specials :: ken :: late night thoughts on bush's first budget address

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[ed note: the following note was sent to me by ken as he reflected on President George W Bush's budget address last night. please note that these remarks were written off the top of ken's head at 3am, and as such do not represent his best thinking. I am publishing them here, with his permission, because in my opinion ken's worst thinking is better than most of the thinking I see on op-ed pages everywhere.]

[ed note 2: As has already been pointed out to me, this comes across as a little mean-spirited. It wasn't originally written for the general populace, and I am concerned to the point of peeved about some of the developments in the administration so far. Please overlook that particular weakness. -- Ken]

late night thoughts on bush's budget address

27 february 2001

Mister Speaker, Mister Vice President, Members of Congress:

So far, so good. Don't blow it.

It is a great privilege to be here to outline a new budget and a new approach for governing our great country.

Privilege? More like a bloody miracle.

I thank you for your invitation to speak here tonight. I want to thank so many of you who have accepted my invitation to come to the White House to discuss important issues. We are off to a good start. I will continue to meet with you and ask for your input. You have been kind and candid, and I thank you for making a new President feel welcome.

I'm not sure who this addresses. The first sentence addresses the Speaker, Cheney and Congress. The second addresses only those who were invited by Shrub to come to the White House. I assume that the rest of the paragraph continues to address the latter.

The last time I visited the Capitol, I came to take an oath. On the steps of this building, I pledged to honor our Constitution and laws, and I asked you to join me in setting a tone of civility and respect in Washington. I hope America is noticing the difference.

It sure has. It's given him the lowest approval rating for a new President since approval ratings were first done -- and they date back to FDR.

We are making progress.

That's debatable.

Together, we are changing the tone of our Nation's capital.

Repeat it over and over again: Office of Faith-Based Action. I don't think that's a change of tone I'm comfortable with.

And this spirit of respect and cooperation is vital -- because in the end, we will be judged not only by what we say or how we say it, but by what we are able to accomplish.

Then I pray for an ineffective administration.

America today is a nation with great challenges -- but greater resources. An artist using statistics as a brush could paint two very different pictures of our country. One would have warning signs: increasing layoffs, rising energy prices, too many failing schools, persistent poverty, the stubborn vestiges of racism. Another picture would be full of blessings: a balanced budget, big surpluses, a military that is second to none, a country at peace with its neighbors, technology that is revolutionizing the world, and our greatest strength, concerned citizens who care for our country and for each other.

One would be partially delusional, I'm afraid, and it'd be the latter. We don't have a balanced budget. We do have big surpluses, but they're going to be a lot smaller this year thanks to the economy. The people that contributed the most to the budget in the last few years -- the employed -- are now finding jobs harder to find and hold. So that's not exactly paying close attention to reality. The rest of the things that Shrub's optimistic scenario paints is even weirder -- it's really old information, and can hardly be painted with the same immediacy as the pessimistic scenario. For example, the military is second to none, sure, but has been that way for a long time. We haven't been at war with Mexico or Canada in a very long time, so that's not exactly new either. And most of the citizenry is moronic (I'm watching the Mardi Gras riot in downtown Seattle right now), so that doesn't especially encourage me.

Neither picture is complete in and of itself.

Duh.

And tonight I challenge and invite Congress to work with me to use the resources of one picture to repaint the other -- to direct the advantages of our time to solve the problems of our people. Some of these resources will come from government -- some, but not all. Year after year in Washington, budget debates seem to come down to an old, tired argument: on one side, those who want more government, regardless of the cost; on the other, those who want less government, regardless of the need.

Well, I guess when all logic fails, you can always appeal to the binary mind. That's not exactly the process.

We should leave those arguments to the last century and chart a different course. Government has a role, and an important one. Yet too much government crowds out initiative and hard work, private charity and the private economy. Our new governing vision says government should be active, but limited, engaged, but not overbearing.

Actually, that's not what I've been hearing at all. The new vision is intrusive, judgmental, biased. It favors some religions over others, in what was originally supposed to be a religion-blind government. It removes crucial, vital freedoms from women; it rescinds remedies for real issues that will resurface when those remedies are removed; and it supports accelerating the continued erosion of consumer rights. The new vision favors narrow-mindedness, it favors corporations over individuals, and it destabilizes the existence of the nation's poor.

