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State of the Union: Your reaction to president's speech

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(CNN) -- President Bush delivered his sixth State of the Union address Tuesday evening, urging lawmakers to work with him to "achieve big things for the American people."

We asked CNN.com readers to share their thoughts on the president's speech. Here is a selection of their responses, some of which have been edited for length and clarity.

Raul Fernades of Windsor, Connecticut
Two key words were missing from the speech tonight: New Orleans. How can the president have and show more empathy in the State of the Union address for people in other countries than his own? I'm disappointed at the fact that we continually keep washing other people's laundry and not our own.

John Westmoreland of San Jose, California
I thought the speech was very strong and powerful. I like the president's ideas about having tax relief for insurance premiums and how to handle insurance for those who can't afford it. I really like the idea of the volunteer corps so those that can't serve in uniform have the opportunity to serve in other ways. I agree that the No. 1 problem facing America and our way of life is terrorism. I agree it will take the resolve of the entire nation to win the war on terror -- and the volunteer corps may very well be the key to how it will be won. I think this may be the single most powerful idea of his presidency.

Bonnie Defoe of Daleville, Alabama
Surprisingly a well-delivered address! Lovely intro to Madam Speaker, lovely ending by honoring four extraordinary citizens. I may not have agreed with everything he said in between, but we did hire this man (twice) to answer the questions and deal with the situations we may not know how to handle.

Ronald Miller of Lafayette, Indiana
This sounded more like a State of Iraq speech and not a State of the Union Speech.

Lance Mayfield of Viburnum, Missouri
I want to feel good about the fight in the war on terror but if we stay the course, I believe this war will look the same in another five years. More troops should have been the course of action five years ago. I am not convinced we have a good plan on the way forward.

Emily Lewis of Fort Bragg, North Carolina
I must say that speech gave me chills. I thought it was amazing! And I feel so proud to have my husband in the U.S. Army fighting for our freedom! And I am thankful to have a president like this!

Carmeletta Hepburn of Lakeview, Arkansas
Bush sounds good, but almost everyone knows that it is just a bunch of hype. He did not say "I resign," which is all I wanted to hear from him.

Amanda Kotula of Tallahassee, Florida
I admire President Bush's determination to not forget Darfur, or the AIDS epidemic in Africa. With all that is going on domestically and in the Middle East, it is easy to forget about Africa and the devastation, disease, and destruction running rampant on the continent.

Susan Parks of Highland, California
I was not impressed tonight... where was this conciliatory, "compassionate" president this past six years? Darfur, finally.

Joseph Solis of Attleboro, Massachusetts
It's 2007 and our president is still talking about anthrax. Mr. Bush, you've let our nation down. What about our economy, health care, Social Security? This country has taken its eye off the ball and I hold you personally responsible.

Claudia Kinsey of Boynton Beach, Florida
Very impressive. The president was coherent and eloquent. I don't think anybody would disagree with his domestic agenda (improve health care and Social Security, revamp private health insurance). The flash point is President Bush's commitment to the war in Iraq and his plan to send in more troops. As sad as the thought of sacrificing more Americans is, I agree with the president. He's right and it's that simple. We have no choice. We have to win.

William Mosley of Columbus, Ohio
Empty promises based on the mandate given by the citizens of our republic and dictated by the failures of this partisan presidency. Actions speak louder than words -- unfortunately this White House has remained silent for far too long.

Christian Robinson of Chicago, Illinois
I thought President Bush's speech was well thought out and surprisingly well-spoken, considering his past proclivity for incoherent phrases or mispronunciation. I liked his idea for health care tax credits. I think it's best for people to spend on their own health care, not have it foisted upon them by government.

I liked his point to reduce gasoline consumption by 20 percent. I think it is smart to invest more in ethanol and bio-diesel technology. While it certainly won't solve the whole energy issue, it is part of the picture. Finally, I agree with his stance to continue taking the fight to al Qaeda and the rest of the Islamic extremists. I think his additional 21,000 troops is a compromise move, limited by 1) the midterm election defeat, and 2) the Democratic majority in the house who are now free to criticize all Iraq policy, hoping for the best, but relishing any U.S. failures as fuel to their fight to regain the White House in 2008.

