The Worst Speech of Bush's Presidency

[liberalpragmatist]

http://www.tnr.com/doc.mhtml?i=w051107&s=kusnet111205

THE WORST SPEECH OF BUSH'S PRESIDENCY.
Attack Mode
by David Kusnet

For speechwriters drafting a presidential address for a patriotic holiday such as Independence Day, Memorial Day, or Veterans Day, there are three rules: Don't be wordy; don't be wonky; and, most important, don't be partisan. In his Veterans Day remarks today at the Tobyhanna Army Depot near Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, President Bush and his staff broke all three rules, producing a strident speech that went on for almost 50 minutes, included a lengthy comparison of "Islamic radicalism" and "the ideology of communism," and concluded by attacking "some Democrats," while taking an implicit shot at "my opponent during the last election." It may have been the worst speech of his presidency.

<snip>

Moreover, Veterans Day is certainly not the venue for a president to attack the opposition party or single out a defeated opponent, as Bush did today. Towards the end of his speech, Bush declared, "While it's perfectly legitimate to criticize my decision or the conduct of the war, it is deeply irresponsible to rewrite the history of how that war began." He criticized "some Democrats and antiwar critics" for "claiming we manipulated the intelligence and misled the American people about why we went to war." Then he did something that no president in recent memory has done: He took what could be read as an implicit shot at the man he defeated, explaining, "Many of these critics supported my opponent during the last election, who explained his position to support the resolution in Congress this way." Bush then quoted Kerry's statement defending his vote to authorize the use of force in Iraq--essentially holding Kerry up for ridicule, since Kerry is now a war critic. Do you remember Clinton criticizing Bob Dole in 1997; or Reagan criticizing Walter Mondale in 1985; or even Nixon criticizing George McGovern in 1973? Of course not--second-term presidents tend to co-opt, not condemn, defeated opponents.

Bush's speech also adopted two of Nixon's smarmiest rhetorical techniques: attacking the nameless but nefarious "some," just as Nixon used to disagree with "some who say"; and lumping together very different people--the villainous "some Democrats," the "antiwar critics" who could be anyone from Russ Feingold to Ramsey Clark, and, finally, Kerry himself.

<snip>

This was a speech that presented Bush's case implausibly and inappropriately. It's hard for a president to sound unpresidential on a patriotic holiday, but Bush achieved that dubious distinction today.

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[DavidDvorkin]

1. Log in where?

Could you add a link, please?

[liberalpragmatist]

3. Whoops, sorry

Will update

[understandinglife]

2. And, he lied, again and again and again ....

Peace.

[louis-t]

4. "my opponent during the last election"?

This is a paranoid man who is fearful he will be found out. He is a disgrace. He knows the election was stolen and is still trying to justify himself in his own mind. Still fighting the battle of the election. He knows he lost.

[Neil Lisst]

5. It was a real stinker of a speech.

I thought it was terrible. I made myself listen to it, just like I do most of these "important" speeches he makes. I thought it reflected the new influence of Karen Hughes and waning influence of Rove.

Also, it sounded like Bush is adding more of his own thinking.

The whole "well John Kerry voted for it" line of thought isn't going to sell. Nor is the "they had the same intel we did" bullshit.

[MarianJack]

6. But WAIT!

Didn't freeperville call it bush's "Gettysburg Address"?

If they aren't reliable political barometers than who is? :sarcasm:

[cliss]

7. I say 'good'.

Let him keep babbling on. I hope his speeches become longer and longer. Soon, his poor victims will be sitting there, asleep from Bush's droning voice, their butts sore because he won't ever shut up.

Next, hit the TV networks. Make sure Bush defends his kids, attacks local Dem's, and throw in Chirac and Schröeder for good measure. Be certain that Bush has covered all his bases.

Make sure his jaw swivels like crazy, and don't forget big blotches on his face from ultimate stress.

I won't be tuning in.