My comments this year on the State of the Union 2006 address:

To dive right in, if yet another person names September 11th as the justification for anything in the way things are being done in the world or their personal life, I’m going to scream. The only people that have the right in using the events on that date to justify their actions are those that lost people on that day. Anything other than that is pretentious bullshit. The mere fact that Bush has to mention in every speech that event means that he has little other good reason for this stupid “war on terror” that doesn’t even really exist.

Now, don’t get me wrong — I know there’s terrorists in the world. I know they don’t like us, some of them for very good reasons. The United States hasn’t exactly always come out squeaky-clean in world politics and policies; it’s understandable if a few countries had hard feelings. But, I also think that the presence of terrorists in the world is like the presence of poor people — they’re going to exist, they always HAVE existed, and to go out and fight them outright, to make the ludicrous claim that we can destroy the very existence of these people, is nothing short of maniacal arrogance.

Bolstering security in our home country is one thing; attacking another country is a whole different ballgame. But even the domestic side of things can be stretched too far — the Patriot Act extends privileges that make our forefathers spin in their graves. The answer to more security is not necessarily lost freedom, folks.

Dictatorships shelter terrorists, feed resentment and radicalism, and seek weapons of mass destruction. I can’t even believe he brought that up! The fantasy of WMD has been shown to be the pipe-dream justification that many suspected it was in the first place. It takes either a lot of balls or a severe lack of intelligence to continue to use it as your rationale.

Far from being a hopeless dream, the advance of freedom is the great story of our time. In 1945, there were about two dozen lonely democracies on earth. Today, there are 122. So. Friggin’. What. The mere fact that democracies have increased in the past doesn’t mean that they’re necessarily the way to go for every country, which is what the President is implying. Most of the time, democracies are better fiscal policy — that is, they promote the progression of the national economy of the country in the modern world. Back when monarchies reigned supreme (pun absolutely intended), the global economy was different and they worked rather well. Not everyone has to become a democracy in order to be a “good” country. Sure, it benefits us because it makes it easier for us to trade with and, in general, world politics is easier when you don’t have a singular person calling the shots in a country. Essentially, national policy is made slower and the world can react better to it if it is decided on by the people instead of the king. But to insist on their conversion — well, that’s just self-serving and is akin to forceful conversion of the Satanist next door just so we feel better.

Lacking the military strength to challenge us directly, the terrorists have chosen the weapon of fear. Oh, really? And what are you using, right now, in your speech, Mr. Bush? Fear goes many different ways and appears in several different forms. You are simply exchanging one type of fear for another — instead of fearing for our safety against the terrorists, we can now happily fear that we will fear. Yay! Success. 50 points from Gryffendor.

There is no peace in retreat. And there is no honor in retreat. I severely disagree. There is a time and place for everything, including battle AND retreat. “Retreat” does not necessarily imply “failure”, which is what Bush wants us to think. A retreat from our situations in the Middle East at this point would be nothing less than honorable and correct, given the correct apologies.

By allowing radical Islam to work its will — by leaving an assaulted world to fend for itself — we would signal to all that we no longer believe in our own ideals, or even in our own courage. Look, we have to fend for ourselves and we somehow managed. If you live in the Middle East and you have done NOTHING about it, then you’re making your own bed. Just because you think you might live in a shitty lifestyle but refuse to do anything about it doesn’t mean that we should automatically hop on in and take care of it for you. I feel bad that there are whackos living and ruling parts of the world but the US can’t and shouldn’t be the savior to all of them. It’s not our place, it’s not our destiny, and it certainly isn’t morally correct.

We are the nation that saved liberty in Europe, and liberated death camps, and helped raise up democracies, and faced down an evil empire. The blind arrogance sickens me. Yes, the great and powerful America, which does all things right and is the savior of all. I have a feeling that a good amount of Brits and other peoples from around the world balked at the idea that America alone saved Europe and did all the work. Do you forget that we purposely sat back and watched for a LONG time, just so we wouldn’t have to get involved? We couldn’t be bothered, but now we’re the heroes? Right.

