Free Republic

The presidential inauguration, no matter who is being sworn in, is a glorious moment, showing the world how freely elected governments work. But to my mind, the second inaugural address of George W. Bush was not only beautifully written and delivered, but also historic and memorable, for two major reasons. First, the president’s address focused on liberty and what it means to the world. This was the most idealistic and moralistic presidential message since Franklin Roosevelt summoned us to the heroic task of saving the world from tyranny in World War II. As President Bush was speaking, I could hear...

From my Mom... "There are no words to describe how I felt when I saw this picture. There aren’t enough words written to tell this brave young man how much I thank him for his sacrifice and courage it took for him to do what he did to ensure our safety from the Godless terrorists who want you & me dead. God bless our troops and God bless our country. Pray for this brave hero." Jeannie

Protesting the inauguration of President George W. Bush, a crowd of between 300 and 400 students marched from the Arbor to Storke Plaza on Thursday, chanting “Not My President” and “No Blood for Oil.” Several students, faculty and staff members spoke in Storke Plaza about the effect of the Bush administration on the cost of college, abortion, gay marriage, the war in Iraq and workers’ rights. -- snip -- About 20 members of the College Republicans followed the crowd from the Arbor chanting “Losers walk” and holding such signs as “Republicans Love Democracy” and “Dubya is for Winner.” During the...

After attending President Bush's inauguration, NewsMax.com's Fr. Mike Reilly reports on a part of the inaugural parade you won't hear covered on the nightly news. The well-dressed, refined ladies and gentlemen from across the United States who traversed the streets of Washington this week for the president's inauguration stood in sharp contrast to the hordes of demonstrators sporting grungy jeans and do-rags. While the crowd at the inauguration ceremonies at the Capitol showed great respect to former Presidents Clinton and Carter, the demonstrators shouted obscenities to those attending the inauguration. One demonstrator shouted "F*** you" to Fr. John Wroblewski, pastor...

The President, First Lady and their parents relaxed at the White House today. Former President GHW Bush visited the press corps on duty in the WH press briefing room. QUOTE OF THE DAY: This week, Washington has been marked by pomp and circumstance. In a free nation, these ceremonies are more than pageantry. They underscore that public office is a public trust. America's elected leaders derive their authority from the consent of the American people, whom we serve. This is a high privilege, and that privilege carries a serious responsibility: to confront problems now, instead of passing them on to...

Inauguration Day brought out the Socialists of LPAC (Louisville Peace Action Community) to protest our Commander-and-Chief and the War against Terror. However, as usual, the local chapter of Protest Warrior and FReepers were on hand to liven up their pity party. FReepers in attendance that I know of: BlueOneGolf and SheWolf. The LPAC Lefties planned to march through downtown Louisville at 4PM and rally in front of the Jefferson County Courthouse at 5th and Jefferson at 5PM. Although I was late getting off work I joined up with our group of Protest Warriors in the middle of the march. I...

For all of us who could not be there in person I've put together some great pics (along with some great music to go with them) of our First Couple enjoying themselves. (click on the each of the 3 song titles to listen to the music)

I was really touched by the song at the inaugural, "Heal Our Land". I researched it and found it was written by Orrin Hatch and that Hatch has the song on his website as Whitley Phipps sings, Heal Our Land . Just click on Heal Our Land and it will play the whole song for you.

Verrückt nach Bush Von Henryk M. Broder und Claus Christian Malzahn Die Anti-Bush-Front ist breit und beredt. Politiker und Journalisten wissen genau, was der neualte US-Präsident falsch macht. Gibt es überhaupt etwas, das er tun könnte, um seine Gegner zufrieden zu stellen? Und was würde passieren, wenn er die US-Truppen jetzt nach Hause holt? Berlin/Augsburg - Was, in Gottes Namen, ist an diesem Satz falsch? "Die wahre Hoffnung für den Frieden in der Welt ist die Verbreitung der Freiheit überall in der Welt." Hätte diesen Satz der deutsche Bundeskanzler in einer Regierungserklärung gesagt, Nelson Mandela auf der Jahreskonferenz der Organisation...

The Free Republic W2 Inaugural Ball was a wonderful, but exhausting time. I'm still wiped out. But, I know folks are waiting for pics and stories. I'll add my observations later, but I wanted to share one thing before I head back to the hotel to see 'Governor' Robinson and his family off.We received a phone call from the White House yesterday. The Office of Presidential Scheduling called to pass along President Bush's regrets for not being able to attend our ball (we had mailed a formal invitation to him and his family.) We were told, "He hopes it went...

