I liked the nod to our robust economy up front---the 7 million jobs created in the wake of Sept. 11th. And Sen. McCain grinned when the president next agreed with the need for earmark reform.
I am not sure how workable is the goal to reduce gas consumption. Comprehensive immigration reform is a good idea and hopefully will be enacted with strong bipartisan support. Sensible health care and social security reform are not likely with a Democrat majority. Most likely they will be, once again, defining presidential campaign issues between the parties.
I thought the president was frank and eloquent on the war, our single biggest challenge, and one we must meet. This is the passage that hit me the hardest:
Every success against the terrorists is a reminder of the shoreless ambitions of this enemy. The evil that inspired and rejoiced in 9/11 is still at work in the world. And so long as that's the case, America is still a nation at war.In the mind of the terrorist, this war began well before September the 11th, and will not end until their radical vision is fulfilled. And these past five years have given us a much clearer view of the nature of this enemy. Al Qaeda and its followers are Sunni extremists, possessed by hatred and commanded by a harsh and narrow ideology. Take almost any principle of civilization, and their goal is the opposite. They preach with threats, instruct with bullets and bombs, and promise paradise for the murder of the innocent.
And as America's mayor, Rudy Guiliani said in post-speech comments on FoxNews, we have an enemy in the war on terror, and they will still be there, win or lose in Iraq. Guiliani supports the surge as a way to win. The president asked for our support, to give this last, best hope a chance.
On a lighter note, I noticed Hillary was sitting right behind Obama. (Pix from Yahoo, photo 73.) She was wearing pink and pearls and a smirk. It seemed like Obama was ducking the whole time. And who could blame him?
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