On balance, a fairly pedestrian speech. There have been the expected nods to the military, to the Iraqi people, to the idea of freedom in the world. The notion of American economic competitiveness has been a theme. There has been a warning to Hamas and a warning to Iran. I don’t recall a mention of al Qaeda, come to think of it (Update: yes, he did) .
There has been a series of small proposals about education, energy, health care, etc.
I must confess, the notion that we are going to severe our ties to foreign oil as the result of some vague proposals is rather silly.
Here’s some real Presidential small ball: a proposal to train Advanced Placement teachers. My word. I am all for AP classes, but somehow this isn’t the stuff of the Presidency.