My budget is based on that philosophy. It is reasonable and it is responsible. It meets our obligations and funds our growing needs. We increase spending next year for Social Security and Medicare and other entitlement programs by $81 billion.

For this purpose, I'll be referring to the 2001 budget, which was submitted to Congress by Clinton on February 7, 2000, and covers the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2000. Social Security, Medicare and other entitlement programs totalled $952 billion in this budget; this represents an 8.5% increase. But ratios aren't given. More for Social Security? More for Medicare? Medicaid? Across the board?

We have increased spending for discretionary programs by a very responsible 4 percent, above the rate of inflation.

Discretionary programs totalled $618 billion in the 2000 budget, of which 44% was DoD discretionary programs. 4% of $618 billion that is nearly $25 billion -- but again, what ratio is DoD vs non-DoD?

My plan pays down an unprecedented amount of our national debt, and then when money is still left over, my plan returns it to the people who earned it in the first place.

Well, duh. It's unprecedented because we've never had this much debt before, so paying it down is going to break records regardless. But Shrub isn't waiting until money is left over from paying the debt; tax breaks are being pushed now. Nobody would complain if tax cuts took place after the debt was paid down, dumbass.

A budget's impact is counted in dollars, but measured in lives. Excellent schools, quality health care, a secure retirement, a cleaner environment, a stronger defense -- these are all important needs and we fund them.

Uh, all except for the excellent schools, the health care, the secure retirement, and the environment.

The highest percentage increase in our budget should go to our children's education. Education is my top priority and by supporting this budget, you will make it yours as well.

Of course, we hope y'all aren't too concerned about that evolution nonsense, since we'll be targeting that. Oh, and sex education.

Reading is the foundation of all learning, so during the next 5 years, we triple spending, adding another $5 billion to help every child in America learn to read.

But only books we approve. We'll be burning the others. Hope you don't mind.

Values are important, so we have tripled funding for character education to teach our children not only reading and writing, but right from wrong.

*bzzt*. Shrub's values? Or responsible values? I would want my children learning about the dangers of government dabbling in religion, to experience the broad range of literature (including Walt Whitman and any number of other authors that would send the Shrub administration into a tizzy). If I were a parent, this would panic me. Hell, who am I kidding? It panics me now.

We have increased funding to train and recruit teachers, because we know a good education starts with a good teacher. And I have a wonderful partner in this effort. I like teachers so much, I married one. Please help me salute our gracious First Lady, Laura Bush.

Hi, Laura. (Of course, I figured he married her to help him learn to read.)

Laura has begun a new effort to recruit Americans to the profession that will shape our future: teaching. Laura will travel across America, to promote sound teaching practices and early reading skills in our schools and in programs such as Head Start.

Well, that's nice. No, seriously.

When it comes to our schools, dollars alone do not always make the difference. Funding is important, and so is reform. So we must tie funding to higher standards and accountability for results.

Results? How do you measure those?

I believe in local control of schools: we should not and we will not run our public schools from Washington.

We'll just tell you that you need to teach creationism and family values.

Yet when the Federal Government spends tax dollars, we must insist on results.

Again: based on what metrics?

Children should be tested on basic reading and math skills every year, between grades three and eight. Measuring is the only way to know whether all our children are learning -- and I want to know, because I refuse to leave any child behind.

Somebody's always going to get left behind, whether due to apathy (on the part of either parents or child), circumstances, disability or sheer dumbness. That's just a line that sounds good, but can't possibly be honest. And can we require at least a high-school education if you're so concerned about it?

Critics of testing contend it distracts from learning. They talk about "teaching to the test." But let us put that logic to the test. If you test children on basic math and reading skills, and you are "teaching to the test," you are teaching -- math and reading. And that is the whole idea.

You don't understand the objection to "teaching to the test," you dolt. That style of teaching encourages both teachers and students to train by rote -- not encouraging application of the math and reading skills, but giving everyone an identical hurdle to make it past. Teaching becomes focused on the tests rather than teaching. Idiot.

As standards rise, local schools will need more flexibility to meet them. So we must streamline the dozens of Federal education programs into five and let States spend money in those categories as they see fit.

I haven't been able to find what the five are.

Schools will be given a reasonable chance to improve, and the support to do so. Yet if they do not, if they continue to fail, we must give parents and students different options -- a better public school, a private school, tutoring, or a charter school.

