Something I've wondered about (and please be honest)

[Sputnik]

We heard after 9/11 (and since) that even some Democrats expressed that they were glad Bush was president instead of Gore when tragedy struck our nation.

I certainly didn't feel that way. In his quick press conference at Barkley AFB, Bush looked visibly shaken, not as if he was in command of himself or the country. Oddly, I actually took more comfort from Tony Blair's response to the events.

Honestly, were any DUers out there relieved that Gore was not our president at that time and that Bush was "in charge?"

(Sorry, but this has always bugged the crap out of me and I had to ask.)

[mmonk]

1. No

I wasn't thinking about who was or wasn't in charge. Knowing what I do now, I'm glad I never did.

[sui generis]

2. I actually saw a few on DU that said that

I personally can't think of anything more repugnant that that lying bed-wetting self-shitting hypocritical coward being considered some kind of "hero".

Let me tell you what I really think!

[tkulesa]

13. I'll be they were freeper trolls.

x(

[La Lioness Priyanka]

3. no. i live in nyc.

and needed to here clinton and even guiliani show some leadership to comfort our city and our nation.

i wish gore was president when it happened though i doubt he woudl have ignored the memo that said "bin laden determined to attack within the US"

[calimary]

9. No, he wouldn't have ignored it. And he wouldn't have been on

vacation for a month, after a mere 8 months on the job, either. There would have been continuity from the last time our leaders foiled a terrorist plot in the making - here at LA Airport on the Millennium. That was on Clinton's watch - AND Gore's (as his veep). Gore would have extended that effort. Besides, he presided over a terrorism panel that issued lots of practical recommendations - to the new regime and I believe they were summarily IGNORED. These were the last guys to do it correctly. You'd think bushco would have put its damned collective ego aside for a few minutes to consider that the Clinton/Gore folks actually knew what they were talking about.

I'm one of those voting for "9/11 wouldn't have happened if Gore were president." And Gore had years of experience actually WORKING WITH our allies, rather than insulting them, calling them names, poking fun at them, and ignoring their counsel.

And - NO, I never for an instant felt comforted because bush and his sabre-rattling were in charge. I was filled with dread that his reckless attitude was about to make things worse.

[Misunderestimator]

30. Yeah, the vacation thing... After seven years with my company,

I finally get three weeks off a year. And I NEVER take more than a week at a time, because my job is too critical... wow... my job is more critical than the president of the United States... imagine that!

[ProfessorGAC]

60. I'm With You On The "Gore Is Prez, No 9/11" Idea

I still believe to this day, that the slash and burn foreign policy that Bushco put into place the day they started led to al Qaeda believing the whole world hated us the way they did.

The irritation practically the whole world had toward us was misinterpreted as equal hatred and bin Laden and the boys (assuming one believes it really was them and not MIHOP) figured they would get worldwide sympathy and support.

A president with a truly humble foreign policy would not have created that atmosphere of distrust and anger, and the time may NEVER have been right for such an attack. They figured the time was right for their grand play and they called it at that time.

Hence, no Bush, no 9/11.
The Professor

[Maeve]

4. Good God, NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:puke:

on edit: The best I hoped for was that Dubya would rise to the occasion--he didn't, not really. And watching the news with him flying all over looking for a hidey hole on 9/11 made me ill.
Gore wouldn't have done that.

[nikatnyte]

5. Yes, I shame-facedly admit it

Just to show how anger and fear can get the best of you, I did have a few days of "comfort" after 9/11 that Bush was in charge -- his bullheaded bravado seemed to be the correct response at the time. I didn't believe Gore's wimpy coolness would have worked. Of course, it didn't take long for me to get my senses back. Unfortunately, a lot of the voters are still in that "blind fear" mode.

[calimary]

15. Welcome to DU! You must realize something in what you just said.

"Yes, I shame-facedly admit it."

