VodkapunditVodkapunditVodkapundit
Final Thoughts
Posted by Stephen Green  ·  28 January 2003

"War without conquest."

That's it, really. We're going to war to protect our interests, yes -- but our interests do not lie in the annexation of other lands, or making permanent protectorated out of them. We didn't even do that to Germany or Japan; we won't do it now.

What else was important? As one reader wrote, Bush told the Axis of Weasels to hop on board the train or jump off the tracks -- this train is leaving the station.

It looks like Powell got his way and, Nuke'em All people aside, that's not entirely a bad thing. War last fall, and we wouldn't have had the rumored 600-800 Tomahawks ready, or the necessary JDAMs, JSOWs, and other smart bombs manufatured. Powell maybe picked up some extra support, maybe lost some. Doesn't matter. We're ready to fight now and, baring some miracle in Baghdad, we're going to be fighting soon.

So it's war in February, most likely. Powell gets his legalistic niceties fulfilled, the Pentagon has its toys ready -- and our soldiers, sailors, and airmen will be deployed, trained, and ready. And after this speech, I think you'll find them in high spirit, too.

Domestically? You know I have some serious issues with Bush and the Republicans -- but those serious issues lack seriousness in these seriously serious times.

What matters in this forsaken age we're in is taking to our enemies before they bring it to us. My sometimes wavering confidence in Bush on this issue has been restored.

I'm glad it isn't me who has to give that order sometime after Feb 5.

Comments

Damn, that was interesting. He didn't pull a single punch. Now to enjoy the stunned silence of Europe for the next few days.

Wow.

Posted by: Mr. Lion at January 28, 2003 08:17 PM

Did anybody else notice how he ignored Tom Daschle as he was walking out?

I loved it.

And Gary Locke is about ready to put me to sleep. "Tax cuts for the rich, blah blah blah"

Posted by: Jay Caruso at January 28, 2003 08:19 PM

Apart from a few really stupid treasure-busting pledges, this probably was the best State of the Union address ever delivered.

Posted by: Boris A.Kupershmidt at January 28, 2003 08:26 PM

I'd say "tools" not "toys". This is no game.

Posted by: John F. MacMichael at January 28, 2003 08:29 PM

I'm always willing to cut Gary Locke some slack--he comes across like a nice guy. I'm sure glad we didn't have to watch Daschle ramble on "tax cuts for the rich." Even so, Locke didn't sound serious enough. We're going to war, and he's talking about his grandfather? Ugh.

Posted by: Michelle Yang at January 28, 2003 08:33 PM

This forsaken age? Nonsense. The human race has never been in a better position, nor better able to enjoy the fruits of progress, the war on terrorism not-withstanding.

This struggle will be a blip in history BECAUSE it is being handled promptly and pre-emptively.

Thanks for providing commentary to read during the applause. But Stephen, cheap brandy? You? I had a nice Caol Ila single malt:)

Posted by: ArtD0dger at January 28, 2003 08:33 PM

I did notice the Daschle snub. Tom kept trying to get in front or on the side of W and he just ignored him.

Thanks VP for making it a lot of fun. Took me back to my days living in LA and hearing Vin Scully do the simulcast of the games. You did a better job of rebutting W than Locke on most issues.

Posted by: skinny benny at January 28, 2003 08:48 PM

Supposedly W told Demshill before inauguration (sp) that he learned from his dad's mistake in taking Mitchell at his word. And Demshill had better not lie to him.

Posted by: Sandy P. at January 28, 2003 09:45 PM

Poor Bush looked tired, but steady tonight. He didn't dig it in the ribs of the French/Germans as much as I'd thought he would.

And having *Powell* be the one to give the US statement to the UN, Adlai Stevenson style (from the Cuban Missile Crisis) is a good move. Let the weenies hear the truth straight from the mouth of the only member of the Bush crew they actually like; maybe that'll get it through to them how serious this and how if even a dove like Powell can be pro-war, that their own priorities are seriously out of whack.

Posted by: Asparagirl at January 28, 2003 10:42 PM

Ahhh, played the SOTU Drinking Game along with it (with Fat Tire!!)...we downed a 12 pack between 2 of us, and she got handicap points for bodyweight the last 3rd of it :-)

Posted by: David Mercer at January 29, 2003 12:21 AM

Maybe that was the reason the Dems found Locke in the bullpen--they knew that people are tired of Daschle's face.

