I like President Jim Webb – oops, I mean Senator. He had the best line of the night (full transcript at the NY Times):

Regarding the economic imbalance in our country, I am reminded of the situation President Theodore Roosevelt faced in the early days of the 20th century. America was then, as now, drifting apart along class lines. The so-called robber barons were unapologetically raking in a huge percentage of the national wealth. The dispossessed workers at the bottom were threatening revolt.

Roosevelt spoke strongly against these divisions. He told his fellow Republicans that they must set themselves “as resolutely against improper corporate influence on the one hand as against demagogy and mob rule on the other.” And he did something about it.

As I look at Iraq, I recall the words of former general and soon-to-be President Dwight Eisenhower during the dark days of the Korean War, which had fallen into a bloody stalemate. “When comes the end?” asked the General who had commanded our forces in Europe during World War Two. And as soon as he became President, he brought the Korean War to an end.

These Presidents took the right kind of action, for the benefit of the American people and for the health of our relations around the world. Tonight we are calling on this President to take similar action, in both areas. If he does, we will join him. If he does not, we will be showing him the way.

As to the President’s message, two major problems jumped right into my mind.

First, taxing my health insurance benefits, then giving me a tax break that won’t even come close to covering the value of the plan I am enrolled in. All this so a transference of wealth can take place. Once again the middle class, who has worked its way up to the position and benefits they have (some kind of false American ideal, hard work and all that) will get less and pay more. I don’t think I voted socialist… Can somebody clue me in?

Second, Iraq. What can I say? The most disingenuous line was (full transcript at the NY Times):

This is not the fight we entered in Iraq, but it is the fight we’re in.

Oh, but it is. It is the exact fight the President set-up. We got exactly what was predicted by all the advisers who said ‘send more troops.’ Who cares what Sec. Rumsfeld thought about the military, small, lean, fast and all that. The buck stops at the President’s desk. He should have listed to the military experts, not his ‘ole buddy.

He still doesn’t get it, it never was about Iraq, but about terrorism. He missed the boat and has put us all in far greater danger from terrorism, debt, and a wasted cadre of young men and women.