Tag Archives: Bush

A TALE OF TWO SPEECHES

President George W. Bush’s speech after the capture of Saddam Hussein:

“The success of yesterday’s mission is a tribute to our men and women now serving in Iraq . The operation was based on the superb work of intelligence analysts who found the dictator’s footprints in a vast country. The operation was carried out with skill and precision by a brave fighting force. Our servicemen and women and our coalition allies have faced many dangers in the hunt for members of the fallen regime, and in their effort to bring hope and freedom to the Iraqi people. Their work continues, and so do the risks. Today, on behalf of the nation, I thank the members of our Armed Forces and I congratulate them!”

Obama’s speech after the killing of bin Laden:

“And so shortly after taking office, I directed Leon Panetta, the Director of the CIA, to make the killing or capture of bin Laden the top priority of our war against al Qaeda, even as we continued our broader efforts to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat his network. Then, last August, I was briefed on a possible lead to bin Laden. It was far from certain, and it took many months to run this thread to ground. I met repeatedly with my national security team as we developed more information about the possibility that we had located bin Laden hiding within a compound deep inside of Pakistan . And finally, last week, I determined that we had enough intelligence to take action, and I authorized an operation to get Osama bin Laden and bring him to justice. Today, at my direction, the United States launched a targeted operation against that compound in Abbottabad , Pakistan .”

Two very different speeches, one by a leader giving all the credit to those who did the job, the other by Barack Obama.

RAMBLINGS ON LAWYERS AND POLITICIANS

Two lawyers walk into a courtroom with their respective clients. The case is a bitterly contested civil lawsuit. The argument in court is vicious. It turns personal when the two advocates lambaste each others positions before the judge. Animosity runs high.

The trial ends. The verdict is rendered. A few days later the attorneys join each other for lunch. The atmosphere is friendly. Here they are friends. In the courtroom each played a role, each fulfilling his duty to his client. In the restaurant they are brothers in a profession.

There is an aspect of gamesmanship in the legal process that attorneys understand but their respective clients do not. And so it is in politics. Bush (the senior) and Clinton (the one named Bill) were fierce opponents in the court of politics and before the jury of voters. With the campaigns over and the terms in office concluded, they are but brothers in a profession.

Democracy is the courtroom. The press is the medium. We are the jury. Each side comes before us to plead their case. It can be vicious at times. But the players keep a healthy bit of detachment unseen by the public. For sanity’s sake, we all need to do the same, (once in a while).

Warning! Strong language.

ONCE UPON A TIME WE HAD A PRESIDENT WHO LOVED HIS COUNTRY

And he still does.

Kinda makes you feel good again, doesn’t it.

BUSH GETS MAXINE WATERS IN TROUBLE

THE VICTIM

FOX News reports “Maxine Waters on Friday blamed the Bush administration for her ethics problems.”

It looks like the man did it again. The lady’s husband has a bank. The bank was not doing very well. Paulson was not giving any government money to the bank. Paulson was appointed by Bush. So as you can see, it was Bush who forced the lady to stoop below the normal ethical behavior befitting a Congress person.

It has to be true. Maxine said it herself.