Do you realize that kind of statement will NEVER, EVER pass the lips of our "popular wartime president"?

Bravo to you for having more courage than the bleepin' pResident of the United States. It takes courage to admit something embarrassing. Especially in this case. It takes brains - and strong character - PLUS a well-formed conscience - to recognize it was a blunder in the first place, no less to own up to it. You obviously have a good-sized stock of ALL those qualities. Too bad we've got a schmuck running this country who has never known any of them.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

6. When I heard about the attacks, my first thought was

"What the hell is going on here?"

My second thought was, "Damn, we've got that idiot in the White House!"

[ewagner]

7. When I saw the Barksdale statement

Bush* looked pale and visibly shaken. He (in my opinion) had come face-to-face with the responsibilities of the Presidency and had no clue how to handle it.

No.

Emphatically NO!

I was not glad that he was pResident at that time and my opinion did not change days later when he spoke from the rubble at ground zero. In fact, his performance there was very disturbing. The attitude was so much different from the 9/11 performance that I wondered what had changed his mindset. I think (again, my opinion) that by the time he got to ground zero he and his staff had already done the math and figured his re-selection was assured.

He's still one scary (******) er, ah person.

[Ron Green]

8. Even while we at work were watching the towers fall,

I said to myself (and aloud, too, I'm sure): Where is the Moron in charge? Why doesn't Bush speak to the nation NOW? As a former Texan who had been watching him in disgust for years, I wasn't even willing to give him a chance to do the right thing. I knew it wouldn't happen, and I've never been surprised.

[calimary]

12. I remember that, too. Remember the CNN coanchor (female) that day

who kept saying "WHERE is the president?" Somebody working with Aaron Brown, and maybe even he said it, too. All I can remember is that gnawing "WHERE is the president?" Because the little chickenshit up and disappeared for HOURS - leaving all of America effectively leaderless, scrambling, and fearful. Kinda like HE was, himself, I suspect. But I'm afraid I was already predisposed to think and assume the worst of him anyway.

[noonwitch]

10. I was missing President Clinton so much at that point and loathing Bush

that the issue never came up for me. I have wondered if 9-11 would have happened if Gore had been in office on that day. He would have read his PDF reports and had a strategy to protect us, the way the Clinton administration did on New Year's 2000.

[KoKo]

11. Juliani and Blair were the only comforting voices on that day and after.

Much as I dislike Juliani, he "took charge" while Chimp/Cheney and the rest were "derelict of duty."

If you could get into the DU artivis for 9/11 and the day after you will see what was posted.

I remember when the planes struck and the rest of that day wonder "where is the President...WHO is in CHARGE?

No one in the Press wants to talk about it. Blair was magnificent...I dislike him almost as much as the Chimp now...but he does know how to talk to people and he was eloquent. I remember being ashamed of Chimp's short address from Air Force One somewhere where they had shipped him..

[Protected]

69. I agree

Giuliani and Blair were co-Presidents for a few days. Bush did nothing but fly around and hide as these two figures attempted to comfort us.

[ewagner]

14. Remember this too...

The first White House Official to make a statement was Karen Hughes !!!!

The pResident was still too scared to speak.........

[KoKo]

70. Karen Hughes! You're right about that! I had forgotten....someone should

use that in the Kerry Campaign. "Karen Huges" was the "voice of the P-Resident on 9/11!"

[proud patriot]

16. My first thoughts as shouted over the telephone at the friend who called

to tell me to turn the T.V.
"god damnit I knew this shit would happen with bush"

the rest of the day my thoughts were :
"where is the president , wtf is he doing in that classroom?"

"oh shit another one"

"where is the president where is the president, why
isn't he speaking the country needs him?"

"they hit they fucking Pentagon god damnit what next?"

"Where is the President? Where is our Leader?"

"They must of shot it down, they had to of shot it down?"

"when is the president going to speak?"

