George Bush is an impressive speaker. Unfortunately politcs and statecraft require more than eloquence. The ability of a politician to connect with his people is important. The American people have got sick and tired of the war in Iraq and more than 60% of them want the troops to return home. More than 2,340 young mebn and women have been killed in Iraq and there is no set up in the violence. Bush had nothing new to say. He does not have a plan to disengage from Iraq. The mush promised Iraqi security force are nowhere in sight and it would be several years before even a battallion is trained and deployed. How will Bushcontiue American War on Iraq when the domestic opinion has truned decidedly against the war. Bush promises more of the same and the Amrican public do not believe their President on this crucial issue.
The other major issue is the neglect of the aftermath of Katrina. Only 5.6 billion out of the required 67.5 billion dollars have been spent. FEMA has provided only 2000 trailers out of the required 65,000. The rate of suicide of Katrina survivors is alarming. George Bush had nothing tangible to say about it. Does the US Federal Government care for the survivors of Katrina or not. This is a question on everybody's mind. Only 115,000 out of 567,000 have returned to New Orleans. The hurricane season is less than 200 days away and the leviees have not been reapired.
In this state of the Union Address the President did not harp on foreign policy as he did last year. But he made a lot of noise about INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM> After Bush declared war of Terrorism, Islamic Terrorism has only increased not decreased. Bin Laden and others are safe and all that Bush does is send his Airforce to bomb innocenbt people thereby alienating more Moslems and increasing the support base fopr Islamic Radicalism. Hamas has been elected in Palestine on the watch of Bush.
The major domestic issue is the continuing job losses faced by the Americans. Bush did not address this issue at all. The interest rates will climb now that oil prices are at an all time high. Mortgages will become more expensive and there has been a 45% increase in gasolone prices. Bush did not address that issue at all.
Even the few points that were innovative such as the emphasis on ethonol, reduced the addictiion to foreign gasoline as Bush put it,is adirect lift from Clinton's initiative.