What did y'all think?

-- Anonymous, January 29, 2002

Answers

As far as the speech went, I thought it was fairly effective. Bush highlighted some major points without getting bogged down in details. His plans were clear and concise while the speech as a whole remained upbeat and inspirational.

I had some problems with his plans though. What I heard was that Bush wants to drastically increase government spending on pretty much everything under the sun, the war against terrorism, the military, job creation, unemployment benefits, health care, education; while introducing more tax cuts and making temporary tax relief permanent.

Do I not understand the way government-based economics work, or does it seem dangerous to reduce the inflow of money into the government coffers while at the same time increasing what is spent? The only way it would even begin to make sense is if he proposed tax cuts for poor and middle class families while maintaining or increasing tax rates for the wealthy and/or big business. But that doesn't seem likely since Bush has never denied he is a friend of the wealthy and of big business.

He then stated, in so many words, that Congress should not only pass his budget with the huge increases in spending, but also has the responsibility of making sure that the recession that will continue and possibly get worse because of this budget stay as mild and short term as possible.

It all sounded very familiar. Reagan wanted to please everybody by both cutting taxes and increasing government spending (but not to soial programs. Remember the "ketchup as a vegetable on school lunches" debacle?). The last large increase in military spending, the one two decades ago that Bush mentioned, happened under Reagan. I believe, though my knowledge is not the best on these issues, that the last recession in the late 80s and early 90s has been attributed to, in part, Reagan era economic policy. It just seems like we are heading down the same road again.

But I did like his call for volunteerism. Is it me or are Bush and the Republican Party claiming as their own ideas that have long been associated with the Democrats?

-- Anonymous, January 30, 2002

I thought some of his behavior was absolute crap. He's trying to use his 86% to pass stuff, which is fine, but I don't like the idea of throwing it in front of the American people so Congress has to cower when they don't pass something. This is probably why I'm not a politician.

Word on the spending. Like, I REALLY don't need higher taxes. No, really, I don't.

And, you know what? I think it's the job of the President to add some security to the lives of his citizens. I don't think he should have revealed the plans that they found (etc.) in the terrorist hunt. I also have this sneaking suspician that he's trying to bait three nations with nuclear arms...good job, buddy.

Finally, the guy who came to speak to our Admin Law class a couple days ago said that Rehnquist and Bush had a blowout, meaning that ABC News's thing about Rehnquist not liking public events is BS.

-- Anonymous, January 30, 2002

Renhquist and dubya had a blowout??? I so very much need more details about this. You'd think dubya'd be more grateful to the man who go him where he is today.

-- Anonymous, January 30, 2002

Morgan, I don't know much more. That was a little bit after I started spacing out...the guy wouldn't shut up about his lameass website called something like boringregulatoryefficiency.com. I think it had to do with Bush being imprudent.

-- Anonymous, January 30, 2002