"Thank you Rudy and Dan Rather"

"OMG how many people were in there , how many people
did I just see die ?"

"where is the president where is the president
the country needs you where the fuck are you?"

[GoBlue]

17. If Gore had been President

I doubt 9/11 would have happened.

[Dhalgren]

18. It wouldn't have happened with Al Gore in the WH.

He wasn't looking for a "Pearl Harbor" to justify a pre-planned war. The 9/11 attacks happened because George Bush was President - how can everyone not see that. LIHOP, MIHOP, SHMYHOP - the attacks came because the PNAers wanted it. Al Gore would have never allowed this to happen - and, more importantly, he would have had REAL public servants in all of the posts and positions who would have been looking out for the publics best interests and not some ideologues wet dream of a Reichstags fire! Sorry, this whole issue is just so infuriating. People act as if 9/11 would have happened, as though it were some sort of natural catastrophe. No, it was a planned and executed criminal act - no more and no less. And Al Gore would not have let it happen.

[KoKo]

23. Exactly! Maybe that's why they are working so hard to pump Chimp up

with fear. Covering their butts as usual for their failings. Projecting their failings and evil onto others...sheesh.

[Cat Atomic]

19. Yep. I'm ashamed to admit that I even told a friend as much.

It took me about 3 days to get my senses back, but I was very angry after 9-11. This was long before they started pushing for an Iraq invasion, of course.

I remember one of the first things that pushed me away again were his "crusade" comments. So yeah, I had a short but blissflully ignorant ride on the '9-11 Bush Hatriot Train'.

[calimary]

59. Don't feel bad. Probably a lot of people did, reflexively. Remember:

you, too, just did something that "Our pResident" is completely, physically, emotionally, morally INCAPABLE of doing - admitting to a mistake. Hell, he can't even recognize his mistakes when he makes them. Unless he can blame them on A) Texas slang (ie: "swagger" - we call it "walkin'") or B) his blunt-speaking mommie.

Just think of it. The folks on this thread who've admitted this have proven in a single sentence that they are FAR bigger and have EXPONENTIALLY greater character than the so-called leader of our country. Amazing. But, considering the individuals involved, not terribly surprising.

[LibDemAlways]

20. Hell, no.

I once had a repuke ask me the same question, and my response was something like "If I need heart surgery, I want the finest, most-experienced surgeon - not some dumbass who stares into my open chest and flees the operating room in a panic because he doesn't know how to proceed or worse yet, tries to bluff his way through the surgery and kills me in the process." On 9/11 the chimp was scared, shaken, clueless, and flying around the country hiding out. When the "all clear" signal was given, he ventured to NYC, stood on the still-smoldering graves of thousands and made an ass out of himself with a megaphone like some brainless cheerleader who shows up at a funeral with pom poms.

Not for one second have I ever felt good about the chimp residing in the WH. It's been very tough to watch, and never more painful than on 9/11 and its aftermath.

[Mandate My Ass]

28. Your last sentence says it all

I was infuriated and appalled by the events of that day, and Bush's inactions in particular, and have been ever since.

[molly]

21. Emphatic Hell No!

* was NOT in charge - was NOT in charge - was NOT in CHARGE!

The man is a coward and a liar.

[progressivebydesign]

22. Are you joking? NO WAY!

If Gore was our president, 9/11 would NOT have happened. Can you comprehend that point? GORE would have not IGNORED the warnings, the intelligence, and staff who ALL TOLD Bush and Cheney that this was a threat! Gore would NOT have shelved the Hart/Rudman report, which detailed the weaknesses we had, made recommendations for Homeland Security Dept., and VERY CLEARLY talked of the threats we faced. GORE would NOT have abandoned the effort to get Bin Laden.. the way Bush did.

I'm so sick that Bush was the president! A REAL president would NOT have sat there wetting his pants for 7 minutes, he would have scrambled jets to SAVE the other buildings!!!!

