Wednesday, September 06, 2006

The Speech   [John Derbyshire]

GWB at his best.  Plain facts, narrative, & proposals for Congress to act on.  No grand metaphysical assertions—no gassy stuff about God planting a desire for liberty in every heart etc. etc.  Just the facts, in interesting detail.

British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan was once asked why he never said anything morally uplifting, to give the nation a sense of purpose.  He replied: "If people want a sense of purpose they should get it from their archbishop. They should certainly not get it from their politicians."  I understand that without an established religion or monarch, the USA must depend to some degree on elected politicians to supply moral uplift.  The less of that, the better, though.  Facts, explanations, policy, declarations of intent; that should be the main coin of Presidential speeches, and that's what we got today.  Fine speech, excellent speech.

09/06 02:48 PMShare