A Modest Proposal

I would like to make a suggestion that I feel would be apropos regardless of who is in the White House.

Let's rename the State of the Union address to something that's a little more truth-in-advertising:

Ladies and gentlemen, you didn't just learn about the State of the Union last night ... you had a first-row seat for the 2005 Presidential Commercial (Extended Edition)™.

Other bloggers — both here and elsewhere — have made far more astute analysis of Dubya's blabbering prattle than I could, especially since I find myself repulsed every time I hear the man speak and usually can't force myself to watch him espouse American neocon fascism.

I was encouraged, though, to see (well, rather, read) the Democrats' response, as it seemed to begin to do some rudimentary framing, instead of going the nay-saying course:

It's time that America's government lived up to the same values as America's families. It's time we invested in America's future and made sure our people have the skills to compete and thrive in a 21st century economy. That's what Democrats believe, and that's where we stand, and that's what we'll fight for.

And later on:

Good, new jobs, world-class education, affordable health care -- these things matter.

Reid went on to do a KILLER bit of framing:

Too many of the president's economic policies have left Americans and American companies struggling. And after we worked so hard to eliminate the deficit, his policies have added trillions to the debt -- in effect, a "birth tax" of $36,000 on every child that is born.

"Birth tax." The Democrats have to just RAM that sucker down the American people's throats. That's a GREAT piece of framing.