FOX News: Bush Reinforces State of the Union Ideals in the Heartland

Here is a different perspective on President Bush's State of the Union. FOX News' point of view is certainly different from that of Ms. Sheehan. Just trying to be "Fair and Balanced."

The Nation: Watch For Misdirection in Bush's State of The Union

This president has used his yearly speeches to misstate intelligence data in order to deceive the Congress and the American people about supposed threats to national security, as Bush did in his 2003 address. And he has repeatedly used State of the Union addresses to foster the false impression that misnamed programs -- such as the so-called "Patriot" and "No Child Left Behind" acts -- are actually designed to protect and serve the American people. Tonight, the president will deliver the second State of the Union address of a second term gone awry.

The Nation magazine has the remainder of the story.

Slate: What's Wrong With the President's State of The Union Address

Slate magazine has an interesting take on the ritual State of the Union Speech.

State of the Union: Bush Scaling Down his Agenda

George W. Bush will give his fifth annual State of the Union message tonight. Independent voters have been leaving the president and this will probably his most important audience. Many Americans including these independents feel the nation was heading in the right direction with poll numbers well below 50 percent

Recently the White House has telegraphed the major elements of this year's speech: an initiative to make healthcare more affordable, ideas to reduce US dependence on foreign energy, a call to extend tax cuts. The defining issues of Mr. Bush's presidency - the Iraq war and larger war on terror - will also occupy center stage.

With the presiden'ts support waning, he is forced to scale down his agenda. The Christian Science Monitor has the story.

State of The Union Speech 2006 Seen as Crucial for Bush

tomorrow's State of the Union Speech by president George Bush is critical, experts say, as Bush tries to bolster his own popularity as poll numbers continue to drop. The president will try to boost the fortunes of a Republican Party tainted by scandal, grappling with soaring budget deficits and consumed by the war in Iraq.

A preview of the importance of the speech here.