The Sitting Dems

The Democrats -- the Party of No, the Party of Retreat and Defeat -- showed their true colors at the State of the Union address Tuesday night.

Of course, the minority party members often sat motionless during the speech, when the Republicans were jumping to their feet and applauding the President. As usual, the cameras caught the Dems sneering and pouting and scowling. Same old, same old.

However, there was one moment when I found the televised visuals to be particularly revealing.

Complete Transcript

(Excerpt)

PRESIDENT BUSH: It is said that prior to the attacks of September the 11th, our government failed to connect the dots of the conspiracy. We now know that two of the hijackers in the United States placed telephone calls to al Qaeda operatives overseas. But we did not know about their plans until it was too late. So to prevent another attack -- based on authority given to me by the Constitution and by statute -- I have authorized a terrorist surveillance program to aggressively pursue the international communications of suspected al Qaeda operatives and affiliates to and from America. Previous Presidents have used the same constitutional authority I have, and federal courts have approved the use of that authority. Appropriate members of Congress have been kept informed. The terrorist surveillance program has helped prevent terrorist attacks. It remains essential to the security of America. If there are people inside our country who are talking with al Qaeda, we want to know about it, because we will not sit back and wait to be hit again. (Applause.)

When Bush forcefully stated, "we will not sit back and wait to be hit again," he looked straight into the camera.

I don't think he was speaking only to the American people when he said that. He seemed to be telling the world.

More specifically, I think Bush was addressing the terrorists.

Recently, in the taped message that surfaced about two weeks ago, bin Laden echoed the Dems' rhetoric so closely that it seemed as if he had been coached by the big guy, Howard Dean.

It became painfully clear that bin Laden was exploiting the words of the "retreat and defeat" Dems and the radical Left as powerful weapons against the United States. There is no question that these patriotic American libs are a key element in bin Laden's plan for victory.

When the President declared that he was exercising his constitutional authority, the same power used by previous Presidents, he put all the enemies of America on notice.

Bush is going to do all that he legally can do, under the powers granted to him by the Constitution and with the knowledge of members of Congress, to protect the country.

"WE WILL NOT SIT BACK AND WAIT TO BE HIT AGAIN."

After Bush delivered that line, the camera was angled to show how members of the two parties reacted.

In response to the President's promise, the Republicans stood and cheered.

What did those on the left side of the aisle do?

They sat still -- no applause, nothing.

It could have been out of a movie. When the President says, "We will not sit back," the minority party is seen doing exactly that -- sitting.

The Dems cannot be trusted to protect America.

That image of the Dems' response to the President's pledge to protect the homeland was perhaps the most powerful of the night.

It was a perfect illustration of what they stand for. I should rephrase that. The Dems sat, rather than banding with the President, and displayed what they don't stand for.

Quite simply, the Dems DO NOT stand for the defeat of terrorism. That's my image of the Dems -- just sitting back, ineffective.

Considering that the Old Media, the Dem leadership, and the wacko Leftists have been pounding away at the President for months and months, President Bush did not come off as weak or hesitant, not at all.

He was strong, confident, and optimistic. His vision for the country was clear.

President Bush realizes he has an awesome responsibility, to keep Americans safe and free.

I firmly believe that he doesn't expend any energy worrying about his personal poll numbers or his approval ratings or his legacy. He concerns himself with doing everything possible within his power to prevent another attack. That's got nothing to do with political posturing or self-aggrandizement.

I really think that the President cares first and foremost about protecting the country and freedom, not protecting his image.

The Democrats, on the other hand, have shown that they are willing to play games with the well-being of the nation. They have been absolutely ruthless and reckless in their attacks on the President, undermining the Commander-in-Chief, putting our troops at greater risk, and emboldening our enemies. Many of them have shamelessly put their personal political fortunes ahead of the good of the people that they swore to serve.

It would be unfair to suggest that all Dems have failed to faithfully carry out their duties as public servants. It would be untrue. Sadly, it is accurate to say that most Dems have behaved irresponsibly in regard to the War on Terror.

I certainly don't believe that all Republicans have done what's right for the country either. Too many of them have been opportunistic, shirking their commitment to properly serve the people in order to further their personal agendas, just as surely as the Dems have done.

Dem or Republican -- it doesn't matter. Effectively combatting terror can't be done sitting down. The President and his Administration understand that, and I am grateful.

I think back to the night of September 20, 2001, as the World Trade Center still burned. In an address to a joint session of Congress and the American people, President Bush rallied the nation.

He said:

Great harm has been done to us. We have suffered great loss. And in our grief and anger we have found our mission and our moment. Freedom and fear are at war. The advance of human freedom -- the great achievement of our time, and the great hope of every time -- now depends on us. Our nation -- this generation -- will lift a dark threat of violence from our people and our future. We will rally the world to this cause by our efforts, by our courage. We will not tire, we will not falter, and we will not fail.

I believed in the President's complete commitment to ensuring human freedom then, and I believe him now.

Defeat in that endeavor is not an option.

Some Dems have yet to grasp that.