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I think his speech was forceful. The question and answer session wasn't as good. It wasn't really bad but it wasn't really great, either. Bush seemed tired and he stumbled verbally a bit -- I really wish Bush had spoken more about terrorism that happened before 9/11. People need to be reminded that the 9/11 attacks were part of a continuum. That being said, the media asked Bush some really stupid and outrageous questions to try to throw him off balance -- "Mr. President, isn't it time you apologized for the 9/11 attacks?" Well, they didn't use those exact words, but something close. The media is spinning it that everything depended on Bush's 8 months but there is nothing that Clinton could have done differently for the previous 8 years. I listened to the speech and Q&A on the radio. I don't know if I would have gotten a different impression watching it on TV.

I think his speech was forceful. The question and answer session wasn't as good.

Except he kept pursing his lips then licking them ... he seemed tentative during his speech. One of the criteria in the military for advancement, as an officer, is something called command presence. It has to do with projecting confidence, having a strong physical profile helps, giving those you lead confidence in your ability to lead ... after all, you are asking these people you lead to risk their lives. Frankly, I didn't feel Bush conveyed that type of strength ... he has lost his confidence.

I don't know if I would have gotten a different impression watching it on TV.

Naw, but wait until the Republican attack machine of Talk Radio and the blogs sink their teeth into it. The will spread and accent the message. The little pauses that bother some people so much really don't bother most average citizens too much. It makes Bush more human to them. Makes him seem one of them. The Hysteric Left spent most the the 1980s freaking about Reagan's style. Pretty much all they did was make fun of Reagan's speaking style. Did do much good for them with the voters now did it?

People in the USA are not really ready yet to "admit" to our own stupidity.
Mainly because it was not stupidity, so much as exhaustion.
For example: I narrowly missed being killed a few times in Germany by terrorists, the closest call came in August of 1981 at USAFE HQ at Ramstein AB.
As usual, the rather stupid terrorist attempt at destroying a three story u shaped building failed, because only the detonator blew, and it blew early.It succeeded in blowing a Volkswagon over a three story building and breaking a lot of windows, but the actual bomb part,65 lbs of plastique, in a bastardised propane tank cylinder, was not even scorched.It did take several days to clean up the mess.
I was frantic to call home and let my friends and family know I was OK.
They had no idea what I was talking about!It didnt even warrant a report on the national news in the USA!
Granted that was the old, cold war days.There was still the formidible USSR threat to consider, and everything else was, well,only a minor irritation when compared to total, worldwide, nuclear devastation in the probable war between the Superpowers.
So much for the mini history lesson.
The USSR disbanded,China started trending towards capitolism,and Sung and Castro lost their main financial support mechanisms.
Peace started breaking out, and Dictators, Communists, and Socialists lost their primary means of international financial support.
All they had left(LEFT) was disjointed terrorism tactics as the means to enforce their proven failed ideolgies.
What to do if you are a meglomaniac?
Why, hone terrorism! Expand terrorism!
Keep their populations ignorant, hungry and angry!
Direct it outwards, and cling to power for a few more years.