Bush's 'Freedom Speech'

NY Times ^ | January 21, 2005 | WILLIAM SAFIRE

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drives his critics batty by exuding a buoyant confidence reminiscent of F.D.R. and Truman.

It really makes them pull their hair out.

Great theater.

[Dolphy]

I'm listening to the speech again right now...I find it just as magnificent on second hearing.

[konaice]

I rate it among the top 5 of the 20 second-inaugurals in our history. Lincoln's profound sermon "with malice toward none" is incomparable, but Bush's second was better than Jefferson's mean-spirited pouting at "the artillery of the press."

I rate it better than any I've heard. It even sounded good with W's stilted speaking style. It reads better than it sounded. I think its a masterpiece, and would have loved to hear Ronnie give that speach.

ok, now before everybody dumps on me about my "W's style" remark... let me say oratory is not his strong suit. He doesn't NEED it to be.

[Torie]

The speech was beautifully crafted, at once space and eloquent, and written just for the man known as Dubya. The speech was great in part, because it evoked so well as to what Dubya profoundly believes gives meaning to his life, and elucidates his mission. In that sense was it not only an eloquent speech, but an exceedingly candid one.

[Torie]

space = spare. I hate when that happens.

[neverdem]

It reads better than it sounded.

I was distracted intermittently when he gave it. After I read it, I thought it was great, the best he ever gave.

[Right_in_Virginia]

I'm listening to the speech again right now...I find it just as magnificent on second hearing.

I found it more so....it really was extraordinary.

[karnage]

Bush43 is not an orator in the Churchill tradition. But he is a visionary, and he's at his best when he's himself - straightforward, down-to-earth, and also linked to the giants of history through his themes and references. We had an extremely articulate, emotionally resonant and empathetic President recently, from a state that borders President Bush's home state of Texas - and almost every word that exited his lips was a lie.

Sometimes, Dubya can sound a bit arrogant, or second grade teacherish - and he was neither on this glorious occasion.

[Alaska Wolf]

Our liberty and that of other democratic countries depends more and more on liberty spreading throughout the world. This is becoming more obvious as the world becomes further compressed. It's high time our allies realize their existance depends on the spread of liberty and freedom.

[Howlin]

I rate it among the top 5 of the 20 second-inaugurals in our history.

Amazing.

[Howlin]

This guy liked it!

[Petronski]

This guy liked it!

Peggy Noonan did too. But she hated being on the outside. Pity.

[John Lenin]

Tomorrow will bring out all the vultures, anyone who disrespects this speech will go down in history as idiots in about 20 years.

[A Citizen Reporter]

"anyone who disrespects this speech will go down in history as idiots in about 20 years."

Not with me. I'll call them an idiot in a New York minute. Pity Peggy.

[John Lenin]

"We will not let the terrorist idiots stop us"

Said by an Iraqi citizen from the Freeper ball.

[Mo1]

Excellent article

I've said it before .. I'll say it again .. Bush will go down in history as one of our greatest presidents

[Mo1]

FYI Ping

[Lancey Howard]

The socialist liberal "old" (formerly "mainstream") media will NEVER acknowledge how great President Bush's inaugural speech was. But everybody who heard it knows.