State of the Union Address Quotes

12-18-07_9059 Last Monday night, I was able to listen to President  Bush’s seventh and final State of the Union Address. Just in case you missed it, here are a few excerpts that I thought summed it up pretty well:

  1. "All of us were sent to Washington to carry out the people’s business. That is the purpose of this body. It is the meaning of our oath. It remains our charge to keep." With our country in the perilous time that it now is, this statement reminded me of Lincoln’s concluding words of his Gettysburg Address: "It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us …that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."
  2. "In this election year, let us show our fellow Americans that we recognize our responsibilities and are determined to meet them. Let us show them that Republicans and Democrats can compete for votes and cooperate for results at the same time." The President is open to working together; is Congress?
  3. On taxes, "…American families should not have to worry about the federal government taking a bigger bite out of their paychecks. There is only one way to eliminate this uncertainty: make the tax relief permanent."
  4. "We share a common goal: making health care more affordable and accessible for all Americans. The best way to achieve that goal is by expanding consumer choice, not government control." The standing applause came only from Republicans, I believe.
  5. "…I call on Congress to pass legislation that bans unethical practices such as the buying, selling, patenting or cloning of human life." Bush is still a conservative.
  6. "On matters of justice, we must trust in the wisdom of our founders and empower judges who understand that the Constitution means what it says. I’ve submitted judicial nominees who will rule by the letter of the law, not the whim of the gavel."
  7. In addition to toughening border security, "…we must also find a sensible and humane way to deal with people here illegally. 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." Again, Bush shows his support for the original intent of the Constitution.
  8. "One year ago, our enemies were succeeding in their efforts to plunge Iraq into chaos, so we reviewed our strategy and changed course…. While the enemy is still dangerous and more work remains, the American and Iraqi surges have achieved results few of us could have imagined just one year ago."
  9. "American troops are shifting from leading operations to partnering with Iraqi forces. … [As a result] more than 20,000 of our troops are coming home."
  10. "So tonight, with confidence in freedom’s power and trust in the people, let us set forth to do their business! God bless America."

These are hopeful statements. The upcoming presidential elections can become a great distraction from what God is already doing with the government He has given us. President Bush will be president for another full year; keep praying that he would make wise and bold decisions as he finishes up his last term.

4 Comments

  1. Esther February 3, 2008 at 2:29 pm #

    I was only able to see the last part of the Address so thanks for the overview James! Sounds like it was a good speech.

  2. Don and Donna February 3, 2008 at 5:24 pm #

    We just finished a study on Authority. Praise the Lord for His design in providing protection through a balance of authority structures – family, church, and government. Without moral families/individuals (especially in a government of the people) the other structures will eventually collapse. We have been considering how the false ideas of Hegel and Marx became the basis of Adolf Hitler’s atrocities. Let’s continue to be a part of the solution – Jesus is Lord.

  3. Joshua February 3, 2008 at 5:37 pm #

    President Bush has a great opportunity to use this God given power to do much good in the months ahead. May God embolden him to judge rightly between good and evil and set his eyes on the generations to come.

    The middle road in America is dissappearing while evil and good continue to repel each other. What an opportunity we have to shine!

  4. Donald February 5, 2008 at 12:03 am #

    What an example our president is of determination. I remember that it was a breath of fresh air to hear his State of the Union Address the year I was in Russia and then last year as well while I was with you all. Thank you for your recap on this one James. The 20,000 troops on their way home are probably glad that they didn’t come home before the fight was over. May we follow their example as young men in the midst of an un-resolved generation.

    By the way, another quote of Lincoln’s shares clearly in the spirit of Bush’s determination: When a minister from the North told him that he hoped the Lord was on their side, Lincoln replied “I am not at all concerned about that. . . . But it is my constant anxiety and prayer that I and this nation should be on the Lord’s side.” God bless America (the people and not just their president) with determination in the year ahead.

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