Liveblogging my reading of the state of the union

Got it from Kos.

Here we go!

First, we must be good stewards of this economy, and renew the great institutions on which millions of our fellow citizens rely.

That's RIGHT! That's why we should add $2 trillion in debt! We need high deficits because of THE CHILDREN!

In the past four years, we have provided tax relief to every person who pays income taxes,

But especially to "my base"

overcome a recession,

Despite the dollar taking a bigger dive than a Venezuelan tour guide

opened up new markets abroad,

By force.

prosecuted corporate criminals,

By accident.

raised homeownership to the highest level in history,

By encouraging personal debt with irresponsibly low interest rates

and in the last year alone, the United States has added 2.3 million new jobs.

Just barely keeping up with working age population growth, and not even making a dent in the millions lost after 9/11.

So next week I will send you a budget that holds the growth of discretionary spending below inflation,

Discretionary spending doesn't include guaranteed payouts--social security and medicare, and did you hear about Amtrak?

makes tax relief permanent,

Because we can DEFINITELY afford it.

and stays on track to cut the deficit in half by 2009

Through creative accounting. (Tired of finding links now)

We will help an additional 200,000 workers to get training for a better career

Is that why you cut job training in 2003? So it'd be easier to put it back?

we will make it easier for Americans to afford a college education, by increasing the size of Pell Grants.

I believe Rob Kremer has a strong opinion on Mr. Bush's...statement...here. To summarize: He's a liar.

we must free small businesses from needless regulation

Completely snark-free: Watch out for this. He's not going to be removing regulations to help small businesses, even though that may be an unintended consequence. How many small business owners pollute streams enough to get in trouble from the EPA?

frivolous asbestos claims

Are you for real? I hope Jenna doesn't get lung cancer from asbestos in the White House, so he finds out just how "frivolous" they are.

association health plans for small businesses and their employees

This is actually a good idea.

expanded health savings accounts

This is not.

To keep our economy growing, we also need reliable supplies of affordable, environmentally responsible energy. Nearly four years ago, I submitted a comprehensive energy strategy that encourages conservation, alternative sources, a modernized electricity grid, and more production here at home, including safe, clean nuclear energy. My Clear Skies legislation will cut power plant pollution and improve the health of our citizens.

Flat out lies. Orwell would be proud. Or sickened to the point of death. One or the other.

Year after year, Americans are burdened by an archaic, incoherent federal tax code. I have appointed a bipartisan panel to examine the tax code from top to bottom. And when their recommendations are delivered, you and I will work together to give this Nation a tax code that is pro-growth, easy to understand, and fair to all.

I must link: Over at TNR, the Social Security-Tax Reform bait & switch is mentioned. After seeing this, that's my opinion too--they make a lot of noise about private investment accounts, the Democrats say "We oppose diverting funds from traditional social security into private investment accounts, but we support private investment accounts as an add on to the existing social security", the Republicans make a big stink about it, then go with the add-on accounts (probably diverting about half the payroll tax into them, and actually creating the "crisis" the President is so fond of incoherently rambling about) and use the goodwill/ego/euphoria of the Democrats who just "won" to ram through a "simplification" of the tax code. Be on guard.

and over the next few decades, that number will fall to just two workers per beneficiary.

Decades. Not years. THERE IS NO CRISIS.

Thirteen years from now, in 2018, Social Security will be paying out more than it takes in.

How can you have two workers paying for each beneficiary and have social security paying out more than it takes in? Christ, it's only 13 years away--how can you have 2.5 workers paying for each beneficiary and still have social security paying out more than it takes in? Is someone telling fiblets again?

in the year 2027, the government will somehow have to come up with an extra 200 billion dollars to keep the system afloat

Less than we've spent in Iraq so far, but that's not the point. Stay the course!

By the year 2042, the entire system would be exhausted and bankrupt.

How could it be exhausted if people are still paying into it?

I believe you should be able to set aside part of that money in your own retirement account, so you can build a nest egg for your own future.

That's what IRAs are for. Idiot.

Your money will grow, over time, at a greater rate than anything the current system can deliver

According to MarkinKC over at Kos, if this had been said by a registered financial adviser, it would be illegal.

More later--gotta change computers now.