Unbelievable that some people would buy that shit! NONE OF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPENNED IF GORE WERE THE PRESIDENT!

[Sputnik]

29. You make a valid point that, yes, I can comprehend

The 9/11 tragedies could have been avoided under a more experienced and watchful eye. Absolutely.

It sickened ME to hear people saying that even some who voted for Al Gore were glad that Bush was in charge! In charge of what? Saving his own ass and to hell with the rest of us, that's what. I continue to hear comments to this day and I've wondered if they were actually true or made up out of thin air by Republicans just for the sheer joy of slapping around Al Gore some more.

And, I'll add this: if any type of tragedy struck our nation (a 9/11 type, a OKC type, etc.) I'd feel much more confident with a man like Al Gore or John Kerry as our president than I ever would with that dry drunk SOB.

[Eric J in MN]

24. No (nt)

nt

[blm]

25. No way. I KNEW about the Hart-Rudman report when it first came out Jan2001

so I KNEW Bush was responsible for not even READING the report let alone taking steps to implement it.

[calimary]

52. Is that the panel that Gore chaired?

Too much swirling around in my head at the moment...

[blm]

56. No. You're thinking of the air safety panel.

Hart-Rudman was the report on global terror by a bi-partisan commission who worked on it for TWO AND A HALF YEARS. Bush administration was given the report on Jan. 30, 2001.

[Nite Owl]

26. We lived downstate at

that time on LI. It was pretty fightening. All roads, the LIRR, the ferries were closed and we were stuck, there was no escape. All we could think was where is the President? Why is he not out there saying something? It looked like Bush was only caring for himself when we needed some word of what was going on. This made things worse because it made it seem like he was preparing for something even more devastating.

[Jo March]

27. My second child was due on 9/12/01

and I remember thinking, "Why did I decide to bring another baby into this world?" Then I thought and said to my husband, "Bin Laden. Only bin Laden could pull off something this big."

Then I thought, "Where the hell is the fucking president? Is he going to come on soon and tell us that it is all okay or that the world is ending or what? Where is he?"

Then I launched into a long tirade against * and wished like all get out that Gore was in charge.

So my answer is no. :)

[Sputnik]

34. Arnheim, I was breastfeeding

our one-month-old daughter when the news alert of the first tower being hit was aired. I had the same thoughts as you during that day and the days to come about what kind of world we'd brought another child into.

And I too expressed to my family how things could have been different if Gore had been allowed to occupy the office that he won.

[Jo March]

37. Isn't it awful to think like that?

I love my little man but I just felt so hopeless watching those towers fall. I just kept praying, "Please, God, don't let him be born on this horrible day."

My family refuses to believe that Gore would have acted as "heroic" as * did. I just can't understand people...

[Sputnik]

57. I understand your feelings, definitely

My family and I have often talked about how I had a newborn when the 9/11 tragedy struck and I was pregnant with my first child during the OKC bombing.

My mom was in the hospital giving birth to my sister during the Cuban Missile Crisis and she was pregnant with me when JFK was assassinated.

I can't even imagine what families who were most directly affected by these tragic events were experiencing emotionally.

But then Bush's big suggestion to Americans about what we could do for our country after 9/11 was to "hug your kids" (as if we weren't already!) and "go shopping." Yeah, he's a regular FDR.

[lunarboy13]

31. Honestly??? 9/11 WOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED!!!!

Richard Clarke was Clinton's head of counterterrorism. He was screaming for the Bush admin to pay attention to al-Quaida, but they didn't. Remember that memo that Rice discussed during her testimony to the 9/11 commission? Such things would not have gone un-noticed by a Gore admin because they had been through it before. Also, the increase in terrorist chatter during the summer of 2001 would have met with the same response such an event did before the year 2000. In that case, Clinton had the FBI, CIA, NIA, etc. shake everything loose from their branches. And out fell the LA bombing plot. Imagine if Bush had done such a thing in 2001. We might well have learned that suspected al-Quaida terrorists were learning to fly planes, and that they weren't too terribly interested in take-offs and landings. They would have been tailed, followed, or even arrested and questioned.

