President Bush Prepares Last State of the Union Address

WASHINGTON (AFP) — US President George W. Bush delivers his last State of the Union address Monday but no agenda-setting announcements were expected, with more incomplete job as the battle to win him rages. With less than 12 months left in his condition, the profoundly unpopular president is slated to resurrect a few audacious ideas -- such as his May 2007 request to double US funding to fight AIDS -- and contend that US-led forces are winning in Iraq. But he faces an US economy in crisis; the unsure destiny of his late-game Middle East peace effort; a battle over ending North Korea's atomic programs, and tensions with Iran over its nuclear ambitions. "I will describe that over the last seven years, we've made good advancement on significant issues at house and overseas. I will too describe that we have incomplete job before us, and we must make jointly," he said Saturday.

He will advocate lawmakers to okay a proposed US economical stimulation packet anticipated by mid-February; have lasting his large taxation cuts, which die in 2010; and okay available deal pacts with Colombia, Panama, and South Korea. Bush is too expected to ask on the US Congress to restore his signature training reform police, okay a contentious police allowing warrantless spying on US citizens, and curtail its appetite for expensive pet projects. Bush told the USA Today paper in a consultation Thursday that he would not wax emotional over his moment in agency, partially because "we've got then more going on" that there is less moment to belong on the past. "Look at the reality -- you've got Iraq, Iran, Middle Eastern peace opportunities, North Korea, Sudan, Burma. This is a reality that is complete of opportunities to scatter exemption and promise and chance," he said.

But spokeswoman Dana Perino acknowledged a day subsequently that "it is impractical" to require lawmakers to take Bush's calls for overhauling immigration policy and pension programs backwards from the asleep. She said Bush will concentrate on "original policy proposals with practical chances of passage. " The address comes almost three months after the president helped resurrect Middle East peace talks, and about three weeks after he visited the area in hopes of promoting an accord to produce a Palestinian country by recently 2008. For years, Bush has battled charges of keeping the peace procedure at weapon's duration by saying he was the best sitting US president to ask for such a country. "Bush is a lengthy stroke to hit away a diplomatic victory that has eluded a lengthy cable of away negotiators," wrote a Washington Post columnist in a column Sunday on the Middle East peace matter.

Bush, whose moment in agency was shaped by the September 11, 2001 attacks by Osama bin Laden's Al-Qaeda web, is improbable to speak the fact that the violent originator he vowed to seize "asleep or awake" is yet at big. And six years after Bush used the State of the Union to announce Iran, North Korea, and Saddam Hussein's Iraq an "axis of sinister," all three countries are yet an origin of leading headaches. In Iraq, Bush's resolution to "soar" approximately 30,000 much US troops to the frontal lines has helped cut violence to approximately 2005 levels, but has failed to attain the policy's two leading goals: political rapprochement and Iraqi protection forces taking obligation for their nation by November 2007. Democrats opposed to the warfare have watched with dismay as the White House has declared plans to seal a long-term important relationship with Iraq by July -- easily before the November elections that will determine Bush's heir.

North Korea wanted a December 31 deadline to full break its central activities, forcing the White House to stay a new world rising by a best emissary against Bush's smooth access. US officials interest that Pyongyang may be searching to work away the clock before Bush's replacement takes over in January 2009, risking that the other chair will provide the Stalinist country a best hand. Iran has keeped to reject UN sanctions and world force to finish uranium enrichment, while Washington has struggled to keep smooth partners, particularly China and Russia, on card with its confrontational access.

Bush's address on Monday risks being overshadowed by the robust candidacy for nominations to operate in November's election to supplant him, with important main votes in Florida on Tuesday. "He's got a trouble," Thomas Mann, an elderly associate at the Washington-based Brookings Institution think tank, told the McClatchy word service. "No one's truly listening any much."

