WASHINGTON, 1 February 2005 — President George Bush will deliver his State of the Union address tomorrow evening, and Republican and Democrat leaders have already expressed concern over what he will say.
Bush’s speech to both the Senate and Congress is one of three main events that will mark the first days of his second term. On Jan. 20, Bush delivered an idealistic inaugural address declaring that America would work to end tyranny around the world. On Feb. 7, the White House will deliver an outline for a tough budget in the coming year, which is expected to rein in spending on domestic programs.
The State of the Union address comes halfway in between the two. White House officials say it will develop ideas of freedom and choice, which were central to Bush’s inaugural address, but will also outline the president’s main policy aims for this administration’s next four years.
After his first term was defined by the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, Bush’s State of the Union speech is ultimately expected to outline what the president hopes will be his legacy in the history books.
But the next four years promise to be a roller coaster ride for the Republican party. Bush has said his domestic priority is reform of the Social Security system, which exposed the strain between a president concerned with his legacy and members of Congress who have an eye on elections in 2006 and 2008.
With hot-button items such as Social Security reform, medical malpractice and a possible Constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage, and the huge national deficit, some are wondering if President Bush’s agenda for his second term is just too ambitious. Bush has also spoken of his determination to tackle other controversial areas of legislation, including immigration.
Democratic leaders, meanwhile, are also preparing for the president’s address tomorrow. The Democratic minority leaders, Sen. Harry Reid of Nevada, and Rep. Nancy Pelosi of California, will offer the Democrat’s perspective before the president’s address.
Democrats say Bush is fabricating a Social Security crisis in order to justify plans to privatize part of the system.
Senate Democratic leader Reid is expected to criticize Bush’s foreign policy, challenge the president on Iraq and hammer for a timetable to bring US forces home.
