Bush wasn't as obnoxious as usual, and he read off the teleprompter OK. But the speech was pretty bad, replete with the usual lies, half-truths, and bluster. It staggered from one scripted applause line to the next without going anywhere, and judging from the response of Republican lawmakers, his plea for more time to kill more American troops in a long-shot attempt to salvage part of his ego fell flat. As SotUs go, this one was about a 3 out of 10.

Is anyone else getting sick of the pro forma tributes to heroes that every President since Reagan has incorporated? It's nothing but a cheap way to steal some reflected glory.

Webb did fine, outlining in nine minutes the major differences between the parties. And he nailed Bush's Iraq errors perfectly.