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Young Democrats throughout America hosted watch parties tonight with the theme "Bush Doesn't Care About Young People" to mark the State of the Union...

I am so grateful that this is the last Bush State of the Union in front of a Republican Congress that I have to watch since we will work together to get the Democratic youth vote out to ensure Democrats take over Congress in 2006.

Young Democrats throughout America hosted watch parties tonight with the theme "Bush Doesn't Care About Young People" to mark the State of the Union, which Bush described as strong…I am here to say loud and clear our State of the Union is not.

I want to recognize all the Democrats who stood and clapped when Bush said, “Congress did not act last year on my proposal to save Social Security.” I’m sure he expected a different response.

I also want to praise Governor Kaine from Virginia. YDA ran a program in Virginia that helped get him elected. He got it right tonight in the Democratic response. We need to get and must expect more from our government. There is a better way.

Republicans try to say Democrats have no vision, no ideas and no leadership. Well, Mr. Bush what new ideas did you put forth tonight? Nothing…absolutely nothing.

As Young Democrats, we believe Bush truly doesn’t care about young people and people of all ages for that matter. He proved that with his cuts in student loans which will pad the pockets of the rich while leaving our nation’s young people behind.

He proved that with the Medicare program he completely destroyed and complicated for our grandparents. He proved that by allowing corruption within his closest staff members and confidants and of course the biggest, the complete absence of social conscience and morality in Iraq.

Bush once again focused on Iraq and terrorism, and all I have is one question, where in the world in Osama Bin Laden?

The President tried to assert the economy is stronger and growing, but wages continue to fall or remain stagnant and he put us in a deficit after Clinton handed him a surplus.

Let’s also talk about healthcare. Healthcare Savings Accounts are not the answer to our broken insurance system. Those so called HSAs are only good for people who have great insurance now, not the over 43 million who are uninsured and underinsured—the most being our generation.

I know many of us are hit hard by the rising gas prices, I think many of us can remember gas prices at $1.50, we are now paying close to $3.00. In 2005’s State of the Union Bush commented on renewable energy, but this is not a new idea he talks about.

Bush said in 2005 “we also need reliable supplies of affordable, environmentally responsible energy. Nearly four years ago, I submitted a comprehensive energy strategy that encourages conservation, alternative sources, a modernized electricity grid, and more production here at home -- including safe, clean nuclear energy. …And my budget provides strong funding for leading-edge technology -- from hydrogen-fueled cars, to clean coal, to renewable sources such as ethanol.” Too bad he can’t follow through on this like he can with giving contracts to his friends.

The unbridled spending of this Administration and Republicans in Congress continues to roll up record deficits that will be balanced on the backs of our generation; this State of the Union reads like a laundry list of issues hurting young people in America.

Thank you for blogging tonight, thank you for hosting Watch Parties and let’s band together to get our peers to the polls to vote for Democrats in 2006.

-President Gallaway

Other blogs to check out:

Think Progress is listing what Bush says with truth right under it:
http://www.thinkprogress.org/

Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Weblog, with comments from Rep. Tim Ryan (OH) and a member of the 30-Something Group:
http://www.dccc.org/stakeholder/archives/004264.html

South Dakota High School Democrats, blog post by Matt Thompson:
http://southdakotahighschooldemocrats.blogspot.com/

YDA Member and Mayor Herbert Riede:
http://www.herbriede.com/blog/

YDA Member Aaron Thompson:
http://spaces.msn.com/wjsotuwatch/

YDA Member and Labor Caucus Chair, Greg Holcomb:
http://www.6ward.com

Partner at Blue State Digital, Clay Johnson:
http://www.clayjohnson.org/

Big Dem Blogger, John Aravosis
http://americablog.blogspot.com/2006/01/what-about-mars.html

A great list of all Dem and Repub blogs to watch, thanks Matt Stoller:
http://www.mydd.com/story/2006/1/31/181928/997

For more information: http://www.yda.org