Acceptance
A few quick quotes:
“Senator Kerry waged a spirited campaign, and he and his supporters can be proud of their efforts.”
“America has spoken, and I’m humbled by the trust and the confidence of my fellow citizens.”
“I will do my best to fulfill my duty as your president.”
“I’m proud to lead such an amazing country, and I’m proud to lead it forward.”
“Our servicemen and women will come home with the honor they have earned.”
“I want to speak to every person who voted for my opponent. To make this nation stronger and better, I need your support. And I will work to earn it.”
“When we come together and work together, there is no limit to the greatness of America.”
“Whatever the road that lies ahead, that road will take me home.”
“America goes forward with confidence and faith… and I am eager for the work ahead.”
About the best speech I’ve heard Bush give. Cheney’s was less impressive. In fact, it reminded me a bit of a winner’s version of Edwards’s lousy speech an hour ago. But that shouldn’t detract from Bush’s fine moment, just as Edwards could take anything away from Kerry’s grace.
Well…really, I think the Speech at Whitehall and the speech on 9/20/01 were his ‘best’ speeches (and the one at West Point). I was struck by how businesslike it was. And how when it was over, he didn’t stick around for Clintonian gladhanding and mugging for the cameras. He’s a serious man. I’m sure his college friends would never have thought it.
Both Bush and Kerry showed real class and graciousness. Kudos to both. They are both right, there are no losers in America and this is an amazing place.
Maybe the choice was not as bad as it appeared.
Regarding Cheney, I am a little concerned he striking a low blow at Edwards on the delivering his home state comment. It’s funny as hell, but if it was meant the way I take, it was a little out of place in the general tone of the afternoon.
I’ve been looking everywhere for audio of Bush’s speech — CNN’s got video, but I can’t view it through the firewall here at work; and washingtonpost.com is requiring me to download and install a whole new 9MB RealNetworks upgrade before I can access the file, and I don’t want to do that on my work machine.
If anyone can post a link to a simple audio of Bush’s speech (playable on regular Realaudio or Windows Media) in the comments, or email it to me (remove DOTCOM from my address), I’d be grateful.
Thanks.
I like the America pushing on with confidence and faith thing that he said. He obviously is paying little attention to the fact that we are so polarized and about half of Americans are probably wondering how bad America will get as opposed to how much better America will be in the next 4 years.
Russ,
I didn’t get that feeling when I listened to Cheney speak. And I would have found it highly amusing if I had thought it was there.
Russ, Cheney has joked about Wyoming’s electoral votes since he was put on the ticket in 2000. It’s a reference to the idea that running mates are supposed to deliver their states, yet Wyoming is reliably red and has only three electoral votes.
But if Edwards wants to take it personally, he may feel free. It would only confirm why his state wasn’t going to re-elect him to the Senate if he hadn’t dropped out.