POTUS SOTU

I missed the big speech last night. But reading the transcript brought to mind an old issue with spending "cuts." Years ago, the Dems destroyed the GOP's attempt to alter medicare by claiming that the GOP was cutting benefits, while the GOP said that they were merely decreasing the rate of growth, and that's not a cut. The GOP cried "foul!" OK. Now, Bush is claiming he's cut discressionary spending on his watch, but the reality is that the rate of growth has (debatably) decreased, not actual spending. The GOP applauds. So when's a cut a cut, and when is slowing growth a cut, and not a cut?

Quickly looking at other items. I'm a huge fan of getting off of oil. But, you can't target "Mid-East" oil as oil is a global commodity. No matter where you buy it, if Saudi or Iran cut prodution, the price rises...period. So the reality is that its kind of all or nothing. I think its crucial from an economic security, and physical security standpoint, and this is where the Feds should be investing our tax money. However, zero emission coal plants are a crazy expensive dream, and we all know my feelings on the actual expense of nuclear. His hydrogen car push is a neat idea, but not much has happened with this since his last big push for hydrogen cars, its still not funded, and no one thinks it will be, so I'm doubtful on this latest push as well. Clean diesel has great potential, better emissions and better fuel economy, than hybrids, and the new standard just took effect in January.

The rest seems fairly boilerplate.