Thank you, Andrew! Here's some instant analysis of me own:
I thought the president did a wonderful job. One of the army of fervid and self-important commentators said, "He had a couple of aces up his sleave, didn't he?"
Boy did he ever!
I loved the way he began talking only about domestic problems. He got his points across masterfully about the benefits of his proposed tax reductions and the strengthening effect they should have on the economy, and he ALSO stole a lot of the Democrats' thunder by promising access to "unrationed" medical care for all Americans and prescription drug benefits for the elderly. His admonition to Congress to end partial birth abortion was politically brave, but obviously the right thing to do. May they find the courage and the will to act on ending this atrocity at last. The only POSSIBLE excuse for such a practice would be if it were the only way to save the life of the mother.
I'm glad too that the president remains committed to the idea of putting more and more of the social security money under the direct control of each citizen -- thus giving the possibility of earning a MUCH greater return on the investment and making it an inheritable part of every family's net worth.
The president's amazing statement of concern for the victims of AIDS in Africa and the Caribbean, and his ambition to bring massive amounts of financial aid to the Dark Continent and other deprived areas was a real zinger. It may have been aimed primarily at the Congressional Black Caucus to help defuse some of their perpetual ire, but I think Mr. Bush's concern is sincere and his compassion real.
How we are going to pay for all of this and fund the War on Terror too I can't imagine, but we've always managed before in times of even greater crisis, and I'm sure we will this time too. sacrifice is good for the soul. As a nation, we've been on a pretty foolish joyride for a very long time. A little bitter medicine may be exactly what we need to regain our moral compass.
I also loved his frequent references to God and our need to rely on the Almighty for ultimate guidance. How refreshing it is to see a leader in action who is not ashamed of his ties to Christianity and who refuses to equivocate on the subject!
The most memorable quote of the evening told us,"Freedom is not America's gift to the world, but God's gift to humanity."
Yes, indeed!
Did anyone see the shots of Senator Daschle glaring balefully at the president as he spoke? This is a bitter, power-mad little man with a poisonous philosophy of governance and a shriveled soul. Hitlery, as always, was unable to camouflage her unwarranted attitude of smug superiority. Those famous contemptuous sidelong glances ought to do her in by all that's holy, but no one ever got rich by overestimating the intelligence of the average American voter -- particularly those who live in "Black" and "Blue" America.
All day the media has led us to expect that the president would say little or nothing about Iraq. That was another masterstroke, because when Mr. Bush got to that subject at long last, he really gave us a clear demonstration of his absolute certainty that Iraq has hidden arsenals of deadly weapons. And, he was most reassuring about his commitment to ending the brutal career of Saddam Hussein and of hunting down and destroying the shadowy, elusive agents of Al Qaeda -- one way or another.
The opposition will say, of course, that the president was trying to frighten us into supporting him by highlighting and exaggerating the brutal nature of the many dreadful possibilities that threaten our security at home and abroad. Many of these perils are insidious. I struggle to believe that the measures he briefly outlined about increased vigilance at our borders and ports of entry are adequate, but it's good to know that at least SOMETHING is being done.
Mr. Bush's hopeful attitude about the eventual development of a strategic missile defense system is heartening. And, I LOVED his vision of a new kind of hydrogen-powered automobile that would not only free us from too much dependence on foreign oil but would also be pollution free. I sure hope I live to see it come to pass.
What I love most about our president is his calmly serious, direct approach. He's not playing to the peanut gallery. Yes, he pandered to the Demonrats more than I'd like by supporting a lot of socialistic ideas, but he HAS to do that in order to survive politically. There are just too many Democrats. They have lots of power still and cannot simply be swept aside or passed over
Our president may not write every word he delivers, but I get the feeling that he really BELIEVES what he is saying. David Frum, a former Bush speechwriter, who has just written a book about the president, was saying just today on C-Span that Mr. Bush takes a very active interest in the speeches written for him and edits them mercilessly to better reflect and suit his own ideas.
There's an essential NICENESS and clear-eyed DECENCY about our president that's very hard to resist. I wish him -- and us -- every success.
May God bless America!