I think a better public school with more tutoring programs to be a far superior solution than either private or charter schools. Under no circumstances, however, should religious schools be given federal funding. Charter schools . . . I'm torn on these. Most of them are actually religious institutions in disguise.

In the end, every child in a bad situation must be given a better choice, because when it comes to our children, failure is not an option.

What? No credit to Gene Kranz? Nice plagarism, guy.

Another priority in my budget is to keep the vital promises of Medicare and Social Security, and together we will do so. To meet the health care needs of all America's seniors, we double the Medicare budget over the next 10 years.

That's pretty ambitious, since the budget must be voted on every year. Did Shrub miss the fact that he's only in office for four years, eight max?

My budget dedicates $238 billion to Medicare next year alone, enough to fund all current programs and to begin a new prescription drug benefit for low-income seniors. No senior in America should have to choose between buying food and buying prescriptions.

Medicare and Medicaid combined take up $316 billion in the 2000 budget, and $296 billion in the 1999 (actual) budget. This appears to be an increase over the 2000 budget (which was, as near as I can figure, $218 billion).

To make sure the retirement savings of America's seniors are not diverted to any other program -- my budget protects all $2.6 trillion of the Social Security surplus for Social Security and for Social Security alone.

I'm skeptical whether that will remain so if the $2.6 trillion starts drying up due to the economy.

My budget puts a priority on access to health care -- without telling Americans what doctor they have to see or what coverage they must choose. Many working Americans do not have health care coverage. We will help them buy their own insurance with refundable tax credits.

Which means that they have to pay up front, and only recoup the money when the government gets around to sending them a refund -- if they get one. This will not help most low-income families find health care.

And to provide quality care in low-income neighborhoods, over the next 5 years we will double the number of people served at community health care centers.

This worries me. Many community health care centers are desperately understaffed. I'm sure they'll be able to double the number of patients, but will they receive quality care?

And we will address the concerns of those who have health coverage yet worry their insurance company does not care and will not pay.

No specifics here, I note.

Together, this Congress and this President will find common ground to make sure doctors make medical decisions and patients get the health care they deserve with a Patients' Bill of Rights.

Borrowing Clinton's phraseology. I'm skeptical, though.

When it comes to their health, people want to get the medical care they need, not be forced to go to court because they did not get it. We will ensure access to the courts for those with legitimate claims, but first, let us put in place a strong independent review so we promote quality health care, not frivolous lawsuits.

Ooooookay. No specifics again for the review process.

My budget also increases funding for medical research, which gives hope to many who struggle with serious disease.

Provided it only falls within parameters we establish. We won't be funding research into birth control, fetal-tissue research, or anything that possibly conflicts with our conservative comfort levels. We will be funding useless research provided it fits our religious agendas.

Our prayers tonight are with one of your own who is engaged in his own fight against cancer, a fine representative and a good man, Congressman Joe Moakley. God bless you, Joe. And I can think of no more appropriate tribute to Joe than to have the Congress finish the job of doubling the budget for the National Institutes of Health.

I didn't know NIH was getting a double budget. That'd be nice. Of course, I'd really like it if they reinstated the office that did scientific review of research funding proposals that was decommissioned a few years ago.

My New Freedom Initiative for Americans with Disabilities funds new technologies, expands opportunities to work, and makes our society more welcoming. For the more than 50 million Americans with disabilities, we must continue to break down barriers to equality.

Fair enough. Though I'm curious about specifics.

The budget I propose to you also supports the people who keep our country strong and free, the men and women who servein the United States military. I am requesting $5.7 billion in increased military pay and benefits, and health care and housing. Our men and women in uniform give America their best and we owe them our support.

I don't really have a problem with this, either.

America's veterans honored their commitment to our country through their military service. I will honor our commitment to them with a billion dollar increase to ensure better access to quality care and faster decisions on benefit claims.

That's fine, too, though most of them are taken care of already through existing VA programs.

My budget will improve our environment by accelerating the cleanup of toxic brownfields. And I propose we make a major investment in conservation by fully funding the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

I'm not sure how this acceleration will take place. And the Land and Water Conservation Fund is generally considered to be a bit underfunded, but it's hard to complain about this statement.

