Australian newspapers in reporting President Bush’s State of the Union address have instead printed stories about drinking games and lampooned Mr Bush.
They have not reported what President Bush has said.
Fox notes
“Bush's presidency has been marked by job growth for 52 straight months, an increase in wages and exports. But a recent hike in food and gas prices as well as a decline in the housing market is causing strain for many Americans.”
Of course, the economic downturn coincides with the Democrats achieving a majority in Congress. Even so, the remarkable President Bush has managed to bring about a troop surge and improvement in Iraq despite substantial opposition. Furthermore, his stimulus package seems like having overwhelming support of Congress.
But all the Australian press will report is the drinking games.
Let's raise a glass to 'nukular' Bush
ReplyDeleteBy Karin Zeitvogel
WHEN US President George W. Bush pronounces the annual State of the Union address, some Americans will be hanging on his every word.
Not because they are die-hard political pundits or waiting for the truth to emerge from the mouth of the leader of the free world, but because they are playing the six-year-old State of the Union drinking game.
When - not if - Mr Bush says "The state of our union is strong" or a derivative thereof, eager Americans will down a shot of an alcoholic beverage or take a couple of swigs of beer.
If he breaks down in tears on speaking those words, they have to down another shot - but knowing the President's stoicism, that won't happen.
Uttering "God'' or any euphemism for God earns the people propping up the bar two drinks.
"Troops'' merits only a small sip.
But if he says "water-boarding,'' you have to lean your head back, have a drink poured into it, and gargle.
Mentioning Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad merits a shot, quickly followed by another iIf Mr Bush pronounces it correctly, according to the rules concocted six years ago by two students at Princeton University.
"I'm sure there are other people who have made similar games, but I think most people play by our rules,'' Marc Melzer, one of the creators of the State of the Union Drinking Game and now a lawyer, said.
His co-creator, Howard Deutsch, said the two invented the game in 2002 when they were seniors at Princeton.
"Then, we were both a lot more interested in politics, and I think we would have watched the State of the Union speech without drinking. It was just a supplemental thing to do during the speech,'' said Mr Deutsch, who is now a sales and marketing manager.
If Mr Bush mentions the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, order a Car Bomb - a melange of Guinness stout, Baileys Irish Cream and Jameson Irish whiskey - from the bartender.
If he confuses Hamas and hummus, order two.
If Mr Bush utters the word nukular, the "Bushism'' for nuclear, you will earn one drink.
The game also requires visual acuity, muscle control and political knowledge: if the camera focuses on the speaker of the House or Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, first you have to focus and recognise her and then down one drink without moving any facial muscles.
You also have to be constantly up to speed on your recent history and on what you were doing (read: drinking) during the speech.
So when the President mentions anything to do with his plan to bring peace to the Middle East, you have the same drink you had the first time he said Taba or Camp David or roadmap or Wye River or Oslo accords.
Since Saturday, the drinkinggame.us website has had more than 30,000 hits - 5000 alone in the hour since AFP first logged on to the site to read up on the rules.
State of the Union: Bush fights for spotlight
ReplyDeletefrom news.com By staff writers and wires
GEORGE W. Bush has commited billions of dollars to fight climate change and asked for billions more to keep US troops fighting in Iraq in his final chance to lay out his vision for his last 12 months in office.
Mr Bush is delivering his last State of the Union address to Congress in Washington DC from 1pm (AEDT), but excerpts published in advance suggest we have heard it all before.
Mr Bush has expected to say the situation in Iraq is improving and that al-Qaeda is on the back foot, but that more work needs to be done. He has also promised $US 2 billion ($2.27 billion) to promote clean energy technologies.
But in an echo of former prime minister John Howard's attempt to switch to a green agenda to inject some relevancy into his government, attention is already focused more on who will come after Mr Bush than on his plans for cementing his legacy.
The US presidential election campaign is entering a crucial week - with the Florida primaries taking place tomorrow and "Super Duper Tuesday" on Wednesday next week (Australian time). Mr Bush cannot run for another term.
Today's speech represents a rare chance for Mr Bush to try to dominate the headlines and remind the world he still holds the reins. However even a White House spokesman was quoted as having acknowledged Mr Bush will struggle to hold the spotlight for long.
Environment
Mr Bush's climate change commitment targets clean energy technologies over three years, taking it into the first half of his successor's first term. But it continues Mr Bush's policy that the US should not act unless developing nations join in.
"Along with contributions from other countries, this fund will increase and accelerate the deployment of all forms of cleaner, more efficient technologies in developing nations like India and China, and help leverage substantial private-sector capital by making clean energy projects more financially attractive," the White House said earlier.
Mr Bush has reaffirmed the United States' commitment to work with major economies and through the United Nations to complete an international agreement that will slow, stop, and eventually reverse the growth of greenhouse gases.
"This agreement will be effective only if it includes commitments by every major economy and gives none a free ride," the White House said.
Iraq
Mr Bush will also leave the next president with a hefty bill to cover in Iraq and Afghanistan. In the speech he has asked for $US70 billion ($79 billion) to pay for both campaigns up until his successor takes the oath of office one year from now.
