And via the magic of Twitter, his entire 7-page single-spaced speech can be distilled down into fewer than 140 characters:
“I authorized this war that is not a war, which is narrowly focused but broad in scope, so we could lead. As helpers.”
And this critique:
“Eerily like a Bush speech, but without the conviction.”
Hey, here’s a word cloud!
If you’d like a little more detail, see PJTV‘s account of the speech. If you’d like the time-limited, vermouth-limited overserved kinetic martini-action version, see VodkaPundit’s drunkblog account.
And if you’d like to see how this speech SHOULD have been done, see Reagan.
UPDATE: More on Obama’s War from James Board, and a great post at RedState which includes some of the top Twitter reactions.
via twitterers @MelissaTweets, @EWErickson, @KamaainaInOC, @GayPatriot, @instapundit, @CalebHowe & @VodkaPundit.
The Tizona Group 
March 29, 2011, 8:21 pm at 8:21 pm
What’s this about Rush saying it’s about Europe’s oil. Are we seriously going to go down that path again???
March 29, 2011, 8:53 pm at 8:53 pm
I don’t listen to Rush that much – didn’t hear that. But protecting Europe’s oil interests in the regions? It’s a theory. Obama seems desperate for love from the Euroweenies; it wouldn’t have been much of a stretch for them to butter him up enough that he’d commit American military forces at least partially for that reason in exchange for a pat on the head.
Then again, maybe he needs a war (sorry, “kinetic military action” ) in order to look more “Presidential” and score one up on Hillary before the primaries…
The one thing I don’t think he’s doing it for is to help rid Libya of an evil dictator. If that were the case, what about Syria, Yemen, even Zimbabwe?
March 29, 2011, 9:04 pm at 9:04 pm
I’d go the “then again” path.
…
I notice CNN is screaming from the rooftops just like last time.
/sarc
March 30, 2011, 1:21 pm at 1:21 pm
Usually Mr Limbaugh is quite well-informed, but the map he is supposedly using to demonstrate the European Oil thing has 11 oil companies listed, two of which are American. As well, he neglected to explain, with numbers, who’s money comes from where; and there is no explanation of how the nasty European Oils are doing naughty things in Libya.
Or how “fungibility” relates only to “fungus”.
Cheers
March 31, 2011, 7:17 am at 7:17 am
JM,
some numbers from the International Energy Agency
Europe receives over 85% of Libya’s crude exports…
…
Libya exports around 100 kb/d of [non-crude] oil products to the OECD, mostly to European countries (mainly Jet Kerosene and Residual Fuel Oil). Italy accounted for 60% of OECD imports from Libya in 2009
the percentage of each country’s crude oil supply that is received from Libya :
Austria…….. 21.2%
France …….. 15.7%
Germany ….. 7.7%
Greece………. 14.6%
Ireland……… 23.3%
Italy………….. 22%
Portugal……. 11.1%
Spain………… 12.1%
Switzerland.. 18.7%
UK ……………. 8.5%
US……………… 0.5%
I suspect Limbaugh’s statements were made to create the opportunity to watch the no blood for oil crowd from the Bush years squirm.
April 1, 2011, 11:40 pm at 11:40 pm
To add a bit more perspective :
the 5 largest exporters to the US and their share of US imports (based on the Aug 2010 column) :
Canada…………..20.3%
Mexico…………..12.2%
Saudi Arabia……. 11.3%
Venezuela………..10.2%
Nigeria…………..9.9%
Iraq is a 2.9% share. If Iraq’s 2.9% was a war for oil then what to make of France fighting over 15.7% of its supply? As many lefties always said : Follow the money!!!!11!1
March 29, 2011, 8:24 pm at 8:24 pm
InstaWar?
March 29, 2011, 9:05 pm at 9:05 pm
Seriously. Where’s the pretext?
If folks thought the Iraq war pretext was flimsy, then where are the shouts about this one?
March 29, 2011, 9:09 pm at 9:09 pm
Not to mention the nine-fricken-DAY “My Pet Goat” moment (extended dance version!) between when he authorised bombing and when he actually lowered himself to address the American people about it.
March 31, 2011, 7:53 pm at 7:53 pm
Now spot, it took him 9 days to go public because of his punishing schedule.
You know…………………………………………… golf, oprah, golf, the view, golf, golf, golf, softcock interview with katie couric, golf, golf, fellatio with olberdouche, body oil masage with matthews, golf & golf.
My god man have you no realisation of the pressure the man-child (TM) is under…………for shame.
April 1, 2011, 11:36 pm at 11:36 pm
Seriously. Where’s the pretext?
Obama : “OMG, did you see what they’ve been talking about on tv for the last couple days? Somebody should… y’know, do something.”
Hillary : “Dude, you’re president.”
Obama : “Oh, yeah. Okay, I’ll do… y’know, something…”