9/11, the Obama Inaugural Address, and the Shared Sacrifice George W. Bush Never Called For
By Robert Schlesinger, Thomas Jefferson Street blog
I mentioned earlier in the week the striking absence of any explicit references in Barack Obama's inaugural address to 9/11. Vinca LaFleur, who was a National Security Council speechwriter for Bill Clinton, suggested that the speech's call for a renewal of fundamental American values was an indirect refutation of the notion that "9/11 changed everything."
Another 9/11-related view of the speech strikes me: It's the kind of speech—specifically because of the theme of shared responsibility and shared burden in a long struggle—that we famously did not hear from George W. Bush after 9/11.
He and his gang did talk about a long struggle, but the sacrifice was to be borne by our armed forces while the rest of us at home hugged our children and went shopping. This dichotomy, by the way, nicely set up the troops as a political shield—if you criticized the Bush national security policy, you were attacking the troops who were busy sacrificing for you.
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Our Country
Everybody wants to place the blame on someone else. 9/11 was a bad time for everyone, and yes Busch kept us safe. It is our fault, the American people, all of us black, white, mexican, chinese, Mr. Busch just happened to be our Commander in Cheif at the time. He is also a human being, so is President Obama. It is up to us to pull together, stand side to side, if we want to get out of this mess. I am against abortion, and I do disagree with what President Obama did in that expect, it is not because he is African American. Everyone wants to make this a racial thing. When not one message I seen was saying anything about ethics, or what he looks like, it doesn't matter, what matters is TAKING CARE OF THE AMERICAN people, our homeland, before taking care of other Countries. At this time, we need to focus on American's noteveryone else, and just leave racial out of it. When it comes down to it we are ALL one.
Where is your tolerance...
We, the social right let President Obama have his day (no disturbances, no protests), and we are committed to supporting him in ways that reflect our beliefs--yet we have the compassion to respectfully disagree when necessary. Why can't you do the same.
It appears to be that tolerance in your view is only tolerance when we are in agreement with you.
Bush governed by his conscience, which is what President Obama appears to be doing...we are not writing bitter attacks on him...can you do the same???
Let your guy lead and let's see the fruit...if it is good, people will support him; if it is not good, he will be out of there...but don't play the blame game...your continuous griping makes Bush appear to be a lot smarter than what you claim he was (blaming him for the global collapse of the economy and every other woe!!!) Who is the intelligent/compassionate one here...the man who unendingly complains about his predecessor or the one who quietly leaves town and allows his successor the fortitude to govern...you decide...
Schlesinger comments
Calling the former administration "He and his gang" reveals the depth of disrespect and derision that the main stream media have used to promote their own view of what should come next.
Their hopes and dreams have come true we have the new Messiah, who will "save" us all from the evil right wing and restore us to world prominence.
Let's see week one: nominate someone to handle our tax dollars who just happens to be guilty of not paying any taxes of his own! Lift the ban on international abortion funding with American tax dollars, despite that fact the an overwhelming number of Americans from both sides of the aisle oppose our releasing our dollars for such use. Close Gitmo with no plan of what to do with hardened terrorists who openly verbalize their intentions.
Gee .. I can see why Schlesinger is so happy the "gang" is gone and a "new day" began.
S. Todd of Flint MI
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