And we are on the offensive in Iraq, with a clear plan for victory. You have a pretty foggy conception of the word, “clear”, Mr. Bush. Your plan for Iraq reads and implements like the tax code. I have yet to see anything that actually makes sense and is being completed.

…but those decisions will be made by our military commanders, not by politicians in Washington, D.C. Ha! Right. Who sent them there in the first place, hrm? You’re blind, America, if you think that the military leaders follow anything but the mandate from the government. Remember who signs the checks, eh?

Hindsight alone is not wisdom. And second-guessing is not a strategy. No, one should not use ONLY hindsight, but it is almost a universal truth that people should use a lot more hindsight than they do and it should certainly encompass a large portion of our rationale for any activity. The pains of the past can guide and assist our future endevours if only we let them. Second-guessing isn’t wrong, and while it isn’t strategy as such, it is the mechanism by which we judge ourselves and our actions. If we don’t review what we do and “second guess” our decisions, Mr. Bush, how are we to tell if we are in the wrong or right? Oh, that’s right, we’re ALWAYS right, therefore “second guessing” is just a waste of our time. Atta boy. ~ The biggest problem with Americans is our inability to admit that we made a mistake, no matter if it is politics, lawsuits, relationships, or other aspects of life.

…and show that a pledge from America means little. You know, did we ever really sit down with the Iraqi people and say, “Look, we’re going to come into your country because we’re going to beat the living tar out of the terrorists, but on the way, we’re going to overthrow your asshole of a leader, kill those that oppose this idea, and help you set up a new government in our image. Is that ok with you?” If so, we made a pledge. If not, the “pledge” is just whatever we decide to define it as at the time. I believe our original idea was a combination of “you’re housing terrorists” and “you have weapons that could really make a mark”. Now suddenly we’ve planned the entire reformation of a country and its people. Our pledge, then, is not the reason to stay in Iraq and we would be no less honorable if we backed out right now and said, “Hey, yup, gotcha this far, good luck on the rest. See ya!”

Our nation is grateful to the fallen, who live in the memory of our country. We are grateful to all who volunteer to wear our nation’s uniform — and as we honor our brave troops, let us never forget the sacrifices of America’s military families. This might be the only thing that I agree with in this speech. While I am against the wars we are conducting, I am never against our military personnel who do their duty as best they can with what they have. Whether or not you agree with the cause, you should always support your troops who are just following orders. Burn the leaders at the stake, but honor the soldiers.

The Iranian government is defying the world with its nuclear ambitions — and the nations of the world must not permit the Iranian regime to gain nuclear weapons. This is and always has been the biggest example of the pot calling the kettle black. If we have nuclear weapons, then we cannot tell any other country that they cannot have them, either. It’s that simple. When we lose ours, then we can start getting narky when others get them and we don’t. I really can’t blame Iran for wanting nuclear weapons, given the other countries that have them. Remember, they’re not just concerned about the US, but about France, Germany, Britian, etc. Mind you, given our recent bumblings in the world, I guess I’d be frightened of the US as well.

America respects you, and we respect your country. We respect your right to choose your own future and win your own freedom. And our nation hopes one day to be the closest of friends with a free and democratic Iran. Iran, we don’t respect you or your country, otherwise we would be friends with you NOW and not when you are just like us.

But we did not know about their plans until it was too late. Bull. Shit. This has already been proven in the 9/11 commission report — that the US gov’t DID know of the upcoming attack and refused to acknowledge it or do anything about it. Feel that stuff in front of your face, America? That’s wool.

The only alternative to American leadership is a dramatically more dangerous and anxious world. No, it isn’t. There’s this false sense that if America doesn’t do it, nobody will. I don’t believe that for a second. The world has managed very well for centuries without American involvement and it will continue to do so for many more years. MOST countries just get along with each other without having to dickwave across the oceans, but America, well — we somehow feel that just because we’re the biggest, that means that we need to do all the thinking, too.

