State of the Union, Pt. II: Looking Ahead... To More Of The Same

Anyone who's seen all of President Bush's addresses to date knows that he always addresses the same general issues, makes the same empty promises and sweeping generalizations, and spices in a bit of current events to keep it up to date. Plus 9/11 references, gotta have at least a dozen of those. Besides addressing some domestic issues (the aforementioned energy alternatives, repeating the social security idea but with health care instead, etc), the 2006 speech should likely play out as a two-fold political pitch. On one hand, he will try to restore America's faith in the Republican party amid numerous scandals as they face midterm elections this year. Secondly, he will try to save face himself by downplaying bipartisan criticisms of his illegal spying by insisting to Americans that he is the big-time, serious War President who is personally standing between us... and the terrorists. Criticize him at your own peril.

ThinkProgress has compiled a great resource (entitled 'The State of Presidential Credibility') which enumerates "the distortions, misrepresentations and broken promises in Bush’s four previous SOTUs". This includes a detailed document- here- which I highly recommend reading. It breaks it up by issue (health care, terrorism/national security, economy, etc.) and explores previous statements and the reality. They have also created a video (for those who prefer watching to reading) making most of the same points, available here.

They also plan to be all over this year's address.

Dennis Kucinich blogs on his concerns about the State of the Union-
The Truth About The State Of Our Union

...What the President has in store for his message this year is not known yet. But, we do know the President Bush will speak in glowing terms about the state of our union. The truth is the state of our union is in great peril. This Administration is conducting a war with no end in Iraq, illegally spying on Americans at home, overseeing an economy that is increasingly leaving more and more Americans behind and abandoning Gulf in their hour of great need.

If recent history is any precedent, then next week we should see more of the same old dance around reality that has been the hallmark of President Bush's annual address.

And Marty Kaplan asks "Is there a bigger crock than the State of the Union speech?"- State of the State of the Union

The Washington Post explores what's at stake- Bush's Midterm Challenge

Finally... for a preview of the President's address, check out this parody video:
State of the Union 2006 -- Bush Impression

Sounds about right to me.