Possibly too much to hope for, but it really sums up a lot of the problems of the last 8 years.

Safety at any cost is cowardly, weak, and yes, UnAmerican.

The Heart of the Matter: America's Victory; California's Shame:

"Listening to President Bush's remarks after the election, I was struck -- not for the first time -- by the president's argument that 'the most important responsibility of the US government is protecting the American people... this commitment will remain steadfast under our next commander-in-chief.' I hope Bush's retirement will mean the end of this kind of inaccurate, dangerous, and hypocritical rhetoric. Inaccurate, because the Constitution doesn't provide for the importance of Bush's claimed 'most important responsibility.' In fact, what the Constitution requires the president to swear an oath to protect is the Constitution: 'I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.' Dangerous, because in implying that the government might have to choose between protecting the people and protecting the Constitution, this kind of rhetoric creates an unnecessary temptation and a a possible excuse. Hypocritical, because the party of rugged individualism and personal responsibility ought not to demean itself by suggesting people are so in need of its protection that the Constitution comes second."