The new politics of national tragedy

[cally]

Washington -- There was no place for politics on Sept. 11, 2001.

New York's mayor, a Republican, raced to the inflamed World Trade Center towers. The secretary of transportation, a Democrat, ordered planes out of the nation's skies. Fund-raisers were canceled. Political ads were pulled from TV. Members of Congress from both parties gathered on the steps of the abandoned U. S. Capitol to sing "God Bless America."

Driven by necessity and fear, Americans stood united behind a president who less than a year before had won a bitterly contested election in which he had not received a majority of the votes.


It may be a measure of how comfortable Americans have become in two years with the new world order. Or perhaps it is a sign of political strategists trying to play off people's fears.

Whatever the reason, bare-knuckle campaigns are back. Partisanship has returned. And now, a little more than a year away from the next presidential election, terror itself has become a potent political weapon.

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2003/09/10/MN294170.DTL

[FullCountNotRecount]

1. Didn't receive the most votes either...

I wish reporters would keep reminding folks that Bush got less votes than Gore. Just saying "didn't receive a majority of the votes" isn't as true as saying didn't receive the most votes.

[candy331]

2. 911

seems to be the preface for everything in this country to what is wrong, it's just been exploited too much. What will happen when there are more 911s mind you they will come and probably from where least likely expected. Many nations live with this on a daily basis and yet they must go on with their lives. I don't believe allowing ourselves to be continually exploited with fear themes for someone's selfish political/other reasons and our resigning to live in abject fear is the answer. To live with "they are coming to get us" is depressing and self defeating.