President Bush delivers his last State of the Union Speech, Jan. 28.

de Volkskrant, The Netherlands

Bush Sings the Same Old Song …

"One thing is certain: he will not be remembered as a uniter."

EDITORIAL

Translated By Meta Mertens

January 29, 2008

The Netherlands - de Volkskrant - Original Article (Dutch)

At the beginning of his first term in 2001, George W. Bush promised to work as a “uniter, not a divider.” Over the years, this pledge has become a shrill echo. The last word on the meaning of Bush's presidency has yet to be uttered, if only because he still has nearly a year to go and in his remaining time he isn't as much of a lame duck as is sometimes suggested. One thing is certain: he will not be remembered as a uniter.

Monday night, he delivered his last State of the Union speech to Congress WATCH .  The President himself of course assured that the country is well-governed, but the reality is different.  The nation is deeply divided over the ongoing war in Iraq, even though last year's surge led to a decrease in sectarian violence. In addition to this divisive struggle, the United States has been battling a looming recession.

The manner in which Bush treated economic problems in his speech is indicative of his unwillingness to compromise with the Democratic majority in Congress. To save the economy from a recession, the White House has launched a stimulus plan that consists primarily of a tip to tax payers. Many economists criticize this as too little too late. The Democrats are calling for more targeted aid and sharper oversight of the mortgage market. But before the Congress, the President showed no enthusiasm for a joint offensive so that confidence in the economy could receive a significant boost.

Instead, Bush sang an old song from his repertoire: make tax cuts permanent. And he broke his lance over social security reform and tackling immigration, two initiatives that he knows are dead on arrival without concessions to the Democrats. All in all, the impression is that the 43rd President has already given up hope that he, at least domestically, will leave behind any significant legacy. 

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