This essay will rigorously critique Bush's inaugural address frmo a political and rhetorical point of view, addressing his flaws in logic, methods and attempts at persuasion.
Using rhetoric: the political slight of hand
Bush's inaugural address was much different than a typical political speech used
to indicate policy. He had already narrowly won the presidency and this speech was meant to celebrate that victory and to highlight a potentially successful four years for the Bush supporters and the patriotic citizens who would love the speech regardless of its content. However, it is still crucial to recognize Bush's intent behind his inaugural address as it is a calculated political statement meant to persuade the audience of his main argument that he will lead to American ideals, strength and prosperity.
Toward this end, Bush uses his rhetorical slight of hand techniques as he deliberately commits several logical fallacies for emotional effect and as a method for avoiding making direct political argumentation that can be questioned. Specifically, Bush's speech consistently uses the sound byte method: he offers numerous claims
to solving a problem while offering no empirical or logical justification for his assertions. In an issue that often demands serious, specific discussion, Bush evades making unjustified claims in his economic policies as he uses phrases such as "momentum," "enterprise" and "reward the effort" that are clearly words from a pro-capitalism, republican economic point of view. In these sound bytes, Bush is able to sound like he will solve these problems and that he is empathetic to the issues---but without stating a plan or empirical data, he does not offer
himself accountability or arguments that can be made in "response" to his speech. This strategy not only sounds good for people who would support his policies during the address, but it also avoids direct opposition by people who have completely polar views. In his rhetoric, Bush never mentioned his key issues of abortion,
capital punishment, or his pro-rich economic theories""at least he never uses any terms that overtly refer to these issues""as he uses rhetoric and vague language to shove his contentious policies down the throats of his audience without opposition. This is manifest in his statements of foreign policy as Bush makes very subtle
references that never use the terms "imperialism" or "enforcement of values" but that still communicates his imperialist attitudes. For example, Bush disguises his imperial attitude as he claims that America as "a seed upon the wind, taking root in many nations" which makes America's involvement in other nations' domestic affairs sound like the vivid, wonderful image of plants growing into wonderful flowers
instead of military coersion. This same technique exists in Bush's concealment of his military plan as he states that "We will build our defenses beyond challenge, lest weakness invite challenge." In this quote specifically, Bush never explains why U.S. defense is not beyond challenge already or why without more military
power the U.S. will be weak. Yet even such vagueness scores well with the inaugural audience because such meaningless sound bytes still communicate an idea very simply and effectively. It is more appealing to hear "weakness invite challenge" than to hear definitions of weakness, challenge and empirical studies to U.S. military
effectiveness that one would expect (hopefully) in a political debate or an official statement of policy.
Bush not only uses unwarranted claims and vivid rhetoric to disguise his political
views, but he also uses word choice to persuade listeners. Fore example, Bush uses religion as a method for establishing his own authority. Religious piety in politics definitely serves as a method of appealing to authority because it allows someone to use individual's deepest moral beliefs (beliefs in existence, virtue,etc.) and to associate those to particular foreign policies. This is a tactic used by Louis XIV as he would have audiences watch his pray as a role model for other citizens that he was a servant
of God, an unquestionable authority. Entertainers often "thank God" that He (God that is)
allowed them to win their music awards. Clearly, the use of religion is a political and
psychological tactic to get an audience to associate oneself to following the greatest
of all authorities""God.
Bush follows this exact plan in his inauguration address. Bush explains that
"we are guided by a power larger than ourselves, Who creates us equal in His image." The use of the term "we" allows Bush to demonstrate a togetherness with the audience, that together he as well as the listeners are all under the umbrella of religious servitude in political policy. In other words, Bush is using religious rhetoric to relate to the audience as it is a way to say "I am just like you, as we believe the same things." Bush specifically points out the value of religion to the audience as he claims
that "some needs and hutrs are so deep they will only respond to a mentor's touch or a pastor's prayer"¦Church and Charity, synagogue and mosque, lend out communities their humanity, and they will have an honored place in our plans and laws."
Through this argument, Bush shows the audience that his administration will be pro-religion in the next four years of political policy. Also, Bush is very discreetly referencing issues such as the separation of church and state without
ever explicitly saying so. Specifically he is just saying that the church will have
a place in our plans and laws. The most obvious response to Bush's rhetoric is that not all people share the same religion so his strategy is not effective. However, even Bush's listing of various religious places of worship was a
calculated effort as in his speech, he references three of the most popular religions in the world: Judaism (the synagogue), Islam (the "mosque") and Judeo-Christian ("Church and Charity"). In this manner, Bush is using his rhetoric to maximize
his potential to persuade audiences of his pro-religious stance, regardless of their
diversity of religious views.
In the end of his address, Bush fortifies his thesis as he uses all of these previously mentioned strategies when concluding. He references religion and uses sound bytes to make subtle arguments without justification or elaboration as he says "WE are not this story's author, who fills time and eternity with His purpose. Yet His purpose is achieved in our duty"¦And an angel still rides in the whirlwind and
directs this storm." Bush's conclusion is that America, led by his administration will
collectively serve the purposes of God through his policy and concept of duty. With this rhetorical slight of hand, Bush relentlessly keeps repeating these strategies to manipulate people to viewing him as the ultimate of leaders who has a shared concept of America that is idealistic and that is Pro-God. Perhaps Bush illustrates this best when he concludes "God bless you, and God bless our country."
Score another point for calculated rhetoric that doesn't require explanation to
persuade an audience.