Our National Parks have a special place in our country's life. Our parks are places of great natural beauty and history. As good stewards, we must leave them better than we have found them, so I propose providing $4.9 billion in resources over 5 years for the upkeep of these national treasures.

That's nice, though I think that there are a few more that should be designated. Of course, this administration doesn't have any interest in expanding protected territory.

And my budget adopts a hopeful new approach to help the poor and disadvantaged. We must encourage and support the work of charities and faith-based and community groups that offer help and love one person at a time.

Augh. "Faith-based." WRONG WRONG WRONG WRONG WRONG. Shrub is only interested in helping religions he recognizes, but the way it's worded, quite a lot of that funding will go into Scientology recruiting front organizations. Supporting faith-based operations is a BAD IDEA.

These groups are working in every neighborhood in America, to fight homelessness and addiction and domestic violence, to provide a hot meal or a mentor or a safe haven for our children. Government should welcome these groups to apply for funds, not discriminate against them.

That may be so, but encouraging non-denomination non-profit organizations would be a better approach than funding churches.

Government cannot be replaced by charities or volunteers. And government should not fund religious activities. But our Nation should support the good works of these good people who are helping neighbors in need.

Hypocrisy.

So I am proposing allowing all taxpayers, whether they itemize or not, to deduct their charitable contributions. Estimates show this could encourage as much as $14 billion a year in new charitable giving -- money that will save and change lives.

Potentially a bad thing. Proper accounting should be taking place, since there are religions out there that abuse the charitable-contribution laws now.

Our budget provides more than $700 million over the next 10 years for a Federal Compassion Capital Fund with a focused and noble mission: to provide a mentor to the more than 1 million children with a parent in prison, and to support other local efforts to fight illiteracy, teen pregnancy, drug addiction, and other difficult problems.

Sounds great. But hey. That's $70 million a year. Or $70 per kid with a parent in prison. Seventy bucks isn't going to fund mentorship, I would imagine, and won't leave very much left over for the illiteracy, teen pregnancy, drug addicts or other problems. Some compassion.

With us tonight is the Mayor of Philadelphia. Please help me welcome Mayor John Street. Mayor Street has encouraged faith-based and community organizations to make a difference in Philadelphia and he has invited me to his city this summer, to see compassion in action. I am personally aware of just how effective the Mayor is. Mayor Street is a Democrat. Let the record show that I lost his city. But some things are bigger than politics. So I look forward to coming to your city to see your faith-based programs in action.

John Street has indeed encouraged faith-based and community organizations to do just that. He has also used it as an excuse to cut funding for programs which help the homeless and disadvantaged.

As government promotes compassion, it also must promote justice. Too many of our citizens have cause to doubt our Nation's justice when the law points a finger of suspicion at groups, instead of individuals. All our citizens are created equal and must be treated equally. Earlier today I asked Attorney General Ashcroft to develop specific recommendations to end racial profiling. It is wrong and we must end it.

That's wonderful. But Ashcroft is the last person I want as Attorney General. He's one scary individual.

In so doing, we will not hinder the work of our Nation's brave police officers. They protect us every day, often at great risk. But by stopping the abuses of a few, we will add to the public confidence our police officers earn and deserve.

Fair enough, but irrelevant.

My budget has funded a responsible increase in our ongoing operations, it has funded our Nation's important priorities, it has protected Social Security and Medicare, and our surpluses are big enough that there is still money left over.

Cart-before-horse alert. Let's see those surpluses at the end of this year.

Many of you have talked about the need to pay down our national debt. I have listened, and I agree. My budget proposal pays down an unprecedented amount of public debt.

Again, this is a duh statement.

We owe it to our children and grandchildren to act now, and I hope you will join me to pay down $2 trillion in debt during the next 10 years.

As opposed to the $3.5 trillion we have. And it doesn't count the interest that's being levied against the debt. In 10 years, we will probably have nearly $3 trillion in debt, not $1.5.

At the end of those 10 years, we will have paid down all the debt that is available to retire.

Well, it's all available to retire; what he means is that that's all the debt that will have matured at that point.

That is more debt repaid more quickly than has ever been repaid by any nation at any time in history.

Yes, yes, we heard that before. It's nonsensical.

We should also prepare for the unexpected, for the uncertainties of the future.

Oooo, funding for Spacewatch? Increased budget for NASA? More funding for genetic research? Not bloody likely.

