President Bush’s 2006 State of the Union address gave the nation quite an insight into the state of this great nation. Last night, America was shown that the average citizen and most of Congress are trying to run their lives and the country, respectively. Some, however, spend their days in Greenwich Village coffeehouses trying to figure out how they can repackage socialism as the new capitalism, and how the can build a time machine that will allow them to relive the glory of ’68. Move On.org is trying to figure out how to shut down college campuses for protests.
As the product of a middle-class, Boston Irish-Catholic family whose parents and grandparents are often reminiscent about Camelot and the JFK glory days of the Democratic Party, it is deeply sad that that great party is now Republican. The Lewis clan is no longer a Democratic stronghold, but it is by and large a reliable Republican vote. This national shift began in 1964, although it really wasn’t until 2004 that we finally realized that JFK was gone for good. The middle-class, never mind the Catholics, is no longer part of the Democratic base.
The Democratic Party shouldn’t even be called “Democratic.” For it has become obstructionist, totalitarian, and pessimistic as a result of its perversion by a radical, far-left base that is forever stuck in the turmoil of the 1960s; in fact, they are still fighting the Vietnam War. Those members who dare utter Kennedy-era sentiments are ostracized and cast as pariahs. While Republicans have members of all stripes, namely John McCain, Rick Santorum, and Chuck Hagel, there is no room for diversity of opinion in the Democratic Party. Joe Lieberman is unfortunately going to be the last member of the party to figure this out, and it may already be too late.
Bush gave an excellent speech. It was a speech characterized by hope, determination and progress. He offered initiatives to wean the U.S. off of its dependence on foreign oil. He reiterated our stand for freedom and our obligation to help spread democracy around the world. Bush also acknowledged that the individual’s freedom stems not from politicians, but from God; something that the new Democratic Party despises. I suppose when you’re a party that tries to reinvent the Constitution on a daily basis, you become an atheist.
Additionally, Bush renewed his support for tax-exempt, portable Health Savings Accounts for working families. Again, the far-left Democratic Party cannot stand the fact that people can run their own lives, and that potential tax revenue is being lost to self-employed Americans who take care of themselves.
The 2006 election battle was fought and won during the President’s speech, and the Democrats didn’t even have a share in the debate. Their disgraceful behavior during sincere lines about our troops winning in Iraq and protecting the homeland was absolutely disgusting. Politicians are supposed to disagree on healthcare, education, and Social Security, but it is despicable to politicize national security and the actions of those serving in Iraq.
Of course, the Democratic response was more entertaining than a Dan Akroyd comedy sketch. For a party that is so partisan they cannot even applaud the newest members of an independent Supreme Court to claim to want to change the culture of partisanship in Washington is absolutely hysterical. The Republicans and the President have extended the olive branch on number of issues, but they refuse to bring anything to the table, except mentally unstable candidate Cindy Sheehan who announces a race for Senate while in the company of “popular” Venezuelan dictator Hugo Chavez. It’s a breeze getting elected “president” when you intimidate people.
While President Bush presented results in Iraq and national security, the only response America got from the Democrats is “there’s a better way.” I guess all we need to do is choose “Door #2: the Mystery” in November and maybe America will find out what exactly is the better way. As for now, America is still wondering what the better way is. The fact is, however, that there is no plan. There is no leadership, and there are no ideas coming from the Democratic Party. Democrats don’t care about the middle class, who can’t afford a tax increase, Democrats do not care that Americans do not want the government to know their medical business, and Democrats do not care about having a plan; we’ll figure that out after we put them behind the wheel. All the Democrats stand for is the “rights” of far-left fringe groups. It is sad state of affairs.
Vietnam is over, Marxism is dead, and pessimism is not wanted. It is 2006, not 1968. There is no surging counterculture; even the youth have shifted to the right. It is time for the Democrats to move into the 21st century and recognize that we’re not young and stupid anymore. That, my friends, is the state of the union.