He has said that Iraq has been a long and costly war, but that al-Qaeda is "on the run".
"Our enemies in Iraq have been hit hard. They are not yet defeated, and we can still expect tough fighting ahead," he has said.
"Some may deny the surge is working but among the terrorists there is no doubt. Al-Qaeda is on the run in Iraq and this enemy will be defeated," he said prompting the strongest applause of the speech.
He has said that withdrawing troops too early would undo all the gains made. "Having come so far and achieved so much, we must not allow this to happen."
While mass casualty bombings have dropped off since an extra 30,000 US troops were sent to Iraq - in a plan announced in last year's State of the Union - 2007 was the deadliest year for the Americans since the 2003 war.
The surge had been sold as a way to ease the sectarian violence that had taken Iraq to the brink of civil war. A permanent political solution remains elusive.
Mr Bush will also include a warning to Iran to stop enriching uranium and "cease supporting terror" and a promise to "confront those who threaten our troops" in the region.
In Mr Bush's 2002 State of the Union, he included Iran with Iraq and North Korea in an "axis of evil" that was threatening world security and presenting a grave danger to the United States.
Economy
He has also urged the US Congress to support his massive economic stimulus plan, aimed at heading off the country's slide into a recession.
Fears of a prolonged and deepening US downturn sent world markets into meltdown last week, wiping billions of dollars from the value of Australian shares.
A recent wave of public opinion polls has found that worries about the economy have overtaken concerns about the conflict in Iraq and terrorism in the minds of US voters.
- with Reuters and AFP
Bush Urges Congress to Trust Americans With Their Own Money
ReplyDeletefox news
WASHINGTON — President Bush advised Congress Monday to have faith in the American people to keep the state of the union strong, and warned the legislative body not to load up a tax rebate and business investment package with unnecessary additions that will not help stimulate the economy.
In his seventh and final State of the Union address, Bush urged lawmakers to pass the deal reached by the White House and House leaders last week.
"In the long run, Americans can be confident about our economic growth. But in the short run, we can all see that growth is slowing," he said. "The temptation will be to load up the bill. That would delay it or derail it, and neither option is acceptable. This is a good agreement that will keep our economy growing and our people working. And this Congress must pass it as soon as possible."
The House is set to take up a stimulus package quickly on Tuesday, and likely will pass it as a "suspension" bill, suggesting that it already has overwhelming support. Though the White House and House leadership agreed on details of a $150 billion tax rebate and cuts program last week, some senators say they want to add elements like boosts to unemployment benefits and food stamps.
"At kitchen tables across our country, there is concern about our economic future," the president said, suggesting that allowing key tax cuts passed in 2001 and 2003 to expire will further hurt Americans.
"Some in Washington argue that letting tax relief expire is not a tax increase. Try explaining that to 116 million American taxpayers who would see their taxes rise by an average of $1,800. Others have said they would personally be happy to pay higher taxes. I welcome their enthusiasm, and I am pleased to report that the IRS accepts both checks and money orders," the president said to laughter among Republicans and uneasy silence by Democrats.
Bush's presidency has been marked by job growth for 52 straight months, an increase in wages and exports. But a recent hike in food and gas prices as well as a decline in the housing market is causing strain for many Americans.
Earlier in the day, the Commerce Department reported that sales of new homes dropped 26.4 percent in 2007 and the median price of a new home edged up by only 0.2 percent, the lowest rise since the 1991 housing downturn.
Bush, whose administration late last year helped broker a deal with mortgage brokers, urged lawmakers to pass legislation to reform quasi-public lenders Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and to modernize the Federal Housing Administration and allow state housing agencies to issue tax-free bonds to help homeowners refinance their mortgages.
In his blueprint for his final year in office, the president announced his desire to eliminate or trim 151 programs the White House calls "wasteful or bloated," creating a savings of roughly $18 billion.
Bush said with that savings, the 2009 budget he plans to send to Congress next week will keep America on track for a surplus in 2012.
"American families have to balance their budgets, and so should their government," he said to applause from both sides of the aisle.
The president also insisted that he will flourish his veto pen if Congress doesn't rein in the number of congressional earmarks, or money set aside for lawmakers' pet projects, that make it into law without a vote.
As many as 95 percent of earmarks are inserted after Congress has voted and are never seen by most lawmakers. Bush called on Congress to cut the number in half during last year's State of the Union, but claimed that lawmakers failed to do that.
"So this time, if you send me an appropriations bill that does not cut the number and cost of earmarks in half, I will send it back to you with my veto. And tomorrow, I will issue an Executive Order that directs Federal agencies to ignore any future earmark that is not voted on by the Congress. If these items are truly worth funding, the Congress should debate them in the open and hold a public vote," he said.
Raw Data: Excerpts from the State of the Union Address
ReplyDeletefox news
The actions of the 110th Congress will affect the security and prosperity of our nation long after this session has ended. In this election year, let us show our fellow Americans that we recognize our responsibilities and are determined to meet them. And let us show them that Republicans and Democrats can compete for votes and cooperate for results at the same time.
