- Reaction score
- 900
- Points
- 1,010
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20050120.w22bush0120/BNStory/International/
George W. Bush started his second term officially Thursday with promises to bringing freedom and liberty to the oppressed corners of the world.
â Å“It is the policy of the United States to seek and support the growth of democratic movements and institutions in every nation and culture with the ultimate goal of ending tyranny in our world,â ? he told a vast crowd at the Capitol.
Mr. Bush had a full day of pomp and pageantry planned. His official day began with a church service at St. John's Church and will end with attendance at a host of balls. The highlight will be the oath of office, scheduled for about noon, and his inaugural address.
His speech focused on the need to export freedom to other nations, for both ideological and national-security reasons.
â Å“Across the generations, we have proclaimed the imperative of self-government because no one is fit to be a master, and no one deserves to be a slave,â ? he said. â Å“Advancing these ideals is the mission that created our nation. It is the honourable achievement of our fathers.â ?
He also noted that â Å“events and common senseâ ? provide more concrete reasons to help people in other nations seek liberty.
â Å“The best hope for peace in our world is the expansion of freedom in all the world.â ?
As tradition dictates, Dick Cheney was sworn in as vice-president a short time before Mr. Bush was to take his turn.
Mr. Bush took the oath of office from ailing U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice William Rehnquist, who made his first public appearance in months.
â Å“I, George Walker Bush, do solemnly swear, that I will faithfully execute the office of president of the united states, and will, to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the constitution of the United States, so help me God,â ? he repeated, completing the final step of his victory at the polls last November.
In the audience were his opponent, Massachusetts Senator John Kerry, and three earlier presidents, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush and Jimmy Carter. Gerald Ford, the only other living president, is elderly and rarely travels from his home state of California.
A huge crowd turned out to watch the oath, speech and subsequent parade. An enormous security operation has been unleashed, with dozens of square blocks closed to traffic, thousands of police officers on duty and anti-aircraft missiles deployed.
The daytime ceremonies will be capped by numerous balls scheduled for Thursday evening.
The start of Mr. Bush's second term marks the beginning of the end of his opportunity to set a legacy, White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card acknowledged in an early appearance on ABC.
â Å“The President fully understands that he has an opportunity to change America and to change the world, and the window of opportunity won't stay open very long,â ? Mr. Card told Good Morning America.
But Mr. Bush also has the lowest approval rating of any recent two-term president on inauguration day. His support hung at 49 per cent in an Associated Press poll this month.
Although Mr. Bush has raised ambitious plans to reshape Social Security, many analysts expect his legacy to centre on his foreign policy, especially the situation in Iraq.
The war was the focus of a protest across town, where 1,370 pairs of old boots were lined up in a church, each one representing a U.S. death in Iraq.
With a report from Associated Press
***
At what cost? WW3?
George W. Bush started his second term officially Thursday with promises to bringing freedom and liberty to the oppressed corners of the world.
â Å“It is the policy of the United States to seek and support the growth of democratic movements and institutions in every nation and culture with the ultimate goal of ending tyranny in our world,â ? he told a vast crowd at the Capitol.
Mr. Bush had a full day of pomp and pageantry planned. His official day began with a church service at St. John's Church and will end with attendance at a host of balls. The highlight will be the oath of office, scheduled for about noon, and his inaugural address.
His speech focused on the need to export freedom to other nations, for both ideological and national-security reasons.
â Å“Across the generations, we have proclaimed the imperative of self-government because no one is fit to be a master, and no one deserves to be a slave,â ? he said. â Å“Advancing these ideals is the mission that created our nation. It is the honourable achievement of our fathers.â ?
He also noted that â Å“events and common senseâ ? provide more concrete reasons to help people in other nations seek liberty.
â Å“The best hope for peace in our world is the expansion of freedom in all the world.â ?
As tradition dictates, Dick Cheney was sworn in as vice-president a short time before Mr. Bush was to take his turn.
Mr. Bush took the oath of office from ailing U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice William Rehnquist, who made his first public appearance in months.
â Å“I, George Walker Bush, do solemnly swear, that I will faithfully execute the office of president of the united states, and will, to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the constitution of the United States, so help me God,â ? he repeated, completing the final step of his victory at the polls last November.
In the audience were his opponent, Massachusetts Senator John Kerry, and three earlier presidents, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush and Jimmy Carter. Gerald Ford, the only other living president, is elderly and rarely travels from his home state of California.
A huge crowd turned out to watch the oath, speech and subsequent parade. An enormous security operation has been unleashed, with dozens of square blocks closed to traffic, thousands of police officers on duty and anti-aircraft missiles deployed.
The daytime ceremonies will be capped by numerous balls scheduled for Thursday evening.
The start of Mr. Bush's second term marks the beginning of the end of his opportunity to set a legacy, White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card acknowledged in an early appearance on ABC.
â Å“The President fully understands that he has an opportunity to change America and to change the world, and the window of opportunity won't stay open very long,â ? Mr. Card told Good Morning America.
But Mr. Bush also has the lowest approval rating of any recent two-term president on inauguration day. His support hung at 49 per cent in an Associated Press poll this month.
Although Mr. Bush has raised ambitious plans to reshape Social Security, many analysts expect his legacy to centre on his foreign policy, especially the situation in Iraq.
The war was the focus of a protest across town, where 1,370 pairs of old boots were lined up in a church, each one representing a U.S. death in Iraq.
With a report from Associated Press
***
At what cost? WW3?
