V is for Victory

Soooooo, last night I stayed up to watch the live presidential address. Even though I typically try to go to bed at 9 p.m., I felt it was important to remain awake so that I could hear the president's forthcoming explanation as to why he ordered the National Security Agency to spy on American citizens without the benefit of a court order.

Surely we'd get some sort of reasonable explanation for that, right?

Well, here's the transcript. Let me know if you find it.

But anyway, Dawsey and I were watching with rapt attention as Bush repeated the tired "If you're not with me you're against me" mantra. Only this time instead of "haters" the people who disagree with him are "defeatists."

Let's roll the tape:

	I see a global terrorist movement that exploits Islam in the service of radical political aims -- a vision in which books are burned, and women are oppressed, and all dissent is crushed.
	That sounds suspiciously like the United States on some days. I guess this means the religious right is a terrorist movement, doesn't it, Dawsey?
	Word.
	My conviction comes down to this: we do not create terrorism by fighting the terrorists. We invite terrorism by ignoring them.
	Oh come on! The idea that our presence in Iraq hasn't increased the number of terrorists attacks there is ludicrous! It might be a case of things getting worse before they get better, but in the short term, we're screwed either way.
	That's true.
	*robots*
	*licks self*
	(W)e are helping the Iraqi government establish the institutions of a unified and lasting democracy, in which all of Iraq's peoples are included and represented.
	OH NO HE DI'N'T. The Iraqi constitution doesn't even give equal rights to women! We cannot support the establishment of a government that doesn't recognize women as equal participants in society! It's an OUTRAGE!!
	Word.
	In the months ahead, all Americans will have a part in the success of this war. Members of Congress will need to provide resources for our military.
	Maybe members of Congress should begin providing resources for the military by voting down Bush's tax cuts, which primarily benefit the wealthiest 1% of the country. You can't cut taxes AND increase spending, unless you're a complete buffoon. Oh, wait ...
	You didn't donate your tax return to a charity, did you?
	Who feeds you, again?
	Nevermind.
	I do not expect you to support everything I do, but tonight I have a request: do not give in to despair, and do not give up on this fight for freedom.
	I'm not despairing, I'm ANGRY that this whole thing has been planned so haphazardly. That's not the military's fault, that's the administration's fault. It's nice that NOW they're admitting they made some mistakes, but the fact remains that we've severely hampered the military's ability to "win this war" in a timely and efficient manner. It's great that Bush has a three-pronged strategy for "victory" but it's still all rhetoric and colloquialisms and glittering generalities. Which is what got us into trouble in the first place.
	You know, I really miss Colin Powell.
	Me too.

Posted by Highwaygirl on December 19, 2005 09:14 AM to the category Political Rants