I’m so happy I wasn’t the only one who noticed the way the Dow shot up after George Bush’s speech praising capitalism. Larry Kudlow noticed, too.

Here’s one of several great passages from Bush: “At its most basic level, capitalism offers people the freedom to choose where they work and what they do … the dignity that comes with profiting from their talent and hard work. … The free-market system also provides the incentives that lead to prosperity - the incentive to work, to innovate, to save and invest wisely, and to create jobs for others.”

In other words, free-market capitalism is the best path to prosperity.

Where has this George Bush been hiding? Maybe the Republicans should have had him out giving speeches like this one before the election. Heck, it couldn’t have hurt. It may even have helped to stabilize the markets.

Here’s another uplifting passage from Mr. Bush: “Free-market capitalism is far more than an economic theory. It is the engine of social mobility - the highway to the American Dream. And it is what transformed America from a rugged frontier to the greatest economic power in history - a nation that gave the world the steamboat and the airplane, the computer and the CAT scan, the Internet and the iPod.”

Capping all this off, Bush said, “The triumph of free-market capitalism has been proven across time, geography, culture, and faith. And it would be a terrible mistake to allow a few months of crisis to undermine 60 years of success.” Read full article.

If only John McCain had been giving speeches like that one during the campaign, rather than railing about “greed” and promising to buy people’s mortgages. Oh well, what’s done is done. Now we look forward. Republican governors, including Governor Sarah Palin, are meeting in Florida today to talk about the future and re-building the party.

If Barack Obama is smart he’ll understand that he was not elected to advance a liberal ideology or take our country down a socialist path. Americans were looking for a change in leadership, not a change in the fabric of our society.

Possibly Related Posts

• December 29, 2008 -- 2008 - What a long strange year it’s been! (6)
• November 3, 2008 -- Clear Choice - A Known Leader vs. A Complete Stranger (26)
• October 29, 2008 -- The P.U.M.A. Effect (77)
• October 27, 2008 -- Shouldn’t Americans know who we’re voting for? (8)

Stumble it!