From the President’s inaugural address today:
Today, America speaks anew to the peoples of the world:
All who live in tyranny and hopelessness can know: the United States will not ignore your oppression, or excuse your oppressors. When you stand for your liberty, we will stand with you.
Democratic reformers facing repression, prison, or exile can know: America sees you for who you are: the future leaders of your free country.
The rulers of outlaw regimes can know that we still believe as Abraham Lincoln did: “Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves; and, under the rule of a just God, cannot long retain it.”
The leaders of governments with long habits of control need to know: To serve your people you must learn to trust them. Start on this journey of progress and justice, and America will walk at your side.
And all the allies of the United States can know: we honor your friendship, we rely on your counsel, and we depend on your help. Division among free nations is a primary goal of freedom’s enemies. The concerted effort of free nations to promote democracy is a prelude to our enemies’ defeat.
Yes.
See video here.
Of course, considering the importance of continued access to cheap underwear at Wal-Mart, none of this applies to the oppressive, expansionist and war-mongering Chinese. More’s the shame…
This is my way of holding the media and the politicians accountable – dirty pictures to embarass and annoy:
Rush Limbaugh humps CNN’s Daryn Kagan…
Bush and Condi’s secret relationship…
You’ll probably call me smug for this comment, but I’ll make it anyway: Richard, I’m bewildered by your being taken in by ANY politician’s hollow rhetoric.
You have to admit they’re nice words.
I’m not sure “nice” words are what we want or need from the president.
He used the words freedom or liberty 49 times.
Freedom. Liberty. God.
Abstractions. Lofty obscurations some have said.
Even Peggy Noonan (whom we all know as the celebrated speechwriter for both Reagan & Bush senior) said GW’s speech left her “with a bad feeling, and reluctant dislike.” The world isn’t heaven, she wrote, but his speech was “heavenish,” “God-drenched,” “somewhere between dreamy and disturbing.”
Peggy Noonan’s sugary speeches are one reason Bush 41 wasn’t re-elected. This speech announced a generational change in American foreign policy: while we used to support dictators for our convenience, we’ve seen the light and will now proceed to wean ourselves off that habit while we embrace a policy of actually spreading democracy abroad, as we did in Afghanistan and Iraq. If we can democratize Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Austin, the world will be a better place.
That’s an important message.
Agree about Noonan’s speeches. Sugary tripe.
(of course, the quality of her speeches wasn’t my point)
GWB’s not sugary, but broadcast during a 40 million dollar celebration of himself & his “base” (the infamous “have mores”), it rings hollow.
You say “democratize Austin.” I get the joke. Cute. Nonetheless, I start to wonder what you (& GWB) mean by democracy.
Democracy as I understand it (representative democracy) means freely elected governments, for starters.
But Kim, aren’t you complaining about the speech because you don’t like Bush in the first place, so you’re not disposed to believe his speechifying?
True, I don’t like Bush. So, yes, I’m not disposed to believe his speechifying.
But I’m not disposed to believe most speechifying, for that matter.
Anyway, I know you’re optimistic.
I hope it proves to be well-founded, old friend.
Hey, I thought Austin already had a freely elected government!
I figure most political speechifying is bullshit, so I don’t get too excited about it one way or the other – I’ll just hold out and see the results, if any.
Austin was run by a loose coalition of hippies and crooked developers last time I looked, but White House press secretary Scott McClellan’s mama was mayor – Carol Keeton McClellan Rylander Strayhorn Whatever – as a Democrat. She’s now switched parties, I hear.
Hippies long gone. Crooked developers still here. Traffic is bad as Houston, housing expensive as California, “urban sprawl” has devoured Round Rock & environs, the hills are covered with mansions, many left unfinished, but somehow the presence of a big Whole Foods Market & music clubs on Sixth Street make people believe Austin is “hip”. There’s even a sad campaign called “Keep Austin Weird”. Austin hasn’t been weird for over a decade.
It broke my heart coming back here.
Sounds about like what I’ve seen there in recent years, except for the California real estate part – Austin’s not even close in that department. A 1200 sq. ft. house in Cupertino (Silicon Valley suburb) is $700,000. Rents aren’t that far apart, though.
Real estate is getting closer though. The house next door’s for sale–it’s about 1200 square feet, probably built in the early 40s. $499,000. And that’s in Clarksville!
Some of the bigger ones in Hyde Park are more.
I was in Tulsa last week, surprised at how light the traffic was compared to Austin.
Richard, forgot to mention: on a subject that has interest, there’s an interesting Counterpunch article online: “Once They Were Cults”.
In ref to our conversation about Austin, read “State of Hopelessness” in latest Cluserfuck Nation blog. A bit of Austin seen there too.