Mr. Justice Alito walked down the aisle in a black robe. No matter what was said or wasn’t by the President or anyone else, this will be remembered as a great night.

And Brit noted that Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jim Nichols was absent for catastrophic succession purposes.

Cindy Sheehan was there, invited by Congressperson Lynn Woolsey (D-California). She tried to unfurl a banner in the gallery and she was forcibly removed in cuffs.

Faced with what I see happening with the various sects of wingnuts and moonbats, I was whistful when President Bush intoned: “In a system of two parties, two chambers, and two elected branches, there will always be differences and debate. But even tough debates can be conducted in a civil tone, and our differences cannot be allowed to harden into anger.” The Democrats’ constituency demands, and the Democrats love to offer, hatred. We called it BushLied™ sometimes, but it is abhorrent hatred.

It’s about ending global tyranny, America’s great call, etc.

“Americans love our freedom, and we will fight to protect it.” “There is no peace in retreat, and there is no honor in retreat.”

And even some Dems – Kerry amongst them – afraid of the lilly-livered label, stood an politely applauded.

This could have been spoken to Jack Murtha:

With so much in the balance, those of us in public office have a duty to speak with candor. A sudden withdrawal of our forces from Iraq would abandon our Iraqi allies to death and prison … put men like bin Laden and Zarqawi in charge of a strategic country … and show that a pledge from America means little. Members of Congress: however we feel about the decisions and debates of the past, our Nation has only one option: We must keep our word, defeat our enemies, and stand behind the American military in its vital mission.

These words received a standing ovation from both sides of the aisle.

“America rejects the false comfort of isolationism. We are the Nation that saved liberty in Europe, and liberated death camps, and helped raise up democracies, and faced down an evil empire. Once again, we accept the call of history to deliver the oppressed, and move this world toward peace.

Liberating the death camps. That is a powerful image, and it does relate to the goals in the speech, but it is not a “date certain” statement, a precise goal to be achieved then we go about our business. That doesn’t play on the ears of the moral tone deaf.

We remain on the offensive against terror networks. We have killed or captured many of their leaders – and for the others, their day will come.

JFK promised the moon. President Reagan promised the end of communism.

Nothing new on Iraq, but he got in a good shot at the BushLied crowd: “Yet there is a difference between responsible criticism that aims for success, and defeatism that refuses to acknowledge anything but failure. Hindsight alone is not wisdom. And second-guessing is not a strategy.”

The tale of Marine Staff Sergeant Dan Clay, who died in Fallujah, was a powerful one, especially with his wife and parents on hand:

Marine Staff Sergeant Dan Clay was killed last month fighting the enemy in Fallujah. He left behind a letter to his family, but his words could just as well be addressed to every American. Here is what Dan wrote: “I know what honor is. It has been an honor to protect and serve all of you. I faced death with the secure knowledge that you would not have to…. Never falter! Don’t hesitate to honor and support those of us who have the honor of protecting that which is worth protecting.”

That is a response to Cindy Sheehan and those who would support her. And on the night when Cindy Sheehan disgraced herself and her son’s memory, Dan Clay’s family received the gratitude of the chamber. Sustained gratitude.

The rest of this was fine as far as he went, but he had to call these people out. Identify and isolate them. If he managed that, the speech will be a success.

He should have been stronger on Iran. And his spending promises, “federal commitments,” are what we can expect from this not-so-fiscally-conservative President.

All in all, it was a better speech than I expected. For a SOTU, I thought it very good.