Several weeks ago I wrote a nice speech for the president, gratis, which I considered would have explained very clearly his motives and motivations for using the NSA program to monitor terrorists.
At a Bush speech in Charlotte, NC today an audience member challenged Bush’s terrorist surveillance program, among other things.
President Bush gave a great answer to a very churlish leftie who had the rudeness to take a turn at the mic, supposedly to ask a question, but ended up just making a long statement haranguing the president and spouting DNC talking points. The president had the grace to let the man finish, but then responded to the statement:
THE PRESIDENT: I appreciate it, thank you. Let me-
Q Can I ask a question?THE PRESIDENT: I’m going to start off with what you first said, if you don’t mind, you said that I tap your phones-I think that’s what you said. You tapped your phone-I tapped your phones. Yes. No, that’s right. Yes, no, let me finish.
I’d like to describe that decision I made about protecting this country. You can come to whatever conclusion you want. The conclusion is I’m not going to apologize for what I did on the terrorist surveillance program, and I’ll tell you why. We were accused in Washington, D.C. of not connecting the dots, that we didn’t do everything we could to protect you or others from the attack. And so I called in the people responsible for helping to protect the American people and the homeland. I said, is there anything more we could do.
And there-out of this national-NSA came the recommendation that it would make sense for us to listen to a call outside the country, inside the country from al Qaeda or suspected al Qaeda in order to have real-time information from which to possibly prevent an attack. I thought that made sense, so long as it was constitutional. Now, you may not agree with the constitutional assessment given to me by lawyers-and we’ve got plenty of them in Washington-but they made this assessment that it was constitutional for me to make that decision.
I then, sir, took that decision to members of the United States Congress from both political parties and briefed them on the decision that was made in order to protect the American people. And so members of both parties, both chambers, were fully aware of a program intended to know whether or not al Qaeda was calling in or calling out of the country. It seems like-to make sense, if we’re at war, we ought to be using tools necessary within the Constitution, on a very limited basis, a program that’s reviewed constantly to protect us.
Now, you and I have a different-of agreement on what is needed to be protected. But you said, would I apologize for that? The answer-answer is, absolutely not. (Applause.)
Well, I heartily agree and am glad he has started speaking directly to the people about it, and in plain language. I liked it back on Friday, March 03, 2006:
What I can do is protect this country with all the legal power I have as President, barring nothing, and I don’t care how unpopular it is among the chattering classes or people who use it to score political points or do the whole Chimpy Bushitler thing.. I tell you true, and I swear to this, I’m well aware 9-11 happened on my watch and I take that seriously.
I’ll tell you something else. I’m going to make DAMN sure, as far as I can that it doesn’t happen again. If that means tapping every call that might (add emphasis) be going to a terrorist, so be it. If it means monitoring every single international call that goes in or out of the U.S., to stop another 9-11, you can bet your patoot I’m gonna do that. I am very certain we are acting legally, but you know what? I’d rather the Dems take control of the congress and impeach me than not do it and fail to protect this country. (saw air with hand for emphasis on “democrats”)
Well he didn’t use my speech directly, but the thoughts are there.
You’re very welcome Mr. President, even if it did take you a month to use my stuff. I’m open to offers if you need anymore speeches, and very reasonably priced.