WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Bush laid out his second-term agenda Wednesday night in his State of the Union address, hailing the successful Iraqi elections and promising skeptical lawmakers that he would consider any good idea to overhaul Social Security.
On the war on terrorism:
In the long term, the peace we seek will only be achieved by eliminating the conditions that feed radicalism and ideologies of murder. If whole regions of the world remain in despair and grow in hatred, they will be the recruiting grounds for terror, and that terror will stalk America and other free nations for decades.
....
Tomorrow morning, Secretary of State Rice departs on a trip that will take her to Israel and the West Bank for meetings with Prime Minister Sharon and President Abbas. She will discuss with them how we and our friends can help the Palestinian people end terror and build the institutions of a peaceful, independent democratic state.
Social security:
Bush said Social Security, on its current path, is "headed toward bankruptcy," and he urged Congress to "pass reforms that solve the financial problems of Social Security once and for all."
On the budget/domestic side:
Bush called for a bipartisan effort to restrain "the spending effort of the federal government" when he presents his 2006 budget next week.
"My budget substantially reduces or eliminates more than 150 government programs that are not getting results, or duplicate current efforts, or do not fulfill essential priorities. The principle here is clear: a taxpayer dollar must be spent wisely, or not at all," he said.
Overall it's reminds you of the general public attending a recording of an episode of 'Friends'
Bush's speech lasted about an hour and was interrupted by applause 66 times, with 44 standing ovations.
Nice promises...apparently he's trying to solve the 'war on terrorism' on a more diplomatic level as well, or so he wants people to believe.
At least the tone of the American government is a lot less arrogant than the past few years. Hopefully this, in combination with an big eye on the spending will improve the security in the world further.
I think it's very important that the US will reduce their huge debts and improve the strength of the dollar. Although the US economy isn't exactly suffering a lot, the effects of the low dollar course isn't benefiting global economy too much...
It seems he has a crap load of plans, but I wonder how he thinks to achieve only a small portion of his objectives. Once again a lot of words, with a doubtful outcome. Just as with the elections...
