A Christian Liberal is NOT an oxymoron.

Posted by XT on January 28th, 2008 in President

He still doesn’t get it. The President’s final State of the Union address, and President Bush apparently thinks that he is “the decider“.

Think Progress has a copy of the address. Some huge nits follow:

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. We believe that the most reliable guide for our country is the collective wisdom of ordinary citizens. 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.

I’d like to know what foundational document he got this idea from. Not the Constitution:

We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Not the Declaration of Independence:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. –That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, –That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

This country isn’t about individuals. It’s about a people – a nation of people – forcing the government to adhere to the rule of law. Bush never has understood that. He never will.

We have other work to do on taxes. Unless the Congress acts, most of the tax relief we have delivered over the past 7 years will be taken away. 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.

Hahahaha. He made a funny. I’ll have to see where and how he gets those figures. He’s always overstated the effect of tax cuts. No reason to believe he’d be honest about tax hikes.

If any bill raising taxes reaches my desk, I will veto it.

Interpret: “I will remain intransigent and irresponsible to my last minute in the White House.”

Just as we trust Americans with their own money, we need to earn their trust by spending their tax dollars wisely.

I’d rather see government restrained by law.

And this budget will keep America on track for a surplus in 2012.

Somehow, I doubt it. I’d like to see the figures.

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.

That would be unconstitutional. The President does not have line-item veto power. See New York City v. Clinton.

We share a common goal: making health care more affordable and accessible for all Americans. The best way to achieve that goal is by expanding consumer choice, not government control. So I have proposed ending the bias in the tax code against those who do not get their health insurance through their employer. This one reform would put private coverage within reach for millions, and I call on the Congress to pass it this year. The Congress must also expand health savings accounts, create Association Health Plans for small businesses, promote health information technology, and confront the epidemic of junk medical lawsuits.

Interpret: “Government help is bad unless it sends subsidies to the companies.”

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.

I’d settle for fully funding it.

We have seen how Pell Grants help low-income college students realize their full potential. Together, we have expanded the size and reach of these grants. Now let’s apply that same spirit to help liberate poor children trapped in failing public schools.

Whoa! Talk about “reframing”. A primary education is not going to college. Are we now going to build up debt for kids just to get through high school?

And let us complete an international agreement that has the potential to slow, stop, and eventually reverse the growth of greenhouse gases.

Um, like Kyoto?

Last year, the Congress passed legislation supporting the American Competitiveness Initiative, but never followed through with the funding. This funding is essential to keeping our scientific edge. So I ask the Congress to double Federal support for critical basic research in the physical sciences and ensure America remains the most dynamic nation on earth.

Hey, dumbass, where are we goingn to get the cash to pay for it? Remember? You said “no new taxes”!

So we are expanding funding for this type of ethical medical research. And as we explore promising avenues of research, we must also ensure that all life is treated with the dignity it deserves.

Right – by ensuring that all unused blastomeres are thrown into the garbage instead of used to save lives.

I have submitted judicial nominees who will rule by the letter of the law, not the whim of the gavel. Many of these nominees are being unfairly delayed. They are worthy of confirmation, and the Senate should give each of them a prompt up-or-down vote.

You’ve submitted the names of ideologues and when they are turned down, you just nominate them again. Can you never tell the truth?

Every Member in this chamber knows that spending on entitlement programs like Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid is growing faster than we can afford. And we all know the painful choices ahead if America stays on this path: massive tax increases, sudden and drastic cuts in benefits, or crippling deficits. I have laid out proposals to reform these programs. 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.

Yeah, but you’ve already ruled out anything that raises revenues. How disingenuous can one person be? Hint: Very.

And on a clear September day, we saw thousands of our fellow citizens taken from us in an instant. These horrific images 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.

You knew it was coming. But when it does, it’s still like it’s coming out of nowhere.

We launched a surge of American forces into Iraq. And we gave our troops a new mission: Work with Iraqi forces to protect the Iraqi people, pursue the enemy in its strongholds, and deny the terrorists sanctuary anywhere in the country.

What the Hell were they doing before? Just hoping the enemy would run out of bullets and explosives?

One of the most important tools we can give them is the ability to monitor terrorist communications. To protect America, we need to know who the terrorists are talking to, what they are saying, and what they are planning. Last year, the Congress passed legislation to help us do that. Unfortunately, the Congress set the legislation to expire on February 1. This means that if you do not act by Friday, our ability to track terrorist threats would be weakened and our citizens will be in greater danger. The Congress must ensure the flow of vital intelligence is not disrupted. The Congress must pass liability protection for companies believed to have assisted in the efforts to defend America. We have had ample time for debate. The time to act is now.

Oddly, he doesn’t call for a “clean bill” here. Oh yeah, that’s because of all the anti-civil liberties measures the GOP has loaded into it.

America is opposing genocide in Sudan and supporting freedom in countries from Cuba and Zimbabwe to Belarus and Burma.

Yes, and we are, single-handedly, making the sun come up each day, too.

Thank God this man’s days are numbered!

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