# Did George do Good?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-george-do-good/82935
**Category:** Great Debates
**Created:** [September 21, 2001, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-george-do-good/82935 "2001-09-21T01:57:50Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2001, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-george-do-good/82935/1 "2001-09-21T01:57:50Z")
I thought George did us proud, and he hit it on the nose.
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### Author:  [@minty\_green](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minty_green)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2001, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-george-do-good/82935/2 "2001-09-21T02:00:10Z")
Real good.
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### Author:  [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2001, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-george-do-good/82935/3 "2001-09-21T02:01:18Z")
Yes, I too, think he did **well**.
Food is good…
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### Author:  [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2001, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-george-do-good/82935/4 "2001-09-21T02:03:36Z")
Yes he did and while you GD folks are the greatest the main thead for this IMHO question is already rocking over in IMHO.
[http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=88548](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=88548)
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### Author:  [@Milossarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Milossarian)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2001, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-george-do-good/82935/5 "2001-09-21T02:07:18Z")
It is an example of the incredible events of the past 9 days that the U.S. president could stand before Congress and say, “A war is being fought between Freedom and Fear,” and not be hyberbolic.
As the analysts were saying on FOXNews, the moment called for a speech that was rousing, stern, Churchillian.
We all know Bush is no Clinton when it comes to oration. But I’d say he delivered.
Most importantly, he sent our people, our allies, our enemies, and anyone on the fence, a message that they cannot possibily misunderstand.
And let me just state for the record that the tears were flowing within 5 minutes, when he introduced the widow of one of the heroes on the Pennsylvania jet.
And how about the unified “rebuttal” speech afterward? Daschle and Lott did great, too. Again, sending an unequivocal message.
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### Author:  [@Gundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gundy)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2001, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-george-do-good/82935/6 "2001-09-21T02:07:23Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Reeder \*
> **Yes, I too, think he did well.**
Ahem. George _done_ good.
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### Author:  [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2001, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-george-do-good/82935/7 "2001-09-21T02:09:38Z")
George done real good, the goodest, even!
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### Author:  [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2001, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-george-do-good/82935/8 "2001-09-21T02:12:01Z")
So sue me. I just figured stamping out ignorance included bad grammer.
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### Author:  [@Random](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Random)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2001, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-george-do-good/82935/9 "2001-09-21T02:17:35Z")
Ten out of ten. I never though he had the speaking ability to pull this off. He struck the right notes with respect to regular Americans, Moslems, our allies, and nations that are not our traditional allies.
Yeah, we all know he didn’t write the speech. But he delivered it well, with feeling. And don’t forget that he hired the people who did write it. With the possible exception of his father’s group, his foreign policy team is unequaled in U.S. history.
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### Author:  [@Spavined\_Gelding](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spavined_Gelding)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2001, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-george-do-good/82935/10 "2001-09-21T02:19:47Z")
The President made an effective speech which, given the restraints he was under and the requirements for this sort of thing, was just about as good as it could have been. The President is no orator, but who is? It was a good speech and he accomplished his objectives.
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### Author:  [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2001, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-george-do-good/82935/11 "2001-09-21T02:22:32Z")
> [@](#):
>
> As the analysts were saying on FOXNews, the moment called for a speech that was rousing, stern, Churchillian.
Whether you agree with the substance of the speech or not (there actually wasn’t very much), it was about the most **unChurchillian** speech in history - stilted, rehearsed, and cliched, without any of the inspiring emotion, vivid imagery or extemporaneous flair that made Churchill so impressive (and i’m not really a fan of old Winston, either).
And by the way, you’re way too generous to FOX. That network doesn’t employ analysts, only right-wing hate-spewers who are willing to toe the line that Rupert Murdoch sets for them. If FOX is your definition of analysis, you might also be interested in some Florida swampland.
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### Author:  [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2001, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-george-do-good/82935/12 "2001-09-21T02:25:01Z")
A very nice and appropriate speech, yes, but ultimately still just a speech. The tough talk and rousing statements are appropriate, but there wasn’t much said about specific actions or even general approaches. We’re going to want to see some specifics pretty soon. Unlike almost every other politician weighing in on the situation, he’ll ultimately be judged by results, not oratory.
