Live Blogging the State of the Union Address

I am watching the FoxNews coverage of Bush's State of the Union speech. So, the pre-speech patter.....apparently, Cindy Sheehan was removed from the hall before the President arrived. She was the guest of someone (?) to be determined. She tried to unfurl some sort of sign and was removed. I'm sure there will be more about this later. Send her back to Venezuela.

Ok. The President is introduced. Lots of loud cheering and clapping. All stand up.

He starts with a tribute to Coretta Scott King. Great opening.

Then makes an attempt to reach across the aisle with an olive branch, offering to do his part to work together and overcome differences for the good of the country.

Road of isolationisma and protectionism may seem wide and inviting....but ends in destruction.

Historic long term goal, seek the end of tyranny in our world. Future security of America depends upon it.

Democracies replace resentment with hope...and join the fight against terror. We will act boldly in freedom's cause.

in 1945, two dozen lonely democracies in the world, today there are 122.

More than half the people of our world live in democratic nations. We don't forget the other half. Demands of justice require their freedom as well.

No one can deny the success of freedom. But some men fight and rage against it.

Good. He comes out with an olive branch and then boldly re-states the rationale behind his foreign policy--spread freedom throughout the world. And explains why it is important. Gets a standing ovation from evryone. Nancy Pelosi is even standing.

If we were to leave these vicious attackers alone, they would not leave us alone. There is no peace in retreat and there is no honor in retreat.

We would signal to all that we no longer believe in our own ideals. The U.S. will not retreat from the world and we will never retreat from evil.

America rejects the false comfort of isolationism.

We accept the call of history to rescue the oppressed.

Now he lays out his plan for Iraq, explaining that we are helping them establish a government, build infrastructure and get rid of terrorists. He is reminding everyone of the progress we have made in Iraq.

We are in this fight to win and we are winning.

Democrats sit. Many do not clap. Wow....Democrats cannot clap that we are winning? These people are beyond belief. Of course, it is obvious to everyone that they only gain politically if we lose in Iraq. What a choice.

Will continue to reach out and seek your good advice.

Hindsight alone is not wisdom and second-guessing is not a strategy.

He hits them right between the eyes. They are sitting, stone-faced. Kerry looks down at his lap.

Our nation has only one option, we must keep our word, defeat our enemies and stand behind our military in this vital mission.

Bush now gives a tribute to the military. Mentions Dan Clay and reads from a letter he left to his family.

"I know what honor is...I faced death with the secure knowledge that you would not have to."

Dan Clay's parents and wife stand to applause.

The only way to defeat the terrorists is to...offer the hopeful alternative of political freedom and peaceful change.

He mentions Egypt, Palestine, calls for Hamas to reject terrorism and embrace peace.

Liberty is the right of all humanity.

Now he turns to Iran.

Regime sponsors terrorists and that must come to an end. Nations of the world must not permit Iranian regime to gain nuclear weapons. America will continue to rally the world to confront these threats.

Speaks directly to the people of Iran.

Our nation hopes to be the closest of friends with a free and democratic Iran.

Isolation ties our hands in fighting enemies, but helping abroad....AIDS, infant with malaria, young girl sold into slavery....nice sequeway from our military agenda to why the U.S. has a responsibility to help other countries.

Mentions offensive against terrorism in U.S. Thanks the Homeland Security, FBI, Law Enforcement.

They deserve the same tools they use to fight drug trafficking and organized crime....re-authorize the Patriot Act.

Before 9/11, our government failed to connect the dots. To prevent another attack, based on the authority given me by the Constitution.

Mentions NSA wiretapping.

Federal courts have approved. Appropriate members of Congress informed. Terrorists have been apprehended. Will not sit back and wait to be hit again.

Dems sit throughout. Hillary smiling and shaking her head. What the heck is her alternative?

To draw support, must be clear in our principals and always be ready to act. privilege to serve the values that gave us birth. Reject isolationism and defeat. Mentions Roosevelt and Truman.

Need steady, bi-partisan support. Protect our country, support men and women who defend us and lead this world toward freedom.

Now he moves to economy. Economy is healthy & vigorous. Created 4.6M new jobs more than Japan and the EU combined. Can't be complacent. Competitors like China and India. Old temptation. Protectionism. Wall off our economy. Government needs a larger role--centralize and increase taxes. Immigrants are important--economy can't function without them.

