The State of the Union Address

Jules Critteden has a fine review of the State of the Union speech at Pajamas Media. 

A key excerpt from the president's speech:

“This is not the fight we entered in Iraq, but it is the fight we’re in. Every one of us wishes this war were over and won. Yet it would not be like us to leave our promises unkept, our friends abandoned, and our own security at risk. Ladies and gentlemen: On this day, at this hour, it is still within our power to shape the outcome of this battle. Let us find our resolve, and turn events toward victory.

“Many in this chamber understand that America must not fail in Iraq, because you understand that the consequences of failure would be grievous and far-reaching.

“If American forces step back before Baghdad is secure, the Iraqi government would be overrun by extremists on all sides. We could expect an epic battle between Shia extremists backed by Iran, and Sunni extremists aided by al Qaeda and supporters of the old regime. A contagion of violence could spill out across the country — and in time, the entire region could be drawn into the conflict.

“For America, this is a nightmare scenario. For the enemy, this is the objective. Chaos is the greatest ally — their greatest ally in this struggle. And out of chaos in Iraq would emerge an emboldened enemy with new safe havens, new recruits, new resources, and an even greater determination to harm America. To allow this to happen would be to ignore the lessons of September the 11th and invite tragedy.

“Ladies and gentlemen, nothing is more important at this moment in our history than for America to succeed in the Middle East, to succeed in Iraq and to spare the American people from this danger.

“Whatever you voted for, you did not vote for failure. Our country is pursuing a new strategy in Iraq, and I ask you to give it a chance to work. And I ask you to support our troops in the field, and those on their way.”

John Podhoretz says that Bush found a new political voice in the State of the Union -- one of surprising graciousness toward bitter foes. 

While Podhoretz has a point, graciousness has always been a Bush hallmark.  Examples abound, including Bush's comments on the death of his harsh critic and political rival Ann Richards and Bush's speech on the unveiling of portraits of the Clintons at the White House, which I wrote about after Coretta Scott King's funeral (at which others demonstrated the opposite of graciousness).

What we have here -- and we will miss it when it is gone -- is a president whose kindness is not rationed out in proportion to the decency of his rivals.  In his prepared speeches, he makes a conscious choice to speak as kindly of his rivals as is humanly possible.  His graciousness is more noticeable when the vitriol from his rivals reaches its apex -- or at a time when his approval rating seems to be in free fall.  What we have here is a decent man who takes the dignity and responsibility of the presidency seriously.