Not much to say about the SOTU.

I watched.

I had to drink while watching ... but I watched. No, I didn't play the drinking game with key words like 9/11, terror or tax cuts. That would've killed me.

Yes, we were barely five minutes in before it was 9/11 this, and terra that, and images of boogiemen around every 7/11 store in sight. Same ole' same ole'. Then there was the host of domestic programs, tax cuts, payoffs to donors etc. But then the Preznit said something.

Finish well.

Really?

The last words of the President.

Finish well.

In a deft fashion Bush managed to sum up the speech and indeed, his presidency. If there is one phrase that DOES NOT epitomize George Bush Jr. it's "finish well". He has never finished well. No child left behind? Nope. Intelligence reform? Nope. Improving U.S. security? Nope. Social security reform? Nope. Iraq war? Nope. Manage the countries finances? Nope. Katrina? Nope. Honesty? Nope.

I challenge anyone to name anything during the Bush administration where they have "finished well". This is the crux of why watching anything that Bush says publically is a waste of time. No matter what the rhetoric, even when it sounds good, you know they won't "finish well". While this is not an unusual phenomena in politicians, most manage to have some accomplishments towards their goals and some actually manage to be highly competent. Not Bush. George Bush has taken the failure to act with competence to an unheard of level.

So, another SOTU speech. Another laundry list of stuff to do. And another lack of follow-through.

Credibility, Mr. President, is something that you sorely lack. The only "finishing well" ahead for this country in 2008 when you are gone.

Added: Forgot to mention. Did you all catch that straw man, Mr. Isolationist? Bush set him up nicely and then wrestled him to the ground for about ten minutes. For the life of me, I can 't think of a single serious progressive who advocates "isolationism". Can you?