2008 Woodie Awards
State of the Union sparks discussion
By Stephanie Arnemann
Issue date: 1/31/08 Section: News
President Bush gave his final State of the Union address Monday night in the House of Representatives Chamber at the U.S. Capitol.
The State of the Union has been given every year without fail since 1790, with President Washington to be the first to ever deliver it.
The President discussed the American economy, housing market, education, foreign trade, energy consumption and new technologies such as life and science, entitlement spending, immigration and war and foreign policy.
"It [was] literally his last hoorah," Robert Swansbrough, associate dean of the college of arts and sciences and professor of political science, said.
When asked if he thinks President Bush will be able to accomplish the goals he set Monday night, Swansbrough said, "I think some of them, but he can't go into it with his usual 'My way or the highway'. He just doesn't have the political credit anymore."
President Bush started his speech by saying "Seven years have passed since I first stood before you at this rostrum. In that time, our country has been tested in ways none of us could have imagined."
Bush went on to discuss many issues pressing the nation, the first being America's economy. He talked about a proposal for congress for a "robust growth package" that will give a tax relief for Americans and incentives for businesses.
Bush also said that he will be sending Congress a budget for the government that is expected to last until the year 2012.
Bush's proposal to new markets overseas included free trade agreements with Columbia, Panama and South Korea. He said that these new trade agreements will bring more jobs to Americans and better prices. Bush also said that he plans to reform trade adjustment assistance for those Americans that might be affected by the new trade agreements in negative ways.
On immigration, Bush said that the government needs to secure the borders, and that the Bush administration is "taking steps to do that."
He said that they plan to double the number of border patrol agents, on top of the "catch and release" program. "Illegal immigration is complicated, but it can be resolved, and it must be resolved, in a way that upholds both our laws and our highest ideals," Bush said.
Bush asked Congress, on war and foreign policy, to make a larger budget for the military in the following year. He also said that although more troops will be sent to Iraq, 20,000 troops will be brought home. The President also petitioned for a policy that will pass on unused military education benefits of people in the military to their children or spouse.
John Davis, a Gainesville, Fla., senior said, " I think it is really easy for [Bush] to tell [congress] what they need to do, rather than actually make it happen."
The State of the Union has been given every year without fail since 1790, with President Washington to be the first to ever deliver it.
The President discussed the American economy, housing market, education, foreign trade, energy consumption and new technologies such as life and science, entitlement spending, immigration and war and foreign policy.
"It [was] literally his last hoorah," Robert Swansbrough, associate dean of the college of arts and sciences and professor of political science, said.
When asked if he thinks President Bush will be able to accomplish the goals he set Monday night, Swansbrough said, "I think some of them, but he can't go into it with his usual 'My way or the highway'. He just doesn't have the political credit anymore."
President Bush started his speech by saying "Seven years have passed since I first stood before you at this rostrum. In that time, our country has been tested in ways none of us could have imagined."
Bush went on to discuss many issues pressing the nation, the first being America's economy. He talked about a proposal for congress for a "robust growth package" that will give a tax relief for Americans and incentives for businesses.
Bush also said that he will be sending Congress a budget for the government that is expected to last until the year 2012.
Bush's proposal to new markets overseas included free trade agreements with Columbia, Panama and South Korea. He said that these new trade agreements will bring more jobs to Americans and better prices. Bush also said that he plans to reform trade adjustment assistance for those Americans that might be affected by the new trade agreements in negative ways.
On immigration, Bush said that the government needs to secure the borders, and that the Bush administration is "taking steps to do that."
He said that they plan to double the number of border patrol agents, on top of the "catch and release" program. "Illegal immigration is complicated, but it can be resolved, and it must be resolved, in a way that upholds both our laws and our highest ideals," Bush said.
Bush asked Congress, on war and foreign policy, to make a larger budget for the military in the following year. He also said that although more troops will be sent to Iraq, 20,000 troops will be brought home. The President also petitioned for a policy that will pass on unused military education benefits of people in the military to their children or spouse.
John Davis, a Gainesville, Fla., senior said, " I think it is really easy for [Bush] to tell [congress] what they need to do, rather than actually make it happen."
