# Way too long Bush Bashing SotU blow by blow
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/way-too-long-bush-bashing-sotu-blow-by-blow/288136
**Category:** The BBQ Pit
**Created:** [February 3, 2005, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/way-too-long-bush-bashing-sotu-blow-by-blow/288136 "2005-02-03T06:30:53Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)
#### Post date: [February 3, 2005, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/way-too-long-bush-bashing-sotu-blow-by-blow/288136/1 "2005-02-03T06:30:53Z")
I hate to clutter the serious debate thread with my overlong reactionary Bush-bashing rants, so here it is…my blow-by-blow of the State of the Union address:
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> we have been placed in office by the votes of the people we serve.
and this time we were actually elected!
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> And tonight that is a privilege we share with newly elected leaders of Afghanistan, the Palestinian territories, Ukraine, and a free and sovereign Iraq.
Unlike the old…uhhh…unsoverign Iraq? I think George needs to look up the definition of “sovereign”.
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> Two weeks ago, I stood on the steps of this Capitol and renewed the commitment of our nation to the guiding ideal of liberty for all.
I thought his job was to run the country. Last I knew, America was the country I had to live in, not a “guiding ideal of liberty for all.”
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> Tonight, with a healthy, growing economy, with more Americans going back to work
Is he admitting that the economy crashed and burned on his last watch and some of us are just now getting jobs? Well, it’s about time. Sadly, it’s not really that much of a point in his favor.
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> In the past four years, we have provided tax relief to every person who pays income taxes, overcome a recession, opened up new markets abroad,
If I remember correctly, college students that could be claimed as dependents didn’t share in on his great tax relief plan. But I guess thats okay because we invaded a couple new countries to make markets in.
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> I welcome the bipartisan enthusiasm for spending discipline.
My mom tried to teach me spending dicipline when I spent my whole allowence on some Barbie dolls.
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> My budget substantially reduces or eliminates more than 150 government programs that are not getting results, or duplicate current efforts, or do not fulfill essential priorities.
Why do we need crap like education, healthcare and stuff? There are still dumb people and dead people, so it must not be working. We could be using that money on essential priorities, like dropping a few billion on Iraq.
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> We are closing the achievement gap for minority students.
In just three years, every Native American will go to Havard and every Black person will be a CEO. All it took was No Child Left Behind to destroy racism forever. Neat-o.
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> And we will make it easier for Americans to afford a college education, by increasing the size of Pell Grants.
Wait a minute! I know for a fact they just gutted the Pell Grant! Colleges have been fucked over a log in the last year, and now he’s talking about how he’s going to give them back a tiny bit of what he quite literally just took away.
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> Justice is distorted, and our economy is held back, by irresponsible class actions
Damn workers, wanting their rights…
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> To make our economy stronger and more productive, we must make health care more affordable, and give families greater access to good coverage, and more control over their health decisions.
Or, you know, we could just give everyone access tp health care like every other vaguely civilized nation on earth. Does anyone seriously believe our current situation has any redeeming factors and is just a few tweaks away from working great for everyone? Does he count “I’d like to have some health care” as one of those health decisions people ought to have some control over? Right now our problem is people are working crappy jobs that don’t offer healthcare and can’t afford the insane premiums anyway. A couple extra bucks in the tax refund check to “invest in health savings accounts” aint gonna cut it- not when people are still struggling with their “food savings account” and “rent savings account”. There is no model for a universal private healthcare system, so stop pretending it’s at all possible and admit your cool with dead or suffering poor people.
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> It is time for an immigration policy that permits temporary guest workers to fill jobs Americans will not take, that rejects amnesty, that tells us who is entering and leaving our country, and that closes the border to drug dealers and terrorists.
Drug dealers and terrorists? I can understand terrorists, but wern’t drug dealers the bogeyman of the ninties? Waaaay outdated…
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> In those days people did not live as long, benefits were much lower than they are today, and a half century ago, about 16 workers paid into the system for each person drawing benefits.
And they trudged to school barefoot in the snow uphill both ways to get their checks.
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> If you have a 5-year-old, you’re already concerned about how you’ll pay for college tuition 13 years down the road.
