January 21, 2004
Press reviews of Bush's speech.
The
Guardian offers a roundup of various American newspapers comments on President Bush's State of the Union speech. The title,
'A lousy way to run a country', a quote from the Chicago Tribune, I think, says it all. The comments seemed generally negative, although phrased politely. The Arizona Tribune though didn't seem to appreciate Ted Kennedy's reaction.
"Mr Bush was not the only politician on Capitol Hill Tuesday night who made his views clear. As the president began his speech, a camera focused on Senator Ted Kennedy, quite distinctly rolling his eyes in contempt of the president's words. Whatever their political differences, a lawmaker of Mr Kennedy's stature owes to the president - any president - a respectful hearing free of juvenile eye-rolling.
Hey, it's better than last year, when Kennedy was photographed sound asleep at his desk. :) Sorry, though. Bush doesn't deserve respect of any sort. He's a thug, a thief, a liar, and a killer; basically a gangster. Congress degrades itself by not tarring and feathering him on the spot.
If you're interested in how the Brits view American politics, the Guardian has a
special section on the 2004 election. Personally I find the British view of America, and especially of American politics, almost comical. Basically as a larger version of England, with the same simplistic dichotomy of Left and Right (they always capitalize these, but Americans never do). And they actually seem to believe, as apparently much of the world does, the version of America presented by the movies and the media. But your mileage may vary.
One thing that's interesting though is that virtually every British columnist I've read seems utterly convinced Bush will win. I think it's the degree that they are willing to remain subservient to their monarchy, and their assumption that Americans are just as servile.
