In his final State of the Union address yesterday, President George W. Bush called for qualities sorely missing in the last six years of his leadership: bipartisanship and fiscal discipline.

He urged Congress to pass a $150 billion economic stimulus package, tax rebates designed to jump-start the ailing U.S. economy in the short term. He's right; quick action is needed for quick results.

He wants the federal deficit — now at about $163 billion — erased by 2012, so the budget will be as balanced as it was in 2001, when he got his hands on it. Another sensible goal.

He also pledged to crack down on earmarks, spending for lawmakers' pet projects, something he failed to do when Republicans controlled Congress.

In fact, most earmarks in the current budget will be left alone; his executive order applies to future ones, and assumes the next president will follow his lead. He leaves this goal with an uncertain future.

One promising proposal that could affect Hawai'i, a free-trade agreement with South Korea, is worthy of further study.

Bush also talked about other domestic issues — immigration, Social Security and global warming — but with low popularity ratings and presidential candidates from both parties distancing themselves from him, it's unlikely that Bush will achieve any lasting legacy on these important issues.

He did draw loud applause with his confident appraisal of the success of the surge in Iraq: "Among the terrorists there is no doubt, al Qaeda is on the run in Iraq, and this enemy will be defeated." He may be right, but polls suggest Americans aren't convinced.

As Bush finishes out his final 51 weeks in office, the nation remains at war with a tough road ahead; the economy is weakening; the future is uncertain and unsettling.

But the next president — whoever he or she is — can be certain of one thing: Americans want a change.