You know, in the rest of the industrialized world thats not really a big concern for parents because the government recognizes the value of education. I’m just saying…
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> We must make Social Security permanently sound, not leave that task for another day.
And we all know the stock market is permanently sound! Never gone wrong! Why if everyone had invested their retirments in tech stocks a few years ago, we’d be a land of millionaire old folks! Uh…
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> We must ensure that lower income Americans get the help they need to have dignity and peace of mind in their retirement.
I thought we were talking about money here. I wonder if my landlord will accept a check for “Dignity and peace of mind.”
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> And the best way to reach that goal is through voluntary personal retirement accounts.
I thought the entire idea behind social security was we had too many old folks croaking in the streets because they didn’t save for the retirement or they lost it all to stock market crashes. But I guess that’s okay because the STOCK MARKET WILL NEVER CRASH AGAIN. No need to worry here.
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> In addition, you’ll be able to pass along the money that accumulates in your personal account, if you wish, to your children or grandchildren.
Because inherted money makes the next generation better! And why worry about Dead Bob Old Guy next door, when your kid can by a porche on his sixteenth birthday!
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> Because marriage is a sacred institution and the foundation of society, it should not be re-defined by activist judges. For the good of families, children, and society, I support a constitutional amendment to protect the institution of marriage.
Awww, no witty comments this time. Fuck you Mr. Bush. Just fuck you.
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> Because a society is measured by how it treats the weak and vulnerable, we must strive to build a culture of life.
_Nobody_ knows that is his secret codeword for abortion. Gotta throw a bone to the fundies, you know.
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> As president, I have a constitutional responsibility to nominate men and women who understand the role of courts in our democracy, and are well qualified to serve on the bench – and I have done so. The Constitution also gives the Senate a responsibility: Every judicial nominee deserves an up-or-down vote.
Well, I’m pretty sure he means that they won’t legislate being nice to gay folks, but they will legislate abortion, because thats, uh, different. I’m sure he can expect the same welcome the pubbies gave Clinton’s nominees.
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> Because one of the deepest values of our country is compassion, we must never turn away from any citizen who feels isolated from the opportunities of America.
I give up. WTF does that mean? “feels isolated from the opportunites of America”? Like people that are broke? Or is he trying to talk about Black people?
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> Now we need to focus on giving young people, especially young men in our cities, better options than apathy, or gangs, or jail.
Okay, yeah, he’s talking about Black people. I’m pretty sure he’s not talking about young urban hipsters.
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> In America we must make doubly sure no person is held to account for a crime he or she did not commit –
Because if they did commit a crime, we’re gonna sign their death warrants.
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> Our third responsibility to future generations is to leave them an America that is safe from danger, and protected by peace.
Protected by peace?
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> In the three and a half years since September 11th, 2001, we have taken unprecedented actions to protect Americans.
By invading random countries!
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> Our country is still the target of terrorists who want to kill many, and intimidate us all – and we will stay on the offensive against them, until the fight is won.
Uhh, any ideas of when that fight’ll be won, because I’m kind of upset about us being a nation on the offense.
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> I thank the Congress for providing our servicemen and women with the resources they have needed.
Except body armor and stuff…
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> In the next four years, my administration will continue to build the coalitions that will defeat the dangers of our time.
We all know what great coalition builders they are. I can’t understand why they keep bringing up their failures.
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> In the long term, the peace we seek will only be achieved by eliminating the conditions that feed radicalism and ideologies of murder.
Versus fundamentalism and ideologies of offensive warfare?
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> The United States has no right, no desire, and no intention to impose our form of government on anyone else.
So, uh, what do they call overthrowing governments to install governments you like nowdays?
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> And because democracies respect their own people and their neighbors, the advance of freedom will lead to peace.
See, he’s proving he’s not so dumb. Iraq isn’t our neighbor, so we don’t have to resepect them.
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> The government of Saudi Arabia can demonstrate its leadership in the region by expanding the role of its people in determining their future.
Yeah, they are a bunch of despotic assholes, but they sell us oil so we’ll just kind of hope they stop it one day.
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> and we expect the Syrian government to end all support for terror and open the door to freedom.
You just, uh, keep on expecting there Georgie.
