Bush Fails to Spell Out Plan for Leaving Iraq

During his first term, President Bush made a number of significant proposals in his annual State of the Union addresses — many of which have been fulfilled.

In his 2001 speech, Bush successfully pushed his plan to improve the county’s education standards. “We must tie funding to higher standards and accountability for results,” Bush said. Bush proposed the biggest overhaul of Social Security (news - web sites) since its 1935 creation and, for the first time, said he would consider limiting future retirement benefits as part of a solution. Photo by Jim Bourg/Reuters

The President spent nearly half of his 54 minute speech on Iraq and terrorism. President Bush highlighted his familiar positions on tort reform, making health care more accessible, and his support for a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage.

However, he devoted most of his time to two topics. The first ten minutes covered his plans to at least partially privatize social security, allowing taxpayers to set aside part of the money they pay into the system into a retirement account. Then moving into foreign policy, the president offered no immediate plans to bring troops home from Iraq, and hinting that there may be a next step.

One of the poignant moments from Wednesday’s address happened between two of President Bush’s special guests. One woman lost her son in Iraq, and the other woman, an Iraqi, who voted last Sunday, showed their appreciation. Senator Blanche Lincoln says she supports the success of the Iraqi elections, but says she is concerned about Bush’s domestic policy.