was really arguing anything other than the fact I know you know anecdotal evidence does not a logical, factual argument make.
I meant “anecdotal evidence with a sample size of one”, sorry.
Translation of the OP:
Waaah! Stop liking Bush, Americans! I don’t, so you shouldn’t either!
well gee, I previously thought the OP had some good points, but then I read this, and was totally convinced that the OP was just whining like a baby, as the esteemed Bricker has so deftly and eloquently demonstrated.
re: the OP. Yeah, Bush will probably say the country’s doing well, as is most politically expedient for him, but would a president giving a gloomy SoTU do anyone any good? especially if the country is in a “malaise”?
Yes, honesty would be best, but I suspect that there’s enough good news that Bush can stay at least “politician honest” and still keep a positive tone. The economy, while hardly booming, is better than some low points. I’m afraid I’m not keeping up with whether the economy is going up or down at this point, but certainly some indicator will be going up. Similarly, Iraq is doing better than it was, even though where it was is certainly bad enough that better than where it was is still horrible. Bush can also talk about partisan victories like the confirmation of Roberts, and the probable confirmation of Alito will “end judicial activism and restore judicial stability” or something of that sort.
It’s a bit worse than you might think.
The U.S. government plans to borrow $188 billion in the current quarter, the most ever for a single quarter, as the Treasury sells 30-year bonds for the first time since 2001 to meet demand for longer-term debt. – LA Times, one hour ago
For goods, the deficit was $68.9 billion in November – US Census Bureau Trade Statistics, Jan. 12
If the US were a person, I’d say he or she was running up the credit card despite taking a cut in pay. Now, the usual response is to note that our economy, and our line of credit, are HUGE. Great. Noted.
All the Bad Things® that can happen when you have a large debt, grow it, and fall short generating new income will eventually happen. The debt is normally buoyed by foreign governments investing in US$ (see the Treasury Bond reference above). This year that will change. Japan, Germany, and our newest trading partner, China, are all considering a shift. In fact, China announced their intention to do just that. A calculated move, to say the least. I won’t hijack the thread into the discussion, but Bush also doesn’t seem to realize that our new trading partner is in all out economic war with the US.
Damn, I thought this was going to be a cool “State of the Union” drinking game! 
Bricker, I don’t care what anyone else thinks about you. You are always well informed, well spoken, and witty.
Are your referring specifically to the proposed change to buying oil in Euros instead of dollars? Can you imagine the ways that will affect the U.S. economy?
Actually, that is what Aeschines is doing. He’s just not bothering to wait for the speech to be made.
You know, this board is supposedly devoted to fighting ignorance. But that was one of the stupidest things I’ve read on here in quite a while.
You’re absolutely right, Cecil - when faced with blind, irrational ignorance like Frostillicus indicated, it’s going to take a helluva lot longer.
Any guesses as to the profile of the “common man” Bush will inevitably salute from the podium? I’m gussing it won’t be a soldier or soldier’s family this year…
Is it sad if the first thing that comes to my mind to complete the sentence is “Texas.” Yes, the state of the union is Texas. Large, occasionally violent, apparently normal on the outside…
No. Here’s what I’m referring to:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10736596/
I’m talking about foreign currency reserves. The author gives a good indication of the implications, but you didn’t ask me to relay someone else’s opinion, you asked for mine.
Here’s my take, complete with an overly simplified analogy: They want Uncle Sam to continue shopping at Chinamart, but they are going change the terms on his store credit card. Call it a statement of lower conficence in his creditworthyness. Uncle Sam probably has another card in his wallet, but if many other banks follow Chinamart’s lead, Uncle Sam will have to find credit cards with worse terms, or go without altogether.
Since trade is already out of balance, Chinese investment in the dollar was [near to] the only quid pro quo the US was getting. Looks like the relationship is becoming even more one-sided.
Back to the state of the union: I bet this doesn’t get a mention.
I’m not going to watch the State of the Union. I almost never watch it, irrespective of the party in office.
If this is a comment on the Ship of State, then the State of the Union is the big shiny brochure handed out at a booth at the Boat Show. Those who have already bought the boat obsess over the big color pictures, and those who want another boat toss the brochure in the trash. It’s a marketing tool for the party in office. I’d rather read the technical specifications without the sales pitch.
Or maybe there’s an differing translation of the theme of this thread:
*Has George Bush given America any reason to support him?
No, so quit complaining and support him for no reason like we do.*
Let’s see, what will Bush say? I know what he won’t say:
He won’t talk about his recent recess appointments. You see, the principle of “the up or down vote” only matters when you have the votes. If you don’t have the votes, just make them recess appointees a la John “Mr. Diplomacy” Bolton.
He won’t talk about the warnings he got about Katrina before it hit. , nor will he point out how his administration ignored the warnings.
And he won’t talk about that insurgency that was in its death throes (according to Dick Cheney) some time ago is still as strong as ever and showing no sign of abatement.
And he won’t talk about the huge budget deficit that he promised to cut in half.
He won’t talk about how members of his administration are under investigation for blowing the cover of a CIA operative.
He won’t talk about how many members of his party are going to be under investigation when Abramoff gets done singing.
He won’t talk about cutting the budget for college aid.
No child left behind?
He won’t talk about how the personal savings rate is now negative, for the first time since the Depression.
What he will do is find some poor family that lost a son or daughter in his misguided war to stand up and take a round of applause. Of course, it won’t be Cindy Sheehan since only those parents that lost a child AND agree with Bush should be listened to.
He’ll make some empty promises about reining in the deficit that he created, and about bringing US troops home from the danger that he put them in.
And the righties on this board will happily point out what a fine suit the emperor was wearing, as he continues to spend money that we don’t have to protect our freedoms that he has destroyed from weapons that don’t exist.
Now *that * I’d watch.
Sorry, my irony meter just imploded. anyone have a spare?
You know, they make more reliable models out of other metals. Plutoniumymeter may seem a silly name, but mine made it through Clothy’s last post; plus in a pinch it doubles as an actual Weapon of Mass destruction.