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> Today, Iran remains the world’s primary state sponsor of terror – pursuing nuclear weapons while depriving its people of the freedom they seek and deserve
But we’d never dream of going to war. We’ll send inspectors, and form a coalition, and…
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> That country is a vital front in the war on terror, which is why the terrorists have chosen to make a stand there.
I’m not quite sure how that works, but then again I could never figure out why we attack the one country that no terrorists come out of and are buddies with Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, which stamp them out like canned sardines. Anyway, people are fighting there so it must be worth it, right?
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> Our men and women in uniform are fighting terrorists in Iraq, so we do not have to face them here at home.
Because that way all the “collateral damage” is little brown kids. Isn’t it better to start wars in random countries so that we don’t have to address any of the problems we’ve created?
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> We will succeed because the Iraqi people value their own liberty – as they showed the world last Sunday.
By voting for Shi’as that want a theocracy. We’ll see how that turns out.
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> Recently an Iraqi interpreter said to a reporter, “Tell America not to abandon us.”
And I’m sure some other Iraqui told a reporter “America is the great satan and will burn in hell”.
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> freedom in Iraq will make America safer for generations to come.
Somehow.
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> We will not set an artificial timetable for leaving Iraq, because that would embolden the terrorists and make them believe they can wait us out.
Instead we’re just going to surprise them! Like one of those secret birthday parties! Then they won’t be able to do their evil schemes!
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> The volunteers of our military are unrelenting in battle, unwavering in loyalty, unmatched in honor and decency
…and they are teaching their detainees great cheerleading tricks and how to be comfortable with their own bodies!
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> In all this history, even when we have disagreed, we have seen threads of purpose that unite us.
No we havn’t Bush. Half the nation hates you and thinks your a dangerous freak.
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> The attack on freedom in our world has reaffirmed our confidence in freedom’s power to change the world
I’m not sure how that one is supposed to work, either. This gets my vote for most nonsensical statement (kind of borders on doublespeak, doesn’t it? Attacked freedom is powerful world changing freedom) of the evening.
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> The abolition of slavery was only a dream – until it was fulfilled.
Of course, that took dividing the nation and a bloody civil war, and arguable slavery was something we probably shouldn’t have been doing in the first place.
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> The liberation of Europe from fascism was only a dream – until it was achieved.
And Facist Europe was only a dream until _it_ was achived. And Communist North Korea was only a dream until _that_ was achieved. And the White Power rally in Idaho was only a dream until it was achieved. And the pizza I ate for dinner was only a dream until I achieved that.
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### Author:  [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)
#### Post date: [February 3, 2005, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/way-too-long-bush-bashing-sotu-blow-by-blow/288136/2 "2005-02-03T06:37:11Z")
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> Because one of the deepest values of our country is compassion, we must never turn away from any citizen who feels isolated from the opportunities of America.
At least, not until we’ve passed a constitutional amendment guaranteeing that they will actually _be_ isolated from that opportunity, not just _feel_ like it.
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### Author:  [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)
#### Post date: [February 3, 2005, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/way-too-long-bush-bashing-sotu-blow-by-blow/288136/3 "2005-02-03T06:52:34Z")
You forgot the dreadful threat posed by those awful, greedy lawyers and their malingering clients, like mesothelioma is some big hairy ass deal, or somthing. Yessiree, gotta deal with those asbestors lawsuits, whole country has been talking about nothing else for weeks now.
What a steaming load! Guess, just guess what American corporation has the biggest asbestos liability issue. Give up? Starts with “Hal” and rhymes with “Richard Burton.”
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### Author:  [@Roland\_Deschain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roland_Deschain)
#### Post date: [February 3, 2005, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/way-too-long-bush-bashing-sotu-blow-by-blow/288136/4 "2005-02-03T07:05:27Z")
At least Bush has dared to put big ideas on the table like Social Security, tax reform, tort reform, education reform in the form of school choice, and the most idealistic foreign policy since Reagan. I understand that you disagree with his proposals, but at least he offers them. Personally, Bush is way to liberal and Sociolist for my taste. However, I consider him far better than the alternative.
