The Expansion Of Freedom In All The World

I imagine the Libs were been spinning on their eyebrows during President Bush's inaugural speech this afternoon. The President urged urged "rulers of outlaw regimes" to let democracy flourish, and vowed to advance democracy abroad. In a speech that used the word freedom 27 times, and the word liberty 15 times, he pledged support for movements toward democracy around the world.

"America will not impose our own style of government on the unwilling. Our goal instead is to help others find their own voice, attain their own freedom, and make their own way... When you stand for your liberty, we will stand with you."

In my favorite lines, President Bush also pledged to stand up to leaders who oppress their people.

"In the long run, there is no justice without freedom, and there can be no human rights without human liberty... All who live in tyranny and hopelessness can know: The United States will not ignore your oppression, or excuse your oppressors."

"We will persistently clarify the choice before every ruler and every nation: The moral choice between oppression, which is always wrong, and freedom, which is eternally right. America will not pretend that jailed dissidents prefer their chains, or that women welcome humiliation and servitude, or that any human being aspires to live at the mercy of bullies."

This is the kind of talk that really torques the Liberal Left. Buzzwords like "freedom" and "liberty" rarely end up in their speeches. President Bush pushed a few buttons on domestic issues, also.

"To give every American a stake in the promise and future of our country, we will bring the highest standards to our schools, and build an ownership society. We will widen the ownership of homes and businesses, retirement savings and health insurance preparing our people for the challenges of life in a free society. By making every citizen an agent of his or her own destiny, we will give our fellow Americans greater freedom from want and fear, and make our society more prosperous and just and equal."

These kind of ideas scare the bejeezus out of the Democrats. When people own property, businesses and their own retirement plans, Democrats lose. Why? Because that individual doesn't need handouts from the government. They are able to provide for themselves. When individuals can provide for themselves, they don't need (and won't be bribed by) handout programs from Democrats. Those individuals invariably become more financially conservative.

We all know the President is a religious man, and I'm sure he ruffled a few feathers with this line:

"From the day of our founding, we have proclaimed that every man and woman on this earth has rights, and dignity, and matchless value, because they bear the image of the maker of heaven and earth."

The entire speech can be read here.