Clinton Crying - Video @ Ron Brown Funeral
Laffing & So Forth Til He Sees Camera.....
Posted on 09/11/2002 6:44:34 PM PDT by Pokey78
In his speeches yesterday, George W Bush did what he does best: he bolstered American confidence, forced Americans to look forward and reminded Americans of their own strength. What a difference a year makes.
At the beginning of his presidency, Mr Bush seemed to many outside America as a little boy lost. He seemed lacking in decision and understanding. Within three days of September 11, he had the measure of what had happened, as he showed at the memorial service in Washington's National Cathedral.
His mettle was again apparent on September 20, when he addressed the joint session of Congress. "We will direct every resource at our command . . . to the defeat of the global terror network. Every nation now has a decision to make: either you are with us, or you are against us." Americans needed this show of absolute resolve.
Mr Bush had appeared inarticulate, but he has turned his lack of eloquence to his advantage. That his speeches cost him considerable effort somehow makes them more winning. A parallel is George VI: because audiences knew he was a stammerer, they found themselves on his side.
Mr Bush's awkwardness made him more believable than his predecessor, Bill Clinton, with his glib words. If Europeans are struck by the crudity of his demeanour, they fail to realise that it is precisely his homeliness that adds to his appeal for Americans.
Over the past year, Mr Bush has shown himself to be a president for the Americans in the unexpected situation in which they found themselves. In the days after the World Trade Centre's towers fell, America's confidence was devastated; its spirit could have been September 11's greatest casualty.
Imagine what the reactions of Mr Clinton, say, or Al Gore might have been to September 11. Mr Gore's hallmark is caution; his finger-wagging attitude would have been woefully inadequate. Americans felt that Mr Bush was with them, not an external critic. He took America into war in Afghanistan, and the war was won.
Mr Bush's blunt approach came as relief from Mr Clinton's "I feel your pain" approach. Mr Bush did what Mr Clinton would never dare to do: he spoke of good and evil. And, to the embarrassment of British observers, he invokes God. "Our purpose as a nation is firm, yet our wounds are recent and unhealed and lead us to pray," he said last September 14.
To Americans, this seems not embarrassing, but natural and right. After September 11, Mr Bush's approval ratings were the second highest in American history, 88 per cent. Even now, despite some anxiety over war on Iraq, his ratings are 69 per cent - Mr Clinton's all-time high.
Mr Bush's go-it-alone stance and his tough talk have raised European hackles. But his attitude was what Americans needed. Mr Bush is responsible for America's recovery, as Rudolph Giuliani is responsible for New York's. Mr Bush speaks - today as last year - of Americans' future; their resolve, not their wounds. They might not have known it when he was elected, but Americans have found in Mr Bush a great leader.
No one here is waiting for him to fail, he has already failed to protect our borders. That's why thinking Americans are mad at him. What's the use of fighting a war on terrorism when the borders are open to anyone who wants to sneak in? Do you really believe that it's only Mexicans and Canadians who sneak in over the borders?
Unlimited illegal immigration not only poses a danger to America, but also puts an unfair burden on the shoulders of the American taxpayers. What is good about this?
I saw someone on FOX News Channel yesterday talking about it takes 2 years for such an incredibly incomprehensible disaster to get over or absorbed. I remember this being compared to Pearl Harbor and Kennedy's murder (JFK). I remember to this very day where I was when I heard about JFK. I think 40 years from now, I'll still recall where I was on 9-11.
Regarding the Rangers, me too....well, I used to be more fanatic than I am now. Perhaps when Hicks sells the Stars he can focus on the Rangers and get some pitching?......
And if she said "Knock me up sometime" you'd better know exactly what she meant.
In the days after the World Trade Centre's towers fell, America's confidence was devastated; its spirit could have been September 11's greatest casualty.
What the hell is this crap, does he actually believe it, or does it just fit well with his point that Bush isn't a dolt. And, your darned well right we knew he was a leader when we elected him.
Someone send this chap a lime, he's got scurvy.
The key word is Britain. In the US, the word primarily means "ugly". It's amazing how a common language will diverge when societies split! While "'merkin english" and "British english" have a common root, they're pretty different in vernacular! For instance, it would be a bad idea for someone from Britian to ask a complete stranger for a rubber or a fag!
Mark
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