Let’s reconsider his performance in a few months, after the adrenalin rush wears off.
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### Author:  [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2001, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-george-do-good/82935/13 "2001-09-21T02:25:10Z")
Spavined Gelding…
Clinton may not have been much else, but he was a great orator.
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### Author:  [@MonkeyMensch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MonkeyMensch)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2001, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-george-do-good/82935/14 "2001-09-21T02:31:22Z")
I thought it was a pretty terrific speech. This coming from a soft-core libertarian who thinks that Republicans and Democrats are pretty much the same thing.
He made very clear what the agenda are. He also made very clear what they are not. It is refreshing to hear a bit of oratory like this because a politician is freed from the usual restraint of having to be ambivalent about a cause or subject in order to remain popular.
In this case GWB was allowed to be absolutely plain and forthcoming in his remarks to us and to the world. It’s nice to hear a person in power speak like that once in a while. Good on ya, Mr. President.
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### Author:  [@Random](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Random)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2001, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-george-do-good/82935/15 "2001-09-21T02:31:53Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by mhendo \*
> \*\*
>
> > [@](#):
> >
> > As the analysts were saying on FOXNews, the moment called for a speech that was rousing, stern, Churchillian.
>
> Whether you agree with the substance of the speech or not (there actually wasn’t very much), it was about the most **unChurchillian** speech in history - stilted, rehearsed, and cliched, without any of the inspiring emotion, vivid imagery or extemporaneous flair that made Churchill so impressive (and i’m not really a fan of old Winston, either).
>
> And by the way, you’re way too generous to FOX. That network doesn’t employ analysts, only right-wing hate-spewers who are willing to toe the line that Rupert Murdoch sets for them. If FOX is your definition of analysis, you might also be interested in some Florida swampland. \*\*
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### Author:  [@E72521](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E72521)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2001, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-george-do-good/82935/16 "2001-09-21T02:34:58Z")
The writer of that speech is to be commended.
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### Author:  [@Random](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Random)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2001, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-george-do-good/82935/17 "2001-09-21T02:39:02Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by mhendo \*
> \*\*
>
> > [@](#):
> >
> > As the analysts were saying on FOXNews, the moment called for a speech that was rousing, stern, Churchillian.
>
> Whether you agree with the substance of the speech or not (there actually wasn’t very much), it was about the most **unChurchillian** speech in history - stilted, rehearsed, and cliched, without any of the inspiring emotion, vivid imagery or extemporaneous flair that made Churchill so impressive (and i’m not really a fan of old Winston, either).
>
> And by the way, you’re way too generous to FOX. That network doesn’t employ analysts, only right-wing hate-spewers who are willing to toe the line that Rupert Murdoch sets for them. If FOX is your definition of analysis, you might also be interested in some Florida swampland. \*\*
Congratulations. You win the prize. Your anti-Bush feelings are so pure, so intense that nothing that he said tonight could dent them. Wear your award with pride!
Do you really think that Churchill made his most famous speeches without rehearsal? Are you really saying that you felt no emotion tonight? If not, I feel sorry for you. I’m regarded as overanalytical, as someone who sometimes hides his emotions, but I felt something tonight.
I didn’t watch the speech on Fox, so I have no comment on its analysts. But CNN’s gave the speech raves, as did every ranking Democratic elected official quoted. Guess their anti-Bush faith isn’t as strong as yours.
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### Author:  [@dunne\_u.wurrie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dunne_u.wurrie)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2001, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-george-do-good/82935/18 "2001-09-21T02:46:21Z")
Well said, Random. Bush isn’t Churchill, but tonight he was good enough.
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### Author:  [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2001, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-george-do-good/82935/19 "2001-09-21T02:53:09Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Reeder \*
> \*\*Clinton may not have been much else, but he was a great orator. \*\*
George done real good, especially considering. Tom done good. Trent, and I am saying this with all the spirit of bipartisanship I can muster though it sticks in my craw ;), done good. But, dammit, I miss Bill.
But George done fine. 🙂
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### Author:  [@meara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/meara)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2001, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-george-do-good/82935/20 "2001-09-21T03:01:32Z")
Well, he blew away my expectations.
Hats off to W.
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