Well, the election season starts in full swing now. The President tonight gave one of his best speeches, starting off slow, but really catching fire after the laundry list of domestic programs was done. He knows it is his weak spot, and he's much better when can talk about the War on Terror. Dubya spoke with passion and sincerity about the his view of America and it’s mission to bring freedom to the world. This section was particulary evocative :
The progress we and our friends and allies seek in the broader Middle East will not come easily, or all at once. Yet Americans, of all people, should never be surprised by the power of liberty to transform lives and nations. That power brought settlers on perilous journeys, inspired colonies to rebellion, ended the sin of slavery, and set our Nation against the tyrannies of the 20th century. We were honored to aid the rise of democracy in Germany and Japan and Nicaragua and Central Europe and the Baltics and that noble story goes on. I believe that America is called to lead the cause of freedom in a new century. I believe that millions in the Middle East plead in silence for their liberty. I believe that given the chance, they will embrace the most honorable form of government ever devised by man. I believe all these things because freedom is not America's gift to the world, it is the Almighty God's gift to every man and woman in this world.
At that point the Mrs. Frinklin asked me if I thought the President was right. The answer is simple: he has to be. The other options are too terrible to contemplate.
I did notice, that over 4 nights, I didn’t hear anyone mention Osama Bin Laden. There was a lot of terrorist in general; a lot of Saddam, but nobody mentioned OBL. There was a lot of linkage between Saddam and 9/11, which is ridiculous but more and more people fall for it. Most glaring was George Pataki and this stumbling comparison between Kerry on Iraq and 9/11. He mentioned Kerry's line that America should go to war not when it wants to go to war but when it has to go to war, and immediately switching to the firefighters and police killed at the World Trade Center. It's a classic misdirection. Kerry was speaking about invading Iraq. Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11. Iraqis did not kill those killed on 9/11.
This stuff really drives me up the wall. I support the war. I think the world is a much better place now that Saddam is gone, and there is at least a chance that an Arab democracy may flower in the Middle East. I believe the reasons for going to war are enough; we don't need to muddle the issue by adding demonstrably false claims that Iraq had anything to do with 9/11.
There was some good news for Democrats too. At his midnight rally in Ohio, Kerry actually showed some cojones, making a very sharp point about the Vice President and his 5 student deferments disparaging his patriotism after two tours in Vietnam.
Should be an interesting race. I don’t see much chance for Kerry/Edwards, but they could make it interesting.
Oh, and when it was announced I was rather interested in the Obama/Keyes match-up. I had forgotten one point: Alan Keyes is a complete batshit loonball.
Posted by Frinklin at September 3, 2004 12:26 AMC'mon Frinklin- when did Cheney ever make disparaging remarks about Kerry's patriotism? Or even his Vietnam record?
That was a vicious, un-called for smear on the part of Kerry- plain and simple. And he’s still going to want to play the victim…
Posted by: Richard at September 3, 2004 12:05 AM