Traditional American Values....

In the very room where the original documents that describe the principles upon which the country was founded are displayed, President Barack Obama made exceptionally clear how his administration will correct the mistakes of the past eight years. It was his finest moment yet as President. He did not engage in the kind of oratory that he has become best known for. The speech was even in tone, but put forth the most basic idea that there are some thing we can be told and some things we won't, and when the decision is made to not be transparent, we will be told the reason for that decision and - and this is the most crucial point - these decisions will be subject to oversight by the legislative and judicial branches of government in the manner that the framers of the Constitution clearly intended.

A short time later, speaking to the same conservative think tank responsible for the horrible failures of the past eight years, former Vice President, Dick Cheney - the most corrupt and vile son of a bitch in US politics in the past century - continued to tell lies about interrogation methods that were used to gather the misinformation that would be used to justify an invasion of Iraq.

Here is the complete text of Obama's speech. While there are videos available, I urge you to click on the link and read the text. It was another in an all-too-forgotten "proud to be an American" moment.

And while you're at it, read David Brook's (NY Times resident conservative) take on the two speeches, Cheney Lost to Bush.