NEWS FLASH ... this just in from the Democratic Party of America

THE MOST POWERFUL STORIES IN AMERICA: YOURS

This evening President Bush delivers his State of the Union address -- the last one he'll ever give. But his speech won't tell us the real state of the union. For three years, the Bush administration has offered nothing but false promises and outright deception at every turn, and we can expect more of the same as Bush runs for reelection.

THE REAL STATE OF THE UNION

The real state of the union is told in the stories of students and teachers. The stories come from veterans and active military, doctors and nurses, IT professionals and factory workers. They are told by small businesses owners and employees of the nation's biggest companies. They come from cities, suburbs, and rural areas, from the old and the young, and from every state in the nation. Last week, we asked you to tell us the real state of the union, and you sent in more than 10,000 responses. The pictures you painted were powerful: tragic, funny, inspirational, and heartbreaking. Those who sent us their stories have seen the costs of healthcare skyrocket and their incomes plummet. They've lost jobs and can't find new ones. They've seen tuition go up every year and the devastating effects of the No Child Left Behind Act in schools. They've seen their property and local taxes rise way above the pennies they received under Bush's tax plan -- while the wealthiest sliver of Americans reaped the real rewards. These stories are moving because any of them could be your story. Choose your state -- or any state -- at the link below to read a sample of the stories we received from ordinary Americans and learn what real state our union is in.

http://mailer.democrats.org/rdr/002O704cgO0001D

NOTE: These stories have not been edited (except to remove names) or verified. We are posting them just as they were sent to us.