Bush Delivering Final 2008 State of the Union Address

President George Bush is delivering his final 2008 State of the Union address before the U.S. Congress. Everyone is already present, just now the Cabinet, Chief Justice, and the dean of The Diplomatic Corp entered the chamber. The president is entering to deliver the State of The Union speech of 2008 as we are writing these lines. The rest of this article is from Voice Of America report, but we will do live blogging via comments box, your insight and remarks about the State Of The Union address is essential.

In excerpts of the address released by the White House, Mr. Bush acknowledges that challenges remain in Iraq, but says the surge of American and Iraqi troops has achieved results that were not imaginable a year ago.

He says al-Qaida is on the run and tough fighting can be expected in Iraq this year, but that terrorists will be defeated. He says U.S. troops are shifting from leading operations in Iraq, to partnering with Iraqi forces, to eventually a protective overwatch mission.

Mr. Bush calls on Iran to verifiably suspend its nuclear enrichment, reveal its nuclear intentions and past nuclear actions, and stop oppression at home and support for terrorism abroad. He says the United States will confront threats to U.S. forces, stand by its allies and defend its vital interests in the Persian Gulf.

Other topics in the State of the Union are expected to include Mr. Bush's hope for an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal, as well as a plan to boost the faltering U.S. economy.

The president is expected to announce a plan to cut in half special congressional spending initiatives, called earmarks, blamed for unnecessarily increasing the federal budget.

The president also says illegal immigration in the United States is a complicated issued that can be resolved in a way that upholds the laws and the nation's highest ideals.

The White House says The State Of The Union 2008 speech will be the president's last State of the Union address, as he will not deliver one before he leaves office in January 2009. - VOA News

Armen Hareyan's picture

Posted January 29th, 2008 by Armen Hareyan

Your comments...

The State Of The Union 2008

erku's picture
Submitted by erku on Tue, 2008-01-29 02:10.

As Bush was entering to deliver The State Of The Union speech one thing that cought my eye was that Obama and Kennedy were standing next to each other. I thought this was very symbolic after Kennedy's recent Obama endorsement.

Pelosi just now introduced Bush and the present people are greeting with a great sense of enthusiasm.

Bush State of the Union - Emily Carlson

Emily Carlson's picture
Submitted by Emily Carlson (not verified) on Wed, 2008-01-30 18:34.

Final State of the Union - Emily Carlson
It was a modest speech filled with modest proposals.
Last night, President Bush gave his final State of the Union address, an address much different than his past seven.
Gone were the references to Iran as the "axis of evil" and our social security system as "headed towards bancruptcy." Instead of strong words, Bush put forward modest proposals.
The already approved $150 billion economic stimulus plan, $300 million in education funding for poor students, and continued support of the war in Iraq topped Bush's agenda.
Modest clapping and standing ovations scattered his 53 minute speech, but alas... Bush was not the center of attention at his own State of the Union speech.
With only a year left in his presidency, the nation has already turned to a new generation of politicans who are running for his seat.
CNN seemed to be more interested in which senator was snubbing another senator than talking about President Bush's speech.
A picture of Senator Barak Obama turning his back on Senator Hillary Clinton shaking Senator Ted Kennedy's hand was blown up and shown again and again. 'Was he doing this on purpose? Is he mad at Hillary?' seemed to be more important than anything the President was saying.
Senator McCain wasn't even in attendance last night, instead choosing to squeeze in some last minute campaigning before Florida's primary today.
With Americans already swept up in the excitement of Super Tuesday and the race to see who the Democrat and Republican front runner will be, President Bush is pushed in the background. His State of the Union was more of a snapshot of his past seven years as President while he struggles to shape what his legacy will be. Meanwhile, the rest of the politicans in the House chambers, and well as the rest of the nation wonders... who the next leader of the free world will be.
More on the state of the union:
www.emily-carlson.com
www.emilycarlson.org
www.emilycarlson.info
http://www.zimbio.com/Emily+Carlson+Journalist
http://emilyacarlson.wordpress.com/
http://www.zimbio.com/Emily+Carlson's+All+Things+Political

Please tell!

Anonymous's picture
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 2008-01-29 02:15.

I need to know who was not present at the state the union 2008 and from what department they are. Every year someone stays behind in case of a terrorist attack or assasination attempt.

Interior Secretary Dirk

Anonymous's picture
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 2008-01-29 02:34.

Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne

Economy

erku's picture
Submitted by erku on Tue, 2008-01-29 02:17.

President Bush says economic uncertainty is a concern, asks Congress to approve a $150-billion anti-recession plan.

President Bush announces "unprecedented changes" in the way lawmakers earmark money for projects that benefit districts.

bush

Anonymous's picture
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 2008-01-29 02:23.

He pushes Congress to expand health savings accounts, and confront the epidemic of junk medical lawsuits and proposes a $300M initiative to help provide choices for children in struggling inner-city public schools.

The State Of The Union Address 2008

marks's picture
Submitted by marks (not verified) on Tue, 2008-01-29 02:44.

Guess we know who drew the short straw with this one....

What none of the prominent Dems have anything to say?!?!?!