Bush addresses Democratic Congress
State of the Union speech covers Iraq,
health insurance, environment, immigration
Issue date: 1/25/07 Section: World News
WASHINGTON (MCT) - A beleaguered but determined President Bush tried to shift the nation's focus from war to challenges at home in a State of the Union address that proposed expansion of health-care insurance and a dramatic cut in gasoline use.
In his first major presidential address to a Democratic Congress, Bush struck a conciliatory tone in hopes of finding common ground with Capitol Hill's new ruling party on immigration, expansion of ethanol and a handful of other proposals.
Bush pleaded for support for his two-week-old plan to send 21,500 more troops to Iraq, a policy that has proved unpopular with the American people and many in Congress.
"This is not the fight we entered in Iraq, but it is the fight we are in. Every one of us wishes that this war were over and won. Yet it would not be like us to leave our promises unkept, our friends abandoned and our own security at risk," the president said.
"Ladies and gentlemen, on this day, at this hour, it is still within our power to shape the outcome of this battle. So let us find our resolve and turn events toward victory," he said.
Recalling the horrors of Sept. 11 and the ongoing murderous intentions of terrorists, Bush asserted that the consequences of failure in Iraq "would be grievous and far-reaching" with a potential of violence spreading throughout the Middle East, "a nightmare scenario for the United States."
Unlike last year's address, Tuesday's speech began with domestic issues. The president renewed his call for a temporary worker program that he said would solve the status of illegal immigrants "without animosity and without amnesty."
In another immigration proposal, the president said his administration would move forcefully to stop illegal employment of undocumented workers with stepped-up prosecution.
Presidential aides promised headline-making news on energy and the president acknowledged "the serious challenge of global climate change."
Bush chose a route of endorsing higher fuel economy standards for cars and trucks, along with more use of ethanol and other renewable fuels - 35 billion gallons in 10 years.
Bush spelled out his plan to expand health insurance by offering tax reductions for people who purchase health insurance. Critics on Capitol Hill assert that it would do little to help the 47 million uninsured Americans or stem double-digit annual increases in health care costs.
In his first major presidential address to a Democratic Congress, Bush struck a conciliatory tone in hopes of finding common ground with Capitol Hill's new ruling party on immigration, expansion of ethanol and a handful of other proposals.
Bush pleaded for support for his two-week-old plan to send 21,500 more troops to Iraq, a policy that has proved unpopular with the American people and many in Congress.
"This is not the fight we entered in Iraq, but it is the fight we are in. Every one of us wishes that this war were over and won. Yet it would not be like us to leave our promises unkept, our friends abandoned and our own security at risk," the president said.
"Ladies and gentlemen, on this day, at this hour, it is still within our power to shape the outcome of this battle. So let us find our resolve and turn events toward victory," he said.
Recalling the horrors of Sept. 11 and the ongoing murderous intentions of terrorists, Bush asserted that the consequences of failure in Iraq "would be grievous and far-reaching" with a potential of violence spreading throughout the Middle East, "a nightmare scenario for the United States."
Unlike last year's address, Tuesday's speech began with domestic issues. The president renewed his call for a temporary worker program that he said would solve the status of illegal immigrants "without animosity and without amnesty."
In another immigration proposal, the president said his administration would move forcefully to stop illegal employment of undocumented workers with stepped-up prosecution.
Presidential aides promised headline-making news on energy and the president acknowledged "the serious challenge of global climate change."
Bush chose a route of endorsing higher fuel economy standards for cars and trucks, along with more use of ethanol and other renewable fuels - 35 billion gallons in 10 years.
Bush spelled out his plan to expand health insurance by offering tax reductions for people who purchase health insurance. Critics on Capitol Hill assert that it would do little to help the 47 million uninsured Americans or stem double-digit annual increases in health care costs.
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