From William Kristol of the Weekly Standard on Oboma's speech this morning on closing Gitmo and ending enhanced interrogation of foreign enemy combatants.
I've read both speeches.
Obama's is the speech of a young senator who was once a part-time law professor--platitudinous and preachy, vague and pseudo-thoughtful in an abstract kind of way. This sentence was revealing: "On the other hand, I recently opposed the release of certain photographs that were taken of detainees by U.S. personnel between 2002 and 2004." "Opposed the release"? Doesn't he mean "decided not to permit the release"? He's president. He's not just a guy participating in a debate. But he's more comfortable as a debater, not as someone who takes responsibility for decisions.
Cheney's is the speech of a grownup, of a chief executive, of a statesman. He's sober, realistic and concrete, stands up for his country and its public officials, and has an acute awareness of the consequences of the choices one makes as a public official and a willingness to take responsibility for those choices.
Posted by William Kristol
Dick Chaney wrote this before Obama's speech but this is the best description of Obama's speech in which I will slightly paraphrase:
It was recklessness cloaked in righteousness, and will make the American people less safe.