American leaders — from Roosevelt to Truman to Kennedy to Reagan — rejected isolation and retreat, because they knew that America is always more secure when freedom is on the march. Yes! We’re always better off when we’re KICKING COMMIE ASS! *sighs*

In the last five years, the tax relief you passed has left $880 billion in the hands of American workers, investors, small businesses, and families — and they have used it to help produce more than four years of uninterrupted economic growth. Yet the tax relief is set to expire in the next few years. Ah yes, the infamous “rich” tax breaks. Thanks, Bush, for giving slack to the wealthy. I didn’t feel any effects of your tax cut — where’s my relief?

Congress did not act last year on my proposal to save Social Security… Yes, because your proposal sucked. They’re not stupid.

To meet this goal, we must have stronger immigration enforcement and border protection. Border protection is one thing — good on them. Go for it. And stronger immigration enforcement isn’t bad, either. It’s the immigration process that causes a lot of the headaches. Having experienced it myself with my wife, it is a Pain In The Ass(tm) and is costly, which generally puts it out of reach of many people who are simply too far down on the food chain to pay for it. I suspect much of the immigration problem revolves around 2 points: 1, the process is so difficult as to make many people just choose the illegal path and 2, real penalties aren’t enforced for many of the illegal immigrants. Too many are given leeway and given free visas or green cards. The rule should be, if you are caught here illegally, then you are thrown out and banned for 5 years. Period. No exceptions to the rule. The exceptions are what dishonors the legitimate people, like my wife.

Our government has a responsibility to help provide health care for the poor and the elderly, and we are meeting that responsibility. The poor, maybe. The elderly, yes, insomuch as the elderly’s Medicare. The poor are in a position where they don’t get to have good things — food, housing, etc. The fact that their healthcare might be subpar isn’t surprising. I’m all about helping the elderly out, especially if they have worked, contributed to SS, and now expect to be handled correctly. What will piss me off to no end is if, when my generation gets old, the ones that weren’t smart enough to save up for retirement beyond SS get benefits that they didn’t earn. Folks: If you’re reading this, and you’re over 18, and you have a regular job — if you’re not saving money for retirement NOW, do NOT expect me or my government to cover your ass when you’re old. You should know better.

And because lawsuits are driving many good doctors out of practice — leaving women in nearly 1,500 American counties without a single OB-GYN — I ask the Congress to pass medical liability reform this year. Amen to this, assuming he means making the legal system such that silly lawsuits can’t be brought. I’m tired of doctors being afraid to heal.

America is addicted to oil, which is often imported from unstable parts of the world. And from oil moguls in Texas, too, right? But we don’t care about not using THEIR oil, right, Mr. Bush? Because they’re GOOD PEOPLE. Ha. Bush going off about not needing to use oil is like Bill Gates saying we should move away from Desktop PCs. There’s a smirk on every face.

We have made a good start in the early grades with the No Child Left Behind Act, which is raising standards and lifting test scores across our country. I don’t know about everywhere, but from my understanding, the NCLBA hasn’t exactly made teaching any better nor the students smarter. It’s simply fudged the testing process such that it’s now completely indeterminite if anyone’s making progress.

As we look at these challenges, we must never give in to the belief that America is in decline, or that our culture is doomed to unravel. The American people know better than that. We have proven the pessimists wrong before — and we will do it again. The pessimists are there, however, to show you the other side of the issues. Don’t ignore them in your quest to continue to make things better, or you’ll be shutting out the very voice that gives you enough perspective to win forward.

A hopeful society has institutions of science and medicine that do not cut ethical corners, and that recognize the matchless value of every life. 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. Wow, I agree with another point. Amazing. Don’t count on it happening too often.

Before history is written down in books, it is written in courage. Like Americans before us, we will show that courage and we will finish well. History also records arrogance, bumblings, and really bad fuckups. Don’t deny the other aspects of the actions we do, America, lest we be ridiculed in the history books for years to come. You must learn to back up and see your actions from ALL sides, not just the side you like best, and to judge them fairly and act accordingly, otherwise we jeopardize all that we’ve worked for.