Mr. Big Government

Mark Whitaker of Newsweek had this to say: "I think whatever you think of all of this I think we should all step back and appreciate the irony of a president who ran for office originally in 2000 talking about limited government and a humble foreign policy who now sounds like Woodrow Wilson wanting to spread democracy around the world and abroad and now, at least in terms of this crisis, sounds a little bit like FDR or at least Clinton in one of his State of the Union moments. So, you know, there's a lot about the red/blue divide in America but I can tell you that being a conservative doesn't mean anymore what it used to mean."

Over on MSNBC, chatting with Chris Matthews, conservative talk show host Joe Scarborough said: "This was a speech that really could have been delivered by Lyndon Johnson or Franklin Roosevelt. . . . This sounds like the W.P.A. on steroids."

Bold Words on Race

Trying to fight off the impression that his administration doesn't care about African Americans (see Tuesday's column ), Bush spoke dramatically about race:

"Within the Gulf region are some of the most beautiful and historic places in America. As all of us saw on television, there is also some deep, persistent poverty in this region as well.

"That poverty has roots in a history of racial discrimination, which cut off generations from the opportunity of America. We have a duty to confront this poverty with bold action.

"So let us restore all that we have cherished from yesterday, and let us rise above the legacy of inequality."

But consider what conservative talk-show host Tucker Carlson told Matthews on MSNBC last night: "The principal that people are poor because they're discriminated against and the federal government can set that right by social spending . . . is a liberal idea. . . . This is what liberals say -- it's not at all what conservatives say -- and the conservatives watching the speech tonight who noticed that line are sitting bolt upright right now and thinking, did I just hear him say that? . . .

"Conservatives don't believe that. And to hear a purportedly conservative president say that is unprecedented. . . . And I think it's going to annoy the hell out of his base."

Meanwhile in Blogland

Mixed views from the right:

Polipundit writes: "I thought the speech was one of Bush's best. I even applaud his choice of clothing. Pitch perfect. I am not completely on board with all the spending or the increased role of the federal government and military in disaster response, but other than that, I loved the speech."

PunditGuy asks: "Who stole my president? . . .

"Presidents who give away other people's money have always given me a bad taste in my mouth. And tonight, while watching George W. Bush, that taste showed up."