Why doesn't anyone talk about the day America cowered?

[Onlooker]

On 9/11/01 I remember feeling so much disappointment when Bush did not fly right into Washington, DC to show American resolve. Instead, he did what no leader of the United States probably ever did: He cowered. He did not order Air Force 1 to return to Washington at once. He waited until the coast was clear. We all know if Clinton had been President, he would have overruled the Secret Service and ordered his plane to return immediately to Washington, DC as a way of reassuring the American people that all would be okay. I think Bush's cowardice on 9/11/01 should get more attention. It was a true disgrace.

[Valerie5555]

1. Maybe the WTC survivors ought to all wear CHICKEN suits to remind the

world as to what a CHICKEN George Bush was.


On edit BUCK, BUCK, BUCK, BUGAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWKKKKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[clydefrand]

2. I think you're absolutely right!

I can't believe the idiot sat in a second-grade room in Florida too petrified with fear to move for seven minutes. And spent another 20 minutes for a photo op. I hope Kerry will ask Michael Moore for some of the footage in his film to show the difference between himself and Bush. Bush sitting stupified in a classroom and Kerry walking out of the jungle with his rifle...quiet a contrast, don't you think? But I wonder just who filmed Kerry. Of course, I've read that he took his video camera, but someone had to be filming him even if he did.

[leanings]

3. If he had returned

it would be touted around here as more sure evidence of MIHOP.

I think the Secret Service would have strenously objected to whomever was president going back to DC, and they would have been right to do so.

[Pepperbelly]

4. that's their job BUT ...

he could have easily overruled them.

Do you remember what John Kennedy said during the Cuban Missile Crisis when they wanted him to cower in a bunker? He said he was staying and would share the fate of the nation.

Bush has always been and continues to be a coward.

[leanings]

12. eh,

I think the situation was confused enough on that morning that it was prudent for them not to return to DC. I think the CMC was an entirely different situation, e.g. JFK knew about the extant threat for several days before the public found out, no one was actually dying at the time his decision had to be made, remaining in a bunker for two weeks while the crisis was going on would have had a severely negative impact on Kruschev's perception of the situation not to mention the US public's, etc.

[Pepperbelly]

17. the leader lies low while the citizens die?

He was jinking around the country like Saddam hiding from the Rangers. I believe that there would have been nothing on earth that would has stopped Bill Clinton from going directly there. Hell, he tried to anyway and was on-site at ground zero loooong before Bush showed up.

Prudence has nothing to do with it. Bush should have went directly to the White House. A leader does not lead from behind.

[leanings]

25. I'm sure Clinton

would have flown there sans AF1, cape streaming out behind him.

When your countries under attack by unknown elements of unknown strength and capability you protect your command and control assets. Which was the bigger risk, the country's supposed let-down at Bush not returning to DC (which I don't remember as a particularly huge issue at the time) or his plane getting hit by a MANPAD sitting on an approach to Andrews?

[tabasco]

20. Completely disagree.

Leadership has its responsibilities. Bush should be exiled for his cowardly conduct after 9-11. If it was me I would have immediately flown to NYC. He only had the entire US military to protect him.

[wicket]

27. I had forgotten that

Thank you for refreshing my memory. :grouphug:

[StandUpGuy]

5. Are you talking about the same secret service...

That let the President sit in a classroom for 20 min after the nation was under attack. A classroom it was well known he was in.

[leanings]

14. What should they have done with him? n/t

n/t

[Demonaut]

23. Bush was/is a coward and nothing anyone can say or do will erase

the fact he sat in a classroom while citizens were dying, just the greasy way he has lied since then has done nothing but enforce his bone deep yellow streak. HE could have immediately announced we were under attack, HE could have appeared on tv earlier than the 24hrs, HE could have gone to NY earlier than three days after the attack, Clinton showed up before him

[KathCO]

6. I would have been surprised had he returned

since in the case of an attack I would think high level government people should be protected.

