Well, New York Republican politicians must have felt right at home in D.C., because it looked just liked New York City did last year during the Republican National Convention. Both Governor Pataki and former Mayor Giuliani were in attendance (they got to sit in a special Presidential box), but the NY Times reports that Pataki had a much higher profile, hosting a party and smelling more like a rose in the Republican Party. Giuliani was uncharacteristically subdued, perhaps still reeling from the whole Bernard Kerik mess; plus, the Republicans probably just wanted to get loose and not hear about September 11 every single moment. Disgraced Homeland Security nominee and former NYC Police Commissioner Kerik did attend the inauguration, and he's able to laugh about things; he told reporters, "Well, at least I got a vacation out of it."
Photograph from DCist, where there is piping hot Inauguration coverage




Well, GW used the word "Liberty" 15 times and "Freedom" 25 times in that one short speech.
Sen. Boxer was right:They're trying to rewrite history.
To Wit, The Bush-Iraq was was about "Freedom" not WMD's...
Bush is right. I think it may be time to bring Freedom and Liberty to the Iranians and North Koreans, because they want it and need it so badly (Sez us). Can't wait for the gov't to bring back the draft.
Whoopee, its gonna be a great 4 more years
Wait, make that "freedom" and "liberty" for everyone, unless you live in Saudi Arabia, Pakistan or China, because repression is a.o.k. if your govenment is a "friend".
As the great patriot Patrick Henry said, "Give me liberty or give me a pro-American government with sketchy human rights policies."
So are you advocating US intervention in China and Saudia Arabia, or no intervention anywhere? Sounds like it's all or nothing for you. Or maybe you are just one of those crybabies who bashes the US no matter what we do.
Nola, at minimum we should have honesty. If you or the Bush administration want to have different standards of what governments you support based on how friendly their government is to the US, at least be honest about it and don't try to hide it. We shouldn't accept our elected officials lying to us about these things or defend them when they do.
nola,
When did I ever advocate intervention in China, Saudi Arbia and/or Pakistan? Did even speak out against intervention in Iraq or Afghanistan? I do appreciate your fine attempt at mindreading though.
No, I'm simply pointing out that Bush's message that his administration is somehow for liberty everywhere, and that *our* interests and the interests of freedom-loving people overlap is pure poppycock.
No, I do appreciate that US does advocate democracy, even if only when it's convenient, but US foreign policy would have a teensy wee bit more crediblity if there wasn't a history of overthrowing democratically elected or letting trading partners get away with bloody murder.
But I apologize for pointing out the blinding obvious. Carry on with your strawman building, nola.