We should approach our Nation's budget as any prudent family would, with a contingency fund for emergencies or additional spending needs. For example, after a strategic review, we may need to increase defense spending, we may need additional money for our farmers, or additional money to reform Medicare. And so my budget sets aside almost a trillion dollars over 10 years for additional needs . . . that is one trillion additional reasons you can feel comfortable supporting this budget.

Uh-huh. But then, there are already loads of discretionary funds in place. I'm less worried about the completely unforeseen emergencies, and would rather fund research into the foreseen emergencies we might have a chance of heading off.

We have increased our budget at a responsible 4 percent, we have funded our priorities, we have paid down all the available debt, we have prepared for contingencies -- and we still have money left over.

I don't quite buy that given the speech so far. We don't know what the surpluses are going to be in advance. We don't have anything in place to actually reduce the size of government, or increase its efficiency. Those sorts of things worry me.

Yogi Berra once said: "When you come to a fork in the road, take it."

This doesn't encourage me.

Now we come to a fork in the road. We have two choices. Even though we have already met our needs, we could spend the money on more and bigger government. That is the road our Nation has traveled in recent years. Last year, government spending shot up 8 percent. That is far more than our economy grew, far more than personal income grew and far more than the rate of inflation. If you continue on that road, you will spend the surplus and have to dip into Social Security to pay other bills.

The budget increased from 1999's figure of $1.703 trillion to 2000's $1.790 trillion. That's an increase of about 5.1%. I don't know where that 8% came from.

Unrestrained government spending is a dangerous road to deficits, so we must take a different path. The other choice is to let the American people spend their own money to meet their own needs, to fund their own priorities and pay down their own debts. I hope you will join me and stand firmly on the side of the people.

It's weird. Shrub supports the right to choose doctors, but not the right of a woman over her own body. I do stand firmly on the side of the people. All the people. I don't think he does.

The growing surplus exists because taxes are too high and government is charging more than it needs.

Actually, it's because the economy boomed. The surplus is a good thing. It will help us pay down the debt. Pay down the debt, then change the tax structure.

The people of America have been overcharged and on their behalf, I am here to ask for a refund.

Argh.

Some say my tax plan is too big, others say it is too small. I respectfully disagree. This tax relief is just right.

Great. He's quoting Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Guess he finally mastered that book.

I did not throw darts at a board to come up with a number for tax relief. I did not take a poll, or develop an arbitrary formula that might sound good. I looked at problems in the tax code and calculated the cost to fix them.

I doubt that a lot.

A tax rate of 15 percent is too high for those who earn low wages, so we lowered the rate to 10 percent. No one should pay more than a third of the money they earn in Federal income taxes, so we lowered the top rate to 33 percent. This reform will be welcome relief for America's small businesses, which often pay taxes at the highest rate, and help for small business means jobs for Americans.

Er, wait. Are we talking individual or business tax rates? Sure, help small businesses, but . . . argh, I think he's confused.

We simplified the tax code by reducing the number of tax rates from the current five rates to four lower ones: 10, 15, 25, and 33 percent. In my plan, no one is targeted in or targeted out -- everyone who pays income taxes will get tax relief.

Except that those who make a lot of money will get huge tax breaks, disproportionate in percent to the impoverished.

Our government should not tax, and thereby discourage marriage, so we reduced the marriage penalty. I want to help families rear and support their children, so we doubled the child credit to $1,000 per child.

I wish the government would discourage having children. Population reduction would be a good thing.

It is not fair to tax the same earnings twice -- once when you earn them, and again when you die, so we must repeal the death tax.

Also known as the estate tax. We must not repeal that. Sure, it kind of sucks, but repealing it would set up dynasties, and that's not such a good thing. Encouraging estates to set up trusts, donate to charities and so forth is the best way to go.

These changes add up to significant help. A typical family with two children will save $1,600 a year on their Federal income taxes. Sixteen hundred dollars may not sound like a lot to some, but it means a lot to many families. Sixteen hundred dollars buys gas for two cars for an entire year, it pays tuition for a year at a community college, it pays the average family grocery bill for 3 months. That is real money.

Of course, that's for a family that earns around $30K/year, so the tax savings would be approximately 5.3% of the income. However, for people making $300K/year, the savings is closer to 15% of their income. That's hardly fair.

