The State of the Union Speech

The SOTU speech is over. Here are a few highlights. I will blog more later once I get the hard copy

He wants 80% of energy to come from clean energy sources. He gives a weak pitch for Nuclear.

Got started late:

Education, nearly 50% of new jobs will require education beyond high school. Nearly 25% aren’t even graduating high school. Says that family is where the love of education starts. He wants the science fair winner to be celebrated. Gives a new pitch for his education programs, “Race to the Top”. Says teachers need to be treated with respect. In my opinion if you get rid of the unions then respect will return because they will actually be concerned with education, not who is getting the votes. Asking soon to retire baby-boomers to start a second career as an educator.

Making permanent the $10K tax credit for higher education. Glossed over the power grab of the student loans.

Bring up the damn DREAM Act.

Illegal Immigration. Says he wants to work with both side to “once and for all” figure out what do with the “undocumented workers”.

Ear-marks will be a non-starter for him. He is going to veto any bill that has ear-marks in it. McCain looked pleased.

Budget: said the deficit spending started nearly a decade ago, laying the blame on Bush yet again. Not mention the tripling of deficit spending since he took office.

Told the Republicans that Health Care repeal was not going to happen. He’ll be happy to work with the new Congress, starting with tort reform. Short on specifics

Makes a call to redouble the efforts to put construction workers back to work.  Stimulus, Part two. Hugh pitches for High Speed Rail. Getting high speed internet to all, forgetting that this takes lots of money. Will this be part of Stimulus Part two.

Change the corporate tax structure which is one of the highest in the world. Get rid of the loop-holes. Make the tax code fairer.

NOTE: nice to NOT see Pelosi behind the President.

One of the CBS commentators who was following some Palin supporters on twitter mentioned that is Palin has given this speech she would have eviscerated for lack of specifics. Another said it sound like a speech Sarah would give.