Well, I submit to you that Gore would have done exactly that. And today, 9/11 would still be thought of as the phone number you call for emergencies.

[alittlelark]

32. Never heard anything like that from friends

or family. What I heard mostly was the wish that Clinton were still president.

Why does this 'bug' you so much?

[redqueen]

33. Not just no but HELL no.

I don't know any other Dems that would say yes, either... and I live in TX!

[arbusto_baboso]

35. Hell no! If Clinton had still been president on 9/11....

He'd have given a comforting speech in the smoldering rubble of the WTC and Pentagon before a day had elapsed!!! That is, IF 9/11 would have happened at ALL on his watch.

Gore would've also handled things much more wisely than Chimpy. But for my money, Clinton would've shown himself the equal of FDR if he'd had to face a crisis like 9/11.

[calimary]

58. Clinton got his butt OUT THERE ON THE SIDEWALKS as soon

as he could get a flight home from, I think, Australia or New Zealand. Remember how, somewhere around mid-week or maybe Thursday of that week, CNN showed him out on the sidewalk in NYC, hugging sobbing people? There were anguished people just bawling their eyes out into his shoulder and chest and he'd just stand there and hug them and quietly try to comfort them a little, one-on-one. I was SO comforted just seeing that. What a difference it made! It reminded me that SOME of our politicians haven't lost touch with the fact that, as lofty a seat as they may hold (or may have held), they're still part of humanity. I don't think george "Mr. Entitlement" bush recognizes that to this very day.

[gollygee]

36. Absolutely freakin' positively NOT (m)

I wish Clinton had still been president then. But I would have been glad to have Gore as president as well.

[tnlefty]

38. I have never for even a second been glad that Smirk* occupies the Oval

Office. While I had a dislike for the Smirk*, 9/11 and the days and weeks that followed made me detest and despise the squatter in the White House. I knew that he would use that event to ram policies down our throats and he has. I knew that he would take advantage of a shocked and enraged populace to begin military actions and he did.

I remember commenting to a friend that I couldn't believe that even 9/11 didn't wipe that smirk off of his face.

[LuminousX]

39. I had friends who said that

My reaction was I didn't know who would have a better response, but I felt that this was Bush's chance to set aside all the partisan rhetoric, all the right v left crap and truly bring unification and common cause to the country.

And instead of asking Americans to donate time, money, and energy in helping with their communities, he told us to go shop. I lost all confidence in Bush as a leader at that point.

[latebloomer]

40. NO WAY IN HELL!

My main reaction was "Oh shit-- that warmongering idiot and his fascist minions are in charge and they're gonna use this as an excuse to bomb half the Middle East."

Check.

[truthspeaker]

41. No, in fact I said the exact opposite.

[friesianrider]

42. No...

And if Gore was President when 9/11 happened, he's either be shot by some neo-con or impeached by now. You can bet your toosh that it wouldn't have taken three and a half years to form a commission investigating it, that's for sure.

[Sequoia]

43. No way in Hell!

I thought if Gore had been President, as he was rightfully chosen, we may not have been attacked. Perhaps they would have even waited to see what course Gore would take.

[AntiCoup2K4]

44. Anyone who said that and claims to be a "Democrat" is a fucking liar.

In fact, I'd be willing to guess there were far more Republicans saying "Oh SHIT, we're stuck with this LOSER???"

[UdoKier]

45. I did not. In fact I almost got into a fight with someone who said that.

I was at work on 9-11, and a co-worker, let's call her "Cathy", said "Oh thank God Bush is president instead of Gore."

I was immediately furious, since Bush had shown nothing but incompetence in the preceding 8 months, but I held my tongue. Somehow, I didn't think ua HUGE NATIONAL EMERGENCY was the time for partisan cracks.

