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Tom Shales: Bush, "Scary"; Ted Kennedy Worthy of Mount Rushmore
MRC ^ | Thursday January 22, 2004 | BrentBaker

Posted on 01/22/2004 10:51:06 AM PST by fight_truth_decay

Bush: "Scary," Ted Kennedy worthy of Mount Rushmore. Reviewing President Bush's State of the Union address, nationally syndicated Washington Post television reviewer Tom Shales complained that "Bush had too many moments of cockiness" and fretted about how "the fact that Bush appeared to be so happy, so elated, so giddily primed for another political slugfest was a little bit disheartening, and even a little bit scary." But citing Senator Ted Kennedy's head-shaking, eye-rolling dismissive reactions to Bush, Shales gushed: "Kennedy looked great, like he was ready to take his place next to Jefferson on Mount Rushmore."

An excerpt from "State of the Union: Long on Long, Short on Lofty," the review by Tom Shales in the January 21 Washington Post:

We like a confident president, but we don't like a cocky president, and George W. Bush had too many moments of cockiness last night as he delivered his third State of the Union address to both houses of Congress and the viewing nation. Often the words of the speech were written to sound lofty, but Bush had such a big Christmas-morning grin on his face that they came out sounding like taunts -- taunts to the rest of the world or taunts to Democrats in the hall....

The speech was pretty much so-so, and Bush's gung-ho delivery -- something approaching the forced jollity of a game show host -- lacked dignity and certainly lacked graciousness. Bush has never been big on those things anyway.

Dan Rather of CBS News, who sometimes goes out of his way not to upset the Bush people -- since they are all ready to pounce on him for what they perceive (or claim to perceive) as a bias against their exalted glorious potentate -- said afterward that Bush's was "a strong speech, strongly delivered." It was one of the few times Rather sounded less than astute.

Over on the Fox News Channel, Fred Barnes, sounding as if he had walking pneumonia, allowed as how he'd heard George W. Bush deliver many an important and eloquent speech over the years, "and this was not one of them." It takes courage to say something like that on the Fox News Channel, normally a Bush cheering section. Someone noted that Bush is considered a master of the half-hour speech and State of the Union 2004 had dragged on for twice that length....

The best reaction shots were those of Ted Kennedy, whose stature seems to grow right along with his nose year after year after year. Kennedy has now reached a grand moment in the life of a senator; he looks like Hollywood itself cast him in the role. Seriously. With that waving mane of bright white hair, he evokes memories of Claude Rains looking distinguished as all get-out in Frank Capra's once- controversial, now-classic movie "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington." Never mind that the senator played by Rains had some shady dealings in his repertoire.

Kennedy looked great, like he was ready to take his place next to Jefferson on Mount Rushmore. He gives off the kind of venerable vibes that some of us got from an Everett Dirksen way back when, or a Charles Laughton -- oh wait, Laughton was a make-believe senator, too (in "Advise and Consent")....

One of the bigger surprises of the night was instantly evident, even as Bush made his tedious way down an aisle before delivering the speech. Though he's favored blue ties (sometimes baby blue) throughout his presidency, Bush wore a red necktie last night. Could this signify a change in terrorism alert status? Or maybe just the fact that Bush is now in full ramming mode, not merely a president but a politician again, up to his collar in the rigors of an election year?

It was obviously the latter, and the fact that Bush appeared to be so happy, so elated, so giddily primed for another political slugfest was a little bit disheartening, and even a little bit scary.

END of Excerpt

For the Shales review in full: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A33872-2004Jan21.html


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Editorial; Extended News; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Massachusetts
KEYWORDS: barnes; bush; liberalmedia; mrc; rather; stateofunion; tedkennedy; tomshales; washingtonpost; wp
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"It has been written a man does what he must in spite of personal consequences, in spite of obstacles, and dangers, and pressures, and that is the basis of human morality. Whatever may be the sacrifices he faces, if he follows his conscience -- the loss of his friends, his fortune, his contentment, even the esteem of his fellow man -- each man must decide for himself the course he will follow. The stories of the past courage cannot supply courage itself. For this, each man must look into his own soul."- Ted Kennedy broadcast nationally from Joseph P. Kennedy's home on 25 July 1969, "Chappaquiddick"

Excellent description of our President, Teddy!

1 posted on 01/22/2004 10:51:07 AM PST by fight_truth_decay
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To: fight_truth_decay
Mt Rushmore would become a target range for the Military's RPGs if Teddy's face was on it.
2 posted on 01/22/2004 10:54:40 AM PST by smith288 ("YEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWW" - Howard Dean)
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To: fight_truth_decay
Kennedy? Mt. Rushmore?
NOT IN MY BACKYARD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
3 posted on 01/22/2004 10:54:58 AM PST by Rushmore Rocks
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To: fight_truth_decay
Over on the Fox News Channel, Fred Barnes, sounding as if he had walking pneumonia, allowed as how he'd heard George W. Bush deliver many an important and eloquent speech over the years, "and this was not one of them."

If this little twit bothered to be honest in his reportage, he would have mentioned that Mr. Barnes went on to say that this SOTU was delivered in a different time than the post-9/11 delivery to Congress, or the 2002 SOTU. He mentioned how the times makes the speech, and since the president wasn't addressing a nation just attacked by terrorists, or making a case for war in Iraq, and also the economy is doing better, these are not the times that make for a historical speech.

