Surprisingly Sober Bush 

Surprisingly Sober Bush

I'm not really making a bad joke about Bush's "drinking 'til he was 40" story--although he kind of referred to it himself in the SOTU. I mean that the tone of this speech was a surprise. He was more giddy or dreamy in the Inaugural--when the outcome in Iraq, at least according to many observers, was still very much in doubt. Now that things are going well there, he can calm down. He doesn't promise to make war on a lot of countries, he focusses on the Middle East (on Syria and Iran in particular), and he makes it clear he will work closely with pseudo-democracies Pakistan and Egypt. On social security, Kaus praises him for being open to a number of options, in such a way that he can take credit for almost any real reform that actually occurs.

Immigration reform--which his core doesn't like. Anti-gay marriage and pro-life messages, but nothing over the top. Instead of helping with AIDS in Africa, now he wants to help African-Americans--and something about gangs and the inner city, with Laura in charge. Reduced spending to balance the budget--isn't that what his critics have been demanding?--several rather clever references to FDR. The Bushies have done smart political work before, but this may be the best yet.