Mercer Countians Wednesday weighed in on President Bush's State of the Union speech. And their opinions pretty much followed party lines.

"I didn't like him before and I still don't. I pray for him but I think he has proven to me that I was right in my opinion not to vote for him," said Democrat Christine James, 73, of Wheatland. "I think he's using the war to try to drum up support for himself."

"I thought he touched on all the subjects that I as a senior citizen wanted to hear. His ideas are good," said Republican Frank Mammana, 78, of Liberty Township. "I don't want to see us go to war, but if we have to, to make the world safe like he (Bush) says, I say lets get him (Saddam) out and get it over with."

Bush discussed some options for Medicare and prescription-drug coverage for seniors. Some people thought he meant business, but others weren't so sure.

"Well, everything he said is just like a promise in the future. What that means to me is: 'You're possibly never going to get it,' " said Democrat Walter Martin, 83, of Sharon. "Like I could say, 'Well, I'll give you a million dollars.' You know what that means. You'll never get it. I call it dangling a carrot in front."

Mrs. James agreed. "There's no use fighting any terror overseas if you're not helping your seniors here with better health-care insurance," she said.

Local Republicans were more hopeful about Bush's promise for better prescription-drug coverage and health care for seniors. "There were a lot of good things that he brought up as far as the senior citizens and getting medication for them. I hope it's going to work," said Sally Orben, 67, of Shenango Township.

As for going to war, local Democrats lined up with their Washington counterparts and said that the U.S. would do better to keep its attention at home.

"If we don't have homeland security here, there's no use fighting any terror overseas," said Mrs. James, claiming that laying off firefighters and police here and across the nation will make it hard for Americans to stay safe. "All this money he said he wanted for all the police and fire departments did not receive it. They have not helped homeland security."

Marilyn Morris, 55, of Sharon, a Democrat, said she wants better reasons for going to war. "I don't see where he has the proof yet against Saddam Hussein. I think Korea is more serious, because we know they have nuclear weapons."

Martin said the reason we aren't going to war with Korea is simple: "It's all about oil. The reason we aren't going to war with Korea is because the last time we did, China stepped in, and they got a billion people."

"There's a hidden agenda there," said Mrs. James. "The oil and to clear his father's name for ending the Gulf War the way it did."

But local Republicans were trusting Bush to lead the way.

"Going to war frightens me as well as anyone else, but since 9/11 the bottom line is, we're going to have to get him before he gets us," said Virginia George, 59, of West Middlesex. "They are going to have to prove this, but if he (Saddam) has what they says he has, then something has to be done. The president never wavered and he has great confidence and a tremendous loyalty to the American people."

"I like the answers he gave for what's going on in the Middle East ... I just hope it will work the way he presented it," said Mrs. Orben.

Local party lines blurred when it came to Africa.

"The bit about Africa, well, I feel sorry for the people with AIDS, but we do need a lot of help here," said Republican Mammana. "I don't think we should be the only country trying to help in that particular area."

"I'm not against AIDS or HIV and I know it's a big problem in Africa but our country needs help too. I don't see any help coming our way," said Democrat Ms. Morris.

"He often seemed to (want to) spend money he didn't have and promote programs he didn't have the money to promote and is putting us in a major deficit by doing so," said Republican Jessica Thompson, 17, of Findley Township. "I still think he's a good president, but I think he needs to take a good look at what he's doing and save money."

Some people didn't bother to listen to the speech because they said they already knew what they'd hear.

"Tell you the truth I did not listen, because I don't believe anything he's saying," said Democrat Steve Kapsa, 92, of Hermitage.

But locally, the party faithful were either sold by Bush's speech or thought the president sold out the American people.

"I think it was a good speech. I watched it in its entirety and its responses," said Mammana.

Added Miss Thompson, "Yes, I do think he's doing a good job."

The president's "dad promised to cut taxes and he lied like a rug, and I think this one here is all for the big shots -- the people he put in office are all rich businessmen and they are running the country and it's running into the ground," Martin said. "Of course this is nothing new. Not much you can do, you just hope they throw you a crumb or two."