Bush: final Sunday as President “Sanctity of Life Day”
posted at 5:15 pm on January 16, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
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And so ends the presidency of a man who has probably been the pro-life movement’s greatest friend in that position. It’s actually the penultimate day of his second term, but since the last day already honors Martin Luther King, it’s as close to his last word as possible:
In one of his final actions in the White House, President Bush on Thursday declared Jan. 18 to be “National Sanctity of Human Life Day.”
“All human life is a gift from our creator that is sacred, unique and worthy of protection. On National Sanctity of Human Life Day, our country recognizes that each person, including every person waiting to be born, has a special place and purpose in this world,” reads the presidential proclamation.
“The most basic duty of government is to protect the life of the innocent. My administration has been committed to building a culture of life by vigorously promoting adoption and parental notification laws, opposing federal funding for abortions overseas, encouraging teen abstinence and funding crisis pregnancy programs,” the proclamation continues.
“The sanctity of life is written in the hearts of all men and women. On this day and throughout the year, we aspire to build a society in which every child is welcome in life and protected in law. We also encourage more of our fellow Americans to join our just and noble cause. History tells us that with a cause rooted in our deepest principles and appealing to the best instincts of our citizens, we will prevail.”
For the pro-life cause, it’s one last chance to cheer before Barack Obama takes office. Despite Doug Kmiec’s assurances, we can expect Obama at some point to at least try to honor his commitment to Planned Parenthood to get the Freedom of Choice act passed. We’ll shortly be dealing with the man who didn’t see a need to force doctors to provide normal care to infants that survived abortion attempts.
George Bush didn’t do everything right, and on economics, he’s almost indistinguishable now from the man who will succeed him. He did everything he could on life issues, though, and Sunday will be an opportunity to give thanks for that, and to show some appreciation for it. (via The Anchoress)
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Honest to God, someone should just tell Bush that it’s okay to drink again if he wants to.
BigD on January 16, 2009 at 5:18 PM
Lord knows he made a lot of libs drink!
grapeknutz on January 16, 2009 at 5:22 PM
God bless you, Mr. President.
baldilocks on January 16, 2009 at 5:22 PM
Thank you, Mr. President. I only wish you had come back at the press instead of letting them run all over you. Being above the fray caused all Republican politicians to be bullied by the liberal media — and they became wimps! The lie that “Bush Lied People Died” hurt our country more than your ratings!
But on behalf of every baby born that would have been aborted, thank you. On behalf of every baby that would have ended life as an embryonic stem cell, thank you. On behalf of every citizen alive today who would have been killed by further terrorism in the U.S., thank you!
Christian Conservative on January 16, 2009 at 5:25 PM
Dare I say it: when it comes to the fundamentals, W is positively Churchillian…”Never give up, never give up, never give up.” I salute you.
horatio on January 16, 2009 at 5:25 PM
Thank you President Bush, for the temporary reprieve.
I could not have said it better. Jan 21,2009 -There is a new warfront to fight on-one away and one at home, both to protect the sanctity of life in America.
canditaylor68 on January 16, 2009 at 5:28 PM
most pro-life president ever, followed by what will probably be the most pro-abortion potus
jp on January 16, 2009 at 5:31 PM
I love this man. God bless, sir.
Babino on January 16, 2009 at 5:32 PM
One of the many things I have admired about Bush is that he stands by his convictions. And what a stand to make-to stand up for the unborn.
Many Blessings to you Bush for all that you have done to promote the ProLife issues in our country and beyond.
texasconserv on January 16, 2009 at 5:35 PM
don’t forget he ended up being vindicated on Stem Cells
jp on January 16, 2009 at 5:40 PM
Okay so he really fell apart on fiscal conservatism, but he is steel on moral conservatism. If RINOs could be this way they may not be so bad.
ericdijon on January 16, 2009 at 5:43 PM
Thank you President George W. Bush.
I will be dwelling on the above words while marching in Washington next Thursday.
Sapwolf on January 16, 2009 at 5:44 PM
Hey Ed,
You saying that MLK was in favor of killing off life?
I’d suggest that MLK would weep over the state of black America in 2009. Far to few black men stay around to raise their kids. Race is still an issue. Inner-cities are dead with minority students trapped in failing school systems thanks to liberal Democrats like Obama who sends his own kids to exclusive private schools.
