http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/01/20/opinion/meyer/main668169.shtmlInaugural II: Bush Doctrine
WASHINGTON, Jan. 20, 2005
With characteristic confidence and simplicity, President George W. Bush tossed out the formulas of the modern Inaugural Address. He gave a short speech about one thing, what can now clearly be called the Bush Doctrine. He defined it in one direct sentence:
"So 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."
Using the religious term, Bush said this is "the calling of our time." And this missionary, idealistic crusade is now the official policy of the United States of America. <snip>
It would have been unthinkable that the George Bush who sought the White House in 2000 would have had what is now the Bush Doctrine as the vital core of his presidency, the sole topic of his second Inaugural Address. The Bush of 2000 was hostile to what he called "nation building." He had no diplomatic or international experience. He was, like most of the conservative tradition, suspicious of idealism abroad, of entanglements, of instigating change, of any American messianic dreams in distant lands. <snip>
To me, the attractiveness of the family (and this is admittedly weird) was symbolized this week by Laura Bush's hair. I looked at pictures of her from the 2001 Inaugural and she was the same – no radical new do's or styles. How nice. Then I looked at pictures of Hillary Clinton from 1991, 1995, 2001 and in between: a whole new look, a whole new persona in each photograph. How disquieting. OK, scary.
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But today, at the ceremonial beginning, President Bush had one thing to say. He wants to fix the world.