More pronouncements from the American throne
Cato Institute
by Gene Healy
01/23/07
Jefferson’s primary complaint was that our first two presidents chose to deliver their annual messages in person before both houses of Congress — a practice he regarded as ‘an English habit, tending to familiarize the public with monarchical ideas.’ But even Jefferson could not have imagined what the modern ritual of the State of the Union would become: a passel of outsized promises and demands on the public pocketbook, greeted with repeated standing ovations from members of a coordinate branch. Last year, the speech was interrupted 67 times by frenetic applause, as Bush promised, among other things, to teach our children well, heal the sick, move America ‘beyond a petroleum-based economy’ and ‘lead freedom’s advance’ around the world. In contrast, early presidents often struck a note of modesty and self-restraint...
http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=7170
Bush remains our Glorious Leader: Only the generals have failed
Unqualified Offerings
by Mona
http://highclearing.com/index.php/archives/2007/01/22/5843
Informant: Thomas L. Knapp
by Gene Healy
01/23/07
Jefferson’s primary complaint was that our first two presidents chose to deliver their annual messages in person before both houses of Congress — a practice he regarded as ‘an English habit, tending to familiarize the public with monarchical ideas.’ But even Jefferson could not have imagined what the modern ritual of the State of the Union would become: a passel of outsized promises and demands on the public pocketbook, greeted with repeated standing ovations from members of a coordinate branch. Last year, the speech was interrupted 67 times by frenetic applause, as Bush promised, among other things, to teach our children well, heal the sick, move America ‘beyond a petroleum-based economy’ and ‘lead freedom’s advance’ around the world. In contrast, early presidents often struck a note of modesty and self-restraint...
http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=7170
Bush remains our Glorious Leader: Only the generals have failed
Unqualified Offerings
by Mona
http://highclearing.com/index.php/archives/2007/01/22/5843
Informant: Thomas L. Knapp
rudkla - 23. Jan, 15:57
