E Pluribus Unum

No, we didn't watch Bush's speech, opting for re-runs of Sex and the City. Enough said.

David Shuster was kind enough to break it down into terms I can understand:

The most repeated word tonight was "terror." Mr. Bush said the word "terror" or "terrorist" or "terrorism" 19 times. The President repeated the word "freedom" 17 times. Iraq was mentioned 16 times. Iran, which is presenting the United States with a potential crisis over nuclear weapons, was mentioned 6 times.

When it comes to domestic policy, the president mentioned the word "economy" or "economic" 11 times. "Reform" was mentioned 9 times. "Hopeful," a key word that always works well in political speeches, was repeated 9 times. Health care was mentioned twice tonight, though there were three other references to health care related issues. Last year, the President referred to social security 18 times. In 2005, the President's social security proposals went no where. Tonight, in his 2006 state of the union, the President mentioned "social security" 3 times.

Perhaps the most intriguing number that we've found relates to how the speech was divided up... in other words, how much focus was given to each particular presidential priority. The total number of sentences in the speech was 256. Iraq or the Iraq war covered 35 sentences. Iran covered just seven sentences. Keeping americans competitive and creative covered 13 sentences.

UPDATE: I just read that Cindy Sheehan was arrested and removed from the House Gallery in handcuffs last night for wearing a t-shirt that said "2,245 Dead -- How Many More??" Wow -- this woman is everywhere! I just wish she had been able to lean over the handrail and shake hands with Bush -- that would have been priceless.

Seriously, she got arrested and hauled in 'cuffs for wearing a t-shirt? What is this, junior high? Or the Soviet Union?

P.S. She didn't exactly crash the Capitol: she was invited to attend the event by a member of Congress.

P.P.S. Here's Cindy Sheehan's personal account of what happened.