Loved the following commentary from Taranto today (Best of the Web)
http://opinionjournal.com/best/?id=110004584 The al Qaeda Cheering Section
The most telling moment in last night's speech came after the president noted that "key provisions of the Patriot Act are set to expire next year." In response, notes the New York Times, "some critics in Congress applauded enthusiastically." If Osama bin Laden watched the speech, one imagines him applauding too.
Perhaps the applauders were hoping to embarrass President Bush by provoking a Howard Dean-like outburst ("You sit down!"). Instead, the president let them clap, then turned toward the Democratic side of the chamber and addressed them directly when he read the next line of his speech: "The terrorist threat will not expire on that schedule."
The president also had what appears to be an answer to John Kerry, the haughty, French-looking Democratic front-runner who by the way served in Vietnam. In an October debate, Kerry declared: "This war on terror is far less of a military operation and far more of an intelligence-gathering, law-enforcement operation"--in other words, that he wishes to go back to the Sept. 10 approach to terror.
The president disagrees: "After the chaos and carnage of September the 11th, it is not enough to serve our enemies with legal papers. The terrorists and their supporters declared war on the United States, and war is what they got." Once the Dems have settled on a nominee, we look forward to the debate over this point.
. . . more EXCELLENT 'READS':
John Podhoretz
http://nypost.com/postopinion/opedcolumnists/16304.htm Pete DuPont
http://www.opinionjournal.com/columnists/pdupont/?id=110004581 Make sure you visit the following FR post:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1061806/posts NYPOST EDITORIAL ABOUT SOTU SPEECH
AMERICA THE STRONG
January 21, 2004 -- President Bush stood before Congress and the nation last night and reported the state of the union to be "confident and strong."
He said the War on Terror and homeland-security efforts are protecting America, making it "more secure."
And he said the "American economy is growing stronger" - that "tax relief [Congress] passed is working."
But Bush made it clear that America has reached a crossroads - both on the all-important national-security issues, and on the economic front.
"We have faced serious challenges together," Bush said, "and now we face a choice: We can go forward with confidence and resolve. Or we can turn back to the dangerous illusion that . . . outlaw regimes are no threat to us.
"We can press on with economic growth . . . or we can turn back to the old policies and old divisions."
He explained the stakes: "It is tempting to believe that the danger is behind us," Bush said. "That hope is understandable, comforting - and false.
"The terrorists continue to plot against America and the civilized world," he said. "And by our will and courage, this danger will be defeated."
What Bush didn't say - but was nonetheless as clear as the noonday sun - was that Democrats, particularly those seeking to replace him in November, have so far failed utterly to recognize the threat, and what is needed to combat it.
The president noted, rightly, that the tools provided by the Patriot Act (already used "to catch embezzlers and drug traffickers") were "even more important for hunting terrorists."
Yet key provisions of that law, he warned, are set to expire next year.
How did Democrats in the chamber react?
By applauding the looming expiration.
Bush also defended his administration's efforts in Iraq.
"The work of building a new Iraq is hard," he said, "and it is right."
But, he warned, "as democracy takes hold in Iraq, the enemies of freedom will do all in their power to spread violence and fear."
He said terrorists are "trying to shake the will of our country and our friends."
Will America cut and run - as some of the Democrats might want?
Not a chance.
"The United States of America," Bush decreed, "will never be intimidated by thugs and assassins."
As for calls to "internationalize" America's defense, Bush cited limits.
"America," he said, "will never seek a permission slip to defend the security of our people."
On the domestic front, too, Bush drew sharp distinctions with the Democrats.
He noted the success of his tax cuts - and warned that unless Congress acts, Americans will face a tax hike.
And he itemized other areas of difference, too - such as the importance of marriage as an American institution.
Clearly, however, the coming election will turn on national-security issues.
And in launching his own bid for re-election, Bush last night challenged Americans to consider their choices in that regard carefully.
We couldn't agree more.
http://nypost.com/postopinion/editorial/16299.htm