Networks are standing by. Bloggers are, too.

Michelle Malkin has a round-up of those liveblogging from the Capitol.

6:08PM PST: President Bush enters…

6:11PM PST: Introduction. Applause…

6:12PM PST: President Bush reflects on death of Coretta Scott King

“We have served America thru one of the most consequential periods of our history.”

“We love our freedom and we will fight to keep it.” (Applause)

“There is no peace in retreat…the US will not retreat from the world…and we will never surrender to evil.” (Applause)

AMEN!

6:26PM PST: NOTE: Realization…no point in quoting what will be published as a full transcript upon the completion of speech. Will provided commentary/analysis to follow. Now, sitting back to relax. [6:38PM PST: Here it is]

6:27PM PST: President Bush honors family of fallen soldier. Gallery provides standing ovation. God bless.

“Let us never forget the sacrifices of America’s military families.”

Had to quote that. (Applause)

6:30PM PST: Why liveblog when Reuters already is reporting as if the speech were over?

Bush laid down what might ultimately be conditions for U.S. relations with Hamas, the Islamic militant group that won a stunning victory in Palestinian elections last week.
. . .

Due to election-year realities, there were no sweeping proposals along the lines of his big
Social Security revamp, which fizzled after its high-profile roll-out a year ago.

In the televised speech before millions, he called for a bipartisan commission to study the solvency of the Social Security retirement system, as well as the Medicare and Medicaid health insurance programs.

Bush is seeking to boost his standing after a year in which his popularity hit an all-time low as the public grew increasingly concerned about the Iraq war, angry about high gasoline prices and disappointed by a influence-peddling scandal on Capitol Hill that has snared at least one Republican congressman.

But no biased reporting here…

6:35PM PST: Talking about surveillance…

“We will not sit back and wait to be hit again.” (Applause)

6:38PM PST: Nod to immigration…

“We hear claims that immigrants are somehow bad for the economy even though this economy could not function without them. All these are forms of economic retreat, and they lead in the same direction toward a stagnant and second-rate economy.”

PUBLISHER’S NOTE: Dear W, the American people are concerned about and want a stop to illegal immigration. Big difference.
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Text of President Bush’s State of the Union address on Tuesday, prepared for delivery, as released by the White House:

Mr. Speaker, Vice President Cheney, members of Congress, members of the Supreme Court and diplomatic corps, distinguished guests and fellow citizens:

Today our nation lost a beloved, graceful, courageous woman who called America to its founding ideals and carried on a noble dream. Tonight we are comforted by the hope of a glad reunion with the husband who was taken from her so long ago, and we are grateful for the good life of Coretta Scott King.

Each time I am invited to this rostrum, I am humbled by the privilege and mindful of the history we have seen together. We have gathered under this Capitol dome in moments of national mourning and national achievement. We have served America through one of the most consequential periods of our history and it has been my honor to serve with you.

In a system of two parties, two chambers and two elected branches, there will always be differences and debate. But even tough debates can be conducted in a civil tone, and our differences cannot be allowed to harden into anger. To confront the great issues before us, we must act in a spirit of good will and respect for one another and I will do my part. Tonight the state of our Union is strong and together we will make it stronger.

In this decisive year, you and I will make choices that determine both the future and the character of our country. We will choose to act confidently in pursuing the enemies of freedom or retreat from our duties in the hope of an easier life. We will choose to build our prosperity by leading the world economy or shut ourselves off from trade and opportunity. In a complex and challenging time, the road of isolationism and protectionism may seem broad and inviting, yet it ends in danger and decline. The only way to protect our people, the only way to secure the peace, the only way to control our destiny is by our leadership, so the United States of America will continue to lead.
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Say it isn’t so…

NBC11 reports: “Bay Area Congresswoman Lynn Woosley gave anti-war activist a gallery pass late Tuesday, just hours before the planned State of the Union speech.”

One might say it’s like inviting a drunk to the party.

“Sheehan was in Washington to protest the president during his national address, but then came word she was invited to see the speech live.

A spokesman for Sheehan says she decided to accept the invitation two hours prior to the speech. The spokesman also said that Sheehan will be respectful and listen to the address because she is a guest of a member of congress.

Sheehan is expected to fly back to Berkeley Wednesday. She announced over the weekend that she is considering running for Senate against Sen. Dianne Feinstein.”

Michelle Malkin wonders: “If she’ll be wearing pink lingerie?”

