The state of the union is up for discussion

The meaningless rhetoric of President Bush’s State of the Union speech only strengthens my impression that this country is in even deeper trouble than I suspected.

There was no leveling with the people about Iraq, homeland security, the economic crisis of millions of Americans, the deficit, the broken healthcare-delivery system, the abandonment of the underprivileged, the protection and enrichment of huge corporations and the very rich, the defiling of the environment and the myriad other problems born out of weak leadership. When will this president be honest and talk straight with us? We need more than an orchestrated, empty speech full of rhetoric. Why do we have those silly State of the Union speeches anyway?

BETTY FAAS

Santa Maria

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I can’t believe Bush has the gall to stand up before the nation and talk about the need for bipartisanship. This is a man whose attack dogs take every opportunity to demonize their political opponents, and who is the leader of a party that refuses to follow long-established rules in Congress to allow the minority voices to be heard. Bush and his party are all about naked power. Their greed and corruption are staggering, as is their duplicity.

KAREN LEE

Ross, Calif.

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When will we have a new strategy in Iraq that protects American lives? And when will we secure our ports and chemical and nuclear plants, which remain vulnerable?

DENNIS LANDI

Cypress

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If we are addicted to oil, was oilman Bush a pusher? It seems our president showed the same preparedness for this energy crisis as he has shown preparedness for a postwar Iraq, or Hurricane Katrina, or a Hamas victory in Palestine.

China is using our dollars to drive up the price of oil, and Bush has done nothing to counteract the inevitable economic power of China. Certainly cars can run on alternate fuels or be manufactured with fuel cells. I notice that Exxon Mobil is certainly profiting from our addiction, with no remorse. Maybe the administration needs energy detox or a windfall profit tax.

LEIGH DATZKER

Woodland Hills

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The president feels it’s America’s role to spread democracy in the world, even to those who don’t want it. He seems to say it is our destiny to be the dispenser of democracy, even at the point of a gun. After all, he knows what the world needs, like it or not. It’s exactly this behavior that has left us standing virtually alone and friendless in the Middle East. I don’t feel one bit safer because of his reckless policies.

ANTHONY UNGER

Los Angeles

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So Bush wants to enhance science education. And then, if past is prologue, not listen to what scientists say.

JANE ROBERTS

Redlands

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Democrats think Americans are stupid. Americans know the difference between lies, insults and spin. Bush will go down in history as the best president the U.S. ever had, and the best speech-giver, who had more class than all the left-aisle seat-warmers put together.

The Democrats’ spin will not knock out the truth -- no plan, just complaints. Thank God Democrats are out of office and the right man is in charge.

AUDREY ROHDE

Rancho Santa Fe