Agenda for a nation that competes with confidence, raise standard of living and create new jobs. Keep economy growing. Economy grows when Americans have more of their own money. Tax relief can set to expire. American families face a tax increase they do not expect. Calls for Dems to make the tax cuts permanent.

Dems sit.

Need to be good stewards of tax dollars. Cut spending. Reduce more than 140 programs performing poorly. Will save another $14B cut def in half by 2009. Lieberman claps.

Members of Congress work on earmark reform. McCain claps loudly. Pass line-item veto. Republicans stand.

In a few years, 78 million baby boomers turn 60--two of my dad's favorite people--me and President Clinton. Gets a laugh, presumably from both sides. Retirement of baby boomers will strain the federal government. When the boomers retire, Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid will comprise 60% of the entire federal budget. Congress did not act on my proposal to save Social Security. In un-classy act, Dems stand and clap. Bush gets excited and wags his finger at them.

Rising cost of entitlements is a rising cost that is not going away. Every year we fail to act the situation gets worse.

Calls for orderly and secure borders and an effective immigration enforcement and border protection. Rational, humane guest worker program.

A competitive America needs affordable healthcare. They all stand for this--including Hillary, who couldn't get it done when Bill was in office. Government has a responsibiloity to provide healthcare for poor and elderly. Help people afford insurance coverage. Health info technology to reduce cost and avoid medical error. Give small companies similar advantages to big companies. Make coverage portable - switch jobs without losing insurance.

Calls for Congress to pass medical liability reform this year.

Competitive America requires affordable energy. America is addicted to oil, often imported from unstable parts of the world. Will spend $10B to develop new energy sources. 22% increase in clean energy research. Change power sources-- low-emission coal, safe nuclear energy and wind power.

Also change how we power automobiles. Increase reserach to develop batteries for hybrid vehicles, hydrogen-power, and ethanol from other sources. Make new kind of ethanol practical and competitive w/in 6 years.

Also wants to reach another goal. Plan to reduce 75% of oil from mideast by 2025. Dramatically improve environment to move beyond a petroleum-based economy, make dependence on mid -East oil a thing of the past.

To keep America competitive, we need to lead the world in human talent and creativity. Tonight, I announce the American Competitiveness Initiative. Provde a firm grounding in math and science. Double federal commitment to research in the physical sciences. Develop nanotechnology, supercomputing, alternative energy.

Provide R&D tax credits to encourage private sector research. America will lead the world in opportunity and innovation for decades to come.

Need to encourage children to take more math & science. We will train 70,000 high school teachers to teach advanced math and science courses and recruit 30,000 math and science professionals to teach in schools.

Support the American Competitiveness Initiative.

We are a compassionate, decent, hopeful society. Violent crime fallen to lowest level since 1970s. Drug use down 19% since 2001. Fewer abortions. Number of children born to teenage moms has fallen 12 years in a row.

America is in a quiet transformation. Life of personal responsibility is a life of fulfillment. Welfare reform, abstinence, adoption, drug education has made a difference.

Many parents are concerned about the direction of our culture and the health of our basic institutions. Activist courts redefine marriage. Unethical politiicians. Must never give in to belief that America is in decline.

We need courts that deliver equal justice under the law. Announces two new justices - Roberts and Alito. Thanks Senate for confirming. Justices should be servants of law and not legislate from the bench. Thanks Sandra Day O'Connor for her years of service.

We need to prohibit egregious uses of research - cloning, human/animal hybrids, buying or selling human embryos. Life is a gift from Creator. Should not be put up for sale. Even Dems have to stand.

Elected officials need to uphold the public trust. Strengthen ethical standards of Washington. Dems stand for this, too, smiling They think it mainly applies to Republicans. Are hoping that the Abramoff scandal rubs off on Bush. 'Culture of corruption'....blah, blah, blah.

Encourage caring adults to get involved in the life of a child. Led by Laura Bush.

The Federal government has given over $85B to the people of the Gulf Coast. Need to address deeper challenges. Some citizens have felt excluded from promise of our country. We will work for the day when all Americans are protected by justice, equal in hope and rich in opportunity.

Brings up the fact that half of all AIDS cases are African American. Provide new funding to end waiting list for medication for AIDS in America. Working closely with African American churches and faith-based groups. Goal of no new infections in America.

Will we turn back, or finish well. History is written in courage. We will lead freedom's advance, compete and excel in global economy. America is optimistic, faithful and confident. May God bless America.