"For local Democrats, Union address and bingo go hand in hand"

The Super Bowl party is a yearly tradition that rivals Christmas.

But prior to Super Sunday, the State of the Union address gave the Western New York Coalition for Progress a chance to party like only fans of politics can, with an event for people of all ages to come and relax, grab a slice of pizza and some wings, and watch the President's speech on a big-screen TV. For those who were less enthralled by the address, there was also political Bingo and chances to win prizes.

The excitement escalated even before Bush's speech began at 9 p.m. Gatherers booed the television when Cindy Sheehan, an anti-war activist whose soldier son was killed in Iraq, was arrested for wearing a t-shirt slandering the ongoing conflict in Iraq.

A much different reaction, though, was elicited from the audience as a CNN reporter introduced the President as "not a great communicator, but a likable guy." Roars of laughter rang out at this tongue-in-cheek remark but quickly subsided when the president started the address.

Bush began his oration by urging the country to "stand behind the military" and fight for freedom, stressing the dangers of surrendering to the evil of terrorists. The president also reflected on the Iraq war, deeming that "hindsight alone is not wisdom, and second guessing is not a strategy."

The audience's attention certainly peaked when Bush declared: "America is addicted to oil." Cries of shock and disgust echoed off the walls throughout the bar.

"Now he's trying to blame the country for the consequences of oil consumption!" said Nancy Spector, a Buffalo resident. "I do not agree with that at all."

Some witnesses, however, weren't as offended by the remark.

"I think it's good that Bush is trying to make us less dependent on foreign oil," said Sarah Grover, a sophomore social science major at UB. "He's right about the fact that the countries we rely on for oil are unstable. If we have to get resources from places that are in constant turmoil, what kind of image does that project about our own country?"

The event held at the Capitol in Washington, D.C. appeared to be as interactive as the scene at J.P. Bullfeather's. The audience, divided into left and right halves of the room according to their corresponding political beliefs, did not hold back throughout the President's address.

Democrats in the crowd gave a standing ovation when Bush mentioned that Congress didn't approve of his "proposal to save Social Security" last year. Republicans alike retorted with applause and cheers of delight as the president suggested plans that included a proposal to reinstate the Patriot Act. This proposal hit home for UB student Dmitry Braynin, a junior studying political science and philosophy.

"I am in favor of the Patriot Act and the war," Braynin said. "However, I don't like the way the war is being conducted. Something is lacking there."

The permanent reauthorization of the Patriot Act was just one detail of Bush's agenda. Bush also proposed a tax cut that would save $14 billion for taxpayers next year. For some, however, this idea was just an empty promise.

"He is saying nothing new," said Camille Paloque, a UB graduate student studying literature. "He's just reusing the same ideas, such as a tax cut."

This sentiment seemed to be the consensus among Democrats at the J.P. Bullfeather's event.

"It was what I expected. Bush had nothing new, nothing innovative to say," said Corey Mohr, president of the UB College Democrats. "He seems to have the same stance on Iran as his stance on Iraq. We seem to be going down a dangerously similar road there, and it's scary."

Neal Huff, however, said he doesn't mind the President's "use of familiar ideas."

"Everyone seems to have something negative to say about him," said Huff, a sophomore general studies major. "No one acknowledges the positive things he is doing, such as his plan to spend $4 billion in Africa for the fight against AIDS. So what if he is in favor of traditional ideas like tax cuts."

The State of the Union address is an annual institution derived from Article II, Section 3 of the U.S. Constitution, stating that "the president shall from time to time give to Congress information of the State of the Union and recommend to their consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient." According to the White House, President Bush's address lasted 51 minutes and paused 64 times for applause from members of Congress.