State Of Disunion

PRSIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH HAD AN EXCELLENT chance to raise the quality of public policy debate in the State of the Union address, and for a fleeting

"In a system of two parties, two chambers, and two elected branches, there will always be differences and debate," he declared early in the address. "But even tough debates can be conducted in a civil tone, and our differences cannot be allowed to harden into anger. To confront the great issues before us, we must act in a spirit of goodwill and respect for one anotherand I will do my part," he promised.

With the very next statement, however, Bush dashed all hope that he would keep that pledge. Summing up his critics' objections, he asserted: "In a complex and challenging time, the road of isolationism and protectionism may seem broad and inviting-yet it ends in danger and decline." With this, Bush shaped both the terms and the tone of future debate-as has been his practice-in black and white, "you'reeither-with-us-or-against-us" finality.