4 posted on 01/22/2004 10:56:19 AM PST by HenryLeeII
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To: fight_truth_decay
Where's the barf alert? Or is that just assumed of any post with Ted Kennedy in the title?
5 posted on 01/22/2004 10:56:56 AM PST by rmh47 (Go Kats! - Got Seven?)
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To: fight_truth_decay
...he was ready to take his place next to Jefferson on Mount Rushmore

Wouldn't the collective weight of the carving cause the entirety of Mt. Rushmore to come crashing down?

No? Sure? Have you seen his face lately? It looks like an overblow basketball.

6 posted on 01/22/2004 10:57:51 AM PST by mattdono (Big Arnie: "Crush the democrats, drive them before you, and hear the lamentations of the scumbags.")
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To: smith288
Kennedy? Mt. Rushmore? What has this Brent Baker been smoking? The only rock Ted Kennedy should be on is Alcatraz!!!
7 posted on 01/22/2004 10:57:54 AM PST by kellynla ("C" 1/5 1st Mar. Div. U.S.M.C. Viet Nam 69&70 Semper Fi!)
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To: fight_truth_decay
Shales gushed: "Kennedy looked great, like he was ready to take his place next to Jefferson on Mount Rushmore."

This is not unreasonable...He's not saying that a likeness of Kennedy should be carved next to Jefferson on Mt. Rushmore. He said Kennedy should take HIS place on the mountain. Have you seen the size of Kennedy's head. It would be about the right size!

8 posted on 01/22/2004 10:59:37 AM PST by Onelifetogive
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To: fight_truth_decay
We like a confident president, but we don't like a cocky president, and George W. Bush had too many moments of cockiness last night as he delivered his third State of the Union address to both houses of Congress and the viewing nation. Often the words of the speech were written to sound lofty, but Bush had such a big Christmas-morning grin on his face that they came out sounding like taunts -- taunts to the rest of the world or taunts to Democrats in the hall.... The speech was pretty much so-so, and Bush's gung-ho delivery -- something approaching the forced jollity of a game show host -- lacked dignity and certainly lacked graciousness. Bush has never been big on those things anyway.

I guess Shales writes his diatribes before listening to the president, because he is definitely not describing any of the speeches I've seen the president deliver. Lefties are terrified of confident males, especially those who are grounded in belief, so this is the beginning of the little panty-waist's problem with President Bush.

9 posted on 01/22/2004 10:59:50 AM PST by HenryLeeII
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To: fight_truth_decay
Kennedy is ready for Mt. Lushmore, the monument to chronic skirt chasing drunks who kill a young girl and then hide for 12 hours trying to figure out a way to cover it up. America has had enough of that fat drunken lardass and his entire parasitic family.
10 posted on 01/22/2004 11:00:38 AM PST by Astronaut
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To: smith288
I agree about Mount Rushmore....but instead of his alcohol reddened nose, it should be of a car upside down in water next to a bridge.
11 posted on 01/22/2004 11:01:05 AM PST by Moby Grape
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To: kellynla
What has this Brent Baker been smoking?

Nothing. Read the second paragraph again...

An excerpt from "State of the Union: Long on Long, Short on Lofty," the review by Tom Shales in the January 21 Washington Post:
Everything after the second paragraph is Tom "I Hate President Bush more than I hate myself (which is a lot)" Shales' writing.
12 posted on 01/22/2004 11:01:28 AM PST by mattdono (Big Arnie: "Crush the democrats, drive them before you, and hear the lamentations of the scumbags.")
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To: fight_truth_decay
Girlymen are just not happy with a real man.

They much prefer lip biting, teary eyed liars who engage in affairs with young girls, betray their marriage vows, rape, fondle, and of course, mutilate the dignity of the office of the Presidency.

13 posted on 01/22/2004 11:02:29 AM PST by OldFriend (Always understand, even if you remain among the few)
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To: fight_truth_decay

14 posted on 01/22/2004 11:03:01 AM PST by Born Conservative ("Forgive your enemies, but never forget their names" - John F. Kennedy)
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To: fight_truth_decay
Maybe, just maybe, after a massive carving effort, Teddy Wetshoes could REPLACE Mt. Rushmore?

MM
15 posted on 01/22/2004 11:03:31 AM PST by MississippiMan
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To: fight_truth_decay

16 posted on 01/22/2004 11:03:39 AM PST by maggief
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To: mattdono
gocha! thanks...so its Shales who has been smoking the wacky tobaccy LOL
17 posted on 01/22/2004 11:03:48 AM PST by kellynla ("C" 1/5 1st Mar. Div. U.S.M.C. Viet Nam 69&70 Semper Fi!)
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To: fight_truth_decay
The only thing I would agree with is that Bush is scary....to the terrorists.
18 posted on 01/22/2004 11:05:31 AM PST by Krodg
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To: fight_truth_decay
Perhaps Mr, Shales would like to go cruising with Old Teddy-boy?
19 posted on 01/22/2004 11:05:31 AM PST by Howie66 ("America will never seek a permission slip to defend the security of our people.")
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To: fight_truth_decay
Mount Rushmore!!??

Hell, more like at the bottom of Lake Rushmore.

20 posted on 01/22/2004 11:06:52 AM PST by CROSSHIGHWAYMAN (I don't believe anything a Democrat says. Bill Clinton set the standard!)
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