Good, refreshing analysis of SOTU on video from Charlie Rose

[wiggs]

www.charlierose.com

They also come to the same conclusion as Pitt....that it was a weak, defensive performance that didn't say much. Also interesting were the comments from someone who attended the speech, saying that BOTH sides of the aisle were subdued and skeptical.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

1. never saw rose, but it explains why

scarecrowborrough and Pat Buchanan were singing the praises of the SOTU

[wiggs]

3. CR comments opposite of Scarborough. Must see. nt

[wiggs]

4. Still watching. Impressive discussion on WHY mistakes were made

that goes to the heart of this dysfunctional administration. I wish they would just say that all these same comments could be applied to ALL POLICY AREAS, where Katrina-type events are waiting for us in education, health care, deficit, dollar, environment, etc..

[Warpy]

2. Another thread had a photo of Congress

Only a few in the front three rows of the right side of the aisle were standing and cheering, although the whole chamber appeared to be giving him the clap, er, applauding.

[BurtWorm]

5. I watched it last night. Martha Raddatz and Ken Duberstein (of all people) were most interesting.

Patricia Williams made great points that were utterly ignored by everyone else, which I found irritating, and Charlie Rose did his usual number when presented with strong criticism of Bush--interrupting Duberstein and Williams, in particular, to steer the "conversation" back to more polite territory. Also John Meacham of Newsweek kept talking about Bush as somehow inseparable from the office he stole, as though he were just any other occupant of that office and not the crude, embarrassing would-be dictator he actually is. I find that blindness infuriating in journalists.

[wiggs]

6. Still...overall the level of analysis, honesty, criticism, and worry were

much higher than any other analysis I saw. And these (most of them) are not proclaimed liberals.

[BurtWorm]

7. That's why Duberstein was so impressive to me.

He had some of the most scathing commentary I've ever heard. I could have smacked Charlie Rose when he decided to head yet again back to Washington just after Duberstein (who probably knows everyone at the WH, and, therefore, probably has some actual news and not just punditry to impart) said Bush won't hear criticism and dissent and has the attitude, "Who elected you president?"