Empty speech?

There are speeches and there are speeches. This is one given by George Bush on the glorious Fourth in Ohio. Now, the Fourth of July has, in the past, called forth some memorable and less than memorable words.

This one, clearly an elect-me speech, says nothing. And the reporting of it has a peculiar, empty sound to it, almost like it's trying to fill space. If it weren't for the fact that it was given by Bush, would this be a news worthy item at all?

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/07/05/international/worldspecial/05PREX.html