With us tonight, representing many American families, are Steven and Josefina Ramos. Please help me welcome them. The Ramoses are from Pennsylvania, but they could be from any one of your districts. Steven is a network administrator for a school district, Josefina is a Spanish teacher at a charter school, and they have a 2-year-old daughter, Lianna.

Steven and Josefina tell me they pay almost $8,000 a year in Federal income taxes; my plan will save them more than $2,000. Let me tell you what Steven says: "Two thousand dollars a year means a lot to my family. If we had this money, it would help us reach our goal of paying off our personal debt in two years." After that, Steven and Josefina want to start saving for Lianna's college education. Government should never stand in the way of families achieving their dreams. The surplus is not the government's money, the surplus is the people's money.

Nice parading out of a loyal Republican, but assuming that they have an income of $50,000 (assuming a approximate 15% tax rate), this comes to 4% of their total income. A far cry from that 15% above, huh?

For lower-income families, my tax relief plan restores basic fairness. Right now, complicated tax rules punish hard work. A waitress supporting two children on $25,000 a year can lose nearly half of every additional dollar she earns. Her overtime, her hardest hours, are taxed at nearly 50 percent. This sends a terrible message: You will never get ahead. But America's message must be different: We must honor hard work, never punish it. With tax relief, overtime will no longer be overtax time for the waitress. People with the smallest incomes will get the highest percentage reductions.

That's just not true. And he knows it. I'm also confused about the waitress example; it doesn't quite make sense to me.

And millions of additional American families will be removed from the income tax rolls entirely.

That is true, but they'll still have to pay social security and the rest. And these are the most impoverished families.

Tax relief is right and tax relief is urgent. The long economic expansion that began almost 10 years ago is faltering. Lower interest rates will eventually help, but we cannot assume they will do the job all by themselves. Forty years ago and then twenty years ago, two Presidents, one Democrat and one Republican, John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan, advocated tax cuts to -- in President Kennedy's words -- "get this country moving again." They knew then, what we must do now: To create economic growth and opportunity, we must put money back into the hands of the people who buy goods and create jobs.

Of course, in Reagan's case, it didn't work. In Kennedy's case, the tax cuts were more intelligently made, and took a different structure entirely. This isn't the same thing.

We must act quickly. The Chairman of the Federal Reserve has testified before Congress that tax cuts often come too late to stimulate economic recovery. So I want to work with you to give our economy an important jump start by making tax relief retroactive.

Retroactive? In what way? And I imagine that the Chairman is correct; I don't think this tax cut would come in time. Last March would have been better. But it's too late now.

We must act now because it is the right thing to do. We must also act now because we have other things to do. We must show courage to confront and resolve tough challenges: to restructure our Nation's defenses, to meet our growing need for energy, and to reform Medicare and Social Security.

Are we going to do long-overdue energy research? Or just fund oil-drilling?

America has a window of opportunity to extend and secure our present peace by promoting a distinctly American inter-nationalism. We will work with our allies and friends to be a force for good and a champion of freedom. We will work for free markets and free trade and freedom from oppression. Nations making progress toward freedom will find America is their friend.

Blah, blah, blah. Same ol', same ol'.

We will promote our values, and we will promote peace. And we need a strong military to keep the peace. But our military was shaped to confront the challenges of the past. So I have asked the Secretary of Defense to review America's armed forces and prepare to transform them to meet emerging threats.

Just like every President since Washington. Oooo, that's innovative.

My budget makes a downpayment on the research and development that will be required. Yet, in our broader transformation effort, we must put strategy first, then spending. Our defense vision will drive our defense budget, not the other way around.

Uh . . . I think that's the way it's always been, you goober.

Our Nation also needs a clear strategy to confront the threats of the 21st century, threats that are more widespread and less certain. They range from terrorists who threaten with bombs to tyrants and rogue nations intent on developing weapons of mass destruction. To protect our own people, our allies and friends, we must develop and we must deploy effective missile defenses.

Yeah, those are gonna help with truck bombs, nerve gas delivery and anthrax spores.

And as we transform our military, we can discard Cold War relics, and reduce our own nuclear forces to reflect today's needs.

One would hope. Though we may miss the deterrents depending on how Putin reverts back to the Bad Ol' Days.