Susan Mayer of Charlotte, North Carolina
I am ashamed. No mention of New Orleans. This administration cares more about a foreign country than its own citizens.

John Baker of Syracuse, New York
[This is] the most irrelevant State of the Union speech in living memory. The legacy and perception of Bush, the administration and (to a lesser extent) this Congress will be defined by whatever becomes of the unmitigated disaster that is Iraq. And that is all. Health care, economic policy and other non-war issues are irrelevant, not because they are unimportant but because they are going to be ignored for the remainder of this administration.

David Cass of Providence, Rhode Island
In my mind, the president dropped some bombs during his speech -- most notably, instead of the "voluntary" reduction of greenhouse gases that we were expecting, he proposed "mandatory" limits. It seems to me, faced with a war that is quickly becoming the greatest mistake in this country's short history, and faced with very low approval from the American people, the president tried to switch the attention away from Iraq, if only momentarily.

Kathleen Wiklund of Scarborough, Maine
It is approximately 9:40 p.m. and I can no longer listen to the continuing dialog of the president and to my amazement the apparent jumping up like "jack in the boxes" of the Democrats to his proposals. Doesn't anyone, especially this Congress, get that we are fed up with all this nonsense? What a farce!

Steve Gatto of San Antonio, Texas
Guess I'm old school now that I've turned 50 but I was taught to respect the president no matter which party, race or sex. Once again I guess my Marine Corps training was wrong to do the same because it's very obvious that the new leadership of the Congress was not taught those same values!

Jon Hughes of Portland, Oregon
Why are the Dems so polite as an audience? No booing and lots of standing ovations. No wonder Bush thinks he can get away with anything. He doesn't have any pressure from his "opponents." I want to barf.

Sarah Young of Moultrie, Georgia
What dream world is our president living in? What good are tax incentives/deductions for health insurance if you are earning minimum wage and just can't afford a decent place to live let alone health insurance? Health savings accounts would be funded by whom, the working poor? This man's legacy could well be The Great Dreamer!

Nate Hawkins of Dover, Ohio
I enjoyed the president's strong stance against foreign oil. I was disappointed to see so many Democrats not standing when everyone else did when he talked about fighting terror. Sen. Kerry stood out like a sore thumb, not even looking up at the president. Shame on him.

K. Wallis of St. Paul, Minnesota
Mr. Bush's statement about not affording amnesty to illegal immigrants is clearly false, in light of his recent proposals to give illegals already in the country a "path to citizenship." He should support legislation that requires illegal aliens in the country to LEAVE the U.S. BEFORE applying for entry to our country.

Matthew Morriss of Austin, Texas
I think that the president isn't really thinking about what the speechwriters have given him. Early in his speech he started talking about balancing the national budget and signing in a plan to get the nation out of dept by 2010. Then less than 5 minutes later he started talking about spending more in schools. Then he talked about spending more in securing the borders and more into health care. Then he talked about spending more to support our troops. All without raising taxes. I don't know where he learned logic but money has to come from somewhere and if not from taxes, where? The speech didn't answer more questions for me; it created more.

Jeff Van Harlingen of Westchester, Illinois
Bush's description of his health care plan is vague at best. It was confusing and difficult to follow. I am looking for more concrete ways he plans to improve the system.

Gary Addis of Moss Point, Mississippi
The president's speech contained a gift for practically everyone. It was designed to lift his flagging poll numbers. But almost all of his proposals are unworkable. To the end of his term, he will remain a failure.

Alicia Montooth of Maryville, Tennessee
I wonder if the name Osama bin Laden has been forgotten or if it's just too embarrassing to talk about anymore. Also, did I just hear the president say he admits global warming is real? It's about time.

Daniel Lebovic of Atlanta, Georgia
Another typical "Hate of the Union" address by President Bush -- full of his signature blather: gratuitous references to 9/11, implying a connection between Iraq and al Qaeda when there was none, chastising congressional Democrats for disagreeing with him, mock humility, and blatant scaremongering and fearmongering. The "Greatest Hits" collection was playing at full blast tonight!


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President Bush delivers his State of the Union address to Congress Tuesday.

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