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SUBJECT: AUSTRIAN MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS: January 25, 2007 
 
 
State of the Union Address 
 
¶1. All major Austrian media continue to analyze and comment on US 
President George Bush's 2007 State of the Union Address. One 
Austrian daily headlines "The new Bush: the president as 
petitioner," and writes that Bush came across as modest and low-key, 
and presenting a "green agenda." The daily's Washington 
correspondent doubts, however, that even with his new, conciliatory 
approach the President will have a hard time winning over the 
Democrats in Congress. 
 
Analyzing US President Bush's State of the Union Address, Washington 
correspondent for centrist daily Die Presse Norbert Rief argues 
Tuesday's speech was aimed at "pleasing the Democrats, who now 
control Congress. But even if they liked the address, Bush will have 
a hard time winning over Congress for his plans" and on Iraq, in 
particular, it is "completely out of the question," Rief believes. 
The President's "warning that America must not fail in Iraq went 
unheeded, with Senate and House majority leaders Harry Reid and 
Nancy Pelosi stating they would hold Bush responsible for his Iraq 
course. With the Iraq topic, virtually nothing can be achieved in a 
Democrat-controlled Congress, which is why domestic policy issues 
played a major role in the speech. On that front, the US was 
suddenly faced with a 'new' George Bush, pushing a 'green agenda,' 
and talking about bio-fuel, wind energy and environment protection." 
By addressing these issues, the President "wants to win over 
Congress, as all these topics are key concerns for the Democrats," 
according to Rief. The correspondent concludes, however, it is 
"doubtful this approach by the US President will succeed during his 
last two years in office." 
 
Semi-official daily Wiener Zeitung in its analysis writes that the 
"Democrats reacted harshly" to President Bush's efforts in his State 
of the Union Address to "sell his new Iraq strategy." While "Bush 
underscored his view that the war on terror was a decisive, 
ideological battle, in which the security of the US was at stake... 
Democratic Senator Jim Webb in his reply accused the administration 
of having no concept: Bush did not really have a new strategy on 
Iraq, he had merely presented a number of tactical adaptations," 
says the Wiener Zeitung, quoting Webb. The US President's "push to 
keep up a policy of strength in Iraq was dismissed by the Democrats, 
who accused Bush of continuing to ignore the will of the nation," 
the daily says, but also notes that Bush "made concessions to the 
Democratic Party with his proposals on a more environment-conscious 
approach to energy consumption or tax cuts to facilitate the 
purchase of health insurance." 
 
In mass-circulation tabloid Kronen Zeitung, Washington correspondent 
Hans Janitschek points out that the US President for the first time 
in a State of the Union Address "discussed the issue of climate 
protection." Bush "caused quote a stir with his plans for climate 
protection and a concept for comprehensive health insurance." He 
"made the biggest impression on the Democrats with his proposal for 
a universal health insurance system for all Americans," Janitschek 
writes. The correspondent argues that, with his new approach, Bush 
may be trying to "salvage his presidency." 
 
Mass-circulation daily Kurier runs the headline "Democrats 
cold-shoulder Bush," and points out that the US President "failed to 
get Democratic support for his tough course on Iraq." The "coolly 
polite atmosphere" during the State of the Union Address "reflects 
the new distribution of power in Congress."  Another "signal" was 
the fact that it was "not Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi who 
delivered the traditional reply for the Democrats, but Senator Jim 
Webb. The former Republican and ex-marine from Virginia is well 
known for his determined criticism of the Iraq war," the Kurier 
says, and suggests "Webb's main accusation was that US 'soldiers 
today can no longer have faith in their supreme commander's 
judgment.'" 
 
Liberal daily Der Standard quotes the US President as asking 
Americans to "give the Iraq strategy a chance," but says "Bush's 
critics cold-shouldered him immediately." According to the daily, 
"those who believed George Bush would use the State of the Union 
Address as an opportunity to ruefully admit having made mistakes 
were completely wrong." Instead, the US President "reiterated, 
almost word by word, what he had said earlier on the war in the 
Middle East: Iraq was the central front of a global war on terror, 
and retreat was not an option, because the consequences would be 
disastrous," the daily quotes Bush, commenting that he was "painting 
the picture of a dangerous, spreading wildfire." The reactions to 
his call to give his strategy for Iraq a chance, however, 
"demonstrated how much resistance the President is likely to meet 
with in the coming weeks and months." Like Kurier, the Standard 
believes it was "no coincidence the Democrats chose Jim Webb to 
deliver the traditional reply to the State of the Union Address: His 
patriotism, coupled with his military experience is above 
suspicion." 
 
Mass-circulation tabloid Oesterreich focuses on President Bush's 
plans for the environment, and headlines "Bush following in Arnie's 
footprints." His approach to bank on environment issues "caused 
quite a stir, including his proposal to cut gasoline consumption by 
20 percent in the next decade" and to boost "alternative energy 
sources such as hybrid technology, wind power, or bio-fuel," the 
daily says. These plans "earned him the applause of California 
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger," Oesterreich notes. 
 
In its analysis, independent provincial daily Salzburger Nachrichten 
writes that, in the face of poor popularity ratings, George Bush in 
his State of the Union Address attempted to give his presidency new 
momentum." He "opted for conciliatory tones," but "was adamant on 
his Iraq course." Like all Austrian media, the daily points out that 
the Democrats "rejected Bush's Iraq strategy" in particular, but 
emphasizes that the US President "urged cooperation of both 
parties." However, "faith in his credibility has declined, as even 
Republican insiders admit these days. Ultimately, the question is, 
which side will prevail with its agenda?" 
Kilner