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VIEWER'S SCORECARD
What did you think of President Bush's State of the Union address?
Read CNN analysts' assessments in four categories of the speech and then tell us how you think the president performed by grading him in the same areas.

  Social issues Economy National security Foreign affairs

Paul Begala
Political strategist
He demagogued gay marriage, then kissed Joe Lieberman!
Bush's Social Security plan is three words: His-To-Ry. It's dead, dead, dead.

Iran had better start building bomb shelters. What is he going to do? Start attacking all the "I" countries? Italy, Ireland, Indonesia, Indiana?

No amount of cheerleading can distract from the debacle of Iraq.

Robert Novak
Political analyst
He didn't have much to say about social issues and they really weren't a big part of the speech.
He wasn't very forthcoming on details on his economic proposals because he spent so much time on Social Security. I thought his explanation on Social Security was quite good and much more specific than anything we have seen to date.
President Bush was effective in tying Iraq into the larger war on terrorism.
I thought President Bush was quite good in defending U.S. foreign policy and making his case to the American public.

Bill Schneider
Political analyst
The president showed respect for his conservative base by mentioning their causes (marriage amendment, culture of life). But his words did not go beyond dutiful recognition. He spoke with greater urgency about immigration reform.
He evaded the tough choices. What 150 government programs does he want to cut? Where will he get the money to pay for Social Security reform? He listed many controversial choices for reducing benefits but simply said, "All these ideas are on the table."
The speech aimed to reassure Americans that the nation is more secure. Did he succeed? Yes, because his speech was the first since 9/11 to focus more on domestic issues.
The axis of evil appears to have expanded. It now includes Syria. Plus tough warnings to Saudi Arabia and Egypt: they may be pro-U.S., but they'd better get with the democratic agenda. And he gave an ominous warning to Iran.
YOU DECIDE!
Select a grade in each category then click SUBMIT


Paul Begala
It is a telling sign that the most memorable moment of the president's speech was when the president said nothing and the woman who lost her son hugged the woman from Iraq. He named a bunch of unpalatable options for Social Security and told Congress: You handle it. Then he extolled private accounts but wouldn't say how he's going to pay the $2 trillion they cost. That's not leadership. I loved that he chided Saudi Arabia and Egypt, and that he called for $350 million to support Abu Mazen as he tries to lead the Palestinians away from terrorism.

Robert Novak
I thought this State of the Union speech was the best one that Bush has delivered. I thought it was more eloquent, more coherent and less abrasive than speeches of the past.

Bill Schneider
The speech will be remembered for one intensely emotional moment -- when Janet Norwood hugged the Iraqi human rights activist. That picture was worth all several thousand of the president's words.

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