On the day of the Royal Wedding, one news announcer proclaimed, “It’s a great day for Great Britain.” Tonight is a great night for America. Politics this year has been interesting, but disheartening. With unemployment still high, the deficit expanding, and no end in sight to irresponsible spending, it has sometimes been tempting to leave the radio off, newspapers folded, and the television tuned to something more entertaining and less serious than the news.
But tonight, the news of Osama Bin Laden's death is not only the end of the hunt for public enemy #1. It is also one of the first events that has unified most of the country. It is a burst of good news and optimism in the midst of the depressing, negative news that has seemed to dominated every network. Thousands of Americans of all different stripes are together, cheering in the streets and even the president, who has sometimes seemed unemotional, had tears in his eyes as he concluded his speech. Tomorrow, radios and TVs will be turned on and tuned to news channels. Newspapers will be flung open. For at least a day or two, it will be morning in America.
Osama's death is good news for most Americans, but it may be even better news for President Obama, who's intervention in Libya was disapproved of by the majority of Americans. According to Gallup, "The 47% of Americans approving of the action against Libya is lower than what Gallup has found when asking about approval of other U.S. military campaigns in the past four decades." But the apprehension of Osama Bin Laden makes the president seem much more competent and will almost certainly boost his approval rating.
When President Obama decided to release his long-form birth certificate, many asked, "why now?" Donald Trump took some credit for the move. But perhaps it was this news, not Trump's challenge that really prompted the announcement.
If the president intentionally timed the release of his birth certificate to coincide with this announcement, that too was a shrewd move. It gives Obama two victories in a row. Either way, this will be a particularly good week for President Obama and the Republicans will certainly have their work cut out for them in the next election.
For now, though, there is cause for every American to celebrate. Well done, US troops, and well done, Mr. President.
A trillion bucks is a lot just to get your rocks off, innit? Apparently, "justice" is a dish best served cold.
Posted by: larry kurtz | Monday, May 02, 2011 at 09:20 PM
"[E]ven if [Osama bin Laden] is caught tomorrow, it is five years too late. He has done more damage the longer he has been out there. But, in fact, the damage that he has done ... is done. And even to capture him now I don't think makes us any safer. - Nancy Pelosi 2007
"The death of Osama bin Laden marks the most significant development in our fight against al-Qaida. ... I salute President Obama, his national security team, Director Panetta, our men and women in the intelligence community and military, and other nations who supported this effort for their leadership in achieving this major accomplishment. ... [T]he death of Osama bin Laden is historic." - Nancy Pelosi 2011
It is really amazing how one sees' the world when "your guy" is in office.
Posted by: Jimi | Tuesday, May 03, 2011 at 08:18 PM
Mr. Kurtz: Justice, like cheese, is good hot or cold.
Jimi: Yes it is. Especially when it comes to military action.
Posted by: Miranda | Wednesday, May 04, 2011 at 12:22 AM
Two things that I don't like about it from an aritlce I read is that he was identified using facial recognition and when asked if they had confirmed a dna test they didn't answer. 2nd that due to islamic beliefs, his body was already buried at sea.Interesting tidbit I heard on the radio today was that both bin laden and hitler were both announced dead on May 1st.Overall, I hope that SEAL Team Six really did get the kill and that this isn't a early celebration and that the dna test comes back negative.
Posted by: Jake | Monday, June 25, 2012 at 02:06 PM
God wants the murders sent to him, God told his peolpe to wipe out non believing nations,one of king davids generals, was a great warrior and a great hero, he stabed one of the cabinet members and killed him,then he was labled a murder, and then was also killed. the new testiment christ said if you don't have a sword buy a sword. christ used vilance to drive the money changers out of the temple so that his peolpe could got in and worship, how do you think christ would have handled a man who killed thosands of his peolpe? I want to say these bleeding heart christians that feel sorry for this evil man, should sit down and read the bible. I am a very strong christian, i support this station but enough is enough listening to everyone feeling sorry for this man who killed so many. I don't support the partys in the streets either, but this is something that is well over due. even the muslins around the world are in celabration over this.
Posted by: Esmeralda | Monday, June 25, 2012 at 08:29 PM