Norm Coleman SOTU comments compared to SOTUs past

It should come as no surprise that Sen. Norm Coleman (R-MN) attended the President's final State of the Union (SOTU) speech. Hopefully, it's Norm's last as a Senator, too. What was Norm's reaction to last nights speech and how does that compare with his previous enthusiastic enabling support of the President's lack of any vision whatsoever for our country?

"We have a lot of challenges out there. I think the public wants us to get things done. There wasn't a specific agenda or roadmap here, it was challenges. I hope my colleagues on both sides of the aisle figure out that we've got to move forward on these issues." - Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn.
(West Central Tribune Online)

Here's the translation from Norm-speak^TM into plain and only slightly snarky English:

"I'm going to have trouble getting reelected because of Iraq, the recession, healthcare and the home foreclosure crisis. Especially since I haven't done anything constructive to deal with any of these problems. Bush has no plan, he's hanging me out to dry here people. Somebody please help me."

This is not the uber-confident Norm from SOTUs past. He admits we as a country are in trouble. He admits that Republicans will have to work with the Democrats to accomplish anything! What do you think the chances are of that?

What a difference from the preening, full-of-himself Norm at previous SOTUs.

Hat tip to The Seminal for Norm's SOTU past.

2004: Coleman Said Bush Was "Right On Target" in State Of The Union. After President Bush's 2004 State of the Union address, Norm Coleman said, "The President's message was right on target…The war in Iraq was necessary to get rid of Saddam. The tax cuts were necessary to pull us out of recession. Now we need to dedicate ourselves to the hard work and patience of seizing the opportunities those bold steps made possible." [Coleman Press Release, 1/20/04]

Norm was a very excited cheerleader in 2004. Note how the tax cuts were going to pull us out of the recession. A recession that we've never really pulled out of and has now gotten even worse.

2005: Coleman Said Bush's State of the Union Was Bold and Aggressive, Added That Iraq Was "Democratized." In response to President Bush's 2005 State of the Union address, Norm Coleman said, "The President has been very bold in laying out an aggressive agenda for his second term, and tonight he presented us with a blueprint. In his address tonight, required each year by our Constitution, President Bush reaffirmed his already proven steadfast commitment to fighting a relentless war on terror in the newly democratized Iraq and anywhere else terrorists lurk around the globe.
He also reminded us that our work in Iraq is far from over." [Coleman Press Release, 2/2/05]

Norm was still very excited in 2005. Norm likes boldness and aggressiveness in his President apparently. Iraq was "democratized" as opposed to the clusterfudge that it has become since it was democratized in 2005.

2006: Coleman Said State Of The Union "Candid and Optimistic." After President Bush's 2006 State of the Union speech in 2006, Norm Coleman said, "Tonight the President clearly communicated a candid and optimistic State of the Union address that addressed the concerns and aspirations of all Minnesotans. I agree with the President: We live in historic times. We are gaining the advantage in the War on Terror, we are experiencing a healthy and robust economy, and we have continued to meet unprecedented national challenges with characteristic resiliency and strength." [Coleman Press Release, 1/31/06]

This year Norm liked the clear, but candid SOTU. Norm is still as optimistic (blinders, anyone?) about nearly everything. Actually when has Norm been anything but optimistic? Unfortunately, the Teh War of Terrah^TM which we were previously winning, we are now only make progress on. How unfortunate and such a harbinger of elections future that would scare Norm into moderating his highly partisan vote ranking.
It's also worth noting that the recession has magically disappeared through tax cuts for the wealthy, massive increase in the national debt and the Iraq War. "Characteristic resilience and strength" really just means that we're taking our lumps so that Bush's wealthy friends can do even better.

2007: Coleman Said Bush Laid Out A "Robust Domestic Agenda" State Of The Union. In response to President Bush's 2007 State of the Union speech, Norm Coleman said, "The president's speech laid out a robust domestic agenda that addresses concerns on the minds of many Americans." [Coleman Press Release, 1/23/07]

Robust domestic agenda? Oh ... right. That means "don't look over there at Iraq." What was that domestic agenda? Bullying the wimpy Democratic Leadership on Iraq and a FISA bill. I guess Bush succeeded, but not without some help from the Democratic Leadership in Congress.