State of the Union: Bush lauds progress in Iraq, pushes for quick U.S. stimulus plan
In his final year, the president proposes a modest agenda at home.
posted January 28, 2008 at 11:14 p.m. EST
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He made no commitment about withdrawing additional troops from Iraq, and he said Gen. David Patraeus, the top US general there, has warned that pulling Americans out too quickly could undermine Iraqi forces, allow Al Qaeda to regroup and trigger an increase in violence.
"Members of Congress: Having come so far and achieved so much, we must not allow this to happen," the president said.
Bush said US adversaries in Iraq have been hit hard, though "they are not yet defeated and we can still expect tough fighting ahead."
There are 158,000 US troops in Iraq, a number that is expected to drop to 135,000 by July. There are 28,000 in Afghanistan, the highest number of the war, which began there in October 2001. Congress, despite repeated attempts, has been unable to force troop withdrawals or deadlines for pullbacks, and Iraq has receded as an issue in Washington.
Aides had said Bush would not use the address as a summation of his time in office. But he did, turning to the phrase "over the past seven years" when talking about some of the most-prized efforts of his administration: tax relief, federal involvement with religious charities, the global freedom agenda, and increased funding for veterans.
He spoke of trust in people – taxpayers, homeowners, medical researchers, doctors and patients, students, workers, energy entrepreneurs, and others – to drive their own success and that of the country. The unspoken message: Government isn't the answer.
"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," the president said.
A major challenge for Bush in his address was simply being heard when many Americans already are looking beyond him to the next president.
His speech came hours before Florida's presidential primary election and just eight days before Super Tuesday when voters in more than 20 states go to the polls on the biggest day of the primary campaign. Republicans running for president rarely mention Bush, preferring to focus on conservative hero Ronald Reagan instead.
Before Bush arrived, his would-be successors and their well-wishers clogged the center aisle.
Sen. Barack Obama (D) of Illinois came first, followed closely by his new patron, Sen. Edward Kennedy (D) of Massachusetts. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D) of New York entered the chamber a few minutes later, equally mobbed by well-wishers. She reached out and shook Senator Kennedy's hand. Senator Obama, nearby, turned away.
Bush will turn from Monday's speech and plunge into politics, raising money for Republicans from Wednesday through Friday at events in California, Nevada, Colorado, and Missouri, sandwiched around other appearances to tout themes from his speech.
As for the Democrats, Clinton said, "Tonight is a red-letter night in American history. It is the last time George Bush will give the State of the Union. Next year it will be a Democratic president giving it."
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