Is George W Bush's speechwriter working for Obama?

While George W Bush was a disappointment to some of his supporters, especially for the increase in spending on his watch, I'm prepared to bet that Obama will be an even greater disappointment to those on the left.

He's already made a number of appointments that have sent the kooks who comment at DailyKos and HuffPo nuts with Robert Gates' extension as Defence Secretary being the most obvious; though he has appointed a few true nutjobs such as Susan Rice to the UN so the left still has some hope.

And if you think he's really different from any other president then click on the following and check out how many times past presidents used the words hope and change in an inaugural address...

Since the inauguration there has been nothing but fawning praise for what he's been saying.

But is it any different to what we've heard before?

I suspect it's the way he says it and not what he's saying.

Andrew Bolt has a list to compare...

Obama: Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred.

Bush: Our enemy is a radical network of terrorists.

Obama: We will not apologise for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defence...

Bush: We will work with our friends and allies across the world to defend our way of life.

Obama: . . . the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free...

Bush: Freedom is a universal gift of almighty God.

Obama: America must play its role in ushering a new era of peace...

Bush: We can usher in a new era of enhanced prosperity and peace.

Obama: We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus - and non-believers ...As the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself...

Bush: America values and welcomes peaceful people of all faiths - Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Sikh, Hindu and many others. Every faith is practised and protected here, because we are one country.

And, most crucially:

Obama: Know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman, and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more...

Bush: All who live in tyranny and hopelessness can know the United States will not ignore your oppression . . . When you stand for your liberty, we will stand with you.

Obama: To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist...

Bush: The leaders of governments with long habits of control need to know to serve your people, you must learn to trust them. Start on this journey of progress and justice, and America will walk at your side.

In the end, all presidents lose popularity and it's just the degree that counts, as shown in the following graph:

You can see why the comparison to Truman is so apt. Going on popularity Truman would be ranked way down there, along with Nixon, but what he did has been shown to have been very wise and he is now ranked highly among US presidents.

What's also interesting is how high Eisenhowser was for all of his term and the Clinton became more popular (off a low starting point) as his presidency progressed in spite of telling porky pies about Monica Lewinsky.

(Nothing Follows)