State of the Union

Apparently, Bush has hired an actual economist.

Just as we trust Americans with their own money, we need to earn their trust by spending their tax dollars wisely. Next week, I'll send you a budget that terminates or substantially reduces 151 wasteful or bloated programs, totaling more than $18 billion. The budget that I will submit will keep America on track for a surplus in 2012. American families have to balance their budgets; so should their government.

The people's trust in their government is undermined by congressional earmarks -- special interest projects that are often snuck in at the last minute, without discussion or debate. Last year, I asked you to voluntarily cut the number and cost of earmarks in half. I also asked you to stop slipping earmarks into committee reports that never even come to a vote. Unfortunately, neither goal was met. So this time, if you send me an appropriations bill that does not cut the number and cost of earmarks in half, I'll send it back to you with my veto. (Applause.)

And tomorrow, I will issue an executive order that directs federal agencies to ignore any future earmark that is not voted on by Congress. If these items are truly worth funding, Congress should debate them in the open and hold a public vote. (Applause.)

Abso-freakin-lutely. This bit here makes the entire speech good. Reign in Congress and let me keep my money.

My favorite quote from the speech:

The best way to achieve that goal is by expanding consumer choice, not government control.

I won't include the context for "that goal", because it is a valid statement, no matter what.


On the other hand, his education and immigration experts are still 'special'. Not short-bus special, they are all the way into hockey-helmet special.

Six years ago, we came together to pass the No Child Left Behind Act, and today no one can deny its results.

That's not exactly true. When the tests get recalibrated to make kids pass, it kind of defeats the purpose.

So we're expanding funding for this type of ethical medical research. And as we explore promising avenues of research, we must also ensure that all life is treated with the dignity it deserves. And so I call on Congress to pass legislation that bans unethical practices such as the buying, selling, patenting, or cloning of human life. (Applause.)

Talk about half a story. Selling the goo that was part of a human at some point, or cloning organs isn't necessarily unethical.

Yet we also need to acknowledge that we will never fully secure our border until we create a lawful way for foreign workers to come here and support our economy.

We have this. It's done through Immigration. There's a legal path, and even a temporary worker program already. Don't offer amnesty. Any new law offering amnesty will get the current Congress thrown out on it's ass.