Anybody "Skeptical of Bush Speech" in Brownwood ?

Locals skeptical of Bush speech
Not everyone watches; those who do have questions
By D.E. Smoot
Phoenix Staff Writer

President Bush gave his fifth State of the Union Address Tuesday night, trying to steer his policy agenda toward popular support. But the message, for those who bothered to watch or listen, was heavily salted by eastern Oklahomans.
Karry Kofr-Chambers, a Cherokee County artisan and singer-songwriter, said Bush brought up several good points during the traditional congressional address.
“But I can’t help but be a little skeptical,” she said. “It’s nice to see him (Bush) talk about things like reducing our dependence on foreign oil, but we should have been thinking about that a long time ago.”
Dennis Chambers, who retired after 22 years conducting aerial surveillance for the Air Force Navy of Welling said the president’s message about giving field commanders in Iraq the authority to do “what needs to be done to bring our troops home” struck a chord.
“From what I have seen, it seems like the commanders’ hands have been tied by the civilian branch of the military,” Chambers said. “We need a leader who is determined to let the military force the hands of our enemies and to seek out ... those who seek to destroy us.”
While both viewers of Tuesday night’s speech were hopeful Bush’s concern about America’s addiction to foreign oil is genuine, they were more pessimistic about the president’s declaration that “the state of our union is strong.”
“I believe Americans are tired of the media and our elected representatives trying to convince us there is nothing wrong,” Kofr-Chambers said. “We are not stupid, and we are tired of them (politicians) trying to act as if we do not know how heavy this load has become.
“Because of our dependency on foreign oil and the terrible shape of our schools, it will be hard to get back on the road toward (being a country of) new inventions and sharp minds,” she said.
But even though Bush seemed to address those concerns with his proposal to train 70,000 high school teachers to lead advanced-placement courses in math and science and advocating bringing 30,000 math and science professionals into the classrooms to teach, both were skeptical.
“If he (Bush) is serious about this, then I think it’s a great thing,” Kofr-Chambers said. “But these past few years, I have gone from being overly optimistic to becoming more of a skeptic.”
With regard to Bush’s claim that his domestic spying program is legal and necessary, Chambers said, “Too many secrets are being kept from the public.”
U.S. Rep. Dan Boren, D-Okla., also weighed in on Bush’s State of the Union Address.
Boren said he was glad to hear Bush talk about improving education and health care accessibility, a concern he shares with both Chambers and Kofr-Chambers.
“The president’s programs are an important step in expanding coverage in America,” Boren said. “But we have to do more to provide quality, affordable health care in rural America.”
You can reach D.E. Smoot at 684-2903 or dsmoot@muskogeephoenix.com

source: http://www.muskogeephoenix.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060201/NEWS01/60201007/1002