You know, it dawned on me the other day that Bush’s inaugural address and it’s emphasis on the unique power of freedom undermines — or should undermine — the popular conception that Bush is a “theocon.” According to those who were horrified when Bush cited Jesus Christ as his favorite political philosopher, our president is a Christian “crusader.” How many times have we read that?

Well in his speech, he said:

There is only one force of history that can break the reign of hatred and resentment, and expose the pretensions of tyrants, and reward the hopes of the decent and tolerant, and that is the force of human freedom.

Now, I understand that Christians and particularly evangelicals have a theologically and morally serious understanding of free will, liberty etc. But, according to the caricature of Bush, he should have said that the only historical force which can do all of those wonderful things is acceptance of Jesus Christ or, at minimum, acceptance of God or “faith.”

He didn’t say that. Indeed, the notion that political freedom is the only proven weapon against tyrants and tyranny which can “reward the hopes” of decent people would be something akin to heresy if Bush were anything like the religious fanatic so many people tell us he is.