President Bush will give his State of the Union address tonight at 9 pm Eastern.  The New York Times tells us that the speech is on its 23rd draft and that Bush has been practicing since Friday.  There has been no shortage of predictions about the address, and the fact that it is already written has not stopped the pundits from giving their own own suggestions for the address.

For instance, Thomas Friedman says "the direction in which America needs to go is obvious: toward energy independence."  Among other things, his version of the speech would call for a "Bush Energy Freedom Act" and the resignation of Vice President Dick Cheney.  He would nominate Jeffrey Immelt, the CEO of General Electric, as Cheney's replacement.

Irwin Stelzer also looks over Bush's energy policy options but concludes:

"If history is any guide, little will come of any presidential initiative. Congress is more concerned with restoring its scandal-ridden reputation (Republicans), and attacking the president (Democrats), than with the nation's energy security."

According to Lynn Sweet of the Chicago Sun-Times, the president will propose an expansion of Health Savings Accounts, and the Democrats are looking back to 2005 in order to fight them:

"Democrats were able to derail the main domestic program Bush highlighted in his 2005 State of the Union address, a move to privatize a portion of Social Security...

Both sides may have a harder time with either selling or stalling the health accounts than Social Security. That's because Social Security is a known factor -- a government institution used by generations of seniors, an easily identified constituency to target and organize."

Writing in the Wall Street Journal,  Fred Barnes says the "ownership society" was a big theme throughout last year and during the 2004 campaign, but this year Bush "is expected to take a more conventional--and politically palatable--approach."  Barnes thinks "he's likely to keep talking about Social Security and private accounts and perhaps even an ownership society. But not tonight, when he addresses the nation."

According to USA Today, tonight's address to the nation will be Bush's "best chance to lay out his agenda and shape the political debate for the next 12 months."  Although his job approval numbers have suffered in the last year, the president could expect a bounce if his speech is a hit.  In 1998,

"Clinton's job approval shot up 10 percentage points in the USA TODAY/CNN/Gallup Poll, from 59% to 69%. Although there were rough days ahead, the speech helped Clinton clear an obstacle that could have been fatal."

On the other hand, Francis Wilkinson is not so fond of the State of the Union.  She notes the "imperious" nature of the speech and then points out that "in 'Lend Me Your Ears,' William Safire's compilation of great speeches, not one State of the Union address makes the table of contents."

Finally, George Will--criticizing pretty much everyone--says "the nation needs an adult hour."