On trusting and empowering the American people:
From expanding opportunity to protecting our country, we have made good progress. Yet we have unfinished business before us, and the American people expect us to get it done. In the work ahead, we must be guided by the philosophy that made our Nation great. As Americans, we believe in the power of individuals to determine their destiny and shape the course of history…So in all we do, we must trust in the ability of free people to make wise decisions, and empower them to improve their lives and their futures.
On the economy:
To build a prosperous future, we must trust people with their own money and empower them to grow our economy. As we meet tonight, our economy is undergoing a period of uncertainty… And at kitchen tables across our country, there is concern about our economic future. In the long run, Americans can be confident about our economic growth.
On earmarks:
The people's trust in their Government is undermined by congressional earmarks…
On housing:
…We must trust Americans with the responsibility of homeownership and empower them to weather turbulent times in the housing market.
On strengthening No Child Left Behind:
On education, we must trust students to learn if given the chance and empower parents to demand results from our schools. In neighborhoods across our country, there are boys and girls with dreams — and a decent education is their only hope of achieving them. Six years ago, we came together to pass the No Child Left Behind Act, and today no one can deny its results…
Now we must work together to increase accountability, add flexibility for States and districts, reduce the number of high school dropouts, and provide extra help for struggling schools. Members of Congress: The No Child Left Behind Act is a bipartisan achievement. It is succeeding. And we owe it to America's children, their parents, and their teachers to strengthen this good law.
On the importance of trade:
On trade, we must trust American workers to compete with anyone in the world and empower them by opening up new markets overseas. Today, our economic growth increasingly depends on our ability to sell American goods, crops, and services all over the world… These agreements will level the playing field. They will give us better access to nearly 100 million customers. And they will support good jobs for the finest workers in the world: those whose products say Made in the USA."
If we fail to pass this [Colombia free trade] agreement, we will embolden the purveyors of false populism in our hemisphere. So we must come together, pass this agreement, and show our neighbors in the region that democracy leads to a better life.
On improving our energy security:
To build a future of energy security, we must trust in the creative genius of American researchers and entrepreneurs and empower them to pioneer a new generation of clean energy technology. Our security, our prosperity, and our environment all require reducing our dependence on oil.
On combating climate change:
Let us create a new international clean technology fund, which will help developing nations like India and China make greater use of clean energy sources. And let us complete an international agreement that has the potential to slow, stop, and eventually reverse the growth of greenhouse gases. This agreement will be effective only if it includes commitments by every major economy and gives none a free ride.
On entitlement reform and immigration:
There are two other pressing challenges that I have raised repeatedly before this body, and that this body has failed to address: entitlement spending and immigration. Every Member in this chamber knows that spending on entitlement programs like Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid is growing faster than we can afford…Now I ask Members of Congress to offer your proposals and come up with a bipartisan solution to save these vital programs for our children and grandchildren.
Illegal immigration is complicated, but it can be resolved. And it must be resolved in a way that upholds both our laws and our highest ideals.
On the freedom agenda:
Our foreign policy is based on a clear premise: We trust that people, when given the chance, will choose a future of freedom and peace. In the last 7 years, we have witnessed stirring moments in the history of liberty…And these images of liberty have inspired us. In the past 7 years, we have also seen images that have sobered us…[and] serve as a grim reminder: The advance of liberty is opposed by terrorists and extremists — evil men who despise freedom, despise America, and aim to subject millions to their violent rule.
On the surge in Iraq:
The Iraqi people quickly realized that something dramatic had happened. Those who had worried that America was preparing to abandon them instead saw…our forces moving into neighborhoods, clearing out the terrorists, and staying behind to ensure the enemy did not return…While the enemy is still dangerous and more work remains, the American and Iraqi surges have achieved results few of us could have imagined just 1 year ago…
…Some may deny the surge is working, but among the terrorists there is no doubt. Al Qaida is on the run in Iraq, and this enemy will be defeated.
On our 2008 objectives in Iraq:
Our enemies in Iraq have been hit hard. They are not yet defeated, and we can still expect tough fighting ahead. Our objective in the coming year is to sustain and build on the gains we made in 2007, while transitioning to the next phase of our strategy. American troops are shifting from leading operations, to partnering with Iraqi forces, and, eventually, to a protective overwatch mission.
On this generation rising to the moment in the war on terror:
We must do the difficult work today, so that years from now people will look back and say that this generation rose to the moment, prevailed in a tough fight, and left behind a more hopeful region and a safer America.
On Iran:
Our message to the people of Iran is clear: We have no quarrel with you, we respect your traditions and your history, and we look forward to the day when you have your freedom. Our message to the leaders of Iran is also clear: Verifiably suspend your nuclear enrichment, so negotiations can begin. And to rejoin the community of nations, come clean about your nuclear intentions and past actions, stop your oppression at home, and cease your support for terror abroad. But above all, know this: America will confront those who threaten our troops, we will stand by our allies, and we will defend our vital interests in the Persian Gulf.
On the American people:
The secret of our strength, the miracle of America, is that our greatness lies not in our Government, but in the spirit and determination of our people.