# Republicans and Independant: What did you think of the SOTU address last night? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 1, 2006, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-and-independant-what-did-you-think-of-the-sotu-address-last-night/342525 "2006-02-01T17:35:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-and-independant-what-did-you-think-of-the-sotu-address-last-night/342525/1 "2006-02-01T17:35:46Z")
I only see one thread on the SOTU address in GD right now and it is a prediction thread, speculating on what folks thought Bush would have to say. Well, we’ve seen what he said now and I was wonder if I could get the reaction from Republicans and Independants on their take. I pretty much know what self styled Dems on the board think of it already, but feel free to give your thoughts as well though I’m most interested in folks who are either pro-Bush or neutral as to the speech. -XT ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-and-independant-what-did-you-think-of-the-sotu-address-last-night/342525/2 "2006-02-01T17:52:47Z")
Republican here. I’m not a big fan of the State of the Union speech in general, so I give GWB a good grade for keeping it to under an hour. I was encouraged to hear him raise the Social Security issue again, in a way that suggested to me that he might try to move forward on this in a bi-partisan way, unlike last time. I thought he was right to take credit for some of the positive things that are going on, one of which is the economy, IMO. I thought it was silly to claim that he was doing anything about deficit reduction. ---
**Author:** ![Malodorous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e47774/32.png) [@Malodorous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malodorous)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-and-independant-what-did-you-think-of-the-sotu-address-last-night/342525/3 "2006-02-01T18:46:17Z")
It was kinda blah. No big programs suggested, didn’t threaten to invade anyone, etc. Lottsa stuff everyone more or less agrees on, like reducing oil dependency, reducing the deficit, more teachers, etc. He threw down on the NSA wiretaps, but he’d already been making basically the same defense for a couple weeks. Probably a good thing Bush is being less confrontational, but it doesn’t leave much to debate after the speech. ---
**Author:** ![Malodorous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e47774/32.png) [@Malodorous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malodorous)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-and-independant-what-did-you-think-of-the-sotu-address-last-night/342525/4 "2006-02-01T18:54:38Z")
Almost forgot. I’m relived the federal gov’t is finally making a stand against the threat of human/animal hybrids. We’ve offically gone from basing our national defense startegy on bad Tom Clancy books to bad Michael Crichton movies. ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-and-independant-what-did-you-think-of-the-sotu-address-last-night/342525/5 "2006-02-01T19:03:25Z")
As goofy as that sounded, you know there was some evil scientist in a bunker in Nebraska or somewhere watching who was all “Son of a BITCH! Bova, dear, I’ve got some bad news.” –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![Malodorous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e47774/32.png) [@Malodorous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malodorous)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-and-independant-what-did-you-think-of-the-sotu-address-last-night/342525/6 "2006-02-01T19:05:58Z")
> [@Malodorous](#): > > Almost forgot. I’m relived the federal gov’t is finally making a stand against the threat of human/animal hybrids. We’ve offically gone from basing our national defense startegy on bad Tom Clancy books to bad Michael Crichton movies. Actually, seriously, what was with that human/animal hybrid thing. I imagine that no line of a SOTU address just gets thrown in, it must’ve come from somewhere. Here’s the quote: > [@SOTU](#): > > Tonight I ask you to pass legislation to prohibit the most egregious abuses of medical research, human cloning in all its forms, creating or implanting embryos for experiments, **creating human-animal hybrids** , and buying, selling or patenting human embryos. Is this based on some legislation someone has brewing? Is this one of those “codewords” to the religious right? And doesn’t biology combine human and animal genes all the time, either to produce better animal models of human disease or to breed animals that can produce human proteins for experiments or medicines? From my limited understanding, banning this sort of thing would do a lot of damage to American biological research. ---