Posted by: Joe Baby/Moronwatch at January 29, 2003 12:34 AM

I live in WA state. Locke is a total cypher. They let him do it because he's meaningless, and trying to respond to this speech would have also been meaningless, so there was no point in wasting one of their "big guns" on it.

Daschele looked like he was going to crack a molar gritting his teeth through the whole thing.

I heard this speech and looked at the Dems and saw that they have Nothing to offer.

Posted by: Rich Chandler at January 29, 2003 04:39 AM

I thought Locke came off as intelligent and made some good points. I don't happen to agree with them, but at least he didn't demonize the opposition as we've heard so much of lately. Oliver Willis is disappointed they didn't put someone more attractive on. I think we've now got a little more explanation for "Why Clinton?"

His stance on affirmative action puzzles me. He's Asian. Asians are the most adversely affected group as a result of affirmative action, or so I've heard. Maybe I'm wrong, though.

Posted by: David Perron at January 29, 2003 04:59 AM

Re: snubs

He went right up to Lieberman to shake his hand, and he didn't so much as look at Hillary (who was right next to Joe).

Posted by: growler at January 29, 2003 11:30 AM

Remember, last year he gave "Tommy the Commie" hugs; not this year. The man does learn and doesn't forget.

Posted by: CGeib at January 30, 2003 12:27 AM



Navigation

MDS - Give Until It Hurts

Terror War Scorecard
Watching America

50 Things
American Cancer Ablation Center
Buy VodkaPundit Stuff



VodkaPundit on Amazon
Vodkapundit for PDA (AvantGo)
Vodkapundit for PDA (Not)
VodkaPundit XML or RDF

Search



Advanced Search



Last Call

The Author

"VodkaPundit is like Goldstein except too serious and not nearly as funny."
-Seldom Sober

Absolut Link

Blog-Iran

Top Shelf

Ann Althouse
Baldilocks
Austin Bay
Belmont Club
Tim Blair
Chequer Board
Command Post
Counterterrorism Blog
Day By Day
Daniel Drezner
From the Bleachers
Hit & Run
INDC Journal
Iraq the Model
James Joyner
James Lileks
Megan McArdle
OPFOR
Protein Wisdom
Glenn Reynolds
Bill Roggio
ScreedBlog
Roger L. Simon
Rob Smith
Steven Taylor
Venomous Kate
Matt Welch
Winds of Change
Michael Yon
Yuppies of Zion


The Usual

Across the Atlantic
Anticipatory Retaliation
Atlas Shrugs
The Black Republican
Blogcritics
Captain's Quarters
Phil Carter
The Daily Ablution
Andrew Ian Dodge
Eye on the Left
Mike Hendrix
In From the Cold
Charles Johnson
Kathy Kinsley
A Likely Story
Brian Linse
Jay Manifold
Neocon News
Frank Martin
QandO
Bill Quick
Rantburg
John Scalzi
Sine Qua Non Pundit
Team Stryker
Mac Thomason
Michael Totten
Jesse Walker
Dr. Weevil
Bill Whittle
Chief Wiggles
Sissy Willis
Cathy Young

Micro Brews

American Realpolitik
Black Five
Boots and Sabers
Capitalist Lion
Scott Chaffin
John Cole
Coming Anarchy
Bo Cowgill
Dr. Frank's Blogs of War
Donklephant
Ed Driscoll
Kim du Toit
Glenn Frazier
Joe Gandleman
The Gay Patriot
Godless Capitalist
Bill Hobbs
John Hudock
Frank J.'s IMAO
Joanne Jacobs
Brothers Judd
Junk Yard Blog
Major John
Davids Medienkritik
Mr. Misha's Rottweiler
Only Baseball Matters
Matt Moore
Jack O'Toole
Peaktalk
Eric S. Raymond
Red Sugar
Resurrection Song
Robin Roberts
Andrea See
Mathew Sheren
Spoons Experience
DC Thornton
Yankee Station

Gin & Tonic

Albion's Seedlings
American Digest
Radley Balko
Paul Berger
Robert Bidinotto
Blogometer
BusinessPundit
The Chicago Boyz
Classical Values
Conrad the Expat
Susanna Cornett
Dave Cullen
England's Sword
Dean Esmay
Horsefeathers
Jessica's Well
Alex Knapp
Legal Spin
Light of Reason
The Lipstick Republican
Moxie
OxBlog
Suman Palit
Punch the Bag
The Pursuit of Happiness
Samizdata
Sofia Sideshow
Natalie Solent
Texas Best Grok
Professor Michael Tinkler
Cal Ulmann
Brothers Volokh

