Finally, we heard something of a domestic agenda from the President last night. It wasn't much -- details were few, and he did not address how he would get many of his plans approved by a narrowly divided Congress -- but at least it was something after the All War All The Time battle cry we've been hearing from the podium all week.
Bush promised to reform the tax code, provide tax credits for health savings accounts, open rural health clinics and increase community college funding. Small items that had been carefully vetted by his handlers [we caught Karen Hughes on C-Span mouthing the words to the speech]. He also gave a nod to his base while carefully avoiding controversial buzzwords -- promising to protect life and to save the institution of marriage from "activist judges".
During this part of the speech, the President spoke slowly, carefully enunciating the phrases before him and delivering the words with a slight hint of something between boredom and fear.
He only grew passionate when he talked about the war on terror, recalling standing at ground zero, consoling those who had lost loved ones, deciding to take the nation to war. Though unprepared to become a war president, Bush has clearly stepped into the role, relishing the top gun image and mastering the language of good and evil.
But this is an America three years post 9-11. It's an America that has been hit hard by a recession, that has lost its standing in the world, that faces new threats from North Korea and Iran. It's an America that sees beyond the rhetoric of war and holds the hope it can do good in the world again.
This is the America that Bush had nothing to give in his speech last night. He failed to address the massive fiscal deficit caused by his tax cuts and increased spending on defense and homeland security. He did not mention North Korea or Iran. He said his administration had created jobs, but he left out the fact that it has lost more than double the jobs created. He did not say we should be compassionate towards gays or giving towards those who need a helping hand. He did not say better times lie ahead.
Last night Bush offered his vision for America, but his is not the America that many of us see. It's time for America, and Mr. Bush, to move on.