Crime Spree at the SAG Awards

There were a few momentary references to the dramatic writers who have disrupted Hollywood's awards season. But for the most region, it was awards indicate job as customary at the 14th yearly SAG Awards on Sunday. "No Country for Old Men," the bloody, modern Western about a drug trade gone terrible, took two awards: better movement image casting and a supportive nod for Javier Bardem. The new movie honors went to Daniel Day-Lewis ("There Will Be Blood"), Julie Christie ("Away From Her") and Ruby Dee ("American Gangster. HBO's "The Sopranos" made it a complete circle, ending its awards travel the manner it started it: with a sweep of the play series categories at the SAG Awards. NBC's "The Office" and "30 Rock" divide the honors on the comedy position, with "Office" taking better ensemble and "30 Rock" stars Alec Baldwin and Tina Fey winning better player and actress, respectively.

Despite alarming tempest clouds, the rains held away long enough for thespians to walk the crimson rug outside the Los Angeles Shrine Expo Centercq, place of the TNT/TBS program where, in addition to handing away its yearly awards, SAG celebrated its 75th anniversary. Looking backwards over the story of the actors guild, SAG president Alan Rosenberg said the founders "looked to the writers guildcq for inspiration," beginning a custom of "deal solidarity, which extends to today. " With that, he called for WGA president Patric Verrone, who was in the audience, to go a bow. A discharge from the writers guild permitted the display to get on. But while oodles of stars turned upward, an amount did not have it to the case, including winners Baldwin, Kevin Kline and Queen Latifah.

In his remarks, Rosenberg did not cite the writers hit, though. Instead, as if giving a short story of SAG's own labour disputes, the display included three filmed segments narrated by Blair Underwood, who discussed how SAG worked to better working conditions for actors in the past. Turning to the existing, Underwood said original technologies are changing the job, and, "formerly again we seem to our guild. " Fey, a WGA member and vocal strike friend, was one of the few winners to have a mention to the job closure. "I seek to thank everyone in SAG for being then positive of the Writers Guild of America," she said.

The Russell Girl (2008) Preview

THE RUSSEL GIRL is continues today, Jan 27th, with completely original film. Amber Tamblyn, the film superstar, who roles Sarah Russell, a 23 years older aspire medical school pupil who visits her caring household to present some pressing word, but instead discovers herself attempting to eventually face a difficult period from her past. Besides Amber Tamblyn, The Russell Girl as easily stars Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Jennifer Ehle, Tim DeKay, Henry Czerny, and Paul Wesley. Below much pictures and trailer, and recall to see The Russell Girl January 27th at 9 pm on CBS.

President Gordon B. Hinckley 1910-2008 Has Passed Away

Officials with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced this evening that Church President Gordon B. Hinckley has passed off. He passed off at his house about 7:00 this evening with his household at his position. President Hinckley was 97 years older. He was the 15th president of the Church. Born in Salt Lake City on June 23, 1910; he graduated from the University of Utah and served a mission to Great Britain. After he returned, he embarked on a life of service for the Church. He was employed as the executive secretary of the Church Radio, Publicity, and Literature Committee before he was called to be an Apostle in 1961. He was subsequently called to do as a counsellor to President Spencer W. Kimball, President Ezra Taft Benson and President Howard W. Hunter. Since becoming Church President on Mar. 12, 1995, he has directed the almost fierce synagogue construction plan in the story of the Church in an attempt to stretch synagogue blessings to much members.

He has exhibited energy and vitality as he has traveled about the reality encounter and speaking to members of the Church. Through video interviews and domestic press publications, he has increased media care and improved the national picture of the Church. He has counseled Church members to fellowship original converts, befriend members of new faiths, survive typical lives, and avert the evils of the reality. Funeral arrangements probably will be talked about in the next 24 hours. It's protocol to permit church leaders and household members to go jointly to intend the funeral. The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles are now leading the church. That system will select the next leader of the religion. By custom, it is the elderly member, and that is President Thomas S. Monson, who has been President Hinckley's First Counselor.