SOTU

So I'm live blogging in my head so this might seem scattered but it'll be my thoughts as I hear the speech...

- Alito looks good in his new robe. Of course, the camera keeps focusing on him. I'm sure the Dems are not very happy about that beings how things went down today. And Sheehan was there. How desperate are the Dems? But apparently she's already been arrested. Too bad for her, no more attention tonight for her.

- Great to mention King. That was a nice sentiment.

- Starting off right away with talk about bi-partisan work. Bringing back the "Uniter, Not Divider" image.

- WOT gets top billing early on. Not five minutes in and a 9/11 reference already. I'm surprised he mentioned OBL. He seems to not have been a topic the White House likes to bring up of late.

- Nice twist of phrase, "Allow the violent to inherit the earth." He's really hitting hard against "isolationism." I like the images he's using to remember what America has been in the past and what he still believes we should be today.

- Let's hope he really hits on these points about the good happening in Iraq. The administration has been far too silent in defending the work in Iraq. 3 years to move from brutal dictator to democratically elected leaders. That's astounding when you stop to think about it. What kind of measure are the liberals using when the call this a failed endeavor? Certainly not a reasonable one.

- Smackdown on the Democrats. The difference is between responsible criticism and defeatism. Cut and run is not a strategy. That's a great line.

- Democratic reform throughout the Middle East. I'm sure we all know how they just reacted in Terhan and Syria. The acknowledgement of Hamas' win. I wonder if we will deal with them at all before they disarm? I'm hoping that we will not deal with them until they committ to allowing the existence of Israel.

- He's really calling for such a HUGE program, continuing the liberal streak that has defined so much of his post 9/11 Presidency. Eliminate poverty and disease the world around, spend billions to export good-will.

- Renewing the Patriot act that infuriates liberals so much. I'm glad to finally here him going on the offense about the paranoia of "Big Brother." The liberals hated that one. Did you see Hillary? That alone was worth the price of admission.

- Back on isolationism. He's really binding our current situation to the great ideals of America-past.

- Again, finally on the attack about the economy. But I still feel like he's waited so long. And how long do we have to wait to jump into the new era and make sure we stay ahead of China and India? Immigrants are vital to the economy, nice prod at his own party there. That's more like the Bush who campaigned back in 2000.

- Good stewards of tax dollars. It might be true that they've cut some spending, but this administration has certainly spent it in plenty of other places. How could the deficit be cut in half in three years? Unless we're entirely out of Iraq, I don't see how that will happen.

- "Congress did not act last year on my proposal to save Social Security," and the Democrats are applauding. They are now proud to be obstructionists. But everyone in Washington likes bi-partisan committees.

- With a level playing field, no one can out-produce or compete with the American worker. Great line.

- Affordable health care, not free.

- Medical liability reform. Great idea but laywers don't like it so it's not likely.

- Advance Energy Inniative. "America is addicted to oil." Another great line. But his administration has done little to help break that trend. Maybe they're going to really get behind the alternative fuel idea? That would be wonderful...competitive alternative energy within six years and freedom from the Middle East in twenty.

- Math and Science education. We need it or we're going to be so far behind Asia that we'll never catch up. We're already on the verge of falling too far behind. Who can be against better educating our children?

- Crime, welfare, drug use, abortions, teenage pregnancy all down. And yet people still say they're concerned about the way America is going. I think we've become traumatized. We've been scared by every muck raker out there and we can't even see the positive. I'm glad he's hitting on this.

- Roberts and Alito. I still maintain that they will be the greatest legacy of this administration and they are vindication for all the conservatives who have become disgruntled with this administration.

- Be cool, stay in school!

- Reconciliation concerning the Gulf Coast. But how much money will we end up spending to rebuild? And what will the results be? Are we going to pour billions into the Gulf just to end up right back where we were?

- Good references to Lincoln, MLK, and WWII. "We will show that courage, and we will finish well." Great end to the speech.

Not a bad job at all. Not the most encompassing speech ever and not the most inspiring 51 minutes he's had. No huge initiatives, nothing shocking and new. But overall, a good speech about the situation we find ourselves in. Let's hope he keeps on task, especially with the shift from oil, education reform, and the WOT.