Perish the thought.

UPDATE: (via NoEndButVictory)

Update 8:46: CNN is reporting Sheehan is arrested. Thank God. No telling what she was planning. We will see the result. Stay tuned.

Update 8:57: CNN is reporting that Sheehan was arrested when she started to unfurl a protest banner.. in the House Chamber. I would say how stupid, but remember we are talking about Sheehan.

RELATED:
Blogging Special: State of The Union

UPDATE: (2/1)
Michelle Malkin: Shame on Lynn Woolsey

Business Times reports: “California’s economic developments effort earn it a grade of C, the Corporation for Enterprise Development said in its annual Development Report Card for the States.”

The Washington, D.C., outfit ranked each state in a dozen categories, and California suffered an F in “amenity resources and natural capital” and an A in four realms: “research efficiency,” “entrepreneurial energy,” “financial resources” and “innovation assets.”

“California has shown that it provides uneven opportunities for its residents,” the organization said. “While extremely high-paying jobs exist for some, many workers in the state find it tough to find and keep a quality, full-time job. State residents also face high urban housing costs and a low home ownership rate.

“California’s entrepreneurial climate is strong, and the state invests heavily in innovative research and businesses,” the report continued. “Though the state has a large number of highly educated workers, its level of investment in K-12 education, as well as its K-12 educational outcomes, are below average. This raises concerns about the preparedness of the next generation of workers for 21st century jobs.”

Not to mention the continued proliferation of moonbats.

The lack of analytical thinking is a direct corollary.

(via Michelle Malkin)

(01-31) 11:28 PST SAN FRANCISCO — San Francisco police will close several streets around Union Square this evening for a demonstration by activists protesting President Bush’s policies, city officials said today.

The protest by the World Can’t Wait coalition is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m., one hour before Bush’s State of the Union address. Rally organizers secured a permit for the square that runs through 9 p.m., officials said.

Police plan to close off Post and Powell streets at the square. In addition, the northbound lane of Geary Street and the westbound lane of Stockton Street will be closed.

How do they know what to protest when they’re not listening to the President’s speech?

Oh, yeah. They don’t care what’s said. They have an agenda, regardless.

RELATED: A glimpse from the past…
March of The Moonbats

That’s the best way I know how to capture what’s going on between Dean, Pelosi, Rahm Emmanuel and especially Harry Reid. In a stinging American Spectator article, there isn’t much holding the Democrats together. Here’s a glimpse into all that ails the Democrats:

According to knowledgeable DNC sources, Dean about ten days ago was shown opposition research documents generated by the Republican National Committee more than three years ago, which laid out facts regarding Reid and his family’s lobbying and ethical conflicts. Dean, according to the sources, was fascinated by the details, and asked that his staff research and independently confirm everything on the documents. “Basically he oppo’d a member of his own party,” says a DNC source loyal to Dean.
“Basically, we were looking at three- or four-page documents that made Jack Abramoff’s lobbying work look like that of a rank amateur,” says the DNC source. “Between the minority leader’s past in Nevada and here in Washington, and the activities of his sons and son-in-law, there probably isn’t anyone in this town with more conflicts. The Reid family is the symbol of what’s wrong with Washington; it’s their behavior that enabled the culture that spawned people like Abramoff.”

But that’s only one part of their troubles, evidenced by this:

According to Democrat Party watchers and DNC staff, Dean has grown increasingly frustrated at how he is treated by the likes of Reid, Sen. Dick Durbin, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, and Rep. Rahm Emanuel, who leads the House Democrat candidate recruitment effort. “They treat him like a lackey, not as an equal,” says another DNC employee. “Just last week, they were all badmouthing his fundraising activities, when clearly he’s done a good job. What this comes down to a fight for the soul of our party, and if the chairman has to draw a long knife on a few of his colleagues, he’s more than willing to do so.”

Dean’s frustration is understandable but it’s deserved. Every time he’s opened his mouth, he’s caused nothing but problems for Democrats. On the other hand, Reid, Durbin and Pelosi have said some totally stupid things and deserve lots of mocking, too.

Part of why Congressional Democrats have jumped on Dean’s case is because Dean’s spent almost all of the money that’s been raised. Going into the political season, Dean’s DNC only has a little over $5 million in their accounts whereas the Mehlman’s RNC has over $34 million in their account.

