KSU speech
Since the Pres was speaking in Polistra's home territory this morning, a few quick observations seem obligatory.

"When the Taliban was running that country with al-Qaeda as a parasite"
Interesting phrase, possibly aimed at veterinary students.

Nice little dig at 'privacy':

"Zawahiri might not have wanted us to read that particular letter, but nevertheless we did."

He's back to 'catch terrorists and bring them to justice', after trying out some firmer and better phrasing like 'hold them to account'. Phooey.

Nice lines:

"Since we're not able to track vast batallions or armadas, we have to have good intelligence, to track these folks in the dark corners of the world..."

"A terrorist network can sometimes burrow into a society and find a safe haven."

After that, he fell into an unfortunate kindergarten-teacher mode that must have been insulting to the students.

Too much emphasis on 'democracy leads to peace'. Dubious and oversimplified, and doesn't apply to the motives of al-Qaeda. Not really worthy of a Landon Lecture.

Discussed the Gorelick Wall, but didn't specify who built it or why. Back to the damned New Tone.

"Grow sawgrass and convert it to energy" Gaaaak!

Great loud comment from Kurdish girl, didn't really need any response.

My comment:

Liberating the Kurds made the Iraq war worthwhile. We need to preserve Kurdistan
as a bastion of civilization, even as the Arabs return to their natural
state of sub-human savagery.

Great discussion on Social Security.
"Will the system be there for you? No."
"I have a duty to confront problems, not just to shuffle them along."
Good defense of privatization, and positive response from the young audience.

Clever response to the nasty comment from the Venezuelan Commie. She seemed to be asking "Why aren't you guaranteeing jobs to every immigrant, legal or illegal?" He simply explained his agenda: strengthen enforcement, guest worker program. Useful answer to the larger audience, undoubtedly unsatisfying to the questioner.
  ¶ 11:36 AM