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### Author:  [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)
#### Post date: [February 3, 2005, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/way-too-long-bush-bashing-sotu-blow-by-blow/288136/5 "2005-02-03T07:18:31Z")
So, where you’re from, “idealistic” means “dumber than a barrel of hair”?
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### Author:  [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)
#### Post date: [February 3, 2005, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/way-too-long-bush-bashing-sotu-blow-by-blow/288136/6 "2005-02-03T07:21:27Z")
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> Personally, Bush is way to liberal and Sociolist for my taste…
Bush… is… too…
_backs away slowly_
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### Author:  [@Ooner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ooner)
#### Post date: [February 3, 2005, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/way-too-long-bush-bashing-sotu-blow-by-blow/288136/7 "2005-02-03T07:23:04Z")
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> Because marriage is a sacred institution and the foundation of society, it should not be re-defined by activist judges. For the good of families, children, and society, I support a constitutional amendment to protect the institution of marriage.
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> Because one of the deepest values of our country is compassion, we must never turn away from any citizen who feels isolated from the opportunities of America.
**HOW CAN ANYBODY IN THE FUCKING UNIVERSE MISS THE HYPOCRISY AND BULLSHIT HERE?**
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### Author:  [@threemae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/threemae)
#### Post date: [February 3, 2005, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/way-too-long-bush-bashing-sotu-blow-by-blow/288136/8 "2005-02-03T07:28:37Z")
> [@Ooner](#):
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> Unlike the old…uhhh…unsoverign Iraq? I think George needs to look up the definition of “sovereign”.
I’ll take issue with this. Maybe Iraq was sovereign in the stricktest sense, but I think that 9 out of 10 Dopers will agree that the only true or valid source of power is through valid elections. This still isn’t true because Allawi was appointed, but it seems to be vaguely possible in the near future.
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### Author:  [@Roland\_Deschain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roland_Deschain)
#### Post date: [February 3, 2005, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/way-too-long-bush-bashing-sotu-blow-by-blow/288136/9 "2005-02-03T07:31:27Z")
> [@Ooner](#):
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> **HOW CAN ANYBODY IN THE FUCKING UNIVERSE MISS THE HYPOCRISY AND BULLSHIT HERE?**
Yes, many of us “on the right” believe homosexuality to be morally wrong. We believe it to be an ideology based in sexual identity rather than moral principal. Furthermore, we believe that if homosexual marriage is ever to become the law of the land then it should be voted on by the people and or their elected representatives rather than mandated by judges.
Personally speaking I don’t think that the government should even be involved in the business of marriage. For me marriage is between two people and their God (or lack there of). Nothing honks me of more that the thought that I have to pay higher taxes if I am legally classified as married.
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### Author:  [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)
#### Post date: [February 3, 2005, 8:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/way-too-long-bush-bashing-sotu-blow-by-blow/288136/10 "2005-02-03T08:14:26Z")
> [@threemae](#):
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> I’ll take issue with this. Maybe Iraq was sovereign in the stricktest sense, but I think that 9 out of 10 Dopers will agree that the only true or valid source of power is through valid elections.
Whoohoo, I’m 1 in 10!
Or maybe I’ve just glanced at a history book…
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### Author:  [@Ooner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ooner)
#### Post date: [February 3, 2005, 8:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/way-too-long-bush-bashing-sotu-blow-by-blow/288136/11 "2005-02-03T08:28:13Z")
> [@Roland Deschain](#):
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> Yes, many of us “on the right” believe homosexuality to be morally wrong. We believe it to be an ideology based in sexual identity rather than moral principal. Furthermore, we believe that if homosexual marriage is ever to become the law of the land then it should be voted on by the people and or their elected representatives rather than mandated by judges.
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> Personally speaking I don’t think that the government should even be involved in the business of marriage. For me marriage is between two people and their God (or lack there of). Nothing honks me of more that the thought that I have to pay higher taxes if I am legally classified as married.
I agree with your second paragraph, I don’t think the government should have a place in marriage either.
The point still remains that people are blind if they don’t see the hypocrisy in saying “we need to legally ban all gay people from being married” in the same breath as “we should be compassionate and not deny people rights”
Bush can hold whatever political opinion he wants about gay marriage, I’m largely pissed that he has the balls to follow up his anti-gay bullshit with what’s obviously a completely phony claim that he wants to make the “opportunities of America” available for all people.