But a few weeks later I told her that she pissed me off by saying that.

Later, we got into a huge argument when Bush started murdering Iraq. She's always been very vocal in her support of the murderous POS.

[Nashyra]

49. Personally I don't think it would have happened under Gore

First there would not have been the secret energy policy deal in where as we focused so profusely on the middle east. Also since Gore had done the 97 commisssion on airline safety there would have been something done with an PDB that had anything to do with highjackings. But I don't think they would have pushed terrorism to the back of their list or #12 of priorities. By the way that should be a commercial "Asscraft had the time money and momentum to cover lady justices breast, but no one had the wherewithall to have a terrorist meeting" Justice dept has time to cover breast, but not to cover terrorism.

[UdoKier]

53. Don't forget, Bush CUT anti-terror funding by millions in 2001

They gave the Taliban $43 mil. in hopes that it would pave the way for a pipeline, then threatened to bomb them if they didn't allow it. FBI terror expert John O'Neill claimed that every investigation into terror originating in Saudi Arabia was being blocked by Bush appointees. Dovetails nicely with Graham's new book, no?

www.rememberjohn.com

[Dem Agog]

46. I'll be perfectly honest with you...

Right after 9/11 I thought W.rong might be doing a good job and I wondered and questioned what Gore's reaction would have been, if it would have been strict enough or strong enough. Personally I still could not stand * because he speaks and acts like a moron in public, but I was trying desperately to give him the benefit of the doubt because to acknowledge that he was inept or worse, criminally implicated in somehow contributing to this tragedy, was unthinkable.

Now, three years later I not only regret that this chimp was in charge when it occurred but (donning my tinfoil hat) I hold him accountable for it. I believe that he and his puppetmaster either ruthlessly assisted in the mass murder with their Saudi allies, or that they stood by counting their oil and blood stained money, looking the other way.

I believe that every member of this administration should be jailed for life, at the minimum, for the crimes they have committed before, during and after 9/11.

So as you can see, one can come around ...

[rbnyc]

47. Not me.

The Bush pResidency made the whole thing--which I personally witnessed--even more horrifying. I basically instantly predicted the last 3 years and was chilled to the core.

[SammyWinstonJack]

48. NO!

In fact my first reaction was that bush* probably had something to do with it in one way or another. Now I firmly believe he did. I don't believe 9/11 would have happened under a Gore Administration, but if it had,I trust President Gore would have handled it much better than bush* did/has.

[CBHagman]

50. No, I've never really regarded Bush as a legitimate president.

Some of my friends noticed what I did about Bush: how quickly he moved into vengeful mode after 9/11. It was the same with CNN. My cousins and I grieved for weeks after the attacks, and CNN was running a logo that said, "America's new war." And Bush, unlike many politicians, had real problems showing empathy with the American people, though I do think he did the right thing by visiting the Islamic Center in D.C. to show that the country was not at war with Muslims.

There. I said something nice about Bush. But note that I didn't say I was glad he was president.

I will say this about a Gore presidency: He would have had an amazingly hostile, vindictive Congress (hell, the GOP is still hostile and vindictive, even when they're in charge of Congress, the White House, and the Supreme Court). The country might have rallied around a President Gore -- in fact, it's very likely -- but the Congress would have tried to blame him somehow.

Also, can you just imagine how the press would have treated it if Clinton or Gore had been president when the August 6th, 2001, Presidential Daily Brief came out with the title "Bin Laden determined to attack in the United States"? Bush not only went on a month's vacation but also later said he had "no inkling" that such attacks were to take place. But there are no books and articles titled "No inkling?!" Where's the outrage? Where's the accountability?

[newsguyatl]

51. GOD NO!!!!

ACTUALLY my FIRST thought, after the initial shock, was how much i WISH we had gore to rally around.

i've NEVER EVER forgotten the stolen election of 2000, and i never will.





furthermore, now that we KNOW better, 9/11 probably wouldn't have even HAPPENED if gore were in office, as the american people had voted.

