Wednesday February 2, 2005

The media, really … well, I know that the State of the Union festivities are pretty bland for them and all, especially since they get copies of both the president’s address and the Democratic response in advance, being the result of weeks of political hackery.

I can even understand the temptation to write the story in advance. But in all honesty, you shouldn’t also POST IT TO THE INTERNET IN ADVANCE. (It’s near 8:40 ET as I write, 20 minutes before the president’s speech begins.) So for those of you who want to know how Nancy Pelosi’s address went before she gives it, go to Fox News. Fair, balanced, and defying the space-time continuum.

<ADDED: 03.30> Now that the speech is, you know, actually over, here’s my lightning quick synopsis: Bush is not going far enough on Social Security and tax reform, but it’s a hell of a start. He wants to chip away at the central pillars of the neo-socialist government (even if a sledgehammer is more appropriate). Let’s hope the final proposals match the rhetoric. There’s other good news on the domestic policy front: Bush only briefly mentioned an anti-gay marriage amendment, primarily (I would guess) as lip service to his religious base. As noted, I’m quite ambivalent about the neocon agenda for the Middle East. Yes, America surely has the ability to overthrow all of the governments in the region, but should we?  Is that our duty? There is an analog here with economics. It is possible to manipulate our economy with interest-rate targeting, fiscal stimulus, and the like … but should we? The first question is not why, it seems, but how. Meanwhile, the Democrats oppose his plan and instead support … exactly the same thing. In conclusion, Harry Reid won’t get elected regardless of the advice I give him if he keeps pulling out a new metaphor every thirty seconds to try and sound more folksy and hip. It doesn’t work for yah. The Dems’ horrid response is here. (Props to C-SPAN for streaming video so I could actually see the speeches, blurry as they were …)