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Locally interest in the President's speech was high, but reaction was mixed. Karen Scullin spoke with some students. And, tells us what they had to say. I found that with both republicans and democrats there were things they liked and didn't like about President Bush's speech. Students at Westminster College and the University of Utah watched and waited as the President spoke on a number of issues. They left with some pretty strong opinions -- especially when it comes to President Bush's focus on terrorism and the war in Iraq.
Breanne Miller: “I thought he spent a lot of time talking about Iraq, and I thought he could have spent more time talking about domestic issues."
Joshua Madrigal: “I felt that he delivered it well, but I have a problem with a lot of the content of the speech basically."
Travis Higgins: “I thought the president did a very nice job. I thought he struck a nice balance between foreign and domestic issues."
Jared Massey: “President Bush kind of let us know where we were with the war on terrorism with war , why we went in there , how it was good we got rid of Saddam Hussein."
Some students felt strongly that other issues were avoided --- or dashed by the president.
Rebecca Bunderson: “I'm really angry how he swerved around the gay issue against gay rights and the education especially for abstinence. I feel that abstinence isn't the best answer."
Megan Risbon: “I was kind of disappointed he didn't focus a lot on education."
But even with several democrats Bush's health care plan seemed to score well.
Megan Risbon: “I do like his health care plan, if he really did implement it, and it really did work."
Rebecca Bunderson: “I did like about the health care system, and the frivolous lawsuits and things like that."
Utah Democratic Representative Jim Matheson said he sees some support for Bush's job training and education proposal, but wishes he would have made passing a new highway bill a priority.
And the Utah congressional republicans say Bush has the right focus during an election year--- focusing not just on his accomplishments, but the task ahead.
