"Health care reform must begin with Medicare; Medicare is the binding commitment of a caring society. (Applause)"

To my ears, this sounded like Bush was replying to his fellow oligarchs who feel that social programs should all be scrapped or reduced. As if Medicare is something that needs to be defended instead of turned into something effective.

"Seniors happy with the current Medicare system should be able to keep their coverage just the way it is. (Applause.)"

*Whew* What a relief! Those who prefer the status quo won't be disappointed with this plan.

"Tonight I'm proposing $1.2 billion in research funding so that America can lead the world in developing clean, hydrogen-powered automobiles."

Watch these numbers. This is about 10% of what he's planning to spend on HIV/AIDS in Africa. Watch how the dollars align with priorities.

"The American flag stands for more than our power and our interests. Our founders dedicated this country to the cause of human dignity, the rights of every person, and the possibilities of every life."

The rights of every person not designated as a "foreign combatant," the possibilities of every life that doesn't become our unfortunate collateral damage.

"Across the Earth, America is feeding the hungry -- more than 60 percent of international food aid comes as a gift from the people of the United States."

If you don't like Genetically Modified corn, then you must not be too hungry.

"As our nation moves troops and builds alliances to make our world safer, we must also remember our calling as a blessed country is to make this world better....Today, on the continent of Africa..."

Wow, I thought, he's going to talk about the wars going on in Africa! What's he up to? Nope. There's nothing down yonder worth risking Our Boys' lives. Let the French handle the White Man's Burden there, we'll just put in some money to combat AIDS.

"I ask the Congress to commit $15 billion over the next five years, including nearly $10 billion in new money, to turn the tide against AIDS in the most afflicted nations of Africa and the Caribbean. (Applause.)"

This is the high point of the speech. I could almost let this go without saying anything bad, except a little quick math tells you that this is less than one-tenth of the amount that the war in Iraq is estimated to cost. $200 billion to invade a nation that hasn't attacked anyone in 12 years, but $15 billion to fight AIDS. And what exactly does that mean when he said, "including nearly $10 billion in new money"? Is that an admission that he's basically inflating the figure by 50%? And if that figure still sounds pretty good, remember it's spread over five years.

"All told, more than 3,000 suspected terrorists have been arrested in many countries. Many others have met a different fate. Let's put it this way -- they are no longer a problem to the United States and our friends and allies. (Applause.)"

"The budget I send you will propose almost $6 billion to quickly make available effective vaccines and treatments against agents like anthrax, botulinum toxin, Ebola, and plague. "

Again, priorities show through the numbers. Africa gets $15 billion over the next five years, that's $3 billion in the first year, to combat a rampant disease. But the budget will include double that amount to prevent diseases that Americans might be attacked with some day.

"Today, the gravest danger in the war on terror, the gravest danger facing America and the world, is outlaw regimes that seek and possess nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons."

I agree, but not sure if we're thinking of the same "outlaw regime that seek and possess nuclear, chemical and biological weapons." I'm thinking of the one who has the most, has threatened to use them recently, the only one which has used nuclear weapons on people.

"Twelve years ago, Saddam Hussein faced the prospect of being the last casualty in a war he had started and lost. To spare himself, he agreed to disarm of all weapons of mass destruction."

Actually Poppy Bush decided to end Gulf War I without removing Hussein from power. The U.S. controlled the airspace over Iraq, but were specifically ordered not to attack when Saddam's forces used helicopters to fight off a rebellion. The first Bush administration feared that a regime overthrowing Saddam could be even less compliant, so they decided not to let it happen, and took actions to ensure it did not happen.

"Year after year, Saddam Hussein has gone to elaborate lengths, spent enormous sums, taken great risks to build and keep weapons of mass destruction. But why? The only possible explanation, the only possible use he could have for those weapons, is to dominate, intimidate, or attack."

Does that explain the ever-increasing US arsenal of weapons?

"This nation fights reluctantly, because we know the cost and we dread the days of mourning that always come."

Here's a brief list of places where the US has reluctantly fought in A CENTURY OF U.S. MILITARY INTERVENTIONS: From Wounded Knee to Afghanistan".

"Americans are a free people, who know that freedom is the right of every person and the future of every nation. The liberty we prize is not America's gift to the world, it is God's gift to humanity. (Applause.)"

If you don't want the gift we bring, then God help you. Can we get a referee on this one, a priest or rabbi or somebody? Does that line sound like blasphemy, or is that okay? Is he just talking about crusades and God being on our sides, or does that cross the line into religion for the sake of nationalism?