I like the idea of making Sunday a celebration of life day but it really doesn’t matter. Come Tuesday America celebrates death. Filthy bastard is going to start spending federal dollars on abortions, embryonic stem cell research, and all the other ways that don’t affirm life. Filthy bastard doesn’t even support easing the discomfort of inconvenient life that gets wheeled into a closet until it dies.
highhopes on January 16, 2009 at 5:49 PM
It will be a long time until we have a president I can respect. G-d bless you, President George W. Bush. For keeping us safe, for fighting the inevitable fight with evil Islam, you will forever be loved and respected.
stonemeister on January 16, 2009 at 5:49 PM
You saying that MLK was in favor of killing off life?
What?? Where do I say that? I’m saying Monday’s already taken.
Ed Morrissey on January 16, 2009 at 5:50 PM
W is the most pro-life President we have ever had so that makes him one of the best Presidents.
lavell12 on January 16, 2009 at 5:55 PM
I will miss this man for his convictions and his devotion, but mostly because he made crazy foreign leaders nervous and maybe a little scared of him. The next four years are going to be like having the worst possible subsitute teacher which makes you not even want to go to class. Obama can suck the passion right out of you. Here’s to you, Mr. Bush.
sherry on January 16, 2009 at 6:01 PM
It pains me to link to HuffPo, but our President-elect has also declared MLK day a ‘national day of service.’
‘Not sure under what authority he does this, but I’m learning that we don’t bother with legal technicalities under Hopenchange.
Y-not on January 16, 2009 at 6:03 PM
I think you are being far too optimistic here if you think that Bush and Obama will be indistinguishable from each other on economic policy. If you think that Bush was a big spender, you are in for 4yrs of “you ain’t seen nothing yet”
Dollayo on January 16, 2009 at 6:05 PM
Yet waterboarding is “torture.”
whitetop on January 16, 2009 at 6:06 PM
This weekend..Sanctity of life………next weekend…FREE ABORTIONS,paid for by the United States of America,brought to you by the Democratic Party!!
UNREPENTANT CONSERVATIVE CAPITOLIST on January 16, 2009 at 6:08 PM
God speed President Bush, thank you for standing by your convictions and keeping us safe for 8 years!
Liberty or Death on January 16, 2009 at 6:08 PM
God bless the child.
God bless President Bush.
momof2 on January 16, 2009 at 6:12 PM
Monday is the MLK holiday. That’s what Ed’s saying.
The genius and his staff probably forgot that it was MLK Day. Or maybe he thinks he’s MLK reincarnated. /s
baldilocks on January 16, 2009 at 6:16 PM
And with the election of Barack Obama, September 11th, 2001 will officially fade into the deep memory hole.
Bush tried to keep that candle alive, trying to remind people of the danger facing us.
Now it’s been snuffed.
blatantblue on January 16, 2009 at 6:17 PM
Yeah, then there’s this technicality about him not being president yet…
Y-not on January 16, 2009 at 6:18 PM
I know that was sarc. baldi but he is not fit to shine Dr. King’s shoes.
thomasaur on January 16, 2009 at 6:21 PM
The first Sunday of the Obama presidency will be “Don’t Be Punished With A Baby Day.”
Cicero43 on January 16, 2009 at 6:35 PM
You got that right.
Pray for our unborn and their parents.
Zorro on January 16, 2009 at 6:42 PM
color me unimpressed. how is he the pro life president? abortion is still legal. and im not sure on the statistics on the number of abortions peformed each year.
therightwinger on January 16, 2009 at 6:43 PM
Dont know if this will help-there are a lot of links within the stories to help. Here is another where Pres.Bush withheld funding to the UNFPA. When Obama speaks of enacting FOCA that includes re-enacting American taxpayer funding for the UNFPA.
canditaylor68 on January 16, 2009 at 7:01 PM
I didn’t know abortion was legal, I thought it is something that the Supreme Court Justices weren’t currently ruling against.
ericdijon on January 16, 2009 at 7:06 PM
You may have noticed that Leftist only believe in The Rules when it is to their advantage for power gaining and retaining purposes.
