A Reflection on The State Of The Divided Address

[lyonspotter]

The chatter I hear coming from the right on the blogs is that the left is taking Bush's recent speech out of context when the left asserts there was a great irony in the fact that Bush claims to take the will of the people to heart, yet he continues to do as he wishes in regards to the war in Iraq . The right says Bush talked about the autonomy of the people in regards to the economy, not the war. The section of the speech I have found most cited by the right is here:

"From expanding opportunity to protecting our country, we have made good progress. Yet we have unfinished business before us, and the American people expect us to get it done.

In the work ahead, we must be guided by the philosophy that made our Nation great. As Americans, we believe in the power of individuals to determine their destiny and shape the course of history. We believe that the most reliable guide for our country is the collective wisdom of ordinary citizens. So in all we do, we must trust in the ability of free people to make wise decisions, and empower them to improve their lives and their futures.

To build a prosperous future, we must trust people with their own money and empower them to grow our economy."

This sort of exegesis of Bush's speech by the right is peculiar, as I am literally shocked that there is a lack of awareness inherent in it regarding the absolute interconnection and marriage between the issues of the war and economy. The method by which the people's tax dollars are being spent on the war effects the economy profoundly, pushing us to the very precipice of bankruptcy.

Still, I simply don't buy the interpretation that asserts there is no irony intrinsic to the words Bush offered. In the quote provided above, Bush is clearly talking about the government's role in both the war and the economy in relationship to the American people's desires, in relationship to the "will of the people", in relation to the "collective wisdom of ordinary citizens." That great beacon of conservative politics, Ronald Reagan, said as much here: http://youtube.com/watch?v=gIouq2u9kUo

But in the way the right wishes to interpret this section of the State of the Union, Bush comes off as claiming something akin to the following: "Don't worry, you guys do yer federalism thing, and we'll do the militarizin' thing." I don't think for a moment that is what he meant, nor do I think that is what he aimed to convey by delivering his concepts in the structural presentation to which you call our attention. Such is a contrived constriction on the meaning of this text.

The opening line: "From expanding opportunity to protecting our country, we have made good progress. Yet we have unfinished business before us, and the American people expect us to get it done." ...Expect "us" to get it done.

Who is the "us" that Bush speaks of? Bush fortified a dichotomy above of "us" and "The People." Included in this opening line is a statement about protecting our country. Does that phrase not include issues involving foreign relations? Thus, Bush says the American people expect "us" to get it done, in regards to both economic facilitation and opportunity expansion, AS WELL AS PROTECTING our country. If we expect him to get it done, then that according to Bush involves how to handle foreign affairs.

Given that he has not heeded the large majority of the people's voice since 2006 on how to handle foreign affairs, it is indeed with great irony that he asserts "the will of the people" is at the forefront of his thinking. The forefront of his thinking is his neocon agenda, and nothing more, and certainly not the majority of the people's will for our country.

[SpiralHawk]

1. "More mush from the AWOL republicon homelander wimp." - America

Ptoooooey. Let me know when he actually does something for America, and not for his crony-infected homeland.

[Bicoastal]

2. ??????????

Yeah, the second half of that WAS inferior to the first...but why this extraordinary act of self-censorship?