What Is Bush Saying? (Speech confused even William F. Buckley Jr.)

National Review Online (may require subscription) ^ | January 21, 2005 | William F. Buckley Jr.

[West Coast Conservative]

Safire thought it was one of the top 5 of the 20 second-inaugurals in our history:

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."

[kjam22]

I thought it was a very good speech. It was uplifting and all. It was patriotic and strong. But it was "exhuberant in idealism". And I do have some reservations about getting our guys all shot up to spread democracy. And I'm not totally convinced that spreading democracy is the BEST way to stop terrorism. I figure if you kill all the terrorists that will go a long ways to stopping it. But it's not a very politically sound approach....

[what's up]

Perhaps the blueblood conservatives are getting nervous

I think you've hit on it. The toppling of the elites in DC is going to take along not a few conservatives who have been the darlings of the conservative establishment for a long time.

The "little people" is a mighty giant just beginning to flex muscles.

[ClearCase_guy]

What is it about plain language that confuses people?

In 2000, the problem with Bush was that he lacked "gravitas"
In 2004, the problem with Bush is that he has "hubris".

And, always, the problem is that he speaks in simple language!

[MichaelP]

In 2004, the problem with Bush is that he has "hubris".

And there numbers wane, wane, wane....

Mike

[kjam22]

No one has explained to me exactly how terrorism can't happen in a country that is a democracy. We're a democratic republic, yet we had a terrorist event by one of our own in my city.

So when it's explained exactly HOW democracy will prevent terroists from popping up.... then I might buy into the process a little more.

[OldFriend]

So you're brilliant and we're mindless.

Hey, kiss my grits. I understood the man perfectly but then you know, I'm, you know, one of those red neck dummies out here in the middle of nowhere. You know what I'm saying!

[teenyelliott]

You can never kill them all. They just make more.

[kjam22]

I don't think it's tyrany that breeds terrorists in Iran who want to kill us. I thinks it's Muslim fundamentalism.

[bayourod]

Buckley is suffering form either too much marijuana or a cocaine deficiency.

[kjam22]

I don't totally disagree that they "just make more". But how is democracy going to stop them from making more?

[woofie]

Insert mom and apple pie in place of freedom and see if all people can agree...

[atlaw]

President Bush's speech was crystal clear: It's open season on the bad guys, and we're going to roll them back like no one's business.

Really? How?

[Heldentat]

Do not underestimate U.S. power.

[Bushforlife]

Buckley is nit-picking about inconsequential aspects of the Presidents' use of language without really listening to the crystal clear message:

The United States will heretofore act to promote liberty and freedom [the "American Way of Life"] by means which are not necessarily military, but which may indeed be.

Let our enemies beware. We will not hesitate to invade and overthrow them to destroy their power.

We are the worlds' remaining superpower. It's ABOUT TIME we started acting like one.

Destroy our buildings, kill our people, and WE WILL COME FOR YOU!

[MainFrame65]

I agree. Isolation worked in the days of conventional threats, from conventional adversaries, with conventional weapons. Those were the good old days, and too many conservatives are still stuck there.

If you saw the movie, "Lord Of The Rings,", you might recall the very first words; "The world has changed."

It changed for all of us, including the President. The threat is no longer remote, even if our enemies are, and we need to deal with it wherever it exists. This speech outlined the most comprehensive response to that threat that I have heard, and merely criticising the speech without offering a better solution is quibbling.

[WestVirginiaRebel]

Semantics aside, the speech struck the right tone. Bush's message was that freedom itself was the antitdote to terrorism, not just our military might. Bush IS the ideological heir to Ronaldus Magnus.

[cyncooper]

I wasn't confused.

I'm still not confused.

Are you confused?