baldilocks on January 16, 2009 at 7:08 PM
Its a crying shame the 4227 American soldiers killed in Iraq won’t be able to celebrate “Sanctity of Life Day” with the most pro-life President we have ever had.
benny shakar on January 16, 2009 at 7:51 PM
Good riddance to Bush. He was a sheep in wolf’s clothing.
keep the change on January 16, 2009 at 7:52 PM
It’s a crying shame that you don’t know the meaning of the word “volunteer.” I don’t recall any cases of fetuses volunteering to any cause.
baldilocks on January 16, 2009 at 7:55 PM
He is a great man.
tomas on January 16, 2009 at 8:08 PM
Amen.
SOLDIERS CREED
I am an American Soldier.
I am a Warrior and a member of a team.
I serve the people of the United States and
live the Army Values.
I will always place the mission first.
I will never accept defeat.
I will never quit.
I will never leave a fallen comrade.
I am disciplined, physically and mentally tough, trained and proficient in my warrior tasks
and drills. I always maintain my arms, my equipment and myself.
I am an expert and I am a professional.
MOST IMPORTANTLY——
I stand ready to deploy, engage, and destroy the enemies of the United States of America in close combat.
I am a guardian of freedom and the American way of life.
I am an American Soldier.
As the spouse of an American soldier-I have 23 years of understanding exactly what volunteer military service means.
canditaylor68 on January 16, 2009 at 8:19 PM
To add to my last comment —no aborted infants would ever volunteer to die.
canditaylor68 on January 16, 2009 at 8:21 PM
Awww.
You’ll get your time in the sun now, under the Messiah, won’t you, benny? He’s gonna withdraw from that quagmire immediately, right?
/wanker
Wanderlust on January 16, 2009 at 8:21 PM
Thanks to you and your family! Most of us truly appreciate how you have sacrificed for our Country and many of us continue to pray for you daily!
Christian Conservative on January 16, 2009 at 8:31 PM
You have no idea just how grateful we are to serve America. This family feels both humbled and blessed to have had the experience of being a part of America’s military. We thank all of America’s citizens for allowing us the opportunity of being part of the “bigger picture” in the legacy and greatness of our country.
Our sacrifice is so small and miniscule when compared to what could be lost if our country allowed attacks on our soil to go unpunished-mistakes or no-to show weakness is to invite defeat and you Christian Conservative and your well wishes are where we find our strength. Thank you.
canditaylor68 on January 16, 2009 at 8:43 PM
Just finished visiting with my 80 year old Uncle. He asked if I had seen President Bush’s farewell address.I had missed it because of church but intend to look it up online.
He said I hope people realize how good of a man anda President Bush was. He says he finds it hard to watch Obama. After a life of hard work and military service (did graves detail in the phillipines at the end of ww2) he worries he won’t live to see the country recover from Obama.
Like him I hope the younger generation takes a good look at what they have brought upon us.
Kevin in Southern Illinois on January 16, 2009 at 8:44 PM
Bush stood on his ethical principles advancing the cause of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. I haven’t agreed with all his decisions- or compromises- but he was an unyielding defender of life and liberty.
Enjoy your retirement, sir. You’ve earned it.
cs89 on January 16, 2009 at 8:45 PM
Does an American fetus have more right to life then an Iraqi or Palestinian child?
Is it murder for a women to have their pregnancy terminated as there is no justification to destroy a life to save a life?
The ease some have of excusing and applauding the slaughter of children in Gaza,but weep for a four cell zygote in the U.S is sickening.
Is life equal?
mags on January 16, 2009 at 8:56 PM
I don’t excuse or applaud the “slaughter of children in Gaza.” However, I wholeheartedly endorse the elimination of terrorists such as Hamas jihadis lobbing rockets into Israel.
Unfortunately, said terrorists have a nasty habit of hiding bravely behind innocent women and children. Take it up with them.
cs89 on January 16, 2009 at 9:06 PM
You only use the phrase “children in Gaza” as a shield of absolute moral authority for the thin and tenuous connection you tried to draw, the same way Hamas uses those actual children as shields.
You know very well that the real target is Hamas terrorists.
