The Words Mattered Least
By Ben Domenech Posted in Republicans — Comments (10) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
Here's the simplest way to say it: The best parts of this State of the Union speech ... weren't in the speech.
This was a chunky speech, uneven in a few places because it tried to do a little too much. A speech like this is a big challenge, even for a just re-elected President. It's tough to play "POTUS as Friendly Teacher," speaking in FrankLuntzian keywords about the Social Security crisis, then switch gears to "POTUS as Compassionate Distributor of Largesse" on Med Research, Gangs, and AIDS, and do a quick two step to "POTUS as Eloquent Legacy-minded Numenorean Freedom-Lover."
To the President's credit, he pulled it off at points. I liked the "responsibility for the world we leave to our children" motif that threaded through the background of the text. I thought the judges issue was particularly well handled - and I think the passage Social Security went as well as it possibly could.
Unfortunately, this speech often seemed like a repeat from the campaign-trail talkers, or boiled down material from the inauguration. Other parts just seemed slapped on to appeal to a niche audience. The culture of life passage seemed contrived - and it will continue to be as long as the President calls for more NIH funding, medical ethics, and opposing slavery, yet is unwilling to actually say the word "abortion" (it wasn't a problem 20 years ago). The passage on immigration was internally incoherent, but at least it was also mercifully brief - guess they couldn't really deal with two controversial POTUS legacy items in one speech.
But the most memorable and moving moments in this speech weren't said. They were the images on the screen: Freshman Congressman Bobby Jindal raising high an ink-stained finger ... Safia Taleb al-Suhail, leader of the Iraqi Women's Political Council, who's withstood more than one death threat in her life, standing to applause, her uplifted hand shaking with emotion ... Bill and Janet Norwood of Pflugerville, Texas, whose son made the choice to hold his own life cheap, and gave it fighting at Fallujah ...
With the exception of a few post-9.11 speeches, the President's words rarely move me to cheer or weep. He has great speechwriters, yes - but they are not the kind that try to break a listener's heart to make a point - they are more apt to find an anecdote that makes one proud.
But when I saw the dogtags dangling from Janet Norwood's hand as she embraced someone who will live with the products of her son's sacrifice ... I am not ashamed to admit that I wept like a child.
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The Words Mattered Least 10 Comments (0 topical, 10 editorial, 0 hidden) Post a comment »
Was there someone who didn't tear up?
President Bush's facial muscles also quaked and his eyes shone.
I agree with your comments. The actions in the House chamber were more powerful than the speech.
The SOTU was very good last night. Was it one of the best? Maybe, maybe not.
But this is a great time to reflect on how far Bush has come with regards to public speaking. Just 5 years ago, he couldn't come close to accomplishing what he did last night.
Again and again, Karl Rove proves himself to be one of the greatest aides in presidential history.
or maybe I'm just not phony.
Didn't cry, didn't move me one bit. Felt like it was set up.
Lileks made a similar one. He also wrote:
I don't think it was the President's strongest speech; nothing will beat the 2002 SOTU, which was the equivalent of a scene in a boxing movie where the challenger - thumped hard in the first round - answers the bell and turns the champ's face to hamburger.
That short interlude in SOTU spoke volumes about a main reason for the trust the American people have in Bush, and his ultimate success in being re elected.
To what exactly am I referring? He wasn't FAKE, a la Clinton at Ron Brown's funeral. The cynical left loves to paint him as cold hearted and uncaring about the lives of our deployed troops. But he showed differently last night, as he showed during his acceptance speech at the RNC: "I have learned first-hand that ordering Americans into battle is the hardest decision even when it is right. I have returned the salute of wounded soldiers, some with a very tough road ahead, who say they were just doing their job. I've held the children of the fallen who are told their dad or mom is a hero, but would rather just have their dad or mom."
Americans hear this, and know that he means it. The left is so cynical, they post blogs wondering what "secret meaning" for the Christian right is contained in the words. Or they wonder what Karl Rove really means.
I think we can all say, unequivocally, that we prefer our world view to theirs.
What on earth would cause you to think it was set up??
Roger simon cried. I was on the LGF open thread and several people said they cried.