Jenna's gesture shocks those who recall it meaning devil worship Jenna Bush's Longhorn salute during her father's inauguration festivities caused a stir in Norway, suggesting that Austin and Oslo are two cities separated by the same hand gesture. "Sjokkhilsen fra Bush datter," read an outraged headline on Norwegian news Web site Nettavisen. Translated: "Shock greeting from Bush daughter." Sjokkhilsen, indeed. The University of Texas marching band and Norway's death-metal musicians inspire the same reverent hand gesture from their respective legions, the time-tested "horns" produced by extending one's index and pinkie fingers. The "Hook 'em, Horns" that Bush flashed when The...

Bush Speech Not a Sign of Policy Shift, Officials Say White House officials said yesterday that President Bush's soaring inaugural address, in which he declared the goal of ending tyranny around the world, represents no significant shift in U.S. foreign policy but instead was meant as a crystallization and clarification of policies he is pursuing in Iraq, Afghanistan, the Middle East and elsewhere. Nor, they say, will it lead to any quick shift in strategy for dealing with countries such as Russia, China, Egypt and Pakistan, allies in the fight against terrorism whose records on human rights and democracy fall...

The most significant thing about President Bush's inaugural address was the word he did not utter: terror. Until now the war on terrorism has been the administration's foreign policy paradigm, giving unity and coherence to disparate and morally contradictory policies: promoting democracy in the Middle East, for instance, while ignoring undemocratic practices in Russia and China. One would have expected Bush to make the war on terrorism the theme of his address. That he did not shows a remarkable evolution in Bush's thinking over the past half-decade. That evolution has gone through three phases. The first was realist retrenchment. Bush...

Presidents as far back as Washington frequently invoked faith and religion in their public statements. Some scholars have said President Clinton made more frequent mention of Jesus Christ than has Bush, who is more closely associated with devout Christianity than his predecessor. Even so, Bush's lyrical and at times defiant knitting together of religion and American democratic principles was widely noted, to mixed reviews. Peggy Noonan, a conservative author and former speechwriter to former Presidents George Bush and Ronald Reagan, on Friday in the Wall Street Journal criticized the president's speech as "God-drenched."

The day had dawned like earlier days in Washington. Gray, rainy, cold. The President had dealt with some matters before going to Congress, where he also met with senators from both parties. Then he set out for the balcony of the East Wing of the Capital where he would swear his oath with the same formula used by George Washington on April 30, 1789. The President took his seat on the speakers’ platform next to his wife. It continued raining. Mary watched her husband stretch out to his more than 6 feet of height to approach the podium from which...

Here's the link to a very nice presentation of the 2005 Inaugural Address

WASHINGTON — In the unending struggle over American foreign policy that consumes much of official Washington, one side claimed a victory this week: the neoconservatives, that determined band of hawkish idealists who promoted the U.S. invasion of Iraq and now seek to bring democracy to the rest of the Middle East. For more than a year, since the occupation of Iraq turned into the Bush administration's biggest headache, many of the "neocons" have lowered their profiles and muted their rhetoric. During President Bush's reelection campaign, Deputy Defense Secretary Paul D. Wolfowitz, one of the leading voices for invading Iraq, virtually...

In an article today, Peggy Noonan spoke of the distaste that President Bush caused her by his inauguration speech. I am more troubled by her article than all the rest of the expected tripe oozed by the mainstream media, combined. I have always admired Ms. Noonan, and have regarded her articles as dessert after the relentless sour lunch of defeatism and distortion served up by our "mainstream" media. Surely it has occurred to her, even as it has occurred to us, that there is an inescapable reason why CNN viewership is down 50% from the last Inauguration, and MSNBC is...

How is it that these mortal eyes look upon George W. Bush and see a president whose words and vision inspire the children of Iran, North Korea and Zimbabwe, while others see a frightening grandiosity that they are certain will result in calamity? How is it that these ears hear and this soul stirs to words with the enduring nobility that should mark the reach of a new generation, words for fathers and mothers to instruct their children, while others hear the same words defensively and dismissively as the store-bought rhetoric clever wordsmiths have drafted to deceive? The reality is...

WASHINGTON - European and Mideast officials feared yesterday that President Bush's inaugural address left open a possibility of more costly American military action. Some foreign officials charged that Bush's "liberty" speech went overboard on thinly veiled threats to use force to promote freedom abroad. "The neo-cons have lost in Iraq, but have won in Washington," said one European diplomat, referring to the hawkish Bush advisers who have pressed for war with Iraq, Syria and Iran, among other nations. Bush-bashing Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko accused the President of promoting a pro-democracy agenda that is really a disguise for "pouring blood and...