Anyone who has ever given a talk at a conference or congregation will understand and sympathize with President Bush. It seems that two pages of his State of the Union speech stuck together in the fax machine in his office, because a page was missing from his speech to the nation on Tuesday night.

Lucky for us however, we also received a fax from the White House Tuesday, and lo and behold, there on our fax was a page from the president's speech! Looks like this page was supposed to appear after Bush reads: "We have not come all this way -- through tragedy and trial and war -- only to falter and leave our work unfinished."

And the page certainly was after he talked about the comeback from the recession, the terrorist attack and corporate scandals. In the 54-minute speech, Bush mentioned the $500 billion budget deficit restricting many of his plans, but he did squeeze out $23 million for student drug testing in public schools and $300 million for training and job placement of newly released prisoners.

He did take time to ask major sports leagues and athletes to end the use of performance-enhancing drugs and be role models for young people. What else? Same-sex marriages, American values and social security.

What was missing? What were we hoping President Bush might say? Well, it's on this missing piece of paper that we found!

Right after President Bush read, "Our greatest responsibility is the active defense of the American people. Twenty-eight months have passed since Sept. 11, 2001,... and it is tempting to believe that the danger is behind us. That hope is understandable, comforting and false," he meant to turn to this page that says, "The danger is still all around us. Our first line of defense continues to be the first responders -- our firefighters, our emergency medical providers and our police. I can assure you that the money for the specialized training and equipment will be provided to each and every one of these citizens who risk their lives for you.

"In the past three years, we have increased the federal monies specifically to fire departments to insure they have the proper equipment and protective clothing to keep them safe while responding to American citizens' cries for help. But we must do more for those who respond without knowing what disasters they face.
[applause]
"In response to the changing role of the fire and emergency medical services in America, tonight, I'd like to announce my plan to appoint an under secretary of emergency services to my cabinet to ensure the needs of emergency responders are well provided for, and that person is..."

Well, I didn't really see the next page, but I'm sure the president stuttered when he realized one page was missing and was too embarrassed to say it. I mean, he would have noticed it, wouldn't he? You don't think someone pulled the page to shorten his talk to 54 minutes instead of the 57 minutes originally allotted?

Did I miss something? Did he mention firefighters or EMTs as possible drug-free role models for kids? Did he mention that he and many politicians promised on Sept. 11, 2001, to never forget the acts of heroism? I realize the president has a lot on his mind and a lot of American citizens to serve, but honestly, does he have any idea how ill-equipped and unprepared the majority of America's firefighters and emergency medical providers really are?

Then again, maybe I just dreamed this whole thing up.

Janet Wilmoth, Editor