Unborn children don’t fire rockets into towns.
joewm315 on January 16, 2009 at 9:10 PM
No Mags not exactly-the reality is whether coersed or indoctrinated some of those women and children are indeed innocent and yet others stand ready to kill any American or Jew. In Iraq it was commonplace in some areas to find these “innocent” children outfitted with explosive laden vests or telling terrorists where our soldiers were.
And still our soldiers did good things for the children in that war torn country. We still are doing good things there and hopefully a relationship has been forged that will develope a respect for all life there,something they never would have discovered along with the hunger for freedom and democracy that is in its fledgling stages there now. The death in Gaza is Hamas fault. They are solely to blame for their culture of death. I am sorry if anyone finds this offensive,it is not meant to be.
canditaylor68 on January 16, 2009 at 9:19 PM
That didn’t really work out did it?
I still wonder why America is the only country on earth so obsessed with abortion. Certainly it is to be discouraged but it will always exist, either safely and legally or dangerously and illegally.
Not a fan myself, for what it is worth.
Ares on January 16, 2009 at 9:30 PM
I have no respect Bush. He caves on every important issue like socialism and Islam, and then turns around and surrenders to his most troglodyte supporters with evil fantasies of fetal personhood. At least, Obama’s presidency will stop the overpopulationist movement from success over the next few years.
thuja on January 16, 2009 at 9:32 PM
I have a feeling that you don’t have your thoughts sorted out as well as you’d like them to be. I wouldn’t question your intellectual depth of biology or the broad scope version of abortion that you suggest, but you really should look at this article:
“Consider a related situation: An armed bank robber kills several tellers and takes a customer hostage. Hiding behind his human shield, the robber continues to kill civilians. A police officer, trying to prevent further killings, shoots at the robber but accidentally kills the hostage. Who is guilty of murder? Not the police officer who fired the fatal shot but the bank robber who fired from behind the human shield.”
Best regards,
ericdijon on January 16, 2009 at 9:36 PM
1/10 troll effort.
Try harder thuja – at least be amusing.
Ares on January 16, 2009 at 9:37 PM
+10
IrishEyes on January 16, 2009 at 9:40 PM
Even the one born to a 13 year old rape victim?
Ares on January 16, 2009 at 9:45 PM
“It’s All Over But The Crying: Bushies Pack Up”.
Thank you God.
getalife on January 16, 2009 at 9:52 PM
Question why a horrible circumstance exists for any person to be raped and work towards solutions that prevent the circumstances. Choose any emotion that may erupt in you and run with it because a contrite sinner is forgiven. The creation of a life through genital to genital insemination is a blessing. The bastard that gets caught and is then properly sentenced (and I have yet to see that sentencing levied to my utter satisfaction,) is also a blessing.
ericdijon on January 16, 2009 at 9:59 PM
So, you’re saying that Obama is in favor of fewer human life forms on this big blue orb?
cs89 on January 16, 2009 at 10:17 PM
Hey Get a Life, enjoy your reward now, because the second after you die you may regret rejecting our God who has loved you enough to die for you to pay for your sins. If you are gambling on this issue then you are on the losing side. Your reward maybe of seventy to eight years or a few more but thats the end of the reward if you are wrong. I personally wouldn’t gamble on those odds.
garydt on January 16, 2009 at 11:09 PM
Quoted because it is a beautifully constructed paragraph. I don’t agree with it entirely, but I do admire it.
Ares on January 16, 2009 at 11:17 PM
Wow this thread really seperates the sheep from the goats doesn’t it?
Goodbye Bush—and goodbye Amrica—we will miss you both.
John The Baptist on January 17, 2009 at 2:23 AM
<blockquoteHonest to God, someone should just tell Bush that it’s okay to drink again if he wants to.
BigD on January 16, 2009 at 5:18 PM
I don’t think the abortion mad potus coming into power needs to be told it’s OK to light one up or snort a line. There’s much more respect for someone that ran into trouble for drinking too much and had the self determination and spiritual connection to quit.
Hening on January 17, 2009 at 8:32 AM
God bless President Bush. May it someday be fully realized (in the “eternity” sense) all the good he has done with his pro-life policies and actions.
inviolet on January 17, 2009 at 9:37 AM
ericdijon on January 16, 2009 at 9:59 PM
I appreciate your response. The scenario you use does not include a military intervention.
