rs
Dagobah Resident
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&u=/ap/20060201/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush_2
By NEDRA PICKLER, Associated Press Writer 58 minutes ago
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -
President Bush said Wednesday he understands why the nation he has led for five years has become more anxious, and he urged people to have confidence in him [while totally missing the point that a LEADER inspires confidence, a leader does not have to URGE it].
Bush maintained his optimistic message in a lengthy speech at the Grand Ole Opry House that was designed to build momentum from the previous night's State of the Union address. But in a rare acknowledgment of the troubled times on his watch, he tried [but failed abysmally] to show empathy with the public's worries.
"People are uncertain, in spite of our strong union, because of war, and I understand that, [mostly because I caused a great deal of that uncertainty]" Bush said.
Democrats are trying to capitalize at the ballot box this year on uncertainty about Bush's leadership and about ethics scandals in Congress [but lacking both a spine and ethics, they failed].
Bush said he is leading a strong nation that is protecting itself and spreading freedom [by arresting Cindy Sheehan and "spreading" her outside the Capitol building]. He said the economy is "roaring," [like an out-of-control wild fire] despite concerns that people have after being forced to change [high paying] jobs [with good benefits] in the face of competition from China, India and elsewhere [and work without benefits for minimum wage at Wal Mart all the while paying significantly more for a roof over their head].
"My worry is that people see that uncertainty and decide to adopt isolationist policies or protectionist policies [because my rich cronies would never be able to make any money in that kind of environment]," Bush said. "In other words, in uncertain times it's easy for people to lose confidence in the capacity of this country to lead and to shape our future [because in uncertain times that confidence seems all the more misplaced]."
Bush said America's challenge is to stay ahead of competition without withdrawing from the world. He planned to expand his thoughts [to a second thought] on the issue in a tour to Minnesota, New Mexico and Texas on Thursday and Friday.
Bush's laid out his entire agenda in the 57-minute speech, going even beyond his State of the Union address. He touched on everything from war and education to technology in the automobile industry and medical malpractice suits.
The friendly audience [nobody was wearing T-shirts with uncomfortable messages] at the packed Grand Ole Opry House frequently interrupted the president with applause and laughter. Among the crowd were several country music stars, including Barbara Mandrell, Larry Gatlin, Lee Greenwood, Lorrie Morgan and the Oak Ridge Boys.
Bush joked that he should have given the State of the Union at the hall. "How cool would it be to give a State of the Union address in a Porter Wagoner outfit?" he said, referencing the flashy singer who frequently played host on the stage.
Outside, more than 100 protesters held up their own signs that said "No Confidence" and "No warrant, no wiretap, no W." [but were safely sequestered in an out-of-the-way "free speech" area] That [last sign] was a reference to Bush's much-debated secret [illegal] program of eavesdropping on phone calls and e-mails in an attempt to sniff out terrorist plots [that he helps create], which he vigorously defended in his State of the Union address and inside the concert hall.
"Let me put it to you in Texan: If al-Qaida is calling into the United States, we want to know, [because somebody needs to call me to the phone]" Bush said.
By NEDRA PICKLER, Associated Press Writer 58 minutes ago
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -
President Bush said Wednesday he understands why the nation he has led for five years has become more anxious, and he urged people to have confidence in him [while totally missing the point that a LEADER inspires confidence, a leader does not have to URGE it].
Bush maintained his optimistic message in a lengthy speech at the Grand Ole Opry House that was designed to build momentum from the previous night's State of the Union address. But in a rare acknowledgment of the troubled times on his watch, he tried [but failed abysmally] to show empathy with the public's worries.
"People are uncertain, in spite of our strong union, because of war, and I understand that, [mostly because I caused a great deal of that uncertainty]" Bush said.
Democrats are trying to capitalize at the ballot box this year on uncertainty about Bush's leadership and about ethics scandals in Congress [but lacking both a spine and ethics, they failed].
Bush said he is leading a strong nation that is protecting itself and spreading freedom [by arresting Cindy Sheehan and "spreading" her outside the Capitol building]. He said the economy is "roaring," [like an out-of-control wild fire] despite concerns that people have after being forced to change [high paying] jobs [with good benefits] in the face of competition from China, India and elsewhere [and work without benefits for minimum wage at Wal Mart all the while paying significantly more for a roof over their head].
"My worry is that people see that uncertainty and decide to adopt isolationist policies or protectionist policies [because my rich cronies would never be able to make any money in that kind of environment]," Bush said. "In other words, in uncertain times it's easy for people to lose confidence in the capacity of this country to lead and to shape our future [because in uncertain times that confidence seems all the more misplaced]."
Bush said America's challenge is to stay ahead of competition without withdrawing from the world. He planned to expand his thoughts [to a second thought] on the issue in a tour to Minnesota, New Mexico and Texas on Thursday and Friday.
Bush's laid out his entire agenda in the 57-minute speech, going even beyond his State of the Union address. He touched on everything from war and education to technology in the automobile industry and medical malpractice suits.
The friendly audience [nobody was wearing T-shirts with uncomfortable messages] at the packed Grand Ole Opry House frequently interrupted the president with applause and laughter. Among the crowd were several country music stars, including Barbara Mandrell, Larry Gatlin, Lee Greenwood, Lorrie Morgan and the Oak Ridge Boys.
Bush joked that he should have given the State of the Union at the hall. "How cool would it be to give a State of the Union address in a Porter Wagoner outfit?" he said, referencing the flashy singer who frequently played host on the stage.
Outside, more than 100 protesters held up their own signs that said "No Confidence" and "No warrant, no wiretap, no W." [but were safely sequestered in an out-of-the-way "free speech" area] That [last sign] was a reference to Bush's much-debated secret [illegal] program of eavesdropping on phone calls and e-mails in an attempt to sniff out terrorist plots [that he helps create], which he vigorously defended in his State of the Union address and inside the concert hall.
"Let me put it to you in Texan: If al-Qaida is calling into the United States, we want to know, [because somebody needs to call me to the phone]" Bush said.