SOTU: A Reactive Tone Shows His Ears Have Been Burning (WP)

[diamond14]

A Reactive Tone Shows His Ears Have Been Burning

By David Von Drehle
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, January 21, 2004; Page A01


President Bush's State of the Union speech showed just how closely he and his staff have been following the fight for the Democratic presidential nomination, and how conscious they are of the opposition's emerging campaign themes 10 long months before Election Day.

From Iraq to taxes, from the USA Patriot Act to school funding, from foreign policy to deficit spending, Bush responded to criticisms that his would-be challengers are still working to formulate. Sometimes, incumbents act as if they have not heard what their critics are saying about them. Bush's father, for example, seemed not to register Bill Clinton's attacks on his economic policies until fairly late in the 1992 campaign.

Clearly, the current president's ears have been burning




http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A33233-2004Jan20.html?nav=hptop_tb

[Old and In the Way]

1. I really thought we'd see a "kinder and gentler" GWB last night.

I thought we'd see him offering olive branches and whispering sweet nothings to the middle. I figured he and his Republican cheerleaders would have spent lots of words telling us how he was going to help the American people....then, of course, do precisely the opposite in legislation.

Instead, he sharpens the RW rhetoric. At least we should understand that he means to make good on the Republican "vision" for America.

[wabeewoman]

2. Yep!

I thought he had something for everyone to HATE! If he barely won ( I know-he didn't ) how can he even come close to the democratic candidate by running far right. I don't understand the thinking but I hope he alienates all the voters.