I watched. I listened.

Some good points. The matter of hydrogen-powered automobiles and getting this country off dependence on foreign energy sources. Good one, George. I'm all for that. Incidentally, the technology is available now. Why wait until "children born today" are old enough to buy automobiles? That's a minimum of sixteen years in most states.

Increased funding for research into prevention and cure of AIDS. Excellent. Bloody well about time!

The rest of the speech was pretty much the usual stuff. Typical Republican agenda, with the usual practice of saying what he was going to do, but not indicating how he was going to do it or what the consequences might be, other than vague promises of future prosperity. I could comment, but I won't, because I'm up against a deadline for an article I'm writing and I'm sure others can do as well as I can.

A couple things more, however: In the "war on terrorism," I do hope he wasn't shining us on. 3,000 caught? Good. And I must admit that when Bush said, "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," my vindictive little heart was gladdened a bit. Maybe I've read too many James Bond novels, but when it comes to genuine terrorists, I am for taking them out by whatever method works. But let's be sure we confine that sort of thing to genuine terrorists, okay?

Big one:— I was waiting eagerly to hear what evidence Bush was going to present (explicitly promised by much of the advanced billing) of Iraq's connection with al Quaeda along with evidence that Saddam is in possession of an arsenal of WMDs. I'm sorry. "Intelligence officials estimate" and "U. S. intelligence indicates" and "our intelligence sources tell us" and "from intelligence sources, we know" and "intelligence sources indicate" and "evidence from intelligence sources" (all direct quotes from the speech), no matter how many times and in how many ways it is said, does not constitute evidence. Bush went on to say, "The United States will ask the U.N. Security Council to convene on February the 5th to consider the facts of Iraq's ongoing defiance of the world. Secretary of State Powell will present information and intelligence about Iraqi's legal -- Iraq's illegal weapons programs, its attempt to hide those weapons from inspectors, and its links to terrorist groups." (direct quote). If any of this is broadcast, I'll be listening and watching. I'm watching all of this very carefully.

Don Firth

P. S. Re: The word "NOOK-yuh-ler;" I usually wince every time I hear it, but I will cut George a little slack with this one. I have heard even nuclear physicists and engineers use that pronunciation. If even some professionals in the field can't get it right, well. . . . Put it down to inadequate education, rampant dyslexia, or whatever. I do, however, think that in the light of more important issues, jumping on George for this is a bit nit-picky.

Nice suit. I liked his tie.