[Pepperbelly]

7. he could have returned if he hadn't been a chicken shit. nt

[Pepperbelly]

8. he could have returned if he hadn't been a chicken shit. nt

[qwertyMike]

10. Why?

[KathCO]

15. I guess

I just never considered * not going back to washington right away as a problem. I wouldn't have wanted my president - whoever it was - to fly into where they were attacking, at least not until it was known for sure that it was over. Also, when I look at the film of him sitting in the classroom - when that was all the info I had - I saw a man who was pensive and worried and letting it sink in. Now, I do not like * as a president or human being so please don't flame me. :)

[Flubadubya]

18. Did you mind when they flew him into Baghdad...

at Thanksgiving so he could play with a plastic turkey? He doesn't seem to mind going into hostile territory for a politically driven photo op, but when the confidence of the American people depend on his taking brave action, he's a real chicken-shit!

[leanings]

24. So he's a coward,

except when it comes to photo-ops? Seems like there's a little dissonance here; wouldn't the politically smart thing to do on Sep. 11th have been to fly to DC and come strutting off Air Force One yatta yatta?

[Demonaut]

26. I agree with you, he's a coward

[bobbieinok]

9. Clinton was out of the country and was at NYC ground zero on

the 12th.......

[Lorien]

11. No one in the media called him on it

that's why. I was as shocked as you were that day; I couldn't believe that he just RAN AWAY and did nothing! I thought that certainly his cowardance would bring him down (many people I spoke to on 9/11 thought the same). I also couldn't believe the way the American people were actig; THEY were the ones letting the terrorists win! I was supposed to fly to Norway that morning, but as the airport was closed, I decided to take care of some banking. I went into the bank and everyone was gathered around a TV (the towers had fallen about 45 minutes prior). The guy I spoke to at the bank said "I can't believe you would come in today. Don't you know what's happening?" I said "sure, but this is Florida, not DC or New York! Why should I stay home when I need to get my banking done? A bunch of terrorists aren't going to change the way I live. Why should they? Yes, what's happened is horrible but it's four planes; not a Nuclear attack or something." Little did I know then that I was living in a country full of bedwetting thumbsuckers!

[StandUpGuy]

19. Sweet

:toast:

[clydefrand]

13. I just sent johnkerry.com

an email suggesting that they do a tv commercial contrasting the 2 candidates--Bush sitting petrified in a classroom for 7 minutes and Kerry coming out of the jungle with his rifle and to ask the question: Which person would make you feel more secure---one who sits frozen in his seat in a classroom after he was told the country is under attack or one who meets the enemy head on?

[prodigal_green]

16. America didn't cower, the Chimp did

I and everybody I know were rushing to find out what we could do to help. The lines of people wanting to donate blood outside of the hospitals were so long that the blood banks ran out of blood collection equipment. Loved ones immediately printed up hundreds of posters with pictures and descriptions of the missing. Neighbors were checking up on each other. Union Square was instantly transformed into a memorial and meeting point. We walked miles and miles to get home from work when the transit system was locked down. There was outrage, grief and uncertainty, but the PEOPLE were not cowering.

Clinton got there first and we will never forget him for that.

Funny how the cities most directly affected by the tragedy are overwhelmingly Democratic (NYC, Boston, D.C.), huh?

[midwayer]

21. He had to go confer with Warren Buffet ya know (eom)

[Maeve]

22. The pResident cowered--the Mayor of NYC hit the streets

Or has that bit of history been forgotten?

[Demonaut]

28. for some maybe, the freeper element in our midst needs to

be reminded.

[Hoping4Change]

29. You are forgetting that he also put those children at risk since he could

been the target of the terrorists as his schedule he been publicized.

[Q]

30. I'm not sure the point is whether Bush* should have flown back to DC

- The issue is that he SAT THERE, frozen like a deer in headlights and broke the chain of command that was NEEDED during a national emergency. As it turns out...NONE of the Bush* staff were 'available' that day to take or give orders.

- RWingers would have IMPEACHED a Democratic president for such cowardly, treasonous behavior. He gave AID AND COMFORT to the enemy by allowing them enough time to accomplish their goals without ANY interference.

- Screw flying to DC. As commander in chief...it was his DUTY and RESPONSIBILITY to direct a response to the attack...not sit with children until it was all over.

- Hundreds...thousands of others did their duty on that day. Police. Fire fighters. Emergency medical units. Rescue teams. The Bush* administration was hiding and giving themselves plausible deniability. And then in their grand arrogance...they later used 9-11 for political advantage and made the false claim that they 'took charge' that day. They're worse than cowards.