The Speech

I wish I would have had the opportunity to write before the speech on what I felt would be the impact of the Presidents speech tonight, but I have been quite overwhelmed with the project I am working on at www.webofsupport.com.  I do think that by tomorrow, the one thing we will be hearing is how this speech has not necessarily changed the mind of the American people, that it has not changed the tide of opinion.  In my opinion, such rhetoric does not look at what the core of the speech was about.

Before this evening, I felt the core of the speech was for Americans who still support the war effort, it was a speech for those of us who have served our country and for those who serve our troops who are deployed by supporting their efforts.  The speech is ultimately a call to those who follow with the conclusion that this war in Iraq is being fought on the soils of terrorism's base.  It is a war being fought thousands of miles away in an effort to defeat terrorists, so that terror may be prevented from once again visiting our shores. 

Ultimately, the President relayed his most prescient words in my opinion, when he relayed to the American people the words of OBL and his encouragement to support our servicemen and women and their families.  All in all, I thought it was a great speech.

Comments

[Kat]

And a big AMEN to that!

[bicyclemark]

hi Chris! I have to wonder about your speech evaluation scale.. say, looking back throughout history. The man is not a good speaker, I think we all know that. So immediately thats working against him. And then his text was in fact the same thing he's been saying for.. I dont know.. 1 year.. two years... what year of ye ol war on terrorism is this now? So no originality points. His expressions as he delivered it seem to be those of someone who knows a secret or a goodjoke... always that half smile. Seems like a very happy person in that world he lives in. Why not-- things are going his way I guess. Back to my original point, how does he stack up against.. well.. say other presidents? Lets say we only look at republicans... he still comes up pretty short to say... a Nixon, Reagan... I can even remember his father being more articulate.

I guess this is a topic for another post, in the end.

Glad to see you're doing well... take care.

[Chris Missick]

I know what you are saying Mark, President Bush does not deliver the most riveting speeches in the world and is not the most articulate man. That was part of the point I was making when I said it was a speech for folks that still support the efforts of the administration. He was not going to necessarily go out and gain 5-10 points in his approval rating by today, but he was reminding the "base" that the vision they shared with him is still alive and is persevering.

[Rosemary]

As well as I. I have been hearing the rhetoric of all the "oh so wise" people. It can be disheartening, if one does not know any better. I pray they would stop.

That leads me to this question. Will you please run for US Senate? I do not even know your politics, but you are a stand up American, and that is good enough for me. Thank you for your service, and welcome home!

[devildog6771]

I constantly hear complaints and comments about how President Bush is not an eloquent speaker. Personally I have never agreed with those comments. Whenever he gives a speech I am always moved by the man in the street manner he talks to Americans. But what moves me more is the look in his eyes. The man is a soft touch in many ways. He wears his heart on his sleeve. But, he is in no way stupid or gullible. He is in no way weak or indecisive. I do not ever doubt the sinserety of what he is saying. Unlike many from affluent backgrounds who talk at you or down to you, Bush talks to you eye to eye, face to face. No flashy rhetoric, no public face versus private face. What you see is what you get. A very refreshing change from the norm as far as I am concerned. If given a chance to finish what he has started, I think history will judge him one of or greatest presidents despite the Democrats and spineless jelly fish in the Republican party. When my nephew was killed in Kuwait, he personally called our family and offered his condolances. But yo won't hear that in the press besause he doesn't capitolize on our dead for his own benefit like some politicians.

[Chris]

By the way DevilDog, I do think you make a good point. For me the power in his messages is not th delivery itself as much as it is the body of what he's saying. I do believe our President is an intelligent man, and after years of Clinton fatigue, the less "political" the President can sound, the better!

[bicyclemark]

The trouble will these types of discussions, is that most or all of us have NEVER spoken to the man one-on-one about anything. You watch the speeches, you see the news, you might even shake his hand or get whatever pre-written phonecall (which Ill go out on a limb and say no longer happens) But none of us know the truth. We have ideas... we go by clues.. but its we dont get to REALLY know.

Anyway history... a hundred years from now.. will talk about the violence and the wars and the policies that exclude, I doubt any political leader will look noble.

[Glynn]

Oh, I don't agree Bicyclemark. Surely FDR looked quite noble and his day that will live in infamy speech is often quoted. Maybe President Bush is more concerned with saving our butts than looking noble. Sorry to be blunt, but that's the way I see it. Sgt. Missick, from the daughter of a 32-year career Army MSgt, thank you for your service. You men and women, past and present, are the real heroes. God Bless.