Praising American military efforts to promote freedom around the globe and plugging an array of new domestic initiatives, President Bush delivered the final State of the Union address of his first term last night.
The president started with a discussion of the war on terror and situations in Afghanistan and Iraq, later isolating a train of domestic issues ranging from the economy, immigration and health care to faith-based initiatives, sexual abstinence and same-sex marriages.
"Americans are rising to the tasks of history, and they expect the same from us," Bush told an audience of the nation's top leaders, including members from both houses of Congress, cabinet officials, Supreme Court justices and foreign diplomats.
"The cause we serve is right, because it is the cause of all mankind," he said. "The momentum of freedom in our world is unmistakable."
Bush opened his speech by highlighting the accomplishments of the war on terror, but warned that it is a "dangerous illusion" to assume that the threat of terrorists no longer exists, urging members of Congress to renew the Patriot Act. He then touted progress in Afghanistan and Iraq, complimenting American authorities for capturing terrorists, especially Saddam Hussein.
On the home front, he asked for support in adopting several new initiatives.
Calling Americans "the hardest-working people in the world," Bush asked that his tax cuts be made permanent. He also introduced "Jobs for the 21st Century," including measures to expand job-training and increased assistance to middle-school students who are behind in reading and math. He again reiterated his support for allowing Americans to privately invest parts of their social security funds.
Bush discussed an immigration plan that would allow some illegal immigrants to work in the U.S. on a temporary basis. In addition, he introduced the idea for a new $300 million faith-based initiative to help former inmates reenter society.
Addressing health care, Bush recommended further tax credits to help uninsured Americans purchase insurance and advocated limits on medical-liability lawsuits. He also proposed funding increases for programs supporting sexual abstinence. Though he did go so far as to formally endorse a constitutional amendment prohibiting gay marriage, the president said he believes marriage refers to a union between a man and a woman.
Required by the Constitution, the State of the Union address is used typically as an opportunity for presidents to portray the successes of their administration and to outline new legislative agendas. This year, the speech took place the day after the Iowa Democratic presidential caucus, a move that Politics Prof. Paul Freedman described as strategically optimal.
"From the perspective of the Bush reelection campaign, this is good timing because he steals some of the thunder from the surprising Iowa upset and undermines Kerry and Edwards' momentum to some extent as they head into New Hampshire," Freedman said. "Were he to give the speech next week, he would have run the risk of losing some of the media spotlight to the outcome of the New Hampshire primary."
Politics Prof. Larry J. Sabato said the partisan tone of Bush's speech made it clear an election is approaching.
"You could feel and sense the tension in the House chamber," Sabato said. "There's a lot of animosity there on both sides."
Sabato said he was not surprised by any of the president's initiatives.
"This was exactly what was expected. It was a political speech -- he focused on the subjects most likely to reelect him."
As for Bush's policy goals, Sabato said some -- the expansion of tax-free health care savings accounts, for example -- are more likely to pass than others, such as the proposal to allow workers to privately invest portions of their the social security accounts.
"Bush made it clear to the Democrats he was giving no quarter. That may be good, it may be bad, but it's political reality in an election year."
Around Grounds, the College Republicans gathered to watch and discuss the speech. Vice Chair Ali Ahmad said he liked both the president's international and domestic agendas.
"We really liked the opening scenes about continuing the war on terror and not backing down," Ahmad said. "I think he appears to be one of the best, strongest presidents we have seen in the television era -- a man totally capable of uniting the American people and someone that every American should be optimistic about."
Members of the University Democrats, however, formed different opinions about the speech. Even though Democrats might not support Bush, Vice President Ryan Hughes said it was important to tune in for the address, as it sheds light on the president's reelection strategy and consequently, that of the eventual Democratic nominee.
"I think the general consensus of the room was one of surprise because this is a president who campaigned in 2000 as a moderate, but is clearly governing as an extreme right-wing conservative," Hughes said. "One of the most glaring things is the president calling for the liberation of the Iraqi people, but at the same time on the domestic front, he's denying some inherent rights to same-sex couples and to American citizens with the Patriot Act."
Sabato predicted the speech will result in a boost of Bush's job approval rating that will last for about two weeks. Released yesterday, a Gallup Poll conducted between Jan. 12-15 measured his current approval rating at 53 percent, down ten points from last month.
"He's improved a great deal and this was a competent speech," Sabato said. "He was forceful."
Freedman stressed the importance of the 'instant analysis' offered by pundits immediately after the speech.
"The president is the most important player, but there are many other people whose voices matter when it comes to how the event is interpreted and understood by the public," he said. "This is the same phenomenon that we see after campaign debates when the post-debate spin can be as important as what was said in the debate itself."
Freedman emphasized the role of the State of the Union address as "the world's greatest photo op," as opposed to being merely a time for announcing the president's legislative goals.
"This is a strategic political opportunity that means much more than the delineation of a simple policy agenda," Freedman said. "In the real world, presidents are as attentive to symbolism, imagery and even style as President Bartlet on 'The West Wing.'"
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