two things about the state of the union

De facto President Bush's energy proposals announced at the State of the Union are a bunch of crap. For example, he said his plan would reduce gasoline use by 20% in 10 years. Sounds good - but what he MEANT is that it would be 20% lower THAN CURRENTLY PROJECTED. Since gasoline use rises pretty much every year, that isn't a cut - it's just a smaller increase. A smaller increase in gasoline burned in the US will do absolutely nothing to help on climate change, and little to help on our dependence on foreign oil. Which will run out at some point anyway.

Likewise, he talks about raising the fuel efficiency standards - but didn't mention that this would be done by category of car, a massive loophole. So depending on the mix of cars purchased and the relative gains in fuel efficiency, "higher" standards could STILL lead to DROPS in the current fuel efficiency numbers. Again, this will do absolutely nothing to help on climate change, and little to help on our dependence on foreign oil. Which will run out at some point anyway.

Oh, and one other point about what to me sounded like a very tired, warmed-over collection of past failures, plus his pleading to be given just one more chance in Iraq. Bush's nice little gesture to Nancy Pelosi was immediately undercut when he again used a semi-insulting adjective, giving his congratulations to the "Democrat majority."

That's DEMOCRATIC majority, oh esteemed leader of the Republican -- or is that REPUBLIC? -- Party.