Cosmopolitans

Justene Adamec
Stephen Bainbridge
La Shawn Barber
Moira Breen
Sasha Castel
Colorado Psycho
Clayton Cramer
CrossingWallStreet
Martin Devon
Kevin Drum
Henry Hanks
Diana Hsieh
Jeff Jarvis
Jessica
Sean Kirby
Liberty Belles
Rachel Lucas
Jeralyn Merritt
Philip Murphy
Oasis of Sanity
Andrew Olmsted
Walter Olson
Michael Parker
Popped Culture
Porphyrogenitus
Fritz Schrank
Donald Sensing
Elizabeth Spiers
The Swanky Conservative
Two Blowhards
Michael Ubaldi
Alexandra von Maltzan
Will Wilkinson

Rum & Coke

The Argument Clinic
Below the Beltway
The Bitch Girls
Jay Caruso
Dog's Life
Fire On The Mountain
GeckoBlue
GZ Expat
David Hogberg
John Hawkins
Horologium
Kris Lofgren
Floyd McWilliams
John Moore
PhotoDude
Robyn Pollman
Chas Rich
Silflay Hraka
Geitner Simmons
Skippy
Dave Tepper
Transterrestrial Musings
Trying to Grok
Walter in Denver
Don Watkins
Weekend Pundit
Joshua Zader

Tequila Shots

Todd A
N.Z. Bear
Begging to Differ
David MSC
Gary Farber
Highered Intelligence
Isntapundit
Jonathan and Wanda
Ken Layne
Nick Marsala
Dan Michalski
Sheila O'Malley
Dawn Olsen
Tony Pierce
Raving Atheist
Matt Traylor
Sekimori
WMET Blog
World Wide Rant

Manischewitz

Moe Freedman
Tal G. in Jerusalem
IsraPundit
Kesher Talk
Mike Silverman
Allison Kaplan Sommer
Meryl Yourish

Boozehounds

Allah Is In the House
Dave Barry's Blog
The Daily Sedative
Doug Dever
Daniel Frank
Scott Ott
Large American Penis
Short Strange Trip
Ten Fingers, Six Strings
Jim Treacher

Cyanide-Laced Kool-Aid

Laurence Simon

Sex on the Beach

Body in Mind
ErosBlog
Eroticalee
Just One Bite
Fred Lapides
New York Hotties
SLA
Unablogger

Kegger

Ben Domenech
HokiePundit
Hoosier Review
John Tabin
Nicholas West

Fosters

Duck Season
Mike Jericho
John Ray
Bernard Slattery
Whacking Day

Molson

Banana Counting Monkey
Daimnation!
Dispatches
David Janes
Western Standard

Left Wing Bar Nuts

Ted Barlow
Joshua Marshall
Dan Perkins

Cover Charge

Eric Alterman
Dave Barry
Barone Blog
Austin Bay
Jay Bryant
C-Log
Campaign Desk
Steve Chapman
Dallas News Blog
Matt Drudge
Google News
Nat Henthoff
Hugh Hewitt
Mickey Kaus
Howard Kurtz
National Review Online
The New Republic
The New York Times
Newsweek
OpinionJournal
Kathleen Parker
Daniel Pipes
Virginia Postrel
Roll Call
Larry Sabato
Linda Seebach
Slate
Sploid
Mark Steyn
StrategyPage
Andrew Sullivan
Tapped
Tech Central Station
Time
US News & World Report
David Warren
The Washington Post

Under the Table

American Times
Angry Left
Asparagirl
BitchPundit
John Braue
Shiloh Bucher
Carthaginian Peace
Lorenzo Cortes
Steven Den Beste
Fevered Rants
Scott "Funkadelic" Ganz
Juan Gato
Happy Fun Pundit
Andrea Harris
Scott Koenig
Brink Lindsey
Sue Lizano
Kieran Lyons
Mean Mr. Mustard
Meeshness
Punditwatch
Dennis Rogers
Jim Ryan
Spinsanity
Unremitting Verse
Norah Vincent
Tony Woodlief

Archives

Powered by Movable TypeDesign by Sekimori