According to my transcript, 3 uses of the word God, the first merely a reference to the singing of “God Bless America,” and the final 2 in the final 3 paragraphs.
Ad in a 2 sentence paragraph urging people to “continue praying…”
More than I personally would have used, but he easily could have included more…
I’m apparently a lousy judge of speeches because I never could figure out why more people were not insulted by “The Great Communicator.” Speeches are words. Very public words, which do not necessarily have any specific relation to subsequent events. Nor is it assured that those events will be made equally public.
Nice words, but still, just words.
I thought it was a well-written speech and delivered very well indeed, especially for someone who has been poor at reading a speech.
For me the biggest thing about it was the commitment to eradicate terrorism in 60 countries – a commitment made without specifiying how it will be accomplished. I very much doubt that Bush knows how it will be accomplished. Commitmnets can be powerful. A commitment can drive policy so that it will eventually be accomplished.
In a way, it reminded me of JFK’s commitment to put a man on the moon, which the nation fulfilled. I hope we fulfill Bush’s commitment as well.
I’m not a fan of Bush, and would have appreciated an omission==for once–of the God references. More than ironic, it was stupid: did he not say that “God was on our side?” And we don’t want a holy war.
He’s a real cutie, though. Look at those laugh lines!
May he not get all white-haired and pudgy like someone else did when the pressure came on.