It’s silly to ask for honesty or anything straightforward in politics, but it would be nice if he just cut the bullshit about families and children and said “I don’t think of gay people as deserving of marriage rights as straight people.” If he didn’t always refer to the amendment as “protection of marriage” but as what it really is “the federal gay marriage ban”
I suppose bitching about Bush’s hijacking of words and vague concepts to hide the real meaning of what’s going on is old hat by now, though…
P.S. **threemae** , that was the OP, not me.
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### Author:  [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)
#### Post date: [February 3, 2005, 9:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/way-too-long-bush-bashing-sotu-blow-by-blow/288136/12 "2005-02-03T09:55:45Z")
> [@Roland Deschain](#):
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> Yes, many of us “on the right” believe homosexuality to be morally wrong. We believe it to be an ideology based in sexual identity rather than moral principal.
I didn’t realize it was an “ideology”. In fact, I though it _was_ sexual identity, not an ideology based in it. But maybe I haven’t been keeping up on the immoral homosexual agenda like those of you “on the right”.
BTW, I had a moral principal in high school. Vice-principal was a total dick, though.
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### Author:  [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)
#### Post date: [February 3, 2005, 10:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/way-too-long-bush-bashing-sotu-blow-by-blow/288136/13 "2005-02-03T10:00:02Z")
Holy Christ that was the longest OP I’ve ever seen. Hats off to you, even sven!
Marc
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### Author:  [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)
#### Post date: [February 3, 2005, 10:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/way-too-long-bush-bashing-sotu-blow-by-blow/288136/14 "2005-02-03T10:02:27Z")
> [@MGibson](#):
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> Holy Christ that was the longest OP I’ve ever seen. Hats off to you, even sven!
>
> Marc
Addendum: That is the longest OP _with the least meaningful content_ that I have ever seen.
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### Author:  [@Scoundrel\_Swanswater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scoundrel_Swanswater)
#### Post date: [February 3, 2005, 10:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/way-too-long-bush-bashing-sotu-blow-by-blow/288136/15 "2005-02-03T10:31:58Z")
Beautiful OP, beautiful.
I only wish it would achieve something (Bush’ spontaneous combustion?)
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### Author:  [@Ale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ale)
#### Post date: [February 3, 2005, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/way-too-long-bush-bashing-sotu-blow-by-blow/288136/16 "2005-02-03T10:59:18Z")
“Freedom Power”?
“Freedom Power”!!??
I guess Bush checks his spandex, super suit on the mirror before going to bed each night.
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### Author:  [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)
#### Post date: [February 3, 2005, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/way-too-long-bush-bashing-sotu-blow-by-blow/288136/17 "2005-02-03T11:04:05Z")
I didn’t watch the speech. What a colossal waste of time, resources, and money. Nothing is quite so ecclesiastical as politics — nothing new under the sun.
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### Author:  [@treis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/treis)
#### Post date: [February 3, 2005, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/way-too-long-bush-bashing-sotu-blow-by-blow/288136/18 "2005-02-03T11:11:49Z")
> [@Brutus](#):
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> Addendum: That is the longest OP _with the least meaningful content_ that I have ever seen.
_gasp_ Brutus doesn’t think Bush’s SOTU is meaningful content?
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### Author:  [@SentientMeat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SentientMeat)
#### Post date: [February 3, 2005, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/way-too-long-bush-bashing-sotu-blow-by-blow/288136/19 "2005-02-03T11:11:59Z")
> [@Brutus](#):
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> That is the longest OP with the least meaningful content that I have ever seen.
Given that half of it comprised Bush’s address, that’s quite an admission on your part, friend **Brutus**.
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### Author:  [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)
#### Post date: [February 3, 2005, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/way-too-long-bush-bashing-sotu-blow-by-blow/288136/20 "2005-02-03T12:44:30Z")
> [@Brutus](#):
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> Addendum: That is the longest OP _with the least meaningful content_ that I have ever seen.
Believe him - he is an expert in meaningless content.
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