[barb162]

54. No way, not one day.

[Joanne98]

55. No. I was MIHOP the first day........n/t

I believe if Gore had been President it would have never happened. Gore would never in a million years help terrorists attack his own country so he could make a PROFIT off of war. Only a member of the BFEE would do something soooooo EVIL.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

61. fuck NO!...please excuse my cussing

[Tom_Foolery]

62. Until the day I die...

I will always believe that 9/11 would have never happened with the REAL president in office. My thoughts during that terrible day were mainly about the families of the victims, but I did think that this would be a defining moment for Bush. I kept thinking that he would have a huge popularity rating just like his daddy did after the Persian Gulf War. Well, he did; and he blew it. Thanks, George, for never letting me down when it comes to doing stupid stuff.

All in all, he didn't do anything that any other person wouldn't have done.

[lumpy]

63. To be perfectly honest, Sput,

the statement that even some Dems expressed that they were glad that Bush was president instead of Gore is a figment of your imagination. It buggs the crap out of me that you would try to spread such Bushwah.

[Sputnik]

64. Bullshit

People, back me up here. Posters in this thread admit they felt that way on 9/11. I certainly didn't. But I'm not going to pretend that it wasn't reported that Democrats were saying that.

The reports may have been untrue, but it was still reported that way! That's all I was asking was if anyone here did indeed feel that way since I couldn't comprehend why anyone would be glad that Bush was in office instead of Gore.

You can be bugged all you want, Lump, but get off my ass.

It was a legitimate question.

[lumpy]

66. Well, yeah Sput, 2 people

on this thread admitted they felt that way, posts 5 and 19, it is questionable whether or not #5 is even a Dem. You speak of 'reports', sure like to see some of those 'reports'. Why do you even bring up such a questionable subject? Over and out, I'm off your patootee.

[UpsideDownFlag]

67. well, afterwards his approval rating was what? 85 percent?

some of those people had to be dems.

[A Brand New World]

65. No!

Not for any second in these long 4 years have I ever been glad that Bush is President. I cannot wait for the day that he is no longer occupying Gore's rightful place. Anyway, in my opinion, Guiliani was the one who stepped up to the plate, not Bush!

[Cleita]

68. Love or hate Rudy Giuliani, he took charge the way

the President of the United States should have. I know Al Gore would have been there too. No I don't think Bush was in charge that day and to say he was better than Gore wouls have been is disingenuous.

[Trajan]

71. Gore would have been a wonderful president ....

Bush failed his nation .... simple as that ....

[Jacobin]

72. NO

Bush was scared shitless and didn't know what the fuck he was doing.

I DID take a great deal of comfort (at the time) in Blair's speeches and his whirlwind tours around the world gathering allies for the Afghan thing. Unfortunately, Blair fucked up hugely with IraqNam.

The "Bush Being In Control" thing is pure media fiction played over and over and over (completely controlled pictures taken out of context)to try to make something true that obviously was not.

Pravda news at its worst.

[progressivejazz]

73. My son called just after the second tower was hit....

and my first words to him were "The son of a bitch did it! He needed a fucking war to give him a chance for a second term and he did this! That no good mother fucker!"

His response was "Not now, dad. I can't handle that right now. Please."

There were many of us who predicted way before 9/11 that Bush would get us into a war in order to get himself popularity. And he couldn't have sold the country on Iraq without 9/11, could he?

To finish the story, I was proud to see my son infuriate his maternal grandfather 3 months later by telling him he thought Bush at least had foreknowledge and he suspected Bush had a hand in it.

I continue to think that without Bush in the White House, 9/11 wouldn't have happened as it did. And everybody I told my prediction to feels the same way.

We needed President Gore. Nobody deserved Bush.