In his State of the Union speech, President Bush tried with rhetoric to acknowledge the changed politics in Washington. But his agenda offers more of the same ineffective policies that helped to bring about the Demo-cratic takeover of Congress.

The president's address was somewhat conciliatory toward the new Democratic majority. On the war, he spoke with more frankness: "This is not the fight we entered in Iraq, but it is the fight we are in."

He also called on both parties to work with "good sense and goodwill" to fix Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security, three entitlement programs on their way to going broke.

Bush, who often dismisses evidence of global warming, even spoke Tuesday night of "the serious challenge of global climate change." Some folks on the GOP side of the aisle must have fallen out of their seats at that one.

But although Bush may have moderated his tone a bit, there was no discernible shift in the policies he outlined. His agenda would not put the nation on the right track.

Bush's plan to make health care more affordable is timid. His call to balance the budget within five years is a terrific idea in theory, undermined by his inability to do it when his own party controlled Congress. His plea for "earmark" reform was reminiscent of someone hopping aboard a train that is already leaving the station; the new Congress has already moved to crack down on pork-barrel spending.

As for the issue on most people's minds — the war in Iraq — the president seems more determined than ever to pursue a failing course. The Senate underscored that point by moving ahead with a non-binding resolution, verbally supported by senators in both parties, to oppose an increase in troops.

Bush touched only briefly on the brightest spot of his second term — a growing economy. He plans a major economic report next week.

For now, let's more closely examine three areas of his agenda: the war, health care and energy policy.