U.S President George W. Bush made his seventh State of the Union Address on Monday, January 29, setting the tone for his waning months in the White House; and seeking to salvage his frayed legacy in domestic politics and diplomacy before he leaves office in January 2009.
First on his agenda was a push for Congress to pass a stimulus package to avert recession in an economy suffering from oil price hikes and a housing slump.
With the specter of recession supplanting the Iraq war as the main US concern, Bush acknowledged in his final State of the Union address that economic growth was slowing, and prodded Congress to act quickly on a $150 billion economic stimulus package laid out last week.
However, he maintained that the country's long-term economic fundamentals were sound.
"In the long run, Americans can be confident about our economic growth. But in the short term, we can all see that growth is slowing," Bush said in a globally televised speech to the US Congress.
Some economists say the stimulus measures may buy time but will not solve the woes that have roiled global financial markets. Likewise, Democrats, in response to Bush's address, consider the plan a "temporary fix" to stave off his "lame-duck status."
On Iraq, Bush seems to be in a better position than a year ago, when he implored skeptical Americans to embrace his plan to send more troops into Iraq.
He touted "security gains" in Iraq, which he attributed to a buildup of troops last January; yet did not indicate a reduction in the numbers there, despite the fact that Democrats have called for a timetable for pulling out troops – polls show this is what most Americans want as well.
Taking aim at Iran, which he branded as part of an "axis of evil" in his 2002 State of the Union speech, Bush put the heat on Tehran for its nuclear program; and pressures to "cease your support for terror abroad."
He issued a stern warning to Tehran, calling on Iran to "come clean" with its nuclear weapons; but his ability to rally international support against Iran was diminished by a US intelligence report stating that Tehran had abandoned its nuclear weapons program in 2003.
Even so, "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," Bush said.
Politically weakened by the unpopular war in Iraq, and sandwiched between the bipartisan primary race to elect a successor, Bush struggled to make his last pitch heard above the growing din of the 2008 election campaign. And yet, he could present no bold new ideas.
After all, no president nearing the end of his term wants to be blamed for an economic meltdown: something enveloping his government now.
Who is to blame for his economic lame-duck status: rising food and gas prices, and increasing unemployment? Can we place the blame squarely on wars, or on the noble and ignoble commitments behind wars? Bush may find it difficult to get answers in his remaining days in office.
Relevant information: the State of the Union Address
The requirement of an annual address comes from the US Constitution. It mandates that the president shall, from time to time, inform Congress on the State of the Union.
Historically, presidents have also used the State of the Union Address to inspire lawmakers and ordinary citizens alike to attain loftier goals.
The founding President, George Washington, delivered his first "annual information report" on January 8, 1790: the first form of the State of the Union Address. In 1945, the "annual information report" was given its official name: the State of the Union Address.
In modern times, the State of the Union Addresses have become an opportunity for the president to lay out a lengthy series of specific policy proposals on a wide range of issues.
In addition, the State of the Union Address has also become the way in which the president sets an agenda for Congress; and speaks to the American people about his accomplishments and hopes for the future.
By People's Daily Online
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