A strong America is the world's best hope for peace and freedom. Yet the cause of freedom rests on more than our ability to defend ourselves and our allies. Freedom is exported every day, as we ship goods and products that improve the lives of millions of people. Free trade brings greater political and personal freedom. Each of the previous five Presidents has had the ability to negotiate far-reaching trade agreements. Tonight I ask you to give me the strong hand of presidential trade promotion authority, and to do so quickly.

Uh-oh. Not without knowing more specifics.

As we meet tonight, many citizens are struggling with the high costs of energy. We have a serious energy problem that demands a national energy policy.

We had it. It was called regulation. It worked pretty well.

The West is confronting a major energy shortage that has resulted in high prices and uncertainty. I have asked Federal agencies to work with California officials to help speed construction of new energy sources.

Rather than regulate the industry, which I state again, worked pretty well before.

And I have directed Vice President Cheney, Commerce Secretary Evans, Energy Secretary Abraham, and other senior members of my Administration to recommend a national energy policy.

Greeeeeat.

Our energy demand outstrips our supply. We can produce more energy at home while protecting our environment, and we must. We can produce more electricity to meet demand, and we must. We can promote alternative energy sources and conservation, and we must. America must become more energy independent.

Duh. I think we've been saying that since, oh, the Carter administration.

Perhaps the biggest test of our foresight and courage will be reforming Medicare and Social Security. Medicare's finances are strained and its coverage is outdated. Ninety-nine percent of employer-provided health plans offer some form of prescription drug coverage -- Medicare does not. The framework for reform has been developed by Senators Frist and Breaux and Congressman Thomas, and now, it is time to act. Medicare must be modernized. And we must make sure that every senior on Medicare can choose a health plan that offers prescription drugs.

I'm unclear on what he plans to do here.

Seven years from now, the baby boom generation will begin to claim Social Security benefits. Everyone in this chamber knows that Social Security is not prepared to fully fund their retirement. And we only have a couple of years to get prepared. Without reform, this country will one day awaken to a stark choice: either a drastic rise in payroll taxes, or a radical cut in retirement benefits. There is a better way.

Yes. But do you have one?

This spring I will form a presidential commission to reform Social Security. The commission will make its recommendations by next fall. Reform should be based on these principles: It must preserve the benefits of all current retirees and those nearing retirement. It must return Social Security to sound financial footing. And it must offer personal savings accounts to younger workers who want them.

Uh, I don't know how the last "principle" follows. I'm certainly for the first ones. Of course, it was solvent until the Reagan years.

Social Security now offers workers a return of less than 2 percent on the money they pay into the system. To save the system, we must increase that by allowing younger workers to make safe, sound investments at a higher rate of return.

We do. It's called 401(k). Making that easier to administrate would help a lot.

Ownership, access to wealth, and independence should not be the privilege of a few. They are the hope of every American ... and we must make them the foundation of Social Security.

Fine, fine, just don't screw with it too hard, okay?

By confronting the tough challenge of reform, by being responsible with our budget, we can earn the trust of the American people. And, we can add to that trust by enacting fair and balanced election and campaign finance reforms.

Yeah, like you want those.

The agenda I have set before you tonight is worthy of a great country.

That's a bit presumptuous.

America is a nation at peace, but not a nation at rest. Much has been given to us, and much is expected. Let us agree to bridge old divides. But let us also agree that our good will must be dedicated to great goals. Bipartisanship is more than minding our manners, it is doing our duty.

Say it again: "Office of Faith-Based Action." That's not your duty, bub.

No one can speak in this Capitol and not be awed by its history. At so many turning points, debates in these chambers have reflected the collected or divided conscience of our country. And when we walk through Statuary Hall, and see those men and women of marble, we are reminded of their courage and achievement. Yet America's purpose is never found only in statues or history. America's purpose always stands before us. Our generation must show courage in a time of blessing, as our Nation has always shown in times of crisis. And our courage, issue by issue, can gather to greatness, and serve our country. This is the privilege, and responsibility, we share. And if we work together, we can prove that public service is noble.

We all came here for a reason. We all have things we want to accomplish, and promises to keep. Juntos podemos, together we can. We can make Americans proud of their government. Together, we can share in the credit of making our country more prosperous and generous and just -- and earn from our conscience and from our fellow citizens, the highest possible praise: well done, good and faithful servants.

Thank you. Good night. And God bless America.

How the hell am I gonna get to sleep now?

Ken
february 2001