In short, the Democratic Party is on the verge of a full-scale implosion because their chairman is a ticking time bomb waiting to inflict damage on his own troops and because their congressional leaders are a bunch of bungling idiots.

Cross-post at LetFreedomRing

Stephen Frank isn’t mincing words. And we don’t blame him.

“Now, as a result of further conversations with members of our caucus, I am prepared to take an amendment to lower that 100 down to 25. And in fact it increases the penalty from a misdemeanor to allow for it to be charged on a first time offense, personal use, in one’s own home, to be charged as a felony.” (words of Assemblyman Mark Leno 1-26-06 in the legislature)

Frank writes further:

In other words, Mark Leno argued on the floor of the assembly today that possession of 24 pieces of child pornography for personal use in one’s own home should only be a misdemeanor on par with a parking ticket.

In the past, Leno has refused to admit that possession of child pornography is a violent offense and even equated it with stealing a bicycle. The fact is that those who possession child pornography are creating a market place for what amounts to a sex-slave industry of young, innocent children.

We share the outrage that this “elected official” is defending this filth. Maybe he’s concerned that some of his constituents will get busted. Just a thought. A musing. Have at it.

And it appears we’re not the only ones indignant. In an interview on the O’Reilly Factor on Sept. 13, 2005, the following debate took place:

O’Reilly: The possession of (child pornography) is a violent crime. If there wasn’t a market, they wouldn’t do it.

Leno: And you’re welcome to that opinion. As I say, we’ve got a failed three strikes law in California, unlike any other in the nation . . . We can’t afford to lock everyone up for stealing a bicycle on a third offense.”

Huh? Is that supposed to be a joke? Only a liberal can understand.
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The spinmeisters for the Democratic party are out with the talking points in what could be characterized as a preemptive strike against the President’s State Of The Union Address.

Look for the gist of these attacks to mimic Hillary Clinton’s criticism of the President’s diplomatic and multi-lateral efforts in dealing with Iran. Hillary called the President’s diplomacy ‘’outsourcing'’ the problem.

This is extremely funny since during the build up to the Iraq war, the President was roundly criticized by the Democrats for not going to the UN, though he revisited the UN at every turn. It is also funny because he was criticized for ‘’going it alone'’ because our allies were not on board (except England), though it now turns out those allies were protecting bribes they were receiving from Saddam Hussein at the highest levels of their governments and industry.

Now the President is trying to manage the nuclear problem in Iran with the very tactics the Democrats urged him to use, and they are saying this is wrong too!
(continue reading post »)

The S.F. Chronicle reports: “Google Inc. has declined to appear before the Congressional Human Rights Caucus on Wednesday to answer questions about its business in China, including the company’s recent decision to censor search results that the Beijing government considers subversive.”

Wow. And what about a backlash from angry, outraged liberals? It’s coming. Just you wait. Doesn’t matter that Google founders are liberals. No, sir. We’re talking about human rights and censorship. You can hear the protests now…wait…we hear something…was that a yawn?

The Mountain View search-engine company declined the request to send a speaker to the briefing, which will probe the pressures China puts on U.S. Internet companies that operate there, according to Ryan Keating, a spokesman for Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Ohio, who plans to chair the meeting.

A spokeswoman for Google did not return a telephone call seeking comment.

By skipping the briefing, Google is avoiding what will probably be a very public cacophony of complaints. Several members of Congress, as well as human rights groups, have excoriated Google and other companies for limiting freedom of expression in China by blocking Web sites that discuss the Tiananmen Square massacres and Falun Gong spiritual movement, among other things.

Being liberal means never having to say you’re sorry. We read that once.

UPDATE: (4/11)
Michelle Malkin: “Google Bias”

UPDATE:
CNET: “Microsoft clarifies policy on censoring blogs”

RELATED:
When Do Liberals Agree To Censorship?
Google Teams up with the ACLU
Google Loses Round 2
Don’t Be Google

Blogging goes mainstream?

CNET reports: “Traditional and new media will join forces for a multipronged, interactive approach to covering Tuesday night’s State of the Union address.”

ABC and AOL News late last week began soliciting opinions on what ordinary citizens think about the state of the union via a poll, text messaging and even videos in a type of “citizen journalism” in which the citizens tell journalists–and their fellow citizens–what they think about the nation’s course.

Maybe we’ll get a quote in. Stay tuned.

RELATED:
“Newspapers are dead” (Blogging is the future) — Dave Barry