POINT OF VIEW/ Toshihiro Yamanaka in Japan: The 'elite panic' of President George W. Bush

[kristopher]

POINT OF VIEW/ Toshihiro Yamanaka: The 'elite panic' of President George W. Bush

...What I found particularly interesting is the president's flustered reaction and the lame excuses he made for his behavior on Sept. 11, 2001.

Morning: The president was visiting an elementary school in Florida. When an aide told him about the terrorist attacks, he was visibly shaken in front of reporters. However, according to Bush's memoir, he restrained himself. He writes that the most important thing in risk management is staying calm: "If I stormed out hastily, it would scare the children and send ripples of panic throughout the country."

I guess things look different from different vantage points. Bush seems to have forgotten that his entire reaction starting with the dazed expression upon hearing the news up to the moment he was seized by fear was shown on television for the world to see.

Afternoon: For some reason, instead of immediately returning to Washington, the president dropped out of sight for more than 10 hours. According to Vice President Cheney's book, he warned Bush that the capital was under attack and that the White House was a target. Thus, it would be too dangerous for the president to return to Washington. Instead, Cheney had him evacuate to Nebraska. But no matter what, it was unwise for the president to go into hiding at that juncture. That is why he was criticized for being "a coward" and "useless."

Night: At long last...

http://www.asahi.com/english/TKY201109100215.html

Ouch.

[tularetom]

1. Can you imagine if Obama had been president on 9/11/01

and reacted the same way as bush did?

He would have been crucified by the republicans and their media sycophants and probably hounded out of office before the end of his term.

And we would STILL be hearing about how he panicked and ran. On every silly ass Sunday political talk show every Sunday. For ten fucking years.

[Cassandra]

2. I remember in response to the press secretary...

saying the President was alright, a reporter saying the President is supposed to speak and say WE will be alright.

[MarianJack]

3. Obviously I Have No Proof of This, But...

...I will always believe that bush was attempting to abandon his office when he took off from Florida without the fighter escort and heading in the direction of Texas and that cheney had the fighters intercept him and bring him to Nebraska.

On the night of one of the greatest tragedies in American history, after jet-hopping all over the country and being in the "rabbit hole for several hours, this detestable little man addressed the people whom he was APPOINTED to "lead" for roughly 4 minutes.

Of course, within a few days, it was considered next to criminal to give him even the slightest criticism. Disgraceful conduct on the part of the "guddam libril media".

PEACE!

[peacetalksforall]

5. I believe Cheney was in charge and they didn't want Bush hanging around, plus

it would bring drama to tell the people that it wasn't safe to fly back to Washington.

I remember Bush saying that he eventually got ticked that he wasn't heading back to Washington and insisted on it in spite of being told to stay put in Omaha and in the air.

So who was holding a meeting in Omama when Bush arrived there - many money elites - some with offices in the WTC.

That day was Cheney's - I believe they didn't want him there and the delay was because Card and his others staff were 'discussing' plans with Cheney. For me, it explains the look on his face - he needed to look sad, but I think he was wondering what he was going to do about being treated liks an employee.

[MarianJack]

6. You Mean That cheney Was Actually in CHARGE...

...and not bush? WOW!

For the most part I agree with you. I've heard too many accounts from connected people of how this was cheney's administration. He would run the cabinet meetings while bush would sit there looking stupid (which is what we know he did best).

PEACE! :patriot:

[bemildred]

4. So Cheney the blowhard had to tell Bush the Gump what to do.

And Bush obeyed.

As for the thesis in the OP that it is our "leaders" that panic in crisis, I thoroughly agree, the results are all around us, and it tells you much about the deplorable state of our political system that that is so, and that it STAYS that way.

One does at least have the sense that President Obama is not going to freak out and do something stupid and violent so he won't look "weak" every time something bad happens.

[Uncle Joe]

7. This is a fascinating article re: elite panic.

A study shows that when major disasters strike, people who go into a panic are not ordinary citizens but the elite with power. In American disaster sociology, the phenomenon is called "elite panic."

(snip)

U.S. specialists on disaster studies looked into the responses of ordinary citizens to disasters such as earthquakes and acts of terrorism over several decades and reached the conclusion that an overwhelming majority of citizens do not go into panic. Professor Tierney also personally visited Kobe in 1995 after the Great Hanshin Earthquake and the Tohoku region in June and presented the results of her research as the academic reports. She said to me "The earthquake survivors were very calm not only in Japan but also in other places."

(snip)

After 9/11, as if to dispel panic, President Bush implemented heavy-handed policies. He authorized wiretapping without a warrant and unfettered undercover investigations and subjected suspected terrorists to torture by waterboarding. At one time, he inadvertently told a news conference that next time, he expected terrorists to spray harmful substances from crop-dusting planes.

Thanks for the thread, kristopher.

[indepat]

8. I admit to perceiving junior being visibly shaken, having a dazed expression, and being seized

with fear, but then I might be wrong because of being so jaundiced by everything right wing. :patriot: