Minutes after George Bush’s State of the Union address tonight, ABC News dissected the speech and announced — with truly startling mathematical precision — that 60 percent of the paragraphs in the president’s speech could have come from one of Bill Clinton’s State of the Union addresses. (It was so startling that I forget if it was 60 percent or some other number.)
In light of this fascinating statistic, I have put together a quiz to test your knowledge of tonight’s State of the Union. After reading the statements below, please indicate whether the words came from (a) George W. Bush’s 2006 State of the Union, (b) Bill Clinton’s 1999 State of the Union, or (c) Osama bin Laden’s recent audiotape.
On justice:
1. “We are people who do not stand for injustice.”
2. “We are pressing … to bring those responsible to justice.”
3. “We do not forget the other half … because the demands of justice and the peace of this world require their freedom as well.”
On the nation:
1. “We are a nation that God has forbidden to lie and cheat.”
2. “No nation in history has had the opportunity and the responsibility we now have.”
3. “Our nation has only one option.”
On the nation’s resolve:
1. “We are in this fight to win, and we are winning.”
2. “They win a few battles but lose the war. Patience and steadfastness are much better.”
3. “No one anywhere in the world can doubt the enduring resolve and boundless capacity of [our] people.”
On Osama:
1. “We will defend our security wherever we are threatened, as we did … when we struck at Osama bin Laden’s network of terror.”
2. “Terrorists like bin Laden are serious about mass murder and all of us must take their declared intentions seriously.”
3. “A swimmer in the ocean does not fear the rain.”
On Social Security:
1. “So let me say to you tonight, I reach out my hand to all of you in both houses and both parties and ask that we join together in saying to the American people: We will save Social Security now.”
2. “Tonight, I ask you to join me in creating a commission to examine the full impact of baby boom retirements on Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. This commission should include members of Congress of both parties, and offer bipartisan answers.”
3. “The best death to us is under the shadows of swords.”
Click here for the answers.
Victor Tan Chen Victor Tan Chen is In The Fray's editor in chief and the author of Cut Loose: Jobless and Hopeless in an Unfair Economy. Site: victortanchen.com | Facebook | Twitter: @victortanchen
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