Bush shared a fascinating insight into his conviction that the Middle East can be democratically transformed . He reaffirmed his faith-based belief that Middle East Muslims have an inherent yearning for freedom placed on their hearts by a “loving God.” To think otherwise was “condescending.” God created them, too.

He made explicit reference, speaking passionately, and to hushed silence, about Muslim women in particular, and how they long to be educated and raise their babies in freedom. That emphatic statement from Bush haunts me right now as I now watch footage of Iranian women literally taking bullets for freedom —martyred women who may be the modern equivalent of that Tiananmen student who stood in front of a tank 20 years ago this month.

These were messages right out of the best speech of his presidency , his November 2003 address to the National Endowment for Democracy .

What was new was the personal way he brought Japan into the equation. After World War II, many judged that Japan couldn’t become a democracy. Japan was out-of-control, recklessly belligerent. It was that culture, that insane war-machine, which shot down Bush’s dad in the 1940s.

And yet, explained Bush, not only did Japan change dramatically, unthinkably, but one of his best friends as president was Japan’s prime minister, who was the first to telephone after 9/11.

Imagine, exhorted Bush: There he was, President George Bush, son of President George Bush. The father had been shot down by imperial, anti-democratic Japan. Now, after 9/11, peaceful, democratic Japan was calling the son to express condolences and offer help.

That moving message deserves pause: If Japan could change that much, what might transpire in the Middle East? It’s a promising prospect, one every skeptic of Iraqi democracy should bear in mind.

This was George W. Bush in Erie, Pennsylvania on June 17—inspiring, colorful, communicating the big picture.

Alas, the one major disappointment from the event is that no video or transcript is available. All rights belong to the 43rd president. I imagine this gem will end up on a shelf at the Bush Library, left to lonely scholars with a VCR, watching with a mix of awe, confusion and frustration.

Awe at the supposedly poor communicator delivering this engaging message. Confusion as to why he couldn’t communicate the message as president. And frustration that the millions who ought to be watching never will.