The same bank job.If in response you drop a huge bomb from fighter jets.
Bombard the building from land,sea and air.Close the borders ,stop the electricity to the whole area,starve them out.
Then use white phospherate and depleted uranium and carcinogenic bombs,so that even if they survive they have a good chance of getting cancer.
Use weapons that are against international law.If any aid agencies try to offer support and help-then bomb them as well and then mock and applaud it.
The children who have had to live through this are traumatised.Is that an appropriate response to your bankjob,would that be acceptable in America.
Indifference to the pain and slaughter of innocent children ,trying to excuse,find blame and rationalise such crimes are the further descent into barbarism.
The ability to de-humanise the ‘enemy’ is part of the psychosis of war.
It destroys what it really means to be human.The fragile part of us is swept away.
You can condemn both sides in this terrible situation and still be an allie and not be anti-sematic.
There is no ‘good’ way to kill,no ‘right’ way to kill,no justice and no morality.
mags on January 17, 2009 at 1:53 PM
The last thing president bush could do
is to at least free the two border patrol agents.
Because come next week monday..
When the liberals take over.
They are going to destroy the country
in the first 100 days..
According to pelozi the wicked witch..
It would be a nice slap in the face to all the mexican drug lords who are also preparing for the final assault
on the USA..
jcila on January 17, 2009 at 2:55 PM
You certainly have a way for describing the grotesque underbelly of a war. I think we both agree that death is a cold and steep price for settling disputes, but more so unsettling is innocent collateral death. Events in Gaza are disturbingly sad.
I side with Israel here not because I have a beef with the Palestinians, but because I have a beef with terrorists. I take the position that Israel is answering the call of the Hamas terrorists. There are two things to consider: can you win your country’s defense if you throw tit in retaliation for tat, and how is an unwitting human shield a statesman or combatant for a terrorist’s ideals?
ericdijon on January 17, 2009 at 3:55 PM
I certainly hope so.
thuja on January 17, 2009 at 8:26 PM
ericdijon,
Just because people around the world are condemning Israel’s collective punishment of a densely populated area that 47% are under 15yrs does not mean we agree with the action’s of hamas.
I am in the U.K and we too have a beef with terrorist.We have had a counter insurgency with the I.R.A for years and the 7/7 attacks in London.
At no point did we think carpet bombing Dublin was the way forward.
The U.S can not be a honest broker because you blindly take sides.
If your beef is only towards Hamas and not the Palestinians people then you are strange way of showing this.
http://ncronline3.org/drupal/?q=node/3104
50,000 children are malnourished,half under 2 are anaemic.
Vaccinations have stopped,lack of electricity is causing hypothermia in newborns.
Children are so anxious by being constantly on alert,making them restless,sleepless,even bedwetting.There hearing has being damaged due to airstrikes and noise,but have no access to hearing aids.Others scream uncontrollably during shelling.
This is not defence .
mags on January 17, 2009 at 9:06 PM
And yet the missiles continue?
ericdijon on January 17, 2009 at 9:58 PM
I promise you it has not…as at least those of us who choose to remember…my birthday is now “THEIR” day
YankeeinCA on January 17, 2009 at 10:59 PM
Bush is NOT “pro-life”. No way and no how.
The evidence that he isn’t is overwhelming and freely available online through simple Google searches. Do your own damn research.
FYI – Alito gave 6 pro-abort decisions as a judge before nominated to the Supreme Court. Yes, this is news to Morrissey, but its 100% true. Even worse, 5 of those 6 pro-abort decisions Alito gave were EXTREMIST PRO-ABORTION DECISIONS!
Read the pro-abort rulings Alito gave here
http://shadowgov.com/Focus/focus.html#alito
TheMightyQuinn on January 18, 2009 at 12:17 AM
TheMightyQuinn on January 18, 2009 at 12:17 AM
I don’t know much about the site you linked, but did read the next article down from the Alito report. Were they seriously criticizing James Dobson & Focus on the Family for not being pro-life enough?
Not sure your information casts any serious doubt on Bush’s pro-life record.
cs89 on January 18, 2009 at 11:28 AM
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