**Author:** ![Psycho\_Pirate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Psycho\_Pirate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Psycho_Pirate)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-and-independant-what-did-you-think-of-the-sotu-address-last-night/342525/7 "2006-02-01T19:14:25Z")
Republican here. I thought that the speech was quite good. I think he effectively and correctly portrayed the war in Iraq as both necessary and winnable. I also cheered during my favorite part of the speech. > [@](#): > > Yet there is a difference between responsible criticism that aims for success, and defeatism that refuses to acknowledge anything but failure. Hindsight alone is not wisdom. And second-guessing is not a strategy. I had to laugh when the Democrats clapped when he mentioned that his proposed Social Security reforms were not enacted, but I was glad that he confronted them with the obvious fact that the problems aren’t going away. Until both parties come together on this issue, it is going to be gridlocked, probably because each party: 1. Doesn’t want the other to get the credit for correcting the problem, and 2. Doesn’t want to take the heat of the AARP crowd by tinkering with something as sacred as Social Securiity. Overall, I thought he did a good job. As for the human-animal hybrids, as strange as it sounds, [that stuff is indeed being researched](http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/01/0125_050125_chimeras.html). Pigs with human blood, rabbit eggs fused with human cells, etc. Weird, wild stuff. I agree with his stance, btw. ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-and-independant-what-did-you-think-of-the-sotu-address-last-night/342525/8 "2006-02-01T19:22:07Z")
> [@Malodorous](#): > > Actually, seriously, what was with that human/animal hybrid thing. I imagine that no line of a SOTU address just gets thrown in, it must’ve come from somewhere. Just a boogeyman, I suspect. It’s easier to get something banned if you can frame it as a potential monster. I mean, you don’t disagree that we should stop human/animal hybrid experiments, do you?? ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-and-independant-what-did-you-think-of-the-sotu-address-last-night/342525/9 "2006-02-01T19:54:53Z")
I suppose that I qualify as “Independant”. I thought it sucked. Same old drivel. God bless America. Siss boom bah. Yadda yadda yadda. ---
**Author:** ![homeskillet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/7ba0ec/32.png) [@homeskillet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/homeskillet)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-and-independant-what-did-you-think-of-the-sotu-address-last-night/342525/10 "2006-02-01T19:55:14Z")
> [@xtisme](#): > > \*\*Republicans and Independant: What did you think of the SOTU \*\* I’m most interested in folks who are either pro-Bush or neutral… I find it funny that you seem to think that \*\*Independent=Neutral \*\* to Bush. Speaking as an independent, from a family of independents, with many independent and third party friends. I don’t know a single independent that has a neutral attitude towards Bush. Most, myself included, loathe him! The rest I know are on the fence. While I didn’t watch it last night, I did quickly read the transcript this morning. I really don’t see anything to get excited about, it’s basically the same trite from any one of his other speeches, rehashed together and served with pomp and circumstance. A few things caught my attention though: > [@](#): > > The same is true of Iran, a nation now held hostage by a small clerical elite that is isolating and repressing its people. The regime in that country sponsors terrorists in the Palestinian territories and in Lebanon – and that must come to an end. I hope this isn’t an allusion to more military shenanigans! > [@](#): > > This year, the first of about 78 million baby boomers turn 60, including two of my dad’s favorite people – me and President Bill Clinton. . Hmmm, and there was just a thread about this. I don’t find their friendship odd, though I do find it bizarre that W would mention it in his address! Speaking of creating human-animal hybrids, this was in \*News of the Weird \* this week: > [@](#): > > “The Island of Dr. Moreau” Comes to Life: (1) Recently opened archives in Moscow show that in the 1920s, Soviet dictator Josef Stalin ordered his top animal breeding scientist to create interspecies “super warriors.” Stalin’s half-men, half-apes would be “invincible,” “insensitive to pain” and “indifferent about the quality of food they eat.” Uh oh! Not only is the boogeyman a monster, he’s a **Commie** to boot! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-and-independant-what-did-you-think-of-the-sotu-address-last-night/342525/11 "2006-02-01T20:53:22Z")
> [@xtisme](#): > > I’m most interested in folks who are either pro-Bush or neutral as to the speech. _Translation:_ “Wahh! I can’t handle dissent!” What’s next, asking Scientologists how they feel about _Battlefield Earth?_ ---
**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, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-and-independant-what-did-you-think-of-the-sotu-address-last-night/342525/12 "2006-02-01T20:59:34Z")
> [@homeskillet](#): > > I find it funny that you seem to think that \*\*Independent=Neutral \*\* to Bush. Speaking as an independent, from a family of independents, with many independent and third party friends. I don’t know a single independent that has a neutral attitude towards Bush. Most, myself included, loathe him! The rest I know are on the fence. Socialists, Greens and Libertarians are all “independents,” **xtisme.** And practically all of them hate the Bush Admin. ---
**Author:** ![alaricthegoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4bbf92/32.png) [@alaricthegoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alaricthegoth)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2006, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-and-independant-what-did-you-think-of-the-sotu-address-last-night/342525/13 "2006-02-02T01:26:31Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Socialists, Greens and Libertarians are all “independents,” **xtisme.** And practically all of them hate the Bush Admin. aha! a clever ruse to “out” the pugs on the board. I approve… ---
**Author:** ![alaricthegoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4bbf92/32.png) [@alaricthegoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alaricthegoth)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2006, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-and-independant-what-did-you-think-of-the-sotu-address-last-night/342525/14 "2006-02-02T01:28:15Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Socialists, Greens and Libertarians are all “independents,” **xtisme.** And practically all of them hate the Bush Admin. Bolsheviks?? Any Bolsheviks? Bolsheviks line up under the portrait of Lenin, please. ---
**Author:** ![alaricthegoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4bbf92/32.png) [@alaricthegoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alaricthegoth)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2006, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-and-independant-what-did-you-think-of-the-sotu-address-last-night/342525/15 "2006-02-02T01:30:11Z")
_“indifferent about the quality of food they eat.”_ at long last, a market for MRE’s ---
**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 2, 2006, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-and-independant-what-did-you-think-of-the-sotu-address-last-night/342525/16 "2006-02-02T02:40:05Z")
I could have done without the idiotic, “We’re addicted to oil” comment. The U.S. is ‘addicted to oil’ the same way that I’m ‘addicted to breathing’. I know exactly what he was doing - trying to take away the Democrat’s issue. The buzz is that ‘energy independence’ was going to be one of the Democrat’s big talking points in this election cycle. Bush is trying to co-opt it. It’s still nonsensical. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2006, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-and-independant-what-did-you-think-of-the-sotu-address-last-night/342525/17 "2006-02-02T03:06:01Z")
> [@Sam Stone](#): > > I could have done without the idiotic, “We’re addicted to oil” comment. The U.S. is ‘addicted to oil’ the same way that I’m ‘addicted to breathing’. :rolleyes: The difference, **Sam,** is that we’re not going to run out of air. ---
**Author:** ![alaricthegoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4bbf92/32.png) [@alaricthegoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alaricthegoth)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2006, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-and-independant-what-did-you-think-of-the-sotu-address-last-night/342525/18 "2006-02-02T03:34:13Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > :rolleyes: The difference, **Sam,** is that we’re not going to run out of air. and they can’t raise the price ---
**Author:** ![vinniepaz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b4bc9f/32.png) [@vinniepaz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vinniepaz)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2006, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-and-independant-what-did-you-think-of-the-sotu-address-last-night/342525/19 "2006-02-02T04:44:25Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > I suppose that I qualify as “Independant”. Anyone else find this funny? ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2006, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-and-independant-what-did-you-think-of-the-sotu-address-last-night/342525/20 "2006-02-02T04:49:04Z")
> [@xtisme](#): > > Independant: What did you think of the SOTU address last night?-XT Meh. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-and-independant-what-did-you-think-of-the-sotu-address-last-night/342525.md?page=2)