SOTU Reactions

President Bush delivered his last State of the Union last night. First, my hats off to Bush for selecting VA Tech’s Kevin Sterne to attend as a special guest. Outstanding decision by the President there. Also, someone pointed out that three of Speaker Pelosi’s guests, Gov. Kaine; DC Mayor Fenty; and Baltimore Mayor Dixon, all endorsed Obama for President. Hmmmm.

The Daily Press got some reactions from members of Virginia’s congressional delegation:

“This speech was defensive and filled with political positioning,” said Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va. “I don’t think it was addressing the problems we’re really facing.”

Rep. Robert C. “Bobby” Scott, D-Newport News, said he was disappointed by Bush’s Iraq plans, which suggested continued U.S. troop presence for potentially years to come.

“We need a different way of doing business,” Scott said. “We need to have a plan to end the war. We didn’t hear anything that would result in the war ending and people coming home.”

“I think the president was right on,” said freshman Rep. Robert Wittman, R-Westmoreland, whose district includes part of the Peninsula. “There are a lot of good things going on in Iraq. He was realistic, but I really feel good about the future prospects of Iraq.”

Meanwhile, the so-called legitimate media is talking non-stop about the “icy stare” Obama gave Clinton prior to the speech. But nobody’s talking about THIS, which I think is just a teeny bit more significant; from The Hill:

…Obama and Clinton seemed to see eye to eye on Bush’s domestic agenda, sitting firmly on their hands through most of the first half of his speech.
…..
When Bush proclaimed, “Ladies and gentlemen, some may deny the surge is working, but among terrorists there is no doubt,” Clinton sprang to her feet in applause but Obama remained firmly seated. The president’s line divided most of the Democratic audience, with nearly half standing to applaud and the other half sitting in stony silence.

In one instance Clinton appeared to gauge Obama’s response before showing her own.