Thank you for this post, John. The President has a world of corrupt bullies gunning for him and he stands steady. Awesome!
Posted on 01/29/2003 12:55:44 AM PST by JohnHuang2
| A million things can be said, and are being said, about President Bush's State of the Union address last night. But a few things stand out: One major address from this president, and all the Democratic fog built up in recent weeks immediately dissipated. After Tuesday night, the Pelosi-Daschles are going to have to find themselves a stronger fog-making machine. The one they've been using is deader than an empty can of aerosol spray. That goes for Peter Jennings as well, the only anchor I watched last night, not only because he's been leading the media charge against Bush but also because of his recent eagerness to play the role of Bonior-McDermott-Penn in Baghdad. Editorializing on no basis save his own uncontained prejudices, Peter before the speech decided to give his own abbreviated version by announcing that "the state of the union is uncertain," that "most people" agree with his various views, that the U.S. finds itself in the "most weakened position since 9/11" and that President Bush is "still very popular" -- the "still" reflecting a certainty that Bush's popularity can't last and won't be allowed to. Afterward, such carping seemed as puny as the Democrats' official response from Washington state's answer to Michael Dukakis. No less diminished was the distinguished panel of ABC regulars Jennings had mobilized. Under his guidance they had all the stature of a focus group. To her credit, Michel McQueen was able to slip in that Bush gave a "commanding" performance. Indeed, that sums it up. Bush was in full command no less than on September 21, 2001, but in certain ways even more impressively because he didn't need to be spectacular. This time there was no sense at all that he was giving the speech of his life, or having to resort to the bombast of last year's State of the Union. Instead what you saw is the leader of the free world easily filling that role that's become his destiny. He dominated this congressional gathering no less than he did his United Nations audience last fall. It's gotten to the point that the text of his remarks seems flat until you hear Bush delivering the actual words: words that score rhetorically above all because they are politically assertive and shrewd. Bush is that most unusual of Republicans who understands that political presence is nothing without projection and demonstration of clout. That means he controls the terms of debate. Consider just a few examples. The conventional wisdom going into last night was that Bush would have to acknowledge that the state of the union is shaky, the implication being that a shaky union means a shaky Bush presidency. Good luck. In his first paragraphs he did just the opposite, conceptualizing in a way that could only make his leadership shine, as he called attention to his and Congress's serving "in a time of great consequence": "In all these days of promise and days of reckoning, we can be confident. In a whirlwind of change and hope and peril, our faith is sure, our resolve is firm, and our union is strong. "This country has many challenges. We will not deny, we will not ignore, we will not pass along our problems to other Congresses, to other presidents, and other generations. We will confront them with focus, and clarity and courage." No uncertainty here, just a selfless sense of duty, generosity, and love of country. To drive the point home, he followed immediately with this shot across the Democrats' bow: "During the last two years, we have seen what can be accomplished when we work together...." Then he proceeded to take credit for a number of politically useful initiatives, after which he added memorably: "Some might call this a good record. I call it a good start." This president, in other words, is going to be around. And that was before he again insisted on speeding up his tax cuts, or outlawing partial birth abortion, or going ahead with ballistic missile defense -- all of which were reacted to by standing ovations from Republicans while Democrats disappeared under their seats, McGoverniks to the bitter end. To cite one other example of Bush's ability to mix statesmanship with political deftness, there was his moving and unassailable call to provide serious help to the victims of AIDS in Africa. Woe to Bush if this effort comes to naught. From all indications this part of his speech caught observers by surprise. Again all those who make a living underestimating Bush will have a lot of catching up to do. Meanwhile, one can imagine Bush's predecessor throwing a major tantrum -- hadn't Bill Clinton announced he was going to devote the rest of his life to helping victims of AIDS in Africa? Seems he got distracted on that score, and now he's been preempted. Then, too, Democrats thought they would forever connect Bush to Trent Lott, yet there was Bush, winning the applause of a major AIDS fighter from Uganda who attended the speech as one of his honored guests. Tony Snow commented on how quiet the House gallery became as Bush laid out specifics about Saddam Hussein. Perhaps by then Bush's remarks were more than the Democratic side and Peter Jennings could bear to hear. If there's hope for them it's in knowing that the State of the Union comes but once a year. Wlady Pleszczynski is editor of The American Prowler and executive editor of The American Spectator. |
hehehehehe
There was as much evil lurking in that Hallowed Chamber last night as there is in any one of Saddam's torture chambers. G.W. looked them right in the eye, charming them, the whole time he was disarming them and at the same time challenging them by providing opportunities to climb on board before it's too late. Most of them dumb Dems will take a pass and try to find some smithering of left over carcass to chew on and build an anti case against the President's proposals but it sure was a special moment in our history to have had the priviledge to witness a great man at work.
It was a torture chamber for the Left Wing of the Democratic Party last night and I thoroughly enjoyed watching them suffer.
For who knows what evil lurks in the heart of men?
The Shadow knows
Thank you for this post, John. The President has a world of corrupt bullies gunning for him and he stands steady. Awesome!
The easy way to tell that our President did very well in his State of the Union speech is to note that the Democrats and their advisors aren't jumping up and down with glee today. Had the slightest error been made last night, it would have been siezed upon with much Democratic glee.
One of my sisters is a big-time democrat, no dount as misguided loyalty to my father's memory. Today she was quite enthusiastic about the hydrogen car idea, and understood how it could free us from foreign oil dependence. This is a BIG DEAL, as she usually finds something to carp about.
President Bush has big ideas for both our nation and the world, and sometimes they are not what we would expect. However, I think he is willing to consider the unconventional ideas, and do what is best for our country. The hydrogen car may sound like a Gore-mobile to those who reflexively distrust any environmental initiatives, but if it works, think about how wonderful it would be not to be beholden to Saudi Arabia and Venezuela. We are seeing the beginning of an historic presidency, one that will be as far reaching in its effects as Franklin Roosevelt's. God bless President Bush.
Excerpt:
...After Tuesday night, the Pelosi-Daschles are going to have to find themselves a stronger fog-making machine. The one they've been using is deader than an empty can of aerosol spray.
That goes for Peter Jennings as well, the only anchor I watched last night, not only because he's been leading the media charge against Bush but also because of his recent eagerness to play the role of Bonior-McDermott-Penn in Baghdad. Editorializing on no basis save his own uncontained prejudices, Peter before the speech decided to give his own abbreviated version by announcing that "the state of the union is uncertain," that "most people" agree with his various views, that the U.S. finds itself in the "most weakened position since 9/11" and that President Bush is "still very popular" -- the "still" reflecting a certainty that Bush's popularity can't last and won't be allowed to.
Please let me know if you want ON or OFF my General Interest or President Bush ping list!. . .don't be shy. 
Do that and Drill ANWR and we can become much less dependent on those ME countries...
Bush Doctrine Unfolds :
| To find all articles tagged or indexed using Bush Doctrine Unfold , click below: | ||||
| click here >>> | Bush Doctrine Unfold | <<< click here | ||
| (To view all FR Bump Lists, click here) | ||||
Go here for another inspiring tribute to President GW Bush:
Many of them showed that they knew were being tortured too!
YaHAHAHAHA!!!! -- What a performance!!!
Yes that is good. I read it, and checked - it's already posted on FR:
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.