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Jim Webb of Virginia was selected to give the Democratic response to Bush's SoTU, and boy, did they make the right choice. Webb hit all the right notes, his points impressive and unassailable. Rather than even dignify the fearmongering and drawing of parallels of 9/11 to aggression in the Middle East, Webb just pointed out that the Democrats are representing the will of the people in their desire to see an end to the quagmire and that if Bush didn't want to listen to the people that put him in office, the Democrats would lead him to the will of the people.
"If he does, we will join him. If he does not, we will be showing him the way."
Hagel Gives `em Hell (Video)
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"I don't think we've ever had a coherent strategy. In fact, I would even challenge the administration today to show us the plan that the president talked about the other night. There is no plan. I happen to know that Pentagon planners were on their way to Central Com over the weekend -- they haven't even Team B'ed this plan.... There is no strategy. This is a ping-pong game with American lives.... We'd better be damned sure what we're doing, all of us, before we put 22,000 more lives into that grinder.... and I want every one of you, every one of us, 100 senators to look in that camera, and you tell your people back home what you think. Don't hide any more, none of us."
THE TWO HORSEMEN
POET
The trumpet sounds above their dark village
And the slope of wet desire moves them nearer,
Breathing hotly upon the newly expectant spirits
The nighttime sounds of yearning fill the air.
MAN
Is it them?
O! I hope they’re here!
Do they approach?
O! I pray they’ll come?
POET
Tonight the two horsemen are said to be imminent,
Riding fast, their steeds strapped with blazing purpose
Ready to liberate the lands seaward sons and daughters,
Mend the torn away air and smooth the towering loss…
WOMAN
Sentry? Tell us what you hear!
Speak of what you see?
Is it the horsemen?
Are they beautiful saviors?
SENTRY
The horsemen are mortal men born out of our desire,
Our wish for someone willing to speak with certainty
And not cower of the prowling beast’s oppression,
To dispute the salvo of war-jawed tales of terror.
MAN
We don’t need you thinking!
We need you seeing and hearing
You blubbering idiot!
Now do you see them or-
SENTRY
Yes! Yes! They come!
I see two riders!
POET
The streets erupt in joyous hoorahs and release.
Yes. It has been said that the two horsemen
Shall transport the people's bleeding liberty home
And right the tumbling and despotic vessel.
So it is said…
SENTRY
No! No!
Oh! My God!
There are more than two!
WOMAN
More than two?
MAN
How many?
SENTRY
Oh, Jesus…
MAN
How many!
SENTRY
Thousands…
WOMAN
A thousand beautiful horsemen?
SENTRY
No. Many thousands.
MAN
Horsemen born out of our desire...
The trumpet sounds above their dark village
And the slope of wet desire moves them nearer,
Breathing hotly upon the newly expectant spirits
The nighttime sounds of yearning fill the air.
MAN
Is it them?
O! I hope they’re here!
Do they approach?
O! I pray they’ll come?
POET
Tonight the two horsemen are said to be imminent,
Riding fast, their steeds strapped with blazing purpose
Ready to liberate the lands seaward sons and daughters,
Mend the torn away air and smooth the towering loss…
WOMAN
Sentry? Tell us what you hear!
Speak of what you see?
Is it the horsemen?
Are they beautiful saviors?
SENTRY
The horsemen are mortal men born out of our desire,
Our wish for someone willing to speak with certainty
And not cower of the prowling beast’s oppression,
To dispute the salvo of war-jawed tales of terror.
MAN
We don’t need you thinking!
We need you seeing and hearing
You blubbering idiot!
Now do you see them or-
SENTRY
Yes! Yes! They come!
I see two riders!
POET
The streets erupt in joyous hoorahs and release.
Yes. It has been said that the two horsemen
Shall transport the people's bleeding liberty home
And right the tumbling and despotic vessel.
So it is said…
SENTRY
No! No!
Oh! My God!
There are more than two!
WOMAN
More than two?
MAN
How many?
SENTRY
Oh, Jesus…
MAN
How many!
SENTRY
Thousands…
WOMAN
A thousand beautiful horsemen?
SENTRY